Which I liked and was also 100+ years old. There are certain things that this old building will not give you. Fortunately, I don't care about most of those things. I booked this hotel because it was more cost-effective than the other options in Seward. The next time I travel to Seward, I will intentionally stay here. The room was... More

I think how much you like the Van Gilder will depend upon how you're traveling. If you're solo like I was, or perhaps a young couple, I think you'll find it charming. I loved the historic feel--it's very 1909, or at least, it's what I feel 1909 must have been like. The ruby carpet, the dark and thin hallway, reminded... More

A friend and I planned our trip to Alaska months in advance. I selected this hotel based on their website and price. It is within walking distance of everything in town, esp. shopping and the waterfront. Great price online. Nice, friendly staff. Adequate free continental breakfast is served in the parlor and the fully stocked kitchen is available for other... More

This is a nice hotel with a friendly staff. I loved the decor and the old time feel of this hotel. The rooms were perfect and the bathroom was bigger than expected. This hotel is within walking distance of the stores and shops that line the streets. My favorite part was eating gelato on a bench overlooking the water. I... More

We had a very nice stay here during our quick visit to Seward. Our second floor room was small, but pleasant and very quiet. The attached bath was worth the extra cost. The downtown location was convenient and interesting. A shuttle bus stop was right across the street. Resurrection Bay was only a few blocks away. A word to the... More

We had Buy 1 get 1 free coupon from Toursaver. Rooms are small, clean, and basic-ours was next to the kitchen and we loved that since that allowed us to use it earlier than 8am. Made omelettes from the eggs they provide for our teens early am--Their continental breakfast was not substantial but healthy (they had kashi cereal and 12-grain... More

Against a backdrop of Marathon Mountain, with views down to Resurrection Bay, the location of the Van Gilder Hotel is hard to beat. Sadly, that's the only positive thing I have to say about this dreary hotel. Our room was dark and musty with two queen-sized beds shoe-horned into the available space. The vinyl-clad bathroom was reminiscent of the worst... More

We spent 2 nights at the Van Gilder Hotel, attracted by the idea of staying in a charming place full of antiques, etc, Instead it was rundown and the rooms were not especially clean. Our room was on the ground floor and overlooked a noisy alley--so a particularly grotty room. The hotel is well-located in the historic part of Seward... More

We reserved after reading about this hotel in Frommers. It sounded like a quaint and clean place to stay with a fun ghost story twist. Unfortunately, if I could describe it in one word, it would be "gross". It has a third world feel. The wood is rotting and the rooms smell like it - musty. This is not a... More