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You are referring to the now, very popular Nugget Falls trail, I'm assuming. You had a view of Mendenhall when walking toward it? I used to walk "toward" there, as well, long before the nice trial they now have in place. I went over logs, walked in water and and trudged on. :) A lot of people walked it that way.

I'm happy to see there is a better trail. The last time I had to leave my family at the mud puddles and rocky road. They will be very excited. I can't wait, is there a chance that the trail might be under water. I heard if they have a lot of rain the trail floods.

About 7 years ago when we were at Mendenhall Glacier, there was a path you could take out by the parking lot that would take you out to the waterfall. As you got closer to the waterfall the path wasn't really a path anymore. You could still make it to the waterfall but it was a little ruff. Anyway it looked like they were going to build some type of walkway to get to the falls. Does anyone know if the walkway was built?

Anyone ever stay at the Salmon Bake Cabins?

Thank you, everyone this has helped with my planning.

With traffic and leaving from Downtown Anchorage, about 10:00 am. How long will it take to get to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center? To who ever has been there how long did you stay?

I've gotten some discounts with the prepay option. Last, I used was Quality Suites, but there are others. Of course, 100% nonrefundable.

Thank you Budget Queen. I decided that it would be easier to use the shuttle service that Major Marine offered to Anchorage and than when they drop us off I can just call a cab to get to the hotel. The shuttle was a lot cheaper than the railroad. I have taken the railroad once so it's not like I am missing anything. I checked out the hotels with the prepay options just not sure which one I am going to go with yet. Thanks again for your input, I am sure you are going to hear from me again as I put the rest of my vacation together.

Just so you know... There's not much in the way of "cheap" hotels in Anchorage in the summer.

The Copper Whale Inn or Susitna Place B&B will be cheaper than most hotels though.

Thanks for your input on hotels, I have stayed at the Hawthorne (now Clarion Suites) Downtown Anchorage twice and spent $233. I found a couple of cheap hotel near Hertz on K street. As long as the hotels are clean and don't have bugs I don't care where I stay it's only overnight.

As you come into the train station, give a cab company a call and request the taxi size that you need.

Alaska Yellow Cab's number is

907-222-2222

There's an idea, I will definitely give that a thought. Than I can stay at a cheap hotel and not have to worry about a shuttle or waiting in the taxi line.

How much do you plan on having? I'd suggest packing lighter anyway. :) There are vans.

 

Are you going to a hotel?

Yes, I am going to stay in a hotel. I am in the process of trying to find one with shuttle service so far I found two. It's just annoying to pay such high prices when you are only staying over night. Convenience vs price, I am going to take the convenience only because I don't want to wait in a long taxi line.

There is a cab line right out in front of the station. BUT, don't count on "quick", :) You'll have to get your bags which have to be unloaded, and everyone gets off the train at once, so the cab lines can be long. If you have a hotel shuttle, you should call them, when you get your bags.

We are a group of three are we going to have issues getting a cab large enough for all of us including our luggage?

Are there taxi stands when you get off at the Anchorage station? How quickly does it take to get a cab?

Hello,

 

I am thinking of booking the 7.5 hour White Pass Summit (train and bus) Trip either through NCL or Chilkoot, but my daughter (not a kid) thinks it is too long and will be boring and uncomfortable. Any thoughts/feedback on this and/or ideas for a shorter tour?

 

Thanks.

I've done the train and rented a car. I downloaded Murray's guide and drove to Emerald lake. The drive was the best because you have areas you can pull off and take pictures and Murray's guide tells you where to stop. The train was okay, but after our pre-cruise

we were kinda over being on trains.

Does NCL offer a price drop like carnival did/does? :)

I noticed that my cruise price drooped $250. I called she not only rebooked the cruise for me at the lower price but gave me the perks as well, which was a $100.00 credit on my account. She said if I see another price drop I could call again and would get credit. She said that I could keep calling until my last payment is made.

My 2 cents ......instead of backtracking, flip the itinerary; explore the Soldotna area first then spend your last 2 days around Anc. You don't have as much time as you think, esp on the 14th when you think you're gong to drive to Soldotna AND have time for day trips.

 

12 disembark the ship. Kenai cruise

13 pick up rental at Hertz in Seward. Leisurely drive to Sodotna with stops.

14 full day to explore Soldotna area

15 drive back to Seward, 3 hrs. Seaveys and Sealife Center. Return car, evening train to Anc

16 explore Anc area .... Wildlife Conservation (which I think you meant instead of the Musk Ox Farm which is a good hour NORTH of Anc)

 

I'm assuming the train is a priority? Otherwise a one-way rental might maximize your time.

