Fodo_9780876371770_p10

Essentials

Accommodations

Off-season hotel rates are often much lower, but most travelers prefer to visit Alaska in summer, when days are long and temperatures are mild. During shoulder season (May and September) travelers may find slightly lower rates, but some businesses and attractions may be closed. Camping is always an option, and, if you’re willing to sleep in bunks you can check out the state’s many hostels, some of which have family rooms.

Bed-and-Breakfasts

Nearly every Alaskan town (with the exception of most Bush villages) has at least one B&B, and dozens of choices are available in the larger cities. At last count, Anchorage had more than 175 B&Bs, including modest suburban apartments, elaborate showcase homes with dramatic vistas, and everything in between.

Reservation Services

Alaska Private Lodgings/Stay with a Friend.
907/235–2148 | www.alaskabandb.com.

Alaska’s Mat-Su Bed & Breakfast Association.
www.alaskabnbhosts.com.

Anchorage Alaska Bed & Breakfast Association.
907/272–5909, 888/584–5147 | www.anchorage-bnb.com.

Bed & Breakfast Association of Alaska.
www.alaskabba.com.

Bed & Breakfast Association of Alaska, INNside Passage Chapter.
www.accommodations-alaska.com.

Fairbanks Association of Bed & Breakfasts.
www.ptialaska.net/~fabb.

Kenai Peninsula Bed & Breakfast Association.
www.kenaipeninsulabba.com.

Hotels

Alaskan motels and hotels are similar in quality to those in the Lower 48 states. Most motels are independent, but you’ll find the familiar chains (Best Western, Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Hampton Inn, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Marriott, Motel 6, Super 8, and Sheraton, among others) in Anchorage.

Westmark Hotels is a regional chain, owned by cruise-tour operator Holland America Westours, with hotels in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, Tok, and Valdez in Alaska, plus Beaver Creek, Dawson City, and Whitehorse in Canada’s Yukon Territory.

Princess Tours owns a luxury hotel in Fairbanks and lodges outside Denali National Park, near Denali State Park, near Wrangell–St. Elias National Park, and on the Kenai Peninsula. All hotels listed have private bath unless otherwise noted.

Wilderness Lodges

To get away from it all, book a lodge with rustic accommodations in the middle of breathtaking Alaskan wilderness. Some of the most popular are in the river drainages of Bristol Bay, throughout the rugged islands of Southeast Alaska, and along the Susitna River north of Anchorage.

Some lodge stays include daily guided fishing trips as well as all meals. They can be astronomically expensive (daily rates of $250–$1,000 per person and up, plus airfare), so if you’re not interested in fishing, avoid these.

Lodges in and near Denali National Park emphasize the great outdoors, and some even include wintertime dogsledding. Activities focus on hiking, rafting, flightseeing, horseback riding, and natural-history walks. For getting deep into the wilderness, these lodges are an excellent alternative to the hotels and cabins outside the park entrance.

Eating Out

Alaska is best known for its seafood, particularly king salmon, halibut, king crab, and shrimp, and you’ll find fine seafood on the menu in virtually any coastal Alaskan town. At the open-air (and often all-you-can-eat) salmon bakes in Juneau, Tok, Denali National Park and Preserve, and Fairbanks, you can expect excellent grilled salmon and halibut.

Anchorage has the greatest diversity of restaurants, including classy steak houses, noisy brewpubs, authentic Thai and Mexican eateries, and a wide variety of other ethnic places.

Paying

Credit cards are widely accepted in resort restaurants and in many restaurants in major towns like Anchorage. Many small towns have only one or two eateries; some establishments may not take credit cards.

Reservations and Dress

During summer high season make reservations as soon as and wherever possible, especially in the Southeast. We specifically mention reservations only when they are essential or when they are not accepted. For popular restaurants, book as far ahead as you can (often 30 days), and reconfirm as soon as you arrive.

Alaska is a casual place. Cruise ships are probably the only places you’ll encounter formal wear, though some of the pricier lodges may have dress codes for dinner. We mention dress only when men are required to wear a jacket or a jacket and tie.

