Alaska Denali National Park Accommodation | Tours

For additiiona tour package information please  refer to each individual National Park Tour Package.

Bed and Breakfast

Often referred to as a "B&B", is a lodging facility typically operated by the owner - and out of a small/large single family residence - where guests may be accommodated at night in private bedrooms - some with private bathroom - and where breakfast, often a full "American Style" with eggs, meats, cold cuts, cheese etc.. is served in the morning. Ratings are usually provided though local Bed and Breakfast Associations. Thus, rates are comparable with superior/moderate first class hotels.

Budget Hotels

These are mostly small Hotels, Inns and Motels providing basis amenities but very little more. The rooms tend to be smaller and the type of bedding is normally either one queen bed or a double bed or two single beds. Thus, most of the rooms are still providing a phone, refrigerator, air condition and/or safety deposit boxes in the room. Ample parking space is usually available. Hotel chains including: Sandman Inn, Travelodge or Quality Inns.

Superior Hotels

This is the typical hotel for the traveler that does not want to pay for excessive luxury, extra services, beautiful and spacious lobbies or room service availability but still want to have a fairly decent, clean and safe place to stay. This is the most common and popular hotel category with the largest accommodation selection within Alaska and Canada. Besides the basis amenities these hotels may feature jacuzzi, sauna, continental breakfasts etc.. These hotels are mainly used for our "superior self drive tour programs". Hotel chains including: Ramada Inn, Holiday Inn, Best Western Hotels and many other independently operated hotels.

First Class Hotels

A dependable and comfortable upscale hotel, lodge or resort with a wide variety of amenities such as pool, restaurant, sauna, hot tub, in-house services and comfortable public areas. large rooms provide private bath and many other amenities. Hotel chains including: Delta, Sheraton, Princess and Marriott Hotels.

Deluxe Hotels

The category includes definitely the best hotels and lodges available. In addition to the first class hotels these properties are providing: spacious ground floor lobbies, room service, concierge, valet parking, business centers, dry cleaning, bar, restaurant, and fitness or health club facilities. Each hotel must have a degree of sophistication and a sense of "grandeur". Service alone does not make it qualify as a 4/5 star hotel, it must feel like 5 stars. Hotel chains including: Fairmont, Sutton Place, Sheraton, Westin and Hilton Hotels

Lodges and Full Service Wilderness Resorts

Both are primarily full service establishments in mostly scenic destinations with a variety of guided/non guided outdoor activities. The facilities may include: restaurant, bar, front desk, large lobby, pool, hot tub, sauna, exercise room complex, on-site activity desk etc.. Modern suites, rooms, chalets or cabins are providing "hotel-style" lodging. Some of these lodges may be also categorized as deluxe properties with nightly rates exceeding easily $250.00 +. Other lodges are moderately priced. Lodges and resorts are partly used for various self-drive tour programs within Alaska and the Yukon Territory to enhance the outdoor experience of our clients. Very remote properties are including meals, all outdoor activities such as guided hiking, wildlife observation, private transfers etc..

Country Inns

Mainly located in prime countryside areas. Public and guest rooms are decorated with antique - or country style furniture, open fireplace and garden are standard features. Because of the remote locations some Inns may lack modern amenities such as internet access and TV reception. Most Inns are offering a dining area reflecting the ambience of the particular Inn. At a minimum, breakfast and dinner are served.

Cabins and Chalets

Usually completely self contained and located in a scenic and/or very remote wilderness location. Some are accessible by road, some others requiring a transfer by floatplane or boat (additional charge !) Basic kitchen facilities include propane gas fridge and stove, cutlery, dishes etc.. Cabins are heated by a fireplace, wood stove or with propane. Fishing, wildlife observation and hiking opportunities are usually excellent.

Additional Information

Almost every hotel booking web site, travel blog, tourism industry association, the hotel itself and various other government or private organizations are establishing and providing its own star other (internal) rating system. Accordingly, it is extremely difficult for a tour operator to establish a guiding system on its tours and packages. In addition Alaska (USA) provides a different rating system than for example the Yukon Territory (Canada)It further appears that "independent ratings" include anything from personal preferences to personality types e.g. - a view of the ocean or mountains from one persons window will make them inclined to ignore almost anything actually in the room - and to give a higher rating. Another person staying in the same room pulls the drapes to escape the glare and forms the opinion that the room is actually kind of dark and dingy

Alaska Self Drive Tours | FAQ

For additiiona tour package information please  refer to each individual Alaska Self DriveTour.

One Way Car Rental between Alaska and the Yukon Territory, Canada

We do not provide any one way rentals between Alaska (USA) and the Yukon Territory (Canada). Some government and insurance regulations do not permit such rentals

Custom Tours

All of our tours are flexible and you can add, modify or exchange nights in destinations to suit your timetable and preferred routing. Thus, sometimes it will be necessary to observe ferry schedules, national park opening/closing dates etc to match certain dates and/or departures. Please check also each itinerary online.

