Whittier to Anchorage on our own?

[patches05]

Our cruise on the Island Princess is ends on Wed 8/20. We were thinking of getting a rental car from Avis in Whittier. (Are there any other car rental companies there?) We'd drive ourselves into Anchorage, where our flight leaves at 5:45pm. Is that doable time-wise? What are some good scenic spots along the way? Any good restaurants for lunch?

[AKStafford]

Our cruise on the Island Princess is ends on Wed 8/20. We were thinking of getting a rental car from Avis in Whittier. (Are there any other car rental companies there?) We'd drive ourselves into Anchorage, where our flight leaves at 5:45pm. Is that doable time-wise? What are some good scenic spots along the way? Any good restaurants for lunch?

 

Avis is the only rental car company in Whittier. http://www.avisalaska.com/

 

For a 5:45 flight, you'd want to be checking in by 3:45. Returning the rental car should just take a few minutes, so you will have plenty of time to make the trip with some sightseeing on the way. The drive up the Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm is very scenic with plenty of pull outs along the way. If you are looking for a hike, you could walk up to the Byron Glacier at Portage. If you are looking for wildlife, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a great spot. You'll find several options for lunch in Girdwood. The tram at Alyeska is fun.

[mapleleaves]

Avis is the only vendor in Whittier. The one-way drop off fee makes it an expensive trip plus you're booking late so it will be a premium.

But it does give you the opportunity to explore for the day .... gold panning, Wildlife Conservation Center, hiking, Alyeska tram, Potters Marsh, Portage Lake/Glacier, etc.

Keep in mind that you exit Whittier via a tunnel; only open on the hour. So if you miss the 9am opening you have to wait until 10.

Suggesting stopping poiints in these links:

http://www.alaska.org/guide/portage-valley

http://www.alaska.org/guide/turnagain-arm-drive

Edited June 18, 2014 by mapleleaves

[patches05]

Thanks for the tips!

[dkl222]

We booked a private van through Anchorage Tours & Transfers. Jim was an excellent guide and gave us a wonderful tour with all photo ops & Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. We were able to stop for lunch and get a city tour before being dropped at the airport. Wonderful time!

[mapleleaves]

We booked a private van through Anchorage Tours & Transfers. Jim was an excellent guide and gave us a wonderful tour with all photo ops & Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. We were able to stop for lunch and get a city tour before being dropped at the airport. Wonderful time!

 

For the benefit of others who may be interested, could you provide more info on this transfer, like how much it cost, how many people, start/end times. Thx

[dkl222]

Anchorage Tours & Transfers: http://www.akcruiseshuttle.com. They offer several options from 23 passenger bus with guide to 10 passenger van for private. Contact them for pricing, it varies based on number in party. They also offer just a direct transfer from ship to airport.

[slix1]

We just rented a van from Avis. The location is inside a small store which is a very few minutes walk from the cruise terminal. Be aware that there is a large charge for drop off in Anchorage. We chose to do it for flexibility for our group of 7. There are several web sites with scenic drive info including mile markers. I found one for day trips from Anchorage and was going to make a few stops reversing the order. Be aware of the tunnel times since you can only leave Whittier at :00 each hour. The weather was very stormy and we were full from the food on our PWS tour so we did not eat on the way but I had planned to eat in Girdwood.

[bravestwj]

They don't honor their reservations. We thought we had a nice little tour booked to get to Anchorage and it turned out very badly.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=43156057&posted=1#post43156057