opinions, please!

I have just started researching and reading, so please forgive if this is a stupid question.

If you had free tickets to Anchorage or Seattle via frequent flyer miles, and only one week: would you

1. Fly to Anchorage and do that area

2. Fly to Anchorage and try to get over to do inner passage via Marine Hwy Ferry

2. Fly to Seattle and head north on the Marine Hwy Ferry

We are very interested in that ferry but unsure about the logistics. For one thing, how long does a trip take? (obviously based on how much you get off and on, I know)

If we do reserve a stateroom, are we guaranteed a chair at least? Will they sell more tickets than they have chairs?

We want to see scenery, marine wildlife, birds, and a glacier. We are aware AK is expensive but would like to do budget as much as possible.

Don%26#39;t know that it matters but we are coming from Maryland

thanks! pokemom

opinions, please!

If I had two free tickets, I would fly to Anchorage, stay there the first night - you%26#39;ll go thru 4 times zones, so you%26#39;ll be tired. I would then rent a car, head to Denali Park for 2-3 days, and then I would head back south, heading to the Kenai Peninsula, staying in Seward for at least 2 days, and then down to Homer for a day or 2 and then back to Anchorage for your flight home. While in Seward, I would do the boat trip to see the marine mammals/birds and also visit the Sea Life center as well as Exit glacier. Okay - this is an extremely rough draft with no details, but those are the areas I would look at visiting. You could always alter where you go once you figure out your basic time here, and where you really want to go. There are many glaciers to see, and lots of boat trips you can take, too.

You didn%26#39;t mention when you would be coming, as they would influence where you visit/stay as well. I just don%26#39;t think you would have time to take the ferry . . . . and by beginning with the land tour, but seeing plenty of ocean, you could really do %26amp; see what you are desiring. Also, when you figure out where you want to go, we can help you with the budgeting part - Alaska trips don%26#39;t have to break the bank. I hope that helps a bit. Good luck!

opinions, please!

Thank you! So far we are flexible about dates, but I%26#39;ve heard May is a good time to visit. We are leaving the kids at home so don%26#39;t have to work around school schedule so much. It is probably easier to go when they are in school

Yes, give me your best budget tips. We%26#39;ve missed the biggest moneysaver of all which is my cousin who lived in AK for ten years has now moved so we dont%26#39; have free car and hotel

I appreciate all advice, so thanks!

So little time, so much state......

Only one week, but WOW free airline tickets.......I agree with Coalminer, his suggestions make the best use of your time....

But I can also answer your questions about the ferry......

It leaves from Bellingham Washington (there is a shuttle bus from the airport in Seattle)......

It takes 3 days to reach Juneau, with stops in Wrangell and Ketchikan along the way.....Once in Juneau you have the option to transfer to another ferry to continue across the sound to Cordova, Valdez and Seward,

Or if you can stay on your first ferry and continue on to Haines and Skagway.......

Cabins are two sizes, either two bunks, or 4 bunks......with bath (shower, toilet) or without (public restrooms and showers down the hall).....the cabins each have a chair, closet area, sink, and linens......try to get a cabin with a window.....really quite comfortable......

There are many public seating areas on the ferry boats, probably seating for twice as many passengers as are allowed on board.....you don%26#39;t need to reserve seats......the views are spectacular from every part of the ship and there are often ranger led programs that are very educational........ there are snackbars or cafeterias on all the ferries, the Columbia which does the Bellingham to Skagway run, even has a formal restaurant, there are coin op ice machines and laundry facilities and a microwave in the snackbar that is free to use if you have brought your own food......There is a small bar that has a good supply of board games (on the off chance that you should get bored )........

The real adventurous passengers sleep on the top deck in tents to save money......the tents must be taken down during the day so that all the passengers can enjoy the views from the top deck.......

The state ferry system is wonderful and a vital link to the communities here in Southeast Alaska......I recommend it to all, but you really need the a little more time......

Hello again, pokemom! Well, I wouldn%26#39;t come here in early May - nothing really opens for the tourist season until the middle of May. For in my neck of the woods, there is still snow in places. . . it doesn%26#39;t really get green until early June, so if you are wanting to see flowers, etc., you won%26#39;t. So don%26#39;t plan on Denali until that later half of May if you are planning on Denali as a part of your time in Alaska.. Mid-June is my favorite time up here, but you need to do what works best for you. The rest of the state will be green and lovely, depending on our winter.

As far as budget goes, camping is obviously the cheapest way to travel - our lodging prices double in the summer . . . so you will really want to shop around. I usually recommend cabins or B%26amp;B%26#39;s for most folks visiting as you will get breakfast and/or can prepare meals, which will really save on your overall costs, and it%26#39;s often cheaper than staying in many of the hotels. I usually recommend most people to get their snack food and such in Anchorage when they arrive, as that will save you lots of $$ as well. I would be happy to recommend some places in our local area as well, if you are interested.

