We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. In general, expect to pay at least $1000 for a week-long roundtrip cruise from Seattle to Alaska and back. But if you want to save and see the city, a good option is to rent a bike and do it on two wheels (rather than two feet). Gasoline prices in Alaska are high, although I honestly didnt notice much of a difference coming from Chicago, which has some of the highest prices in the country. After waiting a few more weeks, I located a non-stop flight to Anchorage for about $360 each. While flightseeing tours are truly epic, theyre also expensive, as I mentioned in point #9. However, some cruise lines include gratuities in your package price. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. Go to Google Flights. You can pay for each drink individually. Im also a not-so-secret space nerd and speak fluent emoji! 1 The Ideal Alaska Road Trip Itinerary. Would you consider traveling to Alaska? Factors that Affect the Cost of Visiting Alaska, 15 Ways to Save Money when Visiting Alaska, 7. All words and images 2013-2023 The Kolibro Group LLC. In short, stick to one region per trip: plan your first trip to Southcentral and/or the Interior, and plan a return trip to Southeast (or vice versa). Average Joe ($400): Staying in basic motels and a couple campgrounds can keep things affordable. This includes most group tours as well as flexible land packages (self-drive or by rail/coach). Local food is a major part of our traveling experience and we really try to find the local top recommended restaurants. What affects the cost of an Alaskan cruise? Check flights, check hotels, confirm tour availability, etc. Anchorage is the hub of most itineraries. Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. How to plan a trip to Alaska and Best Itineraries To be comfortable and safe in Alaska, youll want hiking boots, a winter jacket (even in summer), heavy-duty mosquito repellent, and probably some camping gear. Most towns are 2-4 hours apart, but the scenery is part of the journey. Im not sure what Welcome to Alaska sign youre referring to, but the only one I know is located on the Canadian border if youre driving the Alcan. Cruise lines often offer deals and incentives to travelers who book early. Moneybags ($500): The cost of eating at expensive restaurants all the time can add up. I would aim for a car that gets at least 35mpg highway if you can! Thanks for reading!! You never know how many other clever people there are booking in advance and comparing dates after reading this article. Here comes the budgetary breakdown. It wasnt the cheapest vacation Ive ever taken, but it might have been the most memorable. Head down Homer Spit to Mile Marker 2.7. . Cruise lines often mark up the cost of excursions when selling them to passengers. While balcony or exterior rooms provide better views, consider how often you will be in your room. . Learn more: How to earn and redeem points on cruises. You should plan to spend around $243 per day on your vacation in Alaska, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. If you choose not to rent a car or dont want to drive during your Alaska trip, no worries! Lodging - $15-$25/night for camping; $200 - $400/night for hotels; something in between for cabins, vacation rental homes and lower end hotels (sometimes lower end hotels are also $200/night!) And while our site doesnt feature every company or financial product available on the market, were proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward and free. Most categories should be accurate, though youll have to adjust your own projections based on where youre flying from. car, train, or bus) is going to be at least 25% of your budget, which will not leave you enough for hotels, activities, and meals for the rest of the trip. Absolutely, flightseeing is worth the splurge! Just two weeks earlier, the price was in the $300 range. To be honest, youre not going to be able to do a trip for that budget this year. He loves to travel with his wife and two children using miles and points. Carry-on Luggage Sizes by Airline (2023) - U.S. News Travel The weather can change multiple times in a single day. Or, go big and rent an RV! amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual";
You should plan to spend around $243 per day on your vacation in Alaska, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. So, a trip to Alaska for two people costs around $3,404 for one week. To give you a sense for how much it costs to visit Alaska, heres a breakdown of what I estimate as a cost for two people. Cruising is a very different experience than flying to Anchorage and renting a car, so think about which option most appeals to you and your budget. If youre trying to figure out if your estimated budget is accurate, this post will help. