affordable way to explore Alaska

[Monte*]

hey guys, have you got any recommendations and ideas on affordable ways to explore Alaska?

[Ruby]

Prince William Sound Glacier cruises are an affordable way to explore Alaska and discover the densest concentration of tidewater glaciers in the entire world.

On this cruise, you'll also be able to feast your eyes on some of the best sights Alaska has to offer, as well as observe wildlife and marvel at the stunning Prince William Sound Glacier's waterfalls.

On this note, if you want to explore more of the territory, you might want to consider one of the six hour Whittier Glacier cruise.

[johngeres]

the largest state in America, Alaska can be difficult to tour all at once. Luckily, there are tours that combine both land and cruise excursions to help senior travelers pack all of the Alaskan attractions they can into one great vacation.

[John Dennis]

The peak season is from the middle of June till the end of August. Why is it so costly in Alaska during tourist seasons? Because, their tourist season is limited and they have to make revenue in that time to keep their business viable.

So how to make your journey cheaper ?

- Go for hotels/inns/motels without franchise. If you are comfortable you can opt for shared bath in decent hotels/motels
- Restaurants are expensive. You can dine in fast food chains or get food from deli section
- Book flight and hotels well in advance with discounts or special offers
- Take not more than two day cruises
- Rental car is the cheapest option to travel in Alaska, unless you are rooted to one place. Trains and buses are costly in Alaska. Rental car gives you the flexibility and freedom to explore

[stevenyoung]

If you are looking for good wildlife viewing, intimate contact with the coast and access to the narrow little passages that the large cruise ships cannot negotiate then without doubt chose a small ship.

Last May, we spent 10 days on the Seattle-Juneau run in the "Spirit of Alaska" (capacity about 70 passengers) of the American "Cruise West" line (Brewood Travel in Brewood, Staffordshire are UK agents and very helpful). With its narrow draught it was able to follow up bear and other wild life sightings and slowly drift up for closer viewing. We have one photo taken from the bridge of passengers filling cups from a waterfall up to which the captain had nudged the bows, and the crew were constantly on the search from dawn to dusk for whale, bear or any other wildlife viewing. The timetable was flexible and if a detour looked like being fruitful it was taken.