Alaska - To Book or Not to Book, That is the Question

[rwtrick]

I'm planning a trip to Alaska this June. I have planned the trip, including the route and hotels. I'll be on the road for 30 days, so I will have many hotel reservations. My question is this: Hotels can be hard to find, and rooms can go quickly, so I was going to make all the reservations in advance. But if something disrupts or delays travel, that means rescheduling all the affected hotels - which could be a lot. So, for those of you who have made the trip in the last few years, what did you do, and/or what do you recommend? Make reservations, and hope all travel goes according to schedule or reserve rooms as you go and hope there are some available.

 

[Gorilla]

Hi my wife and I over the years have made several month long trips. She always book in advance. We may have just been luck and never has an issue. Once or twice had to make changes but we mostly stay at Choice so we had no problem with changes for those situations.

Good luck and enjoy the trip.

 

[DK Custom Products]

We rode from Mississippi to the Arctic Circle and back. You can see a Ride Report of that trip HERE.


There are some pretty long stretches where gas and place to stay are sparce. Unless you want to keep riding when you come upon a booked up motel, might be best to make reservations in the more remote areas.


Have fun planning your trip, and enjoy it!

Kevin

 

[Burnerboy]

When I tour'd Alaska, via Motorcycle, a few years ago, we made prior hotel reservations....
What we did (we cheated ) We fly to Alaska, and rented a motorcycle (we brought a nap sack to carry all our stuff) and tour'd all areas all we wanted to see... and when we were tired of ride'n, we just handed back the keys to the rental company.. This saved us a 4,400 mile trip ONE WAY..... Couldn't even imagine, ride'n this 4000mile (plus) ride all the way there, then try to do the tour, and then have to also ride back home Now we fly home, and there in my garage, was my own bike, nice and shine'y and clean, with zero extra miles added to it... NOT to even think about a chance, of getting into any accidents trying to travel the extra 8,000 miles (plus) back ~n~ forth.... or any break down, or service needed situations....
EASY peezy, way to travel, and I can say that I have tour Alaska via motorcycle....

Ronnie
11/20/24

 

[Burnerboy]

We rode from Mississippi to the Arctic Circle and back. You can see a Ride Report of that trip HERE.


There are some pretty long stretches where gas and place to stay are sparce. Unless you want to keep riding when you come upon a booked up motel, might be best to make reservations in the more remote areas.


Have fun planning your trip, and enjoy it!

Kevin

Nice shot Keven .............I like'ie
Ronnie
11/20/24

 

[DK Custom Products]

When I tour'd Alaska, via Motorcycle, a few years ago, we made prior hotel reservations....
What we did (we cheated ) We fly to Alaska, and rented a motorcycle (we brought a nap sack to carry all our stuff) and tour'd all areas all we wanted to see... and when we were tired of ride'n, we just handed back the keys to the rental company.. This saved us a 4,400 mile trip ONE WAY..... Couldn't even imagine, ride'n this 4000mile (plus) ride all the way there, then try to do the tour, and then have to also ride back home Now we fly home, and there in my garage, was my own bike, nice and shine'y and clean, with zero extra miles added to it... NOT to even think about a chance, of getting into any accidents trying to travel the extra 8,000 miles (plus) back ~n~ forth.... or any break down, or service needed situations....
EASY peezy, way to travel, and I can say that I have tour Alaska via motorcycle....

Ronnie
11/20/24

That is a really cool way to tour around Alaska, for sure. We may do that some day.

During our trip up to Alaska we discovered how much we like B.C. Canada. We have been back twice, and are planning to go back again.

Kevin

 

[RoadRunner18]

I rode from New Jersey to Alaska and back in July/August 2017. The trip took 51 days. We did not make hotel reservations anywhere, and only once were we not able to get lodging and that was in Homer, Alaska, at the height of the vacation season there. We did bring minimal camping gear, for use only if we could not find a hotel room. I set my tent up only once and camped out behind a gas station in Homer for the night.

 

[Burnerboy]

I rode from New Jersey to Alaska and back in July/August 2017. The trip took 51 days. We did not make hotel reservations anywhere, and only once were we not able to get lodging and that was in Homer, Alaska, at the height of the vacation season there. We did bring minimal camping gear, for use only if we could not find a hotel room. I set my tent up only once and camped out behind a gas station in Homer for the night.

I couldn't even imagine, be'n away from home for 51 days..... WOW!

Ronnie
11/30/24

 

[RoadRunner18]

Trip began exactly 30 days after retirement!