A friend & I stayed at Ballaine House in Seward, AK for 3 days in August. It is a phenomenal B&B, and I don't say that lightly.

Marlee went overboard to cater to travelers' needs. I've stayed in many B&Bs & it's rare that you feel like a place truly is a home away from home and that the proprietor genuinely cares about making sure you enjoy your stay, but Marlee obviously works hard to make sure all guests feel at home. Her enthusiasm and her interest in everyone and their needs really put this B&B in a class by itself.

Beyond a comfortable room, Marlee was patient with all our questions, gave us ideas for things to do, provided discounts on local attractions, had menus for local restaurants, offered free Internet access and even had a bookcase of Alaska videos available to watch.

As for breakfast, Marlee had such a long list of options I needed to have a cup of coffee before I could begin to make a decision. When I asked if she had English muffins, she offered 3 different types! Plus eggs to order, fruit, cereals, etc.

I've read some of the people's reviews that they couldn't get a hold of Marlee. We had no problem getting a response and she even emailed driving directions from Anchorage, gave us a heads up on what to wear on boat cruises, and sent us ideas on things to do around Seward, including a list of hikes.

She was constantly on the go, picking up people, helping guests with their travel plans, offering to do laundry after muddy hikes, and even picking fresh berries for breakfast. So it may not be easy to get reach of her, but it's definitely worth it!

The friendly breakfast table & comfy living room made it easy to talk to other guests. As an unexpected bonus, we became friends with a fellow guest Marlee after took us out to dinner and continue to keep in touch with her.

If you like meeting other travelers and appreciate a hostess who can give you great tips for things to do, I'd highly recommend Ballaine House.

Ballaine House, Seward Alaska <historicsewardbb@yahoo.com>

This was second visit to Seward, Alaska and our first stay at Ballaine House. Marlee Lusk, the owner, is so very helpful. She goes out of her way to make sure your stay in Seward is not only very comfortable at her historic B&B, but also that your visit to Seward is as full of activities or relaxation as you want it to be. Marlee is very accommodating.....more so than any B&B owner/operator that we have ever encountered anywhere in the world! She was a pleasure to meet and get to know. We will definitely stay with Marlee at Ballaine House again when we return to the beautiful Kenai Peninsula area of Alaska in the future.

My husband and I spent 2 nights at Ballaine House during our stay in Seward and we were very happy with our choice. This trip to Alaska was our first experience with bed and breafasts so we were a little hesitant but the Ballaine House turned out to be a great surprise.

Marlee was very helpful with all her informative emails and with answers to all the questions I had before we arrived. Unfortunately we didn't get to meet her. A young lady named Jessica was working there for the summer and she did a great job taking care of everyone. She had great suggestions for activities in town and lots of information about Alaska.

Ballaine House is a traditional B&B with shared bathrooms and home-cooked breakfasts made to order every morning. The house is older but it is well kept and has a very cozy feel. The rooms were very clean, nicely decorated with antique furniture and comfortable beds. There were also tvs in every room and wireless internet access available as well as a desktop computer in the dining room for everyone to share. The house is well within walking distance of everything downtown including the Sea Life Center. The small boat harbor is also within walking distance but a little farther.

Our only complaint was that our room opened up into the kitchen/dining room and we had to walk by everyone in the morning on the way to the bathroom. We would definitely stay here again but would request a room upstairs instead.

Marilee is truly resourceful! Her informations on all the tours and restaurants around Seward are more detailed than any travel books could offer. She can also get you 20% discounts on may day cruses if you stay at Ballaine House.
Marilee is always ready to help and she responded my email very quickly.