Alaska Do's and Don'ts   

During our many years in Alaska and doing presentations and training travel agents on Alaska throughout the U.S. and Canada, we learned some of the most basic Do's and Don'ts for Alaska vacations.  Here they are.

DON'T let anyone tell you there's a "best" time to go to Alaska in regards to weather.  It's weather and it's unpredictable!  Go when you can spend the most time.

DON'T do a cruise that does not allow 6 to 8 hours in Glacier Bay National Park.  Some sailings only allow a few hours visit and that is just not enough time.

DO a tour that includes the Tundra Wilderness Tour, not the Natural History Tour in Denali National Park.  If you really want to see wildlife, you must go back into the park where they live.  It is a beautiful ride and well worth the time.

DO spend two days at Denali National Park if at all possible!  But, please make sure you are actually at the Park.  One of the large tour companies has a lodge they advertise as at Denali when it is really over 100 miles from the entrance!

DON'T cruise on one of the "mega" ships unless you are willing to wait in line and "tender" in to each of the ports of call.  It takes more time to disembark that many passengers.  It means a lot less time to spend in that port.

DON'T let anyone tell you there's a better side of the ship.  It's called "The Inside Passage" because there is land, mountains and scenery on both sides!

DO remember that any vacation is an investment of your TIME and MONEY.  It's easy to book a flight on line, but to book an Alaska vacation you need someone you can trust to give you honest answers to your questions as they pop up.  This is not a cookie cutter vacation!

DON'T shop for your vacation by price.  VALUE is what you want.  There is a big difference!  There can be no worse feeling than to pay your money and come home disappointed then subsequently find out that for a bit more you could have had the trip of a lifetime!

And lastly,
DON'T let anything stop you from taking a trip to Alaska!