Let us know how else we can help. Good luck! :)

WoW,!?!?! I saw this post yesterday, and I wanted to reply ahd just recom. that you search all of coalminers%26#39; stuff, but then I knew that I could not resist putting in aplug for that ';other state'; of SE Ak.!?! So, today we see that this has not only been done but mombear has done a good job on the SE., and Coalminer has actually done what I might have added; the caveat that you are running a bit early for the ';Main State';!?

Sooo, Here is my never humble, [but always honest!?!?!] opinion!

Ignore the advice of Mombear, only at your own peril!?!?!, and try to do all of just the SE, in only one week!?!?, and then...........! we will have you all hooked on our fair state for the rest of your natural life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND you will be sitting in that office, scheeming on how to spend a lot more time in this paradise, the next time you have a few ';air miles to squander'; to ';do'; some far flung place on that globe!?!? caveat samplar! DD

Great, thank you so much!

Looks like Anchorage, Denali, Seward, Homer in late May or early June (depending on flights, work schedules and babysitter Grandma%26#39;s availability)

If we are going to do a cruise is Prince William Sound very very different than Kenai? Will we see glaciers calving in both?

Will we likely see bears (albeit far away) in Denali or do we have to do one of those bear trips to see them?

Is that a good time of year to do a river raft trip in Denali or are we going to freeze our little assets off?

Do we overnight in Homer or daytrip from Seward?

I%26#39;m thinking about hostels but could do bed %26amp; breakfasts- your favorite in Seward? Denali?

Rent a car for the whole time?

Off to read some more posts!

thanks!

Dear Pokemom, I have read the other posts, but from a pure get-the-most-out-of-your-tickets perspective, go to Anchorage. You can always find a deal to Seattle on your own dime. For a week in Alaska, head to Denali, but go via Hatcher Pass and stop at Independence Mine and the Musk ox farm. Spend a day in Denali. Reserve your bus passes far in advance. The trip to Wonder lake takes 11 hours, but is worth it. You cannot stay in the park, but we really liked the Denali Mountain Morning Hostel(not really a hostel, but quite nice and affordable cabins on the river).Then drive across the fantastic Denali highway to Glennallen, and then to Valdez. Take the ferry across Prince William Sound to Whittier/Portage(again, reserve in advance). Drive to Seward and take the boat trip into the fjords( you must use Kenai Fjords tours and stay at Fox Island....and the tour must go all the way to Northwest Glacier) If you still have time try to go to Homer, but avoid wasting any time in Seward, itself. As per the others, wait until June. Have a great trip!

Hello again - glad to see this thread growing . . . I do agree with Dbigfoot - SE is incredibly beautiful . . . . just difficult to see it all here in a week. Yes, you will need to rent a car - train is lovely, but limiting and more expensive.

Actually, you can stay in Denali Park (www.nps.gov/dena) - either via camping at the campgrounds OR there are some accommodations in the Kantishna area . . . but they aren%26#39;t really for the budget minded, though they do offer an very unique experience. Check out Camp Denali (www.campdenali.com), Skyline Lodge is actually more affordable for most folks and it%26#39;s new (www.katair.com/skyline), Kantishna Roadhouse.

Yes, you can do a raft trip - the plus is that early in the season is usually very sunny . . . and the best companies use dry suits, so your assets should be fine. :) I recommend Denali Outdoor center for raft trips in our area - best reputation on the river.

Here is our local chamber page featuring most of the accommodations that aren%26#39;t listed via expedia or hotel.com: www.denalichamber.com For hotels, I would recommend Motel Nordhaven, and for B%26amp;B%26#39;s, Valley Vista, Dome Home, Aspen Haus, Earthsong, and Denali Lakeside. I can list more - look and see what seems appealing to you.

And yes, there are all kinds of side trip we can recommend such as a trip to Hatcher Pass or Matanuska Glacier, etc. but figured you needed to get your basic plan worked out first. SO much you can do up here. Good luck! :)

Thank you for all answers! We are going to try to book our tickets in the next week or so and as I research I';m sure we%26#39;ll have more questions.

My kids are going crazy we are leaving them home with grandma.. I need a few more free tickets, I guess! I know they would love it

I do not know how to ask one fellow about B%26amp;B%26#39;s and which ones he would recommend. His reply to you was about five down or so. Anyway...looking for a good B%26amp;B around Denali. One recommended was Denali Earth Song Lodge about 17 miles to the north of park entrance. 17 miles on a two lane highway takes how long timewise if we have a tour starting at 6:00 AM? Also, looking for a nice B%26amp;B in Seward (or maybe something close to that town that may offer a few hours of fishing for a senior citizen (my Dad) for two nights. Any recommendations? Going in July of 2007 and already am finding places booked! Fairbanks for two days is on our list and I found Forget-Me-Not B%26amp;B, but it was 10 miles out of Fairbanks. Has anyone heard of that one? All or any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Itinerary: Anchorage, Seward, Denali, Fairbanks.