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific products site. In this post, I break down exactly how much it costs to visit Alaska based on the amount of money my friend and I spent during our week there. I dont have anything like that as its not the type of travel I do. Microscopic 'Louis Vuitton' handbag sells for $63K, the latest project from art collective MSCHF. That was when I found your Travel advise. I love Kayak; its been my go-to since I started traveling internationally back in 2011 on a very shoestring budget. The excursion price typically includes transportation to and from the attraction. How much does a trip to Alaska cost? ), Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National Park Driving Map, Denali National Park Campgrounds & RV Parks, small-ship cruise in Prince William Sound, small ship and lodge package in Southeast Alaska, Read about one traveler we worked with to plan an 8-week trip, Best Way To Plan & Book Your Alaska Vacation. You can now cross the Canadian border from the States like before Covid ever happened. Christopher Harvey. Day 6: Travel to Girdwood. If you are truly visiting Alaska on a budget and dont care about having the ultimate Denali experience, I guess this tip is good But if you really have to cut costs that much, you might want to wait until a future year when you can really invest in an unforgettable (rather than mediocre) Alaska experience. Profish-n-sea Charters, out of Seward, offers salmon and halibut fishing with friendly, experienced Alaskan guides. Day 7: Enjoy Girdwood and Travel to Seward. Dont forget about bear spray, which is not allowed on planes and will run you at least $25. Make sure that backup camera is charged and ready to use. See our Anchorage attractions page for more suggestions. This is a chance to really get to know Alaska. Im Scott, a Seattle-based writer who loves fun and unusual travel experiences. amzn_assoc_linkid = "7af7b46099c5e168be4517f003025d8a";
. Base cruise fares often include an interior room. Cheapskate ($1100): Check airfares daily, pounce when they are most affordable. The cost of a taxi ride in Alaska is significantly more than public transportation. You can set price alerts, and theyll email you when prices drop for the flights youre looking at. Flight costs went down for several years, and have gone back up this year, so theyre back to where they were when I wrote this guide. Factor this in when comparing Alaska cruise options. Two people traveling together for one month in Alaska can often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week. There are many different ways to visit Anchorage, and most are pretty budget-friendly. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! Often, youll see promotions for $499 cruises from Seattle. The service is free. This is a very popular vacation length, and no wonder: 10 days is enough time to combine a cruise with a land tour and experience both sides of Alaska. The base cruise fare is the price you'll often see advertised when researching Alaska cruises. Cheap Flights to Alaska from $95 - Expedia.com He loves to travel with his wife and two children using miles and points. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Now youre all set to book your own trip to Alaska on a budget. Which one is right for you? These days, I always use booking.com to find cheap lodging, because in my view they do the best job of compiling current prices from hotels, hostels, and B&Bs. How much does it cost to go to Alaska? Book early. Prices vary, but it is cheaper than the Alaska Railroad, helping save a bit. (Last updated in March 2023) How much does it cost to go to Alaska? Any company charging more than that amount per hour for a tour is probably going to beless valuable than its competitors. That meant we ended up paying $620 each for the round-trip. Modes of Transportation. Your email address will not be published. But for some of us, we have to be budget-conscious on every trip we take so we can take more trips in the future! The total cost of an Alaskan cruise is more than just booking the cruise. My girlfriend and I just returned home to Maryland from our 10 day trip to Alaska. One great way we saved money was by tent camping 2 nights inside of Denali National Park at Teklanika river campground. Have any questions about the cost to visit Alaska or these budget Alaska travel tips? With so many items to factor into the cost of an Alaskan cruise, savvy travelers look for ways to save money. Is Alaska cheap or expensive? Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. Free personal GPSdriven travel guide to Alaska. For example, a ticket for one passenger costs . By far our biggest hit was the price of a rental car. operating hours) may not be up-to-date. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. Adjust your costs accordingly if youre coming with a larger group, for a different length of time, during a different season or into a different city like Juneau or Fairbanks. Expert Advice Alaska Trip Cost Calculator A typical 7-day Alaska vacation costs around $3000 per persona little over $400 per day. Or wait another year to drive the full road to get closer to Denali. Even a budget itinerary can cost a couple of thousand dollars. Our opinions are our own. Vehicle & Passenger Fares - Alaska Marine Highway System You should definitely take a bus of some sort, because most of the wildlife and mountains are beyond Mile 14. Because of that, you'll need to factor in how you'll get to the departure port. How Much Does It Cost To Go To Alaska? - Quirky Travel Guy Typically that means they want to visit Southcentral Alaska, Interior Alaska, and the Inside Passage (also called Southeast Alaska). Cheap Flights to Alaska from $122 - KAYAK Things get a bit more expensive in July and August. Heres what you can expect to do if you have: Fly into Anchorage, Fairbanks or a town in Southeast Alaska like Juneau. Average Joe ($300): Eat a few nice meals, otherwise buy meals at fast food or cheap local establishments. With multiple people, its actually cheaper to split the cost of a rental car and gas. You might wonder why Alaska costs so much so here are a few of the reasons that help explain it: These