Southcentral Alaska's accommodations run the gamut from B&Bs to the medium- and high-dollar hotels in downtown Anchorage and in Girdwood. Thrown into the mix are hostels and fishing lodges.
There are locally owned hotels and motels throughout the region, as well as chains: Best Western, Clarion Suites, Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Econo Lodge, Hampton Inn, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Marriott, Millennium, Ramada, Sheraton, Westin and Westmark.
In the past decade, quite a few motels and B&Bs have sprung up along the region's highways.
And keep in mind Southcentral's resorts, where relaxation and such activities as hiking, kayaking or snowmachining may be a big part of the day.
Anchorage
Hotels and motels are concentrated both downtown Anchorage and near Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.
Among the many hotels in and near downtown are the Anchorage Hotel, the Hotel Captain Cook and lodgings operated by Comfort Inn, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Sheraton and Westmark.
The second neighborhood of hotels is in the Spenard district southeast of downtown near Anchorage International Airport. These include the ritzy Millennium on Lake Spenard (part of the Lake Hood floatplane base) and the nearby Holiday Inn Express. In addition, there are motels and hotels sprinkled around Midtown, South Anchorage and East Anchorage.
Bed and breakfast operations are spread throughout Anchorage and its bedroom communities.
Anchorage has several hostels, which offer varying levels of amenities and cater to budget travelers.
Resorts may be a little more remote than many hotels, and they offer an experience that is oriented more toward the outdoors.
Eagle River
Eagle River, northeast of Anchorage along the Glenn Highway, is Anchorage's main bedroom community. Eagle River Road runs a dozen miles up the valley to the Eagle River Nature Center, a main entrance to Chugach State Park. The town has two motels and several B&Bs.
Girdwood
A half-hour's drive south of Anchorage, there are a handful of hotels and ski lodges in Girdwood. The star attraction on the hotel roster is the Westin Alyeska Prince Resort, a year-round getaway that handles conventions and has a tram that takes sightseers high up Mount Alyeska. At the top, there's a commanding view of Turnagain Arm and the ski trails that plunge down the mountain to nearly sea level. The town also has B&Bs.
Transportation
Many hotels provide shuttle service to the airport and the railroad station. Anchorage doesn't run a bus route to the airport, but shuttle services are available to locations in Anchorage and outlying areas. Transportation is available to military personnel traveling to and from Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base. Taxis are available at the airport and all over town.
