Where to stay in Anchorage?

[Les Staley]

My son and I will fly into Anchorage Sept 5..  will have hunting gear, rifle boxes, duffle.  where would be a good place to stay for that evening?   I see most hotels offer shuttle service.  will prolly head north for Healy on the shuttle the next day.  still working out some details, but our hunt starts the 8th .. Dall and Grizz.   sugestions would be helpful.. thanks  Les

[Daveinthebush]

Most major hotel chains have one within 2 miles of the airport and run shuttles from the airport.  I would make reservations.  Tourist season may be over, may not.  I was in Anchorage in June and could not find a room near the airport at all. 

You might want to just try one of the bid programs on the internet and tell them you want a hotel for $60 dollars and see what happens.  Usual non-tourist season prices run around $70 a night with taxes at the average hotels.  Downtown is more expensive.............  too much for me.   

[Les Staley]

Dave, Thanks.  I Googled up several, and am on the way to a reservation.. just have to hear back from the outfitter as to where  (Healy or Talkeetna) he wants us on the morning of the eighth.  I have the 800# for the shuttle bus to Fairbanks.. will book that trip too..  Les

[Daveinthebush]

800 pounds of gear!!  Whow!   You might be better renting a small AWD van and taking it up that way.  It is a six hour run to Fairbanks if I remember the driving time correctly. 

[Sourdough]

Dave, I think he hit the wrong key and means he has the 800 number ( I hope not 800 pounds) for the shuttle north, did not know there was one.  Any way it's 7 hours to Fairbanks, 380 miles.  But most newbies usually drive it in 10.  They have to stop and get pictures of Mt McKinnley south of Cantwell.  And stop and look at the scenery along the way.  Plus if they are on a shuttle bus the time will be longer than you or I would drive it because busses don't drive that fast, and they have to stop at all Rail Road crossings, that's a time killer.

Anyway in September the tourist are slowing down but the prices have not came down yet.  A lot of the places outside Anchorage close mid September, causing the remaining ones (mostly in Anchorage) to keep their prices high for another month. 

[Daveinthebush]

800 pounds 

I must have misread that.  Last year I went on a goat hunt and for 55 years old beat the heck out of the 41 year old partner.  Had to wait for him several times, had to take his pack off........ figured I was in really great shape if I could keep ahead of him like that.

Got to camp and he had canned chili, 3 radios, 11 forks and on and on.  His pack must have weighed 75 pounds.  No wonder I out did him!  With my 40 pounds of pack with the tubes removed from the toilet paper to reduce weight, one fork and dehydrated food I was no match.

At least I felt good about my condtioning for a day.

[Les Staley]

Our outfitter is Max Schwab.. he'll fly us up to camp, and limits us to 60 lbs of gear.. should be enough,  sleeping bag, clothes, boots.. food should be already up there. I'm weighing my stuff, guess I'll take along my Leupold spotting scope and a light tripod.   I'll sneak in a light gold pan and snuffer bottle.. should be a shovel at camp.. in case of weather-in and not able to hunt..   What else am I forgetting??    Les

[Daveinthebush]

Please let us know when you get back how the hunt went.

Only thing I know for sure to take is 100% Deet for the bugs.

[akpls]

The Coast International is the closest to the Airport  It's pretty decent and has an attached restaurant and bar.  I've stayed there quite often with no problems.  Last September i was able to stay the night before my flight and park my truck there for up to 2 weeks all for$85.  That was towards the end of September though.

[Les Staley]

Thanks for the tip, AKPLS.  I'll definitly check this place out..   Dave,  guess I could get some Deet in Anchorage.. any particular name brand??     I've got a couple of head-nets in my gear.. hope its too cold for 'em..   Les