Wines, Beer, and Spirits

Alcohol is sold at liquor stores in most towns and cities along the road system, as well as in settlements along the Inside Passage. Alcoholism is a devastating problem in Native villages, and because of this many of these Bush communities are “dry” (no alcohol allowed) or “damp” (limited amounts allowed for personal use, but alcohol cannot be sold). Check the rules before flying into a Bush community with alcohol, or you might find yourself charged with illegally importing it.

Alaska’s many excellent microbreweries include the Glacier BrewHouse, Silver Gulch Brewing & Bottling Co., Sleeping Lady Brewing Company, Kodiak Brewery, and the Moose’s Tooth Brewing Co. The state’s best-known beer, Alaskan Amber, is made by Alaskan Brewing Company in Juneau.

Anchorage is home to several popular brewpubs, and their beers are sold in local liquor stores. Homer Brewing Company in the town of Homer sells its beers in local bars or in take-away bottles. You’ll also find brewpubs in Fairbanks, Haines, Skagway, and Wasilla.

Holidays

In addition to the standard nationwide holidays, Alaska celebrates two statewide holidays: Alaska Day (October 18), celebrating the transfer of the state’s ownership from Russia to the United States; and Seward’s Day (last Monday in March), which marks the signing of the treaty that authorized the transfer. Although these are not major holidays, some businesses may be closed, particularly in Sitka.

Money

Because of its off-the-beaten-path location, Alaska has always been an expensive travel destination. Major roads link Anchorage with Fairbanks and other cities and towns in South Central and Interior Alaska, but most other parts of the state are accessible only by air or water. This is even true of Alaska’s state capital, Juneau. Costs in Anchorage and Fairbanks are only slightly higher than for Lower 48 cities, and you will find discount chain stores, but as you head to more remote parts of the state, prices escalate. In Bush communities food, lodging, and transportation costs can be far higher than in Anchorage, since nearly everything must be brought in by air.

Packing

Befitting the frontier image, dress is mostly casual day and night. Unless you’re on a cruise, pack just one outfit that’s appropriate for “dress-up” (though even this one set of nice togs probably won’t be necessary).

For Winter

Not all of Alaska has the fierce winters usually associated with the state. Winter in the Southeast and South Central coastal regions is relatively mild—Chicago and Minneapolis experience harsher weather than Juneau. But it’s a different story in the Interior, where temperatures in the subzero range and biting winds keep most visitors indoors.

The best way to keep warm is to wear layers of clothing, starting with thermal underwear and socks. The outermost layer should be lightweight, windproof, rainproof, and hooded. Down jackets (and sleeping bags) and cotton clothing have the disadvantage of becoming soggy when wet; the newer synthetics (particularly wind-blocking fabrics) are the materials of choice. Footgear needs to be sturdy, and if you’re going into the backcountry, be sure it’s waterproof. Rubber boots are often a necessity in coastal areas, where rain is a year-round reality. When wearing snow boots, be certain they are not too tight. Restricting your circulation will only make you colder.

For Summer

Summer travelers should pack plenty of layers, too. Although Alaskan summers are mild, temperatures can vary greatly through the course of a day.

The summer months are infamous for the sometimes dense clouds of mosquitoes and other biting insects. These pests are generally the worst in Interior Alaska but can be an annoyance throughout the state. Bring mosquito repellent with DEET. Also occasionally used (but less effective) is the Avon product Skin So Soft. Mosquito coils may be of some help if you are camping or staying in remote cabins. Head nets are sold in local sporting-goods stores and are a wise purchase if you plan to spend extended time outdoors, particularly in the Interior or on Kodiak Island.

Other Considerations

Wherever you go in Alaska (and especially in the Southeast), be prepared for rain. To keep dry, pack a collapsible umbrella or bring a rain slicker, as sudden storms are common.

Always bring good UVA/UVB sunscreen with you on outings, even if the temperature is cool. Sunglasses are also essential, especially for visits to glaciers. A pair of binoculars will help you track any wildlife you encounter.

Passports

U.S. citizens of all ages traveling between the United States and other countries by air need to present a valid U.S. passport.

All American citizens now need either a passport (for all modes of travel and for anywhere in the world) or a passport card (for land or sea travel only between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean).

Note that parents traveling with small children should bring photocopies of their children’s birth certificates to avoid any problems.

U.S. Passport Information

U.S. Department of State.
877/487–2778 | travel.state.gov/passport.

