I just returned from spending a week at the Alyeska and have only wonderful things to say about the staff. On every level, and in every area, we received courteous, helpful, and friendly assistance. We stayed in a junior suite, which was plenty spacious, and had a beautiful view of the snow-covered mountains. Since I don't ski, I spent a lot of time in the indoor swimming pool. On the weekends, the pool (and hotel in general) is filled with Alaskan families, so doing laps is tough, given all the kids jumping around. During the week, I practically had the pool to myself in the mornings. I enjoyed the lounges as places to use my laptop (free wireless internet),knit, and read. My husband had a great massage at the hotel spa, and i loved the manicure I received. Overall, a wonderful week in a beautiful part of the USA.

My husband & I stayed here for a week in January for our 10th wedding anniversary. We had flown up from calgary having stayed at the Fairmont Chateaux Lake Louise for the week. We were spoilt rotten at Lake Louise & having researched the Alyeska prince's website we assumed it would give us the same experience. What a mistake.
If it hadn't been for the magnificant senery and fantasic snowfall we considered searching for another hotel to stay in, not wanting to take the 40 min return journey to anchorage we decided to stay.

Please have a look at the attached photo's, you wont believe what they expect you to put up with at this hotel.

SERVICE - Totally disinterested.
HOTEL - Huge building, very very tired, smelly, rubbish left all over the place, even in the lifts (I kid you not) It reminded me of the film the shinning!!
FOOD - Yawn, appart from the breakfast which I must confess wasn't that bad, the rest of the hotels catering was awful, by any bodies standards.

When we first entered our junior suite the size was very good, the view was fantastic but the decor was old, torn wallpaper and sheets with big holes in (see photo) & lovely big brown stains. The bins were full and the floor was covered in bits, there was no housekeeper on duty so my husband, myself & the receptionist began to clean the room & change the sheets.

The people next door had ordered room service, having finised they left it outside the door, as you do, it took the hotel two days to remove it!!

So, for a short stay, location is great, alaska is a fabulous place, just don't expect anything from the Alyeska Prince Hotel and you wont be disapointed. If you expect anywhere in the realms of the four star hotel they profess it to be you will be very very disapointed.

My advise, don't stay.

I decided that I would rent a room at the Alyeska for a couple nights on our honeymoon thinking it would be a luxurious stay. For what we paid, our room was a complete letdown. I kept wondering where the rest of it was. The room was small, the bed wasn't comfortable, the toilet flushed so loud I am sure everyone else in the hotel probably heard it, and the 15" TV got like 8-10 channels. We actually fired up the video camera and took video of the room so we could show our friends how we got conned out of $270/night. I even went down to the desk and asked if there was any way we could cancel for our second night but of course we couldn't. I did not go up to the restaurant because I was afraid it would be more of the same and we were already out enough money. We stayed in better places (Comfort Inn in Anchorage) for MUCH less money and could not recommend this place to anyone.

Alyeska Prince Hotel in Girdwood

We stayed a couple nights at the Alyeska Prince in Girdwood, Alaska. The entryway is grand, you walk in and look up and there is a night sky with stars and northern lights on the high ceiling. The sitting area is comfy with overstuffed leather chairs and floral arrangements. It is still a ski lodge, but upgraded with style. There are areas for sitting with a fireplace and bar area, more little areas along the huge windows to sit and sip coffee and view the mountain.

There are several restaurants in the Alyeska Prince hotel. The Pond Café restaurant had just ok service and disappointing food. The Seven Glaciers restaurant at the top of the gondola has a gorgeous view of the whole area, it is expensive with a limited menu but good food. The Tepanyaki house restaurant sounds wonderful, but also has a limited menu and limited seating times. My favourite restaurant in Alyeska is not associated with the hotel, it is the Double Musky and has excellent steak, seafood and desserts at reasonable prices. The Double Musky is about 5 minutes away by cab. We take our summer visitors out to the Double Musky every year and always get rave reviews.

We were upgraded to the top floor room 824 close to the elevators. The view of the mountain was magnificent. The rooms on the opposite side of the hotel (odd numbers) would have a view of the inlet and the valley. The room was an average size, comfy king size bed, big closet, writing desk, two stuffed chairs to relax in, a coffee maker and a little fridge. The cleaning staff banged on the door at 9 am, way too early. The room, hallways and elevators showed signs of wear and tear, the whole hotel needs a facelift. It is a relatively new hotel (6 to 8 years?) old. It needs new paint, new carpeting, and to refinish the furniture but it is still a nice hotel.

The pool area is glassed in with a fair sized hot tub too. You can sit in the hot tub and gaze through the enormous windows at the mountain.
Alyeska as a ski mountain has steep runs that are fast. It has quite a few runs, and has green, blue and black slopes. The best ski times are in March when there is more sunlight, the snow is softer and the temperatures are higher.