Bed and Breakfast

We can substitute our advertised superior hotel category with Bed and Breakfasts accommodation (breakfast included) for any of the advertised itineraries at the published superior hotel rate. Thus, Bed and Breakfast homes do not provide always private bathrooms.

Accommodation Choice

Each tour includes a choice of reserved superior (*** category) hotels or first class (**** category) hotels. If you have any special accommodation requirements we can certainly customize our advertised tours. Please contact us for advice and applicable rates. Hotel accommodation does not include breakfast or other meals - except as otherwise stated. Please Note: A large number clients and travel agencies are using our pages and travel ideas to plan their “own” customized tours. This is one of the reasons why we do not publish the hotel names for each trip on top of all travel planning information already included on our pages. If you have any particular question about accommodation, please contact us for further information. For additional information and addresses on hotels, lodges and resorts included in your railroad tour package, please check the individual tour package websites

Accommodation Choice

For additional information and addresses on hotels, lodges and resorts included in your railroad tour package, please check the individual tour package websites

Rental Cars

The rental of a compact car (automatic) is always included in all of our flex drive tour packages. Additional rental days or upgrade details and rates for mid and full size car, 6-15 person passenger vans or a sport utility vehicle (4x4) are available on each self-drive page. All upgrade rates are per car and not per person. Our advertised rates include also local taxes, free mileage, limited insurance coverage, airport concessionaire fees, roadside assistance and a 24-hour emergency support and roadside assistance. We also provide vehicle pick up of your choice on most downtown rental stations.

Self Drives VS Escorted Tours

This depends on your personal preference. Alaska and the Yukon are providing some good and scenic highway connections and driving is very easy. A rental car with individual reserved hotels are an independent way to discover the beauty of the northern wilderness areas and national parks: You can stop were you want, you have plenty of time for sightseeing off the beaten path and you are very flexible. Escorted tours are usually limited in flexibility because you are traveling with a group and fixed departures and routing.

Advance Reservation

If you travel during the high season from the middle/end of June until the end of August we recommend booking as early as possible to avoid disappointments with sold out situations in highly frequented national parks and gateways - because the northern tour season is very short. The same applies in/around national holidays. Any hotel accommodation, rentals cars and ferry space must be definitely booked well in advance. Thus, tour operator such as our company may still have space on a short notice. Accordingly it is well worth to contact us.

Travel Month

une and September are perfect months for a vacation in the Land of the Midnight Sun. The weather is usually stable and sunny with almost 24 hours of daylight. July and August are prime travel months and are obviously very busy.

Northern Lights

Because of the long daylight hours it is uncommon to see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) displays from mid May until the first half of September. The Aurora occurs mainly during the winter months from October – March/April. Please refer also to our winter touring program.

Services Included

Please refer to the appropriate tour page for a listing of included services. Our service generally includes the rental car of your choice, car insurance, accommodation, applicable local taxes, ferry trips as scheduled and if applicable, sightseeing tours as per itinerary, a detailed day-to-day tour description, highway or road logs. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Extras are</span>: Meals, highway tolls, gasoline, national parks or other entrance fees, additional sightseeing tours, premium and/or upgraded car insurances, airport car rental access fees.

Travelers with Disabilities

Each train has at least one rail car that this fully accessible to wheelchairs. A specially designed lift makes getting on and off the train easy and safe. There are also accessible restrooms on each of the accessible rail cars.

Comparing Rates

When you compare advertised rates and services online you'll learn sooner or later who actually provides the best cost/service ratio. Do not trust published "best rate guarantees" and other gimmicks. Please consider also the following: ► Check the websites for old and completely outdated rates, itineraries and contents ► Check the current terms and conditions to avoid problems if you have to cancel your trip for whatever reason. ► Do not trust the terms "locally owned etc." because some of these people do not even know the state and most of them are not even located near the US/Canada. ► Check for hidden charges such as reservation fees. ► Make sure the mandatory sales and state taxes are included - because this could increase the amount you pay by up to 12 %. ► Check the hotel category and rental car standards because older cars are cheaper. At this point you are able to make a decision for one or the other tour operator. Thus, you may still ask yourself if you could organize a particular tour cheaper.... Probably not because tour operator receive usually a much lower and/or preferred rate than any individual person or travel agency. In addition you may spend a significant amount of time to find the right products, to contact each individual supplier and wait for a response, exchange important information and to get still professional assistance and advise for the complete tour package because a package includes a variety of components. So can certainly book hotels through Expedia, Travelocity or other global players but this does not guarantee the best rate, a larger hotel selection or any other savings nor the success of your holidays.