Alaska
Mar 22, 2019, 11:53 pm
#1
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Alaska
Anybody know of any great hotels in Alaska? I’ve read about the new one in Denali, but it seems more like sharing a house - no private baths? It seems the best in Anchorage is Captain Cook? I’d love to get feedback fir a potential trip this summer. Thanks!
Mar 23, 2019, 12:39 am
#2
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These two threads have the references you need.
North American Countryside/Wilderness Luxury Venues
Luxury hotels near Anchorage
Within Anchorage itself, Captain Cook likely is the best but not luxury. Jim and I are staying there in July after our Windstar cruise. The Cook has a club floor and I think that may be preferable.
Mar 23, 2019, 3:43 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2013
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I would have thought a carefully chosen cruise is the best option in Alaska, assuming you want to see Alaska rather than just stay in a hotel/lodge which limits your access to the major scenic and wildlife locations.
Such as -
https://www.seabourn.com/en_US/find-a-cruise.html#%7B!tag=destinationTag%7DdestinationId s=A&%7B!tag=embarkTag%7DembarkPortCode=&%7B!tag=de partTag%7DdepartDate=&%7B!tag=durationTag%7Ddurati on=&%7B!tag=shipsTag%7DshipId=&%7B!tag=cruisetypeT ag%7DcruiseType=&%7B!tag=portsTag%7DportsOfCall=&s oldOut=false&sort=departDate%20asc,price_GBP_anony mous%20asc&group.sort=departDate%20asc,price_GBP_a nonymous%20asc&start=0
Such as -
https://www.seabourn.com/en_US/find-a-cruise.html#%7B!tag=destinationTag%7DdestinationId s=A&%7B!tag=embarkTag%7DembarkPortCode=&%7B!tag=de partTag%7DdepartDate=&%7B!tag=durationTag%7Ddurati on=&%7B!tag=shipsTag%7DshipId=&%7B!tag=cruisetypeT ag%7DcruiseType=&%7B!tag=portsTag%7DportsOfCall=&s oldOut=false&sort=departDate%20asc,price_GBP_anony mous%20asc&group.sort=departDate%20asc,price_GBP_a nonymous%20asc&start=0
Last edited by Pausanias; Mar 23, 2019 at 6:39 am
Mar 23, 2019, 8:22 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2017
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I planned a land trip last summer and saw a lot. As much or more than you'd see on a cruise, it depends on what you're looking for. You just need the time to do it. We prefer mountain hiking and climbing to simply watching the scenery from a ship deck, and couldn't get that on a cruise. I did a review of Ultima Thule Lodge, though I don't know how to post that link here. Sorry. It was fantastic and I'm planning to go back in 2020 if the timing works. It's true that for classic luxury feeling, you probably can't do better than a small ship cruise though. The best "hotel" you'll find in Alaska is probably Captain Cook in Anchorage, or maybe Alyeska in Girdwood. For a real small group or private wilderness experience, the lodges such as Ultima, Winterlake or a few up even farther north, are all worth the trip.
Mar 23, 2019, 12:56 pm
#6
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One thing to know about Captain Cook is the hotel is awash in cruise-ship passengers in summer. Princess puts up her guests there and other passengers stay as well. So, if that time frame is yours, don't wait too long to book. This fact is another reason I booked the club floor reasoning it would be less crowded, quieter, and offer better service.
Mar 23, 2019, 1:10 pm
#8
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You might need to decide between seeing Alaska by land versus staying in luxury lodgings. In some areas, there just aren't any luxury choices.
In fact, if you're planning to drive, pay attention to whether roads are paved, distances between service areas along the route, and reasonable driving times. Also, make sure that you have cell phone coverage where you're going (or plan not to have it, but you don't want to be surprised).
Check the Alaska destination forum on FT. There you will find threads comparing hotels, hiking/sightseeing information, and help with logistical details.
In fact, if you're planning to drive, pay attention to whether roads are paved, distances between service areas along the route, and reasonable driving times. Also, make sure that you have cell phone coverage where you're going (or plan not to have it, but you don't want to be surprised).
Check the Alaska destination forum on FT. There you will find threads comparing hotels, hiking/sightseeing information, and help with logistical details.
Mar 23, 2019, 9:36 pm
#10
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Mar 23, 2019, 9:42 pm
#11
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These options look great. We will look into doing one of them before our trip. ( if not too late,). We are kind of late in planning. For business reasons we had to postpone our originally planned trip back to some of our favorite spots in Africa so trying to put something else together as couldn’t get our lodge choices again in the new given timeframe with short notice. Thank you for the suggestions!
Mar 23, 2019, 9:44 pm
#12
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Larkin, we are doing an 11-night Windstar cruise Vancouver to Seward in the last half of July. Friends from Brooklyn will sail with us. We cruised Scotland/Norway/Iceland last summer on Windstar and lived the informal, small ship experience, so comfortable, especially in the owner's suite.
Mar 23, 2019, 10:20 pm
#13
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Mar 27, 2019, 2:26 pm
#15
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Larkin, I was at Ultima Thule a coupe year of years ago and wrote a few comments here. It’s very remote and it helps if you love to fly in very small planes (which I do). I loved it. In Anchorage the Captain Cook or the Marriott are fine - nothing luxury there (I been to Anchorage over a hundred times). Depending on how far you want to venture, there are other small lodges/inns - not luxury but many with character and good service and unique-ness.