four factors combine to make Alaska a more expensive destination than most in the U.S. Its less convenient than those comparison tools, but you might be paying for that convenience so you can save by doing the research yourself. Consider cruise insurance. A week or two gives you the chance to discover small roadside communities and off-the-beaten-path parks. When I first began researching flights from Chicago about six months before our trip, they were about $1,000 ($500 each way) per person. Campgrounds, RV Parks & Public Use Cabins. It sounds amazing AND congratulations on your engagement. Heres the visual breakdown. We lived almost exclusively on fast food during our trip, because meals are one of the hidden costs of a trip like this. Alaskan cruise prices vary widely depending on many factors. How Much Does an Alaskan Cruise Vacation Cost - Prices - What It Costs To display all of the data, copy and paste the code below to display our travel cost widget. Shemya Island 9:16 pm. From there you'll head on to the town . While its entirely possible to plan a trip that includes both Southcentral and Interior Alaska; the Alaska Railroad connects these two regions and that makes them easy to visit in a single trip. Lee is a freelance travel writer and podcast host based in Nashville, Tennessee. The 30-year-old QB has 22,129 passing yards, 151 touchdowns and 66 interceptions in 93 career regular-season games. The usual amount for a tip in Alaska is 10% - 20%. While many people enjoy an alcoholic drink or two, will you drink enough to justify the daily fee? Book last minute. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific products site. Rental car prices in Alaska soar after mid-June, when peak tourist season hits. Your experience on an Alaskan cruise will vary based on the time of year you travel. You may want to extend your trip to factor in travel time and avoid issues in case of a delayed or canceled flight. We saw so much nature, wildlife and spectacular sights throughout our trip. Published 11:21 AM PDT, June 21, 2023. Learn more: Is cruise travel insurance worth it? Buy only the essentials in Alaska. I know that with your good information we will have a much more memorable trip than we would have had. For example, if you plug in 7 days, the calculator would factor in: This is an estimator to help set your expectationsnot a hard quote. Visit Roadside Attractions Instead of Flightseeing Them, guide to booking Alaska cruise excursions, https://www.valisemag.com/things-to-do-denali/. At 27-miles long, it's also a stable glacier, meaning you can walk on it. You can save money on your Alaska cruise by traveling in the off-season, booking at the last minute or using your credit card rewards. Last-minute reservations can save money because once the cruise ship departs, they cannot sell that cabin. After planning many trips of my own and helping dozens of people plan custom itineraries here are my best tips to help visit Alaska on a budget. A trip for two weeks for two people costs $6,809 in Alaska. Overwhelmed by choices? . Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. However, you're responsible for organizing and paying for your transportation, admission and other items along the way. We spent: $1285 ($620 each for airfare plus $45 for checked bags). We are headed to Alaska on FRIDAY for our big bucket list trip and would love some of those photo ops. Book excursions directly. The tool below lets you price out an expertly-designed overland itinerary, one that spends freely on items that enrich your Alaska experience (like quality excursions, a scenic train ride, fresh Alaska seafood meals, etc.) I used your 10 day itinerary to get me started on planning the trip. 2-5 day small ship explorations. If the tour is on land or relatively stationary (such as a dinner show), I recommend you pay no more than $50 per hour of the excursion. Car, train, or group tour. Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? Budgeting is extremely important when planning a trip to the 49th state, because you can easily drop a few grand in a hurry if you're not careful. Have a great trip when you go! If you want to travel to Alaska but need to keep your budget in mind, this post will equip you with the cost info and money-saving tips to help you visit Alaska on a budget too! Theres no real way to keep your gas costs down except by driving less, so accept that going in and budget accordingly. Read about one traveler we worked with to plan an 8-week trip. This fare is a great example of how the Companion Fare can save money. Here are some options. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget. Heres an average breakdown, based upon our analysis of hundreds of actual itineraries. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. By doing this math, you can make sure what you are spending is worth the money. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. In Seward we went on the 8.5 hour Major Marine Tourunbelievable experience and the free Exit Glacier hike. Homer ** Beachside Homer Spit (59.60592, -151.43384). Estimates are for a one-week trip for two with airfare from the continental U.S. to Alaska. How much does it cost to go to Alaska? 