Glacier Access — Attraction in Alaska

So, we have two reviews. The glacier walk was great and we really enjoyed our tour guide. It was really fun. I love that they give an Alaskan price, because we wouldn't have gone and now we can tell people about it. It's smart to encourage locals to come. It was really beautiful and our guide was really nice and answered a lot of questions.

Our issue with the company and their tipping policy. When we get there and prepay for the tour they tell us we will need cash. We said, all we had is card and online said nothing about cash only. They said, no no you can pay with a card, but you will need cash to tip. My husband and I looked at each, since we are getting ready to pay $180 for this tour, that we were expected to tip. We asked what might be an expected amount. She said $20 per person. We were shocked... our kids tickets were only $30 and we were expected to pay around a 75% tip! We told them we couldn't afford that kind of tip and that we couldn't do the tour if we were expected to pay an extra $80 for the tour.

When she heard this she said that we didn't have to pay that much and didn't want us to cancel. We were upset that they were so vocal and said this loud enough about us tipping for people in line to hear. We are a family on a budget and this was a treat for our family. We were upset a such an expensive tip for 1.5 hr tour was expected. We did pull out some cash for a tip, but a more socially normal amount.

We got really upset because at the end when we were turning in our helmets and thanking all the people there. Our tour guide was right there and another worker says loud and in front of our guide. Remember to tip your guide and a tip we suggest is $20 per person. And since you got the Alaska price you should really be thankful. We were really embarrassed by their awkward and public push for tipping at such a high rate of almost 50%.

We gave our tip to the guide, thanked her, and she was very nice. I'm glad we did the tour, but really bothered by their lack of social etiquette and crazy high...

Everything online says this glacier is accessible by car. It is NOT! Do not waste your time driving here expecting a easy accessible toursit adventure. My husband is handicapped and when we got to the gate by gift shop they advised that access has been restricted for YEARS. The only way to get close to the glacier is to do thier 150$ per person tour taking 2-3 hours of hiking on the glacier. I do understand how awesome that sounds. It just isn't something my recent back surgery or my husband ability would allow for. I did point out that everything online makes it sound like you can drive to the glacier. They said someone else ruined it for all years ago. I get that to, but get the...

Located at milepost 102 on Glenn Highway, this is the only access to Matanuska glacier. We joined a glacier tour last week, $65 per adult is a reasonable price since they have to maintain the road and bridges; plus it is not safe to walk on the glacier by yourself. The tour lasted about 2 hours. Our guide is a very pleasant young lady, however I wouldn’t say she is very knowledgeable about glaciers. The only drawback of the tour is, like all other reviews, they keep reminding you to tip your guide($20 per person) when you are paying for your tickets. I believe most of us don’t need to be reminded to tip, and the tour would be a lot more pleasant if they change their business...