Safety

Alaska does have a high crime rate, but that doesn’t mean it’s unsafe for tourists.

Women are generally safe in Alaska, but sexual assaults do occur at an alarming rate, so a little extra caution is in order when traveling alone. Common sense is enough of a safeguard in most cases: don’t hike in secluded areas alone, be sure to keep your hotel room door locked, don’t accept drinks from strangers, and take cabs if you’re returning to your hotel late at night. Some of the middle-of-nowhere work towns can resemble frontier towns a little too much, and women may experience unwanted attention (catcalls and the like).

In addition to following the bear-safety rules, women who are camping during their menstrual cycle should take extra care in how they dispose of feminine hygiene products—seal them tightly in plastic bags and store them in bear-proof containers.

Outdoor Safety

Alaska is big, wild, and not particularly forgiving, so travelers lacking outdoor experience need to take precautions when venturing away from the beaten path. If you lack backcountry skills or feel uncomfortable handling yourself if a bear should approach, hire a guide, go on guided group tours, or join a class at the National Outdoor Leadership School, which is based in Palmer (one hour north of Anchorage).

Education

National Outdoor Leadership School.
907/745–4047, 800/710–6657 | www.nols.edu.

Bears

The sight of one of these magnificent creatures in the wild can be a highlight of your visit. By respecting bears and exercising care in bear country, neither you nor the bear should suffer from the experience. Remember that bears don’t like surprises. Make your presence known by talking, singing, clapping, rattling a can full of gravel, or tying a bell to your pack, especially when terrain or vegetation obscures views. Travel with a group, which is noisier and easier for bears to detect. If possible, walk with the wind at your back so your scent will warn bears of your presence. And avoid bushy, low-visibility areas whenever possible.

Give bears the right-of-way—lots of it—especially sows with cubs. Don’t camp on animal trails; they’re likely to be used by bears. If you come across a carcass of an animal or detect its odor, avoid the area entirely; it’s likely a bear’s food cache. Store all food and garbage away from your campsite in specially designed bear-proof containers (not just airtight ones not designed with bears in mind—there’s a chance bears will be able to detect and open them). The Park Service supplies these for hikers in Denali and Glacier Bay national parks and requires that backcountry travelers use them. If a bear approaches you while you are fishing, stop. If you have a fish on your line, cut your line.

If you do encounter a bear at close range, don’t panic, and, above all, don’t run. You can’t outrun a bear, and by fleeing you could trigger a chase response from the bear. Talk in a normal voice to help identify yourself as a human. If traveling with others, stand close together to “increase your size.” If the bear charges, it could be a bluff; as terrifying as this may sound, the experts advise standing your ground. If a brown bear actually touches you, then drop to the ground and play dead, flat on your stomach with your legs spread and your hands clasped behind your head. If you don’t move, a brown bear will typically break off its attack once it feels the threat is gone. If you are attacked by a black bear, you are better off fighting back with rocks, sticks, or anything else you find, since black bears are more likely to attack a person as prey. Polar bears can be found in remote parts of the Arctic, but tourists are highly unlikely to encounter them in summer.

For more information on bears, ask for the brochure “Bear Facts: The Essentials for Traveling in Bear Country” from any of the Alaska Public Lands offices (www.nps.gov/aplic). Bear-safety information is also available on the Internet at www.state.ak.us/adfg.

Taxes

Alaska does not impose a state sales tax, but individual cities and boroughs have their own taxes. (Anchorage has no sales tax.) In addition to local taxes, a hotel tax is often applied to your hotel bill. Rates are variable, generally ranging 2%–6%.

You won’t have to pay any departure taxes if you’re flying within the United States. Vancouver’s airport has a departure tax of C$5 for flights within British Columbia and the Yukon or C$10 to U.S. destinations, payable at automatic ticket machines or staffed booths before you board your flight.

Time

Nearly all of Alaska lies within the Alaska time zone, 20 hours behind Sydney, nine hours behind London, four hours behind New York City, three hours behind Chicago, and one hour behind Los Angeles and western Canada. The nearly unpopulated Aleutian Islands are in the same time zone as Hawaii, five hours behind the East Coast. Alaska observes daylight saving time and changes its clocks along with the Lower 48.

