Car rental in Anchorage? HAL 14 day Alaska explorer

[Bookishcruiser]

Hi all,

Headed to Alaska on HAL in June. We’ll be in Anchorage for a longish day. We want to rent a car. I know I’ve read that there is a shuttle into a town. Where does it drop you off and where would the best place to rent a car? I feel like I’ve read this before but I can’t find it!

 

Also, any thoughts on how we might spend the day would be most welcome. Trying to figure out if it would be worth heading toward Denali. Talkeetna also might be good. We’d probably be most interested in seeing animals and pretty scenery. A stop for food and a bit of shopping would be good too.

[AKStafford]

Hi all,

Headed to Alaska on HAL in June. We’ll be in Anchorage for a longish day. We want to rent a car. I know I’ve read that there is a shuttle into a town. Where does it drop you off and where would the best place to rent a car? I feel like I’ve read this before but I can’t find it!

 

Also, any thoughts on how we might spend the day would be most welcome. Trying to figure out if it would be worth heading toward Denali. Talkeetna also might be good. We’d probably be most interested in seeing animals and pretty scenery. A stop for food and a bit of shopping would be good too.

You can rent from any place downtown. Avis, Hertz & Enterprise have offices. Avis or Hertz are probably closest to the port. Hertz is next to the Hotel Captain Cook and Avis info is here: http://www.avisalaska.com/locations/anchorage-downtown/

 

How to spend your day: you have a lot of different options...

You could head north to the Matanuska Glacier and do a glacier hike. It's a beautiful drive. https://micaguides.com/ . Talkeetna would be an option but I would prefer the Matanuska Glacier. You might also have time for a drive up into Hatcher Pass. And plenty of food options in Palmer. Humdinger's Gourmet Pizza, the Palmer Ale House or the Inn Cafe & Steakhouse are my three top picks.

You could also head south along the Turnagain Arm. You could do the Tram at Alyeska: https://micaguides.com/ , the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center: https://www.alaskawildlife.org/ and the walk at Byron Glacier: http://akstafford.blogspot.com/2017/08/byron-glacier-trail.html

[VacationCharlene]

Good decision to rent a car here. This is actually the ONLY port, for the 14 day Alaska HA cruise, that we have done this at. We always seem to be here for Memorial Day so the only place to use is http://www.avisalaska.com/. We HAVE a reservation for this year as well and works out GREAT. We ALSO have had a reservation for Enterprise and they STILL have not sent us an email saying they will be closed for Memorial Day!! We have used AvisAlaska a couple of times and works out easy peasy. You take the cruise shuttle to Egan Center (or comparable) and then walk an easy block or two to the car rental. We are going to drive, again, towards the Seward Highway ( and all the beautiful views) along Beluga Point Lookout(have NOT seen Belugas) Windy Point where we ALWAYS see the Dahl sheep up on the rocks. We will go hiking at Bryon Glacier, visit the Wildlife Conservation Center in Girdwood as well as have a great time taking the Alyeska Aerial Tram to the top of the ski lift and get an awesome lunch and drink at the Bore Tide Deli. FUN day, easy and cheap to do on your own. You can also go on a great private excursion to see Portage Glacier on your own. LOTS to do, on your own, with the rental car. Usually a long day so should feel secure to get back in time. When we get back to Anchorage, drop off car, we go to have a quick drink at Glacier Brewhouse? in Anchorage before getting a free bus ride back to the cruise port. BOOK EARLY and watch for cheaper prices for the car rental. Have an awesome time!!

[sdschwrt]

What type of vehicle do they use for the cruise shuttle, a van, a tour is, a school bus? Do they also have an accessible shuttle to accommodate wheelchairs and is it equipped with a lift!

[Bookishcruiser]

Thank you, so much great info. Booked a car through Avis. Now sorting out the itinerary. Any other ideas would be great!