“Alaska is too expensive” OR “Lies you can stop telling yourself”
“Alaska is too expensive”
“Someday, when we can afford it, well go to Alaska”
“I’ve always wanted to go to Alaska, but I hear its really pricey”
These are a few of the things I hear when talking to people about what I do for a living.
It irks me, because it’s not true. It’s really not! Many people assume that traveling to Alaska and going fishing, or kayaking by a glacier, or watching whales involves mortgaging the farm, or selling that dented but loved ’97 Dodge Neon in the driveway. The truth is it can cost about the same as going anywhere in the lower 48 – sometimes even way less.
There are lots of ways get here and do that thing – the one you always wanted to do, the one you’ll be casually bragging about the rest of your life to family and friends.
This is what happens.
This isn’t a weird daydream.
We help people get here, achieve their goals within their budget, and get home every single day.
We’ve got good advice: and it’s free.
We challenge you to call or email us with your budget, your dates, and your desires and see what we can do for you.
Want to have an Alaskan adventure? Prove it.
One trick is to go early.
Right now, a , I found tickets for $345 per person. This was leaving April 18th and returning May 1st from Minneapolis. I chose a place in the middle of the country, tickets are often cheaper on the west coast. Its worth mentioning, round trip tickets peak season are often found in the $500-$600 range. Sun Country, Alaska Airlines, Jet Blue, Delta and United all frequent the Anchorage airport. Get to Anchorage, and we can handle it from there.
See – Seward is on the road system, you can take a bus, train, or rental car when visiting. Getting to the coolest places in Alaska doesn’t (necessarily) mean taking a bearded mans duct taped Cessna into the bush or leaning out the window at altitude to pour the half bottle of whiskey you found on the floor in the fuselage. It’s funny how a word admittedly sounds less elegant when muttered through the hungover crusty lips of your war torn pilot as the engine putters to a stop through a scenic mountain pass. This isn’t necessary – instead A local guy named Bob will grab you from the airport in a Seward Bus Lines bus, and for $50 bucks you’ll watch moose devour grass along Turnagain Arm (he may even be sporting the beard – chills!).
Focus on Spring Dates – April – June 15th are the most forgiving for travel.
Which is great, because spring is a great time to be in Alaska.
The temperate rain forests are not overgrown with Devils club. The animals are all shaking it off, wiping the sand out of their eyes, and gorging themselves on all the shoots coming up (not the people, don’t worry). Also, from a budget perspective, things are just opening up and usually well discounted. Lots of vacation rentals are in shoulder season rates all through May, hotels are heavily discounted, and the people are going to be happy to see you and have time to spend with you. It’s a dark and lonely winter, fresh faces are always warmly received.
The puffins are coming into their nesting colonies.
The land sea/temps are similar causing a lot of crisp, still days. The brush isn’t overgrown in the woods, allowing for tons of self guided exploring off trail systems, mountains, and area woods.
Whales are finishing the spring migration and after a winter in warm waters giving birth they are ready to dine and gain some much needed weight.
Watching them bubble feed and lunge feed is incredible, and can be done right from the beach sometimes in May. The goats are kidding (not joking, they’re kidding!) and thousands of sea birds are making use of the rookeries as the Gray Whales are migrate through.
Juvenile Stellar Sea Lions are full of themselves, chasing kings and herring early season. We find them roaming around Resurrection Bay and see them from our kayaks daily. These boisterous teens cause general havoc wherever they go!
Dalls Porpoise love to bow ride, and when the water’s this mellow, you can stand up there and see them through the crystal clear pre-plankton bloom wavelets. Pro tip: use the video setting on your phone/camera – they’re so super fast it’s hard to grab a still shot!
So yeah, there’s some cool stuff to see – What about where to stay?
Good news – right now, this second, we have lodgings that sell for $250 during the summer discounted to $75 per night. Right on the waterfront, within walking distance of our activities. The best part? You don’t have to deal with crowds – still not affordable? We have tent sites at $27 per night and camping cabins as low as $50 per night!
Camping in Spring is generally very private, affordable or free, and amazing also!
Fishing charters are at rock bottom prices.
One of our trips includes sightseeing and whale watching, kayaking by calving tidewater glaciers, and fishing! Reunite with that goldfish you flushed down the toilet 20 years ago!
Normally this Best of Alaska Combination Fishing, Glacier Kayaking and National Park Sightseeing trip would take about 3 days and cost $850 per person but we can do it for less than half of that, and all in one day!
Motor homes and car rentals go way down in price!
In fact not only are the RV rentals cheaper in the spring, but if you make your reservation before the end of January you can save even more! Huge discounts over peak season rates can be had early season – these rental outfits want to stay busy, and you stand to save a ton of money going this route that provides lodging and transportation in one comfortable package!
Can’t afford a fishing charter?
Early season rates are between $250-285 per person plus tax. Bring a few friends, rent one of our Stabicraft – they’re $400 per day for up to 4 people! You can bring your own fishing gear or rent ours, either way you’re saving a ton of money and you’re getting out on the water.
To summarize:
- A $345 round trip ticket from the Midwest
- A $35 per day car rental
- Kayaking by glaciers, whale watching and fishing $400
- Camping style lodging $50 / vacation rentals ~$100
- With a few friends pitching in on lodging and meals, you can do a week Alaska in the early summer/ late spring for less than $1000.
- Renting an RV with 2 other couples or 5 friends makes the daily RV rental cost $26.50 per person ($159/6) – this covers transportation and lodging both!
- Go to Costco and buy $1000 worth of food and drinks – sounds like a lot until you figure you just bought you and your 5 friends 3 meals a day for 7 days. Cooking for a group is cheaper because you can make bigger meals and buy larger portions to start with – when was the last time you fed yourself and drank your fill for $23 dollars a day?
- Go fishing the first day you’re here and eat fresh Alaskan Halibut for lunch/dinner for the rest of your stay. Surf and turf your thing? Buy a Ribeye at Costco for $80 bucks and cut thick steaks for the grill each night- you get a solid 16 thick juicy Ribeyes out of a rack – that’s $5 bucks a piece!