southbound from Anchorage in August!!

[katfer]

cruise booked and airfare purchased.....when do we need to start looking for hotels?..and booking train,excursions..etc.. Anyone have a good review on a low to mid range hotel with shuttle from airport? Budget Queen..need your help please.Trying to save as much for excursions as we can. Does anyone know of black Friday deals or coupon books? thanks in advance..

[Glaciers]

There are over 30 hotels with shuttle service from the airport. The least expensive hotels are usually near the airport. If you are taking the 6:45am train to Seward it would be more convenient to stay near the train depot which is near downtown although it’s only a 15-20 minute drive from the airport hotels to the train depot. What area do you want to stay in? Downtown is preferred as there is more to do.

 

There are many coupon books although the Alaska Toursaver and Northern Lights coupon books offer the largest amount of discount coupons. You can order either of those online. Stop by the Visit Anchorage Visitor Center in the airport on the way through. They will have some additional brochures with coupons in them along with information on the areas you will be cruising to. They’re located in the baggage claim area near the Alaska Airlines carousel. You might consider signing up for Groupon for Alaska as well.

[katfer]

Thanks Glaciers...downtown it is! Do you have a recommendation of hotel and of course..a great fish restaurant. We will be there in August..should we book hotel now? Thanks...

[Glaciers]

Two hotels that get decent reviews and are a little more reasonable for downtown hotels are the Comfort Inn-Sheep Creek and the Ramada-Downtown. Both have shuttles. Comfort Inn is about one walkable block to the train depot with the Ramada being a few blocks from there closer to downtown. Anchorage has been adding hotels every year and they still seem to fill up during the summer. Maybe others will post here on when to book. We only stay downtown during the off season. I'd book as soon as you have one in mind.

 

For seafood: Simon & Seaforts and The Bridge Restaurant are a couple of the best. I did have a crab stuffed rock fish at Orso last week that was very good. Glacier Brewhouse gets consistently good reviews as well.

[katfer]

Thanks so much..Happy Thanksgiving!