Super 8 Anchorage: Pay More, Expect Less
Written: Jul 18 '08
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Lilac blooming in late June
Cons: Basic drab box motel too far from downtown.
The Bottom Line: Book early. Book downtown. Don't book here.
|
|
|
| realtraveller's Full Review: SUPER 8 MOTEL - ANCHORAGE |
We booked the Super 8 Anchorage for three reasons: (1)We would be arriving after midnight and thought we should get a place with an airport shuttle; (2) Although we booked in February, June reservation dates for the downtown hotels were already sold out; (3) We didn't know any better.
Location
In hindsight, it would have been better to get a hotel downtown with or without the airport shuttle. After all, arriving after midnight in June in Anchorage doesn't mean you are arriving after dark. It's still light outside and therefore easier to find your way around. The Super 8 Anchorage is located about a two mile drive from downtown. It's not walking distance from anything, not restaurants, shops or attractions. Anchorage is set between the waters of the Cook Inlet and the mountains, but unless you craned your neck you couldn't see the mountains from the room. We did have a view of some poor soul's front yard (apparently business versus residential zoning hasn't yet come to Anchorage). He had the worst of it, though, he had to look at the backside of a motel.
Being downtown would have been convenient for stolling, seeing shop windows, trying on furs at the many furriers, going out to eat without having to drive and find a place to park. All that was around the Super 8 Anchorage was a vacant restaurant with the local crematorium just down the block. For those who never want to leave Anchorage or just can't bear another night at a Super 8.
Lobby and Services
The guy who picked us up in the airport shuttle should get Employee of the Month from the Super 8. He was there fast and was friendly and courteous. Then there were the gals at the front desk. While they knew the procedures of check-in/check-out, they didn't know much else. I asked two of them for suggestions for a place to purchase Alaskan made products and drew blank stares. Finally they suggested a place in one of the brochures in a rack off the lobby, which looked like a tourist trap.
The Super 8 had a continental breakfast and 24 hour coffee. The breakfast was strictly calories to keep you going. Nothing special, in keeping with the 'nothing special' theme of this motel. Bagels, cereal and coffee. There were only four tables in a small space.
There is no lobby to speak of in this motel. It's purely functional. A small breakfast area and an office. Then proceed to your room via the slow elevator, on carpets stained and rippling, trying to evade the smoky smell and on to your room.
Room
The room is a basic box with the style being modern drab. There was a small window whose screen had fallen out and was on the floor. The room fit two queen beds, a wall unit with cable TV, a table and two chairs. If you travel, you've seen it before. Completely unmemorable.
The bathroom was small. The tiny vanity was too small for balancing a make-up case. There was a hair dryer which did work.
The one bright spot
The only thing I liked about the Super 8 Anchorage, other than the fact that we didn't spend much time there over three nights, was the lilac bush outside the front door. It's a treat to see lilacs blooming in June/July. But this was the only landscaping. The rest of the grounds of the Super 8 was paved over for a parking lot.
Overall
The prices for accommodations in Anchorage in the summer season are much, much higher than for similar rooms at places in the lower 48. I knew and expected that. Still, it's hard to swallow paying between $160 and $180 per night for this. You want to thunk yourself in the head and say "I coulda gone to a luxury resort in (name your favorite spot)". To get the most out of your trip to Anchorage, a vacationer should book early or look for specials and be downtown, before heading out to the rest of Alaska.
Recommended:
No
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
realtraveller
|
 - Top 1000 |
|
Member: Kathryn
Location: North of Malibu, East of Eden
Reviews written: 157
Trusted by: 132 members
About Me:
Seeking higher ground
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.