I can recommend that you call *wood and spend 7000 points (? - too steep IMO) to upgrade to the suite or settle for a smaller room. Otherwise select a different property. I think I saw an Embassy Suites in Anchorage when I was there - guaranteed suite but you have to cheat on SPG. Embassy Suites probably has a nice breakfast...

Good luck - I hope you have a fabulous girl's night out! Check out Humpy's bar or the Alaska Brewhouse.

If it's available, you might want to see what price the Z3H promo code offers you with 3rd night free. Or ZBT to get the 2nd night (one of the nights that you're responsible for) at half-price. Then use points for only the third night.

That doesn't solve the desire for a true suite upgrade, though.

Unfortunately, that's Alaska in the summer. They have a very short season, and charge a lot for what they give during that window of time. Anchorage at least has a wealth of properties among the major brands. Other cities don't.

We chose the Homewood Suites last summer due to the very indifferent reviews of the Sheraton. They have a complimentary breakfast daily, as well as a simple dinner (such as submarines and potato chips) four nights a week. I just looked, and it, too, is around $240 for a 1 bedroom suite in late August.

Don't forget the PAYAGE promo code. If that works the first night will be expensive, but the other nights will be under $100.

Maybe you can have them split up the bill between the 1st and 2nd/3rd nights.

For what it's worth, I thought the pull-out sofa in the Jr. Suite was quite comfortable.

Rich

Hmmm... I was here for two nights on points. I booked a king. I got a room with two doubles on the lowest floor possible. Reminds me of a lot of properties and what they do for their priceline customers. So don't expect much when here in the summer on points. Gold upgrade? Forget about it. Hopefully a plat would do better.

The location is mediocre IMHO. The Marriott and Hilton are better positioned for downtown. Nearly everything is a 10-15 minute walk from this property.

Rental car is essential for this Anchorage in my opinion. I didn't have one and regretted it. They charge for parking...like 10$ per day? Street parking looks free on the weekends. The airport is like 5 miles and a whopping $25 shuttle/cab ride.

Service was spotty. Long line at checkout... it wasn't apparent that checking out via TV was possible. No gold/plat checkin/out line. There were unable to change a $20 bill at one point Agent at checkin was a bit grumpy.

I wouldn't be interested in staying here again. Maybe if I pricelined and got this hotel. Pay the going rate in the summer? You've got to be kidding.

I paid the going rate for the 1st night, then used points. I wasn't impressed. I did get the junior suite upgrade, which to me is like a larger room. I don't like the word "suite" used unless there is a separate living area, it's just a quirk of mine.

The view of the mountains is nice but the rest of the view disappoints. I can see a cemetery, a bank, a car lot- it's so weird to look out and see the lovely mountains and then look down at junk. But I don't think any hotel in Anchorage is going to have a great view.

The SPG program here is spotty. They had no water in the rooms and I stayed on a SPG floor. I did go down and ask about water and was given a bottle on the day I checked in from the gift shop. The next 2 days there was no water.

The lounge was okay, nothing to write home about. 2 hot appetizers and a variety of soft drinks. I grabbed a bottle of apple juice the 1st night and never went back.

What surprised me was that the room service is not open in the afternoon, just for breakfast and dinner. And there are no in-room movies. That surprised me. I stay at a lot of Sheratons and I can't remember one without that feature.

The hotel is really busy, though, so maybe that's why the rates were so high. That and it is summer, despite it being in the 50's, LOL.

I don't know, I didn't like the no in-room movies, and I would've preferred a real suite upgrade, but it isn't horrible. I mean, I liked Captain Cook Hotel much better, but I don't get free nights there. I guess I'd stay again, if I needed to use points or free stays. I would prefer to stay elsewhere, but those points are helpful. I guess I can't complain about a free room. And the French Onion Soup in the restaurant was yummy.

The junior suite is nice if you're staying alone, but I would've have wanted to share it. The fridge was nice, the bathroom was teeney tiny. The Spa was okay- but nothing special. It's a typical category 3. I'll likely try the Hilton before I come back here, though. Maybe they'll UG me to a real suite. Then again, maybe not.

Great review thaliajen ; your experience mirrors mine when I stayed there on 23-27 July 2010.

I didn't get a suite as a PLT but I didn't really care or push for one. The location of the hotel is a little bit out of the way compared to the other hotels in the area, but it's only a 10 minute walk and your in the middle of Anchorage.

Club Lounge was pretty weak and I didn't rush back there just to get my free food though I did (and like many other guests) take or stock up on bottles of water / juice ^

I was given a huge two room suite with a large bathroom with shower and jacuzzi bath on my recent trip to ANC. It had very loud air movement noises that were even present when the AC was switched off. That was my only gripe on this stay.
I was on the birth date promo so was quite happy with the total price I paid for the two nights also.















Moomba, on Flickr

Thanks for the photos! They sure have an interesting taste up there...

What on earth is that thing the TV is sitting on?

I was not quite as lucky as Moomba in my upgrade experiences at the Sheraton Anchorage (nice photos, BTW). Perhaps the SPG folks found out I was dallying with Hyatt . That aside, the Junior Suites at the property are just fine. If you are spending extended amounts of time in the hotel room when in Anchorage, you're doing it rong.

Icky giant carpet stain left of the sofa

Had three stays here over the course of two weeks while on an extended trip to Alaska. Was upgraded to a junior suite (XX15) each time, and we thought the room was quite adequate for our needs. Location, as has been said, is not the best but really didnt prove to be much of a hindrance. Breakfast in the restaurant was so-so and the bagels in the club lounge looked pretty sad - we did stock up on water/juice throughout the day and the appetizers in the evening were quite good as well (no alcohol). Overall, a decent value for Cat 3 and a good use of points in the Summer (room rates were above $200 for much of August).

stayed recently and was pre-upgraded into club floor as gold

club = 30 rooms on code-accessed and locked 11th floor ^

9 rooms on 15th floor - 1505 appears to share wall with gym...

Just wondering if buffet breakfast in the restaurant is a Plat benefit again?

No, only breakfast in the club lounge. We woke up late so caught only the fag end of breakfast in the lounge (which didnt seem that appetizing) so ended up trying the restaurant, which was also quite disappointing.