Hotel Hints

Since the negative reviews about cleanliness and safety are not only significant but also consistent, a major tip is to look at your room very well before taking the keys and bringing in your luggage. Check on the door locks, check on the sheets and bathroom cleanliness, and make sure all advertised amenities are present and working. If the room does not meet your standards, be bold enough to ask for another one.

Use it just as a place to park your car for free and sleep inside. Be out of the property during daytime hours. Early in the morning, you should leave and return only late at night. The money that is saved from this room can be spent on better meals or tours or a rental car which will have a far greater impact on your Alaska experience. Do not expect to be able to spend any leisure time at the motel itself.

For something very good and near, go to the Spenard and Turnagain neighborhoods' better places. Take a trip to Lake Hood and Lake Spenard watch the floatplanes as they go up and down at the world's busiest floatplane base. It is interesting and very uniquely Alaskan to see, then have a simple meal at a classic Spenard place like Bear Tooth Theatrepub for great pizza and a movie—safe fun local feeling.

Do not walk in the immediate neighborhood by yourself, particularly after dark. Taxis should always be used for evening travel, no matter how short the distance. Ensure that when you park your car, nothing of value is left inside and visible. Such simple precautions are good for any traveler in this particular area of the city.