Tipping

In addition to tipping waiters and waitresses, taxi drivers, and baggage handlers, tipping others who provide personalized services is common in Alaska. Tour-bus drivers who offer a particularly informative trip generally receive a tip from passengers at the end of the tour. Fishing guides are commonly tipped around 10% by their clients, particularly if the guide helped them land a big one. In addition, gratuities may also be given to pilots following a particularly good flightseeing or bear-viewing trip; use your discretion.

Tours

For certain types of travelers, package tours in Alaska can eliminate some of the guesswork and logistics-induced headaches that often accompany a self-planned tour. For others, the grandeur of the 49th state begs to be explored without such a fixed itinerary. The choice, dear Alaska traveler, is yours.

Several cruise lines—including Holland America, Royal Caribbean International, and Princess Cruises—offer “cruisetours” that combine the comforts of cruise-ship travel with inland forays to luxury lodges. A host of smaller tour companies offer package tours as well. Standouts include Alaska Tours, which offers tours in almost every corner of the state; and Alaska Railroad Scenic Rail Tours, which operates a variety of train-based tours between the state’s iconic destinations, including Seward, Denali, and Kenai Fjords. In addition, chances are good that there’s a tour operation with itineraries to match your needs and interests—whatever those may be.

Organization

United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA).
212/599–6599 | www.ustoa.com.

Recommended Companies

Alaska Airlines Vacations.
800/468–2248 | www.alaskaair.com/shopping/vacations.

Alaska Bound.
231/439–3000, 888/252–7527 | www.alaskabound.com.

Alaska Railroad Scenic Rail Tours.
907/265–2494, 800/544–0552 | www.alaskarailroad.com.

Alaska Tour & Travel.
907/245–0200, 800/208–0200 | www.alaskatravel.com.

Alaska Tours.
907/277–3000, 866/317–3325 | www.alaskatours.com.

Alaska Wildland Adventures.
907/783–2928, 800/334–8730 | www.alaskawildland.com.

Gray Line of Alaska.
907/277–5581, 888/425–1737 | www.graylinealaska.com.

Holland America Line.
877/932–4259 | www.hollandamerica.com.

Homer Travel & Tours.
907/235–7751, 800/478–7751.

Knightly Tours.
206/938–8567, 800/426–2123 | knightlytours.com.

Princess Cruises.
800/774–6237 | www.princess.com.

Royal Caribbean International.
866/562-7625 | www.royalcaribbean.com.

Viking Travel, Inc.
907/772–3818, 800/327–2571 | www.alaskaferry.com.

Special-Interest Tours

Ecotours

Contact

Alaska Wildland Adventures.
907/783–2928, 800/334–8730 | www.alaskawildland.com.

Learning Vacations

Contacts

Earthwatch Institute.
978/461–0081, 800/776–0188 | www.earthwatch.org.

National Audubon Society.
212/979–3000, 800/274–4201, 907/276–7034 Audubon Alaska | www.audubon.org.

Natural Habitat Adventures.
303/449–3711, 800/543–8917 | www.nathab.com.

Nature Expeditions International.
800/869–0639, 954/693–8852 | www.naturexp.com.

Naturequest.
800/369–3033 | www.naturequesttours.com.

Sierra Club.
415/977–5500 | www.sierraclub.org.

Smithsonian Journeys.
877/338–8687 | www.smithsonianjourneys.org.

Native Tours

Contacts

Alexander’s River Adventure.
907/474–3924 | fairbanks-alaska.com/alexander.htm.

Cape Fox Tours.
907/225–4846 | www.capefoxtours.com.

Goldbelt.
888/820–2628, 907/463–3412 | www.goldbelttours.com.

Northern Alaska Tour Company.
907/474–8600, 800/474–1986 | www.northernalaska.com.

Sitka Tribal Tours.
907/747–7290, 888/270–8687 | www.sitkatours.com.

Natural History Tours

Contacts

Camp Denali.
907/683–2290 | www.campdenali.com.

Great Alaska International Adventure Vacations.
800/544–2261, 907/262–4515 summer, 360/697–6454 winter | www.greatalaska.com.

Hallo Bay Bear Camp.
907/235–2237, 888/535–2237 | www.hallobay.com.

Photography Tours

Contacts

Alaska Photography Tours.
907/781–2208, 888/440–2281 | www.alaskaphotographytours.com.

Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris.
206/463–5383 | www.photosafaris.com.

Jividen’s Naturally Wild Photo Adventures.
740/774–6243 | www.naturallywild.net.

Trip Insurance

Comprehensive trip insurance is valuable if you’re booking a very expensive or complicated trip (particularly to an isolated region) or if you’re booking far in advance. Comprehensive policies typically cover trip cancellation and interruption, letting you cancel or cut your trip short because of a personal emergency, illness, or, in some cases, acts of terrorism in your destination. Such policies also cover evacuation and medical care. Some also cover you for trip delays because of bad weather or mechanical problems as well as for lost or delayed baggage.

Another type of coverage to look for is financial default—that is, when your trip is disrupted because a tour operator, airline, or cruise line goes out of business. Generally you must buy this when you book your trip or shortly thereafter, and it’s only available to you if your operator isn’t on a list of excluded companies.

Always read the fine print of your policy to make sure that you are covered for the risks that are of most concern to you. Compare several policies to make sure you’re getting the best price and range of coverage available.

Comprehensive Travel Insurers

Access America.
800/284–8300 | www.accessamerica.com.

AIG Travel Guard.
800/826–4919 | www.travelguard.com.

CSA Travel Protection.
800/348–9505 | www.csatravelprotection.com.

HTH Worldwide.
610/254–8700 | www.hthworldwide.com.

Travelex Insurance.
800/228–9792 | www.travelex-insurance.com.

Travel Insured International.
800/243–3174 | www.travelinsured.com.

Insurance Comparison Sites

Insure My Trip.com.
800/487–4722 | www.insuremytrip.com.

Square Mouth.com.
800/240–0369, 727/564–9203 | www.squaremouth.com.

Visitor Information

The Alaska Travel Industry Association (a partnership between the state and private businesses) publishes the Alaska Vacation Planner, a free, comprehensive information source for statewide travel year-round. Alaska’s regional tourism councils distribute vacation planners highlighting their local attractions.

Get details on Alaska’s vast public lands from Alaska Public Lands Information centers in Ketchikan, Tok, Anchorage, and Fairbanks.

British Columbia and Yukon

Tourism British Columbia.
800/435–5622 | www.hellobc.com.

Tourism Yukon.
800/661–0494 | www.travelyukon.com.

Regional Information

Kenai Convention & Visitors Bureau.
907/283–1991 | www.visitkenai.com.

Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marketing Council.
907/262–5229, 800/535–3624 | www.kenaipeninsula.org.

Southeast Alaska Discovery Center.
907/228–6220 | www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/discoverycenter.

Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference.
907/562–7380 | www.southwestalaska.com.

Statewide Information

Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
907/465–4100 Juneau | www.state.ak.us/adfg.

Alaska Division of Parks.
907/269–8400 Anchorage, 907/451–2705 Fairbanks | www.alaskastateparks.org.

Alaska Public Lands Information Centers.
866/869–6887, 907/644–3661 in Anchorage, 907/459–3730 in Fairbanks, 907/228–6220 in Ketchikan, 907/883–5667 in Tok | www.alaskacenters.gov.

Alaska Travel Industry Association.
907/929–2200, 800/862–5275 to order Alaska Vacation Planner | www.travelalaska.com.

Online Travel Tools

Alaska.com is a subsidiary of the Anchorage Daily News and has travel features, photo galleries, and a service that allows you to order a variety of brochures and e-newsletters. Alaska Department of Fish and Game has tips on wildlife viewing, news on conservation issues, and information about fishing and hunting licenses and regulations. Alaska Geographic has links to sites with information on the state’s public lands, national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges, as well as an online bookstore, where you can find maps and books about the Alaskan experience. Alaska Magazine posts some of its feature stories online and maintains an extensive statewide events calendar. Alaska Native Heritage Center has information on Alaska’s Native tribes, as well as links to other cultural and tourism websites.

Contact

Alaska.com.
www.alaska.com.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
www.adfg.alaska.gov.

Alaska Geographic.
www.alaskageographic.org.

Alaska Magazine.
www.alaskamagazine.com.

Alaska Native Heritage Center.
www.alaskanative.net.

Previous Chapter | Beginning of Chapter | Table of Contents