Best way to see Alaska?

Question

I am looking to take a trip to Alaska and was looking for feedback on the best way to travel and see Alaska (i.e. Cruise, rent-a-car, RV, train, etc.)

Thank you!

Karl

Answer 1

First off, there is no reason you can't combine mode of transit in one trip and reap the benefits of each which I see as:

Cruise: Minimal planning on your part, no need to navigate or drive, gorgeous costal scenery, many on-shore excursions offered ($$!), 7 square meals a day , all the shipboard amenities, can be combined with airfare and/or land tours. But is limited to SE AK ("inside passage") and/or Prince William Sound which are gorgeous but a small fraction of the state.

Rent-a-car (presumably out of Anchorage): Cheapest option (if you car camp) and let's you get to Denali NP, Fairbanks, Kenai, Seward, Homer, Valdez, etc. Check the mileages - I enjoy doing the 500 miles from Kenai to Fairbanks in a day, but I'm a serious road warrior. You have the most flexibility and can set your own schedule. But if it is rainy or cold you can feel cooped up (unlike on a train or ship). You also have the burden/pleasure of doing all the driving and the pre-trip planning. Consider the off-airport off-brands like rent-a-wreck if price is important to you.

RVing is the most flexible but gas prices are running $2.29 (ANC) to $2.59 (rural) and will likely be $0.20 more in summer. If it replaces your hotel bills and most of your restuarant costs you can come out ahead, especially for a family. Definitely nicer than car camping if there's rain or mosquitos. Fred Meyers and WallMart let you park for free in their lots. Hardly a wilderness experience but a cheap way to see the sites in Anchorage, Soldotna, and Fairbanks. Driving an RV is not very relaxing unless you have experience with bigger rigs.

The Alaskan Railraod is a great way to get from Anchorage to Denali and on to Fairbanks. Partly because you are 12-15 feet up and you have better views of the scenery and wildlife. You can also get to Seward or Whittier (could connect with a cruise) on the RR. Good if you want no driving responsibilities and need a way to connect the bigger destinations.

If you are considering a cruise, you probably wouldn't consider hitchhiking (which works better up here than in the 48 states).

Fly-in camps are mostly oriented to hunting and fishing. They are expensive but offer the hunter-gatherer wannabe opportunities unlike anything back home.

Another option you didn't mention is the Alaska State Ferry. It can take you throughout SE AK and for cheap! You can start in Bellingham, WA and go as far as Haines easily with a few ships each summer all the way to Whittier, Seward and Homer. A one-way ticket gives you unlimited time at every stop (just grab the next ferry going in your direction). You'd still have land costs (and no swimming pool, casino, floor shows, etc while on board), but you get to see the same scenery, whales and eagles that people pay Princess Cruises thousands of dollars for.

Most of the state is not accessible by any of the above modes - you need to hop Alaska Airlines or Pennair to Nome, Barrow, Bethel, Kotz, etc and then charter a boat or small plane from there. But for a first trip to AK, stick to the Inside Passage and/or the road system. There's a wealth of spectacular things to see and do, plenty to keep you busy for many weeks. On future trips, you'll have your bearings and be able to focus on what most interests you.

My personal favorite is a road-trip/car-camping and to travel the whole Alaskan Highway ("Alcan") to get up here. Then you really have an appreciation of how fricking big even a 1/4 of the state is and how far (physically, culturally, scenically, climatically, politically) it is from the 48 states. While I've done it in 51 hours from Seattle, you really need a week in each direction plus the time you'll spend in AK at Denali NP, etc.

Answer 2

The only way to "See Alaska" is by RV. You are not tied down to anyones itinerary, unless you travel by a caravan.

My wife and I took this trip last year and can't wait to go back in 2008. We own a 35' diesel powered motorhome and would trade our trip for any guided trip, cruise or caravan.

We researched this for over a year and still didn't have all the information we could have had. There is a book published yearly, the Milepost, that has most everything you need to know about traveling the Alaskan Highway. We purchased this book from Amazon.com since it was half price. Another good book is Frommers Alaska Travel series. This book has all the sites you can see. No book will be 100% correct as all the data will be one year old when it's purchased.

We decided to travel to Alaska early, May, and miss some of the crowds. We saw very few vehicles on the road all the way to White Horse,Yukon Territory. This is a good place to stay for a few days for sightseeing. A day trip to Skagway, Alaska is possible. We drove down, in our little Saturn, on May 15th and followed a snow plow. It's always good to have a towed vehicle behind you. Road services are available, but we believe in being prepared.

If you have the time take several months for this trip. If you spend 2 months in Alaska, you have driven too fast. We spent 5 months and would have spent more but we had commitments in Florida.

You may rent an RV in Alaska for your travels, but that can be expensive, $100+ per day with a mileage limit. The you have to get to Alaska to rent it. Many Europeans do this since London and Paris are closer to Anchorage than Miami is.

I could spend all day explaining the pluses for RVing to Alaska. E-mail me & I'll give you any and all the info you need.

By the way my wife & I are in our mid 60's. My wife is hadicapped, if we can do anyone can.

Answer 3

I would suggest a Land Tour/Cruise from Holland America or Princess. With the proper Land Tour/Cruise configuration you can see with beauty of Alaska, and perhaps, the Yukon.

You sit back and enjoy the beauty. This could include train, boat, plane, coach, ship---depending of the package.

It is very difficult to see the beauty of Alaska with just a cruise because you are so limited with the time that you have in port.

There are very afforable 10 to 14 days land tour/cruises available.

Answer 4

I drove the Alaskan Highway from Toms River, New Jersey. Upon reaching Alaska, I drove up and down the state and camped along the way stopping at various places such as Denali and the road to the Arctic circle and all the way down to Homer and Seward. It was 5,000 each way and the trip to remember forever.

Answer 5

Princess Cruises is the number one provider of Alaskan cruises and land tours.

Answer 6

four years ago we went on a cruise, it was totally amazing the watching the whales, the wildlife etc. . .