2-5 day small ship explorations. Cheapskate ($250): Visit Alaska in May or early June for good deals before prices soar. As you may have guessed if youre researching the cost of visiting Alaska in 2022, many expenses have gotten a LOT more expensive. You can also camp inside Denali at various campgrounds, which is an affordable way to see the park. Alaska Trip Cost Calculator | ALASKA.ORG Flight prices are roughly the same. Our picks for the best tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise. Some travel websites specialize in last-minute travel deals. Do you think it would be worth the splurge? You are welcome to reference or display our travel costs on your website as long as you provide a link back to this page. Looking for cheap airfare to Alaska? Renting a car is a great way to save on travel costs in Alaska; its cheaper than the Alaska Railroad or other transit options. Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now. 125 reviews 74 helpful votes Return trip to AK for these two 'seniors' Mar 25, 2023, 8:12 AM Save We created our own trip to Alaska in the Spring of 2016 which we enjoyed so much. Note: This was the first time we paid for camping in nearly 2 weeks in Alaska! We're here to help you make the most of your Alaska trip. So overall, the estimates are accurate for planning an Alaska trip in 2023. We flew in to Anchorage, collected a rental car, then a couple of days there, then drove to Copper River and down to Valdez where we picked up the car ferry to Wittier. Two to four weeks is not too long.even if you saw a million acres a day, it would take you more than a year to see all of Alaska! Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. Moneybags ($400): Buy brand-new shoes, luggage, backpacks, clothing, or cameras. Seward Fishing Charter and Processing 3:43 pm. This could include: These alternative accommodations can save if you book them far enough in advance or find a good deal but dont forget there may be other fees like cleaning charges and gas (for an RV!). However, so much seems to be booked and building an itinerary seems daunting. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. But of course, the longer you stay, the more you can explore and really get to know this state. Yes, you can drive from the US to Alaska in 2023. 9 Things To Know Before Traveling To Alaska - Linda On The Run Driving/Car Rental - expect to pay $300 . Martin, thank you SO MUCH for coming back to share about your trip. As usual, this is a non-scandal built on . PRO TIP: Use Skyscanner for the best flight deals. And thats a shame, because too many people end up booking a cruise when an overland vacation might be a better option. Guide to Visiting Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas, The Best Anchorage Tours: Glaciers, Helicopters, Northern Lights, and More (2023). For example, if you plan only to go hiking and drive our highways to take in the sceneryand not take guided excursionsyou could spend 30% less. When it comes to attractions, you can be a real cheapskate if you want. 7-10 days is the most common. These prices also do not include any excursions. Highlights plus less visited destinations. 2 Factors That Impact Your Alaska Road Trip Itinerary. Just 2 hours north of Anchorage is the Matanuska Glacier, the longest glacier in the US that can be accessed with your car. We are looking forward to 2022 ! Youll see very little of the park this way, though. Additionally, extra tipping can be useful to secure prime meal times or spots on excursions. Travel off-peak. Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Talkeetna also have hostels, while luxury lodges can be found across the state as well. In the summer of 2022, there were several COVID restrictions and requirements for entering Canada. Even some of the smaller towns, like Talkeetna and Seward, have Subway sandwich shops. Youve come to the right place to find out. 7-Day Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage & Homer Land Tour. Read more in my Privacy Policy. Here are our picks for the. Skip the beverage package. To make a long story short, it was the trip of a lifetime! You want a travel credit card that prioritizes whats important to you. My blog posts likely contain affiliate links, including for the Amazon Associates program.If you click, book, or buy from one of these links, I may earn a commission. Moneybags ($1000): Luxury lodges all the way! (Getty Images) Fairbanks is known as the "Golden Heart of Alaska" and one of the top places in the world to view the northern lights: Aurora chasers may want to visit the city during . Here is a list of our partners. My husband and I decided, just a few weeks ago, to go to Alaska !! What affects the cost of an Alaskan cruise? We ended up paying $3,829, which breaks down to $1,914.50 each. With a group that large, the travel costs (i.e. Alaska Vacations | How to Plan and Book | ALASKA.ORG Day 5: Independence Mine 10:55 pm. A road trip to Alaska is a trip of a lifetime and certainly worth a few extra dollars spent here and there! Ive covered it in this post if that helps you decide: https://www.valisemag.com/things-to-do-denali/. Then, select either a 1-week or 2-week trip in the next 6 months, or specify the month. Alaska will be their 50th state! Many travelers dream of taking an Alaska cruise with friends or family. Alaska solo cruise - late September - Alaska Forum - Tripadvisor Some travel websites specialize in last-minute travel deals. Nov: Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TX, Recently Completed Trips: More than 500,000 passport holders participated in the trial before . Many travelers fly to the departure city, which can increase the cost of your trip. Cruise passengers have opportunities to see animals at sea and on land.
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