Have back up plans. Travelling so late in the season you could easily get slammed by a Fall storm.

Snow wasn't even in my thoughts, I will keep that in mind. I was thinking about renting a car in Seward but Hertz prices are unreal and they don't even give you unlimited mileage. I can't rent a sedan because I have 3 pieces of luggage, 3 carry on's and 2 walkers with wheels. I have to rent a RAV4. The price of a regular car is 589.63, they won't give you the price of the RAV4 unless you call. One can only imagine. Anyway enough of my complaining. I thank you for your help and I will rethink things and look at changing things around.

I am thinking of making Soldotna my vocal point for Sightseeing. Checking out the guidebook for Soldotna it shows that homer is only 78 ,miles away. If anyone has done this part of Alaska please feel free to offer any help.

I am finding it hard to decide if I want to stay in one place or I want to stay in different places along the way. I don't want to have to rush because I made a reservation and I'm afraid if I don't make any reservations I might not find a place to sleep.

This is my Itinerary so far.

09/12 Disembark at 7:00 am and meet with Major Marine (Get tickets

for the Alaska Rail Road and leave luggage at the station.

Do 6 hour cruise of Kenai Fjords at 11:30 am. ( 8 hour cruise not available too late in season)

Take Rail Road back to Anchorage and pick-up shuttle to the hotel.

09/13 Pick up rental car at Hertz and Drive to Seward.

With stops to:

Musk Ox Farm - (May save for on the way back to Anchorage)

Sea Life Aquarium

Seavy's Ididaride Tour (near Exit Glacier)

Travel to Soldotna, Stay in Soldotna and do day trips.

09/14 - day Trips Nikiski & Captin Cook State Recreation area.

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge - Lots of wildlife trails and viewing., Cooper Landing, Anchor Point, Ninilchik.

I have to be back in Anchorage on 09/16 as I am leaving on 09/17.

It's hard to plan because each town is unique and have different things to see. The people I am with won't do small planes and they don't like to fish.

Again I am open to any type of help that's why I love these boards.

Trying to decide between taking Royal's train transfer from Anchorage to Seward and doing the Alaska railroad trip on our own for our southbound cruise from Seward in May. I've got the logistics of getting from our hotel to the train station (easy, hotel has a shuttle), but once we get to Seward, what are the logistics of getting from the train to the pier and how is luggage handled? I have some physical limitations that won't allow me to lift luggage so knowing how that's handled if we do the railroad independently is going to factor into my decision.

 

Thanks. Any information is appreciated.

If you don't mind me asking what Hotel did you book? I am looking for a hotel with shuttle service from the Railroad?

What is your itinerary? Are you heading directly to Homer from Seward, as example? How many days?

I will be in the area for 5 days maybe 6. Haven't decided if we are going to leave on a Saturday or Sunday yet.

We chose to do a later cruise this time 09/05- 09/12 Debarking in Seward.

Day 1 -The original plan was debark in Seward, Rent a car, go to the holtel (Marina Motel) check in dump the luggage in the room and walk to Major Marine and take the 11:30am 6hour cruise to Kenai Fjords Nation park.

Day 2 - Exit Glacier and the Alaska National Sealife center and depending on how long we are at the Sealife center we were going to try to do the Seaveys ididaride 1.5 hour dog sled ride and tour. The last tour is at 6:30PM. Than eat dinner go back to Marina Hotel.

Day 3 Drive to homer with stops along the way. The milepost has some interesting stops along the way. I figured with it being so late in the season we should't have any issues with finding a motel. It's only 3 hours and 17 min from Seward. I'm sure a lot longer with the frequent stops along the way. Soldotna has the National wildlife Refuge thinking of staying overnight.

Day 4 If we stay overnight in Soldotna, continue to homer. Stay overnight in Homer.

Day 5 make our way back to Seward return the rental car. Stay at the Marina motel take the Alaska railroad to Anchorage. Stay overnight in Anchorage.

Day 6 Go home.

If we end up renting the car in Anchorage and coming back to Seward we were going to try to squeeze in the Musk Ox farm in Palmer. Which also would change my itinerary as I wouldn't need to use the Alaska Railroad because I would be returning the car in Anchorage.

A lot of it is still in the planning stage any suggestions are appreciated. The people I am with won't do flight seeing tours they are afraid of small planes. We are all into wildlife, sight seeing nature, art, history.

