Description: Having stayed at this hotel on my very first ever trip to Alaska back during the summer of 2006, I was very familiar with its location and services. It was very easy to make the choice to stay here for the start of my "five day weekend" to Alaska for the Fur Rondy and Iditarod events in Anchorage. Location-wise, it is in the perfect place for everything along the 4th Avenue!
I arrived at the hotel at approximately noontime and they allowed me the early check-in which was very convenient since I wanted to dump off my gear and head over to the Fur Rondy offices before my TA friend Pete was coming to pick me up to head out for a ride into the mountains.
I had the standard hotel room with two queen size beds, which is often my preference when traveling alone. I enjoy unpacking stuff and organizing on the unused bed rather than the drawers where I tend to forget things until I arrive home. The bedding was very comfortable; I believe the standard pillow-top Hilton mattresses. There was also a nice desk work area, although I didn't use it that much. At $12.95/24 hour period for the use of their wireless internet, I tried to keep my online time to a bare minimum.
The bathroom was a good size with a nice shower (plenty of water pressure) and high-end toiletries (Crabtree & Evelyn). The towels were plush and soft. All in all, a very comfortable living space for the three nights I spent in Anchorage.
During our stay, Jane and I dined in the hotel restaurant each morning ($16.95 hot breakfast buffet) and for lunch on Saturday afternoon. We both felt that the food and service was very good although I did get cold scrambled eggs one morning. The server immediately made it right and had the chef prepare a custom omelet for me (which was actually part of the hot food buffet).
On the afternoon that we had lunch at the Hilton, we were both looking for something on the light side so an appetizer and cup of soup fit the bill perfectly. I had the halibut fish squares along with the seafood chowder while Jane had the shrimp tempura and three cheese soup. Mmmmm very good after spending the brisk morning out on 4th Avenue watching the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Race.
In the hotel lobby is artwork of several native artists. There is also a gallery there in the hotel as well as a gift shop with some pieces. Visitors are well advised to be cautious, however, as some items sold in Anchorage are little more than imports from places like China.
In addition to the main restaurant in the Hilton Lobby (Hooper Bay Cafe) there is also a Starbucks Coffee and Bruin's Bar and Lounge. We didn't spend any time in the bar although I noticed that folks seemed to be having a pretty good time in there on Saturday night when we returned "home" from the Snow Goose Theater.
I've already mentioned the fee for the internet so I should also point out the parking situation since this is a downtown location with no self parking. The valet parking is $24/night with unlimited in/out available 24 hours a day. I was sorta hoping to have a reason to get the car out in the middle of the night to go view and photograph the aurora borealis, but on this trip while we had crystal clear skies, there was minimal solar activity.
About the rates at this hotel; I recall paying around $129/night back in 2006 which was a conference rate in late June just before the July 4th weekend. Initially I had book our rooms at a $114/night for this trip but about two weeks prior to our trip, they announced a special Fur Rendezvous $99 rate! We jumped right on that, which we both felt was an outstanding price for a Hilton. For me, it took a bit of the edge off the added fees for internet and parking.
My total hotel bill for three nights, two days of internet, three breakfasts and the one lunch came to $460. (Jane had the car parking on her room.)
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