How to Find Cheap Hotels in Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage, Alaska is a city caught between two worlds. On the one hand, you can walk down the block to your favorite fast food restaurant. On the other hand, a bear or moose might come up behind you and eat the crumbs. Engage your senses and visit America's last true wilderness.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Computer with Internet access to book accommodations online

Know Your Destination

1. Look to the sky when you arrive in Anchorage; the surrounding mountains dominate this beautiful city. Immense peaks are just a stone's throw from the city center, and contribute to much of its mystique.

2. Be ready for some serious winter conditions. Anchorage (and Alaska in general) can be incredibly and prohibitively cold. Summer temperatures rarely get about 70 degrees F, while winter temperatures plummet below zero. Prepare yourself for some serious chills.

Getting Around

1. Take a van service to reach some of the outlying areas surrounding Anchorage. Van services are relatively inexpensive and can transport you to quite nearly anywhere in the state.

2. Fly into Anchorage International Airport for the easiest access to the city. Flights arrive from a variety of carriers and nations daily, and they are relatively affordable, particularly for domestic fares.

3. Ride the Denali Express, a train running through Denali National Park and Fairbanks daily.

Find Accommodations

1. To book accommodations, contact Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau at [phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources below).

2. Look for locally owned bed and breakfasts. They offer not only cheap accommodations, but terrific local atmosphere and decor. Many have views of lakes, woods or other naturally beautiful scenery. The most inexpensive of these will cost between $60 and $100 during winter.

3. Stay near Delaney Park in downtown Anchorage. Quality mid-range hotels and motels run by national chains abound, as do quaint nearby coffee shops.

4. Consider staying at a hotel near the airport, on the city's western tip. These are usually cheap and have a high turnover rate. Rooms aren't hard to come by.

5. Consider renting one of Alaska's 200 public use cabins, available through the Parks Service, Forest Service, or Bureau of Land Management. The cabins don't have many amenities, but they are cheap and scattered throughout the state.

6. Look for accommodations on the outskirts of Anchorage to secure a cheap rate. East and south Anchorage are your best bets.

Tips & Warnings

• International travelers should take care to learn the packing and customs requirements before coming to Anchorage, Alaska. Travel and security restrictions place bans on items that might seem commonplace, so be sure you have the most current information you can get.