This hotel was a bad experience. I stayed just one night at the beginnig of march. My room was not heated (it was snowing outside), and the guy at the reception desk was so absorbed by his computer game that he would give less than a minimal service. It was not very clean, someone had started to do some plastering in the stairway but had not finshed. You also hear exactly what is happening in your neibours room, not the best for a good sleep. Returning at night I discovered that my room key would not open the main door and found out that I had to enter through a neighbouring bar 60$ and no breakfast: not to recomend
Had a much better experience in Youth Hostels all over the world... for less!

The Alaskan Hotel is one of the most authentic, charming, and "real" places I have ever visited. It was built almost a hundred years ago, or so I was told by a nice gentleman at the front desk. There is also a book written about it by the owner, whom I didn't meet. In my opinion, just the building deserves a book, but the characters! The feel of the place. Wow! It wasn't the quietest place on earth, and I was warned ahead of time, but really, who wants a quiet, run-of-the-mill hotel experience, anyway?

Well, I guess that I wouldn't recommend it for those expecting a "chain hotel" experience. A lot of people complain about the place, and the things that I've read about it really say less about the hotel and more about those who would defame such a jewel. I discovered this hotel just by walking through downtown Juneau, and didn't even recognize it at first. I walked in, and the first thing I saw was a bar that looked like something from the 19th century. It was like something out of a movie I'd seen, or several. I felt like I was in the bar from Cheers, but with an Alaskan hitch to it. Later, I read the book, and found out that the entire place had been saved from demolition and restored by the owners.

Cool place, gotta see it. Really!

Jim Frankley
Haiku, Hi

First time experience in Alaska, was spent in The Alaskan. As one person wrote it is not a place for everyone. If you are looking for amazing accomadations, this is not a hotel for you. But, the locating is perfect. All the bars are a stumbling distance away, and I mean as far as the Viking which is about 100 yards down the road. Service was not top notch, but if you asked for something they would help out as much as they could. If you are going to experience Juneau, you have to spend one cheat night at the Alaskan............

The Alaskan hotel is a disaster. I have stayed at many 100+ year old hotels and B&B's, hostels all over the world so I've had a pretty wide range of hospitality experience. The old hotel really needs new owners that would rennovate the place properly. Our room had filthy carpets, shoeprints on the sheets, funky odors and a bedspread that looked like it was 50 years old and never washed. I would recommend the youth hostel over this place. You can get a nice room for $20 more a night by the Mendenhau glacier airport area.