Rental car prices in Seward are totally crazy, it's $748.00 for a RAV4 I am thinking of taking a shuttle bus to Anchorage, they will drop me off at the rental car place, (price for a mini van is 361.45) and than I was going to drive back to Seward. The rental price is half of the price. Does anyone have any better ideas. I want to plan my land vacation around the Kenai Peninsula and want a rental car as the two people I am with can't walk for long periods of time.

I like the Marina. There is also the Harborview, and Breeze Inn that are usually pretty reasonable. Those don't need a car and are walkable to the the boat tours.

 

http://www.seward.com has lodging listings

Budget Queen I have never been to this side of Alaska before. I have done the drive to Denali three times. If I stay on the Seward side besides the 6 hour boat tour to Kenal Fjords is there anything else you can recommend. We will be in Alaska from 09/12 - 09/17. I have seen a lot of Anchorage and was looking for something else. I like site seeing mostly looking for wild life. I was going to rent a car. I can't do any long hikes as I have my mom with me. I was reading that it's a short hike to exit Glacier and there is the Sea-life center. Is there anything else that will be worth my wild.

Yes, you can make the train. Also consider Major Marines- double glacier, Aialik and Holgate trip. :)

I wanted to that tour and was thinking of staying overnight in Seward but we are going late this time and won't be in Seward until 09/12. They only offer Aialk and Holgate trip up until 08/21. Do you have any recommendations for cheap places to stay? I am not looking for fancy just a place to sleep.

You may want to consider Major Marines, longer Kenai fjords park tour- that includes both Aialik and Holgate glaciers. I think they do an excellent job. Try and drop off your luggage direct at the Seward depot before any boat tour. You should be able to pick up your tickets as well, as they do check every id. These are two extremely great touring opportunities. On the train, you are assigned seats. I book the cheap seats- and use the dome car. From Seward, your scenic side is the glaciers on the right, once past Portage, it switches to the Arm on the left. So, maybe be receptive to switching your areas. I often like standing in the vestibules as well. :)

Budget Queen Major Marines has a 6 hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise, it's from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm. The train back to Anchorage leaves at 6:00 pm, will I have time to catch the train back to Anchorage?

Budget Queen, I have done Denali National park three times. The last time I went we did the shuttle all of the way to Wonder Lake. In your opinion since I have seen a lot of Denali, this jeep tour would be disappointing. Do you have any other suggestions for seeing wildlife and other wonderful scenery. I am looking for something new. We will be in Seward on 09/12/2016 and staying through 09/17. We usually start in Anchorage and work our way up to Denali.

I have been to Denali three times and was looking for something new. Has anyone ever done the Denali Highway Jeep tour. Apparently from what I read this is a dirt road and rental car companies don't want you driving on dirt or gravel roads. They say the tour is 5 hours and offering a morning or evening tour.

Anyone have any ideas on how to get from Seward to Anchorage as cheaply as possible. I will be staying an additional 5 days in Alaska after my cruise and I am renting a car in Anchorage. I booked next year with NCL and they dock in Seward.

I tried Hertz rent a car in Seward and they want a bunch of money to return it in Anchorage. Any input would be appreciated.

Rome In Limo's Jany was terrific to deal with...we corresponded many times back and forth while we were arranging this tour. We thank her for her patience!

 

In Livorno, Sabrina was our driver and we went to Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano (sp??), and Tuscany Tour. We saw so much including a quick stop in Pisa for pictures. We even passed by "another" leaning tower which is attached to a church. We also paid a visit to the Ufizzi Museumn and even it was short notice Sabrina got in and got our tickets in record time. We had a great lunch and gelato from a place Sabrina recommended -it was fantastic!

 

We would recommend this company to anyone who is planning a visit to Italy. All the reviews we read were true...they really care about their clients and they made our Med cruise so much better with their wonderful tours!

 

 

 

I have to agree, we just got back on Monday and I used Rome in Limo for Florence and Rome, They suggested a private guide for the Vatican and Sistine Chapal. We booked the guide through them. They said to buy our tickets online for 2:00pm. On both tours they went above and beyond. I had 2 people in my party who needed to use a cane to get around. The guide would go to the front of the line talk to the security people and the next thing we know we are in the front of the crowd. He said the Sistine Chapal was very crowed and was concerned. Again he told us to wait by these glass doors and he came back with a secuirty guard and we walked down this hallway and we were in the Sistine Chapel. I not good at remembering names and they told me their names several times but they were the greatest. Thanks to this board I got to see more than the people on the cruise ship. The best was that we didn't have to walk anywhere, door to door service. Thank you cruise critic members for helping me with the right choices. I have been on this board several years and everyone has always been great.:):):):):)