Chandalar Ranch - Private Resort — Hotel in Alaska

Strongly not recommend this place. ||||In general, Not like other place in the US, Alaska is not safe due to the lacking of police. I am so surprised to see Dan’s review about the threaten from the host and started to feel lucky for not confronting with the host about his rudeness and racism. Here is my story:||||We stayed 3 nights at this place. The 2nd day, we went a north arctic tour, which was booked before we get to Alaska as we always plan things ahead. The tour guide drove his van to pick us up at the ranch. When the van arrived the ranch, there are some people already in the car who also joined the same tour. These tourists want to use bathroom so they just went inside the main log cabin. My friends and I then step into the van and leave the side door open when waiting for these tourists. The male host seems not happy about other people use his bathroom. He come to our van and ask the tour guide:”do you see a sign of public bathroom?” “Then why are you parking here?” We are not interested with the conversation between the host and tour guide until the host changed his angry target. At the end of their conversation, the host turned his head and look at me straight at my eyes and said:”I respect every culture, but Chineses made a bad name of it.” Then he left and leaving me and my friends in the shock of feeling insulted and trying to understand what’s happened between the tour guide and the host. He ruined our mood for that whole day.||||1. It is the other tourists used his public bathroom without noticing him. We were simply stay in the van and waiting for them. We were tenanted in the place. Should had every right to use the bathroom.||2. We don’t know other tourists. From what I see and hear, some of them are not Chinese. They just have a Asian face.||3. The host didn’t ask whether we are Chinese or not and made his supercilious assumption that we are all Chinese.||4. He expanded his angry to other Asian tourists to us, who paid and followed every rules.||5. There is no sigh or notice saying people cannot use the public bathroom in the hallway.||6. We didn’t say anything when the host is talking to the tour guide.||7. We had not had any conversations with other tourists at that time.||||After reading reviews in Yelp. I found that all Chinese have terrible experience in this place. Plus by our experience, the host’s supercilious attitude towards Asians made me believe he is racist even when he himself is an Asian.||||Besides the treatment we got, the place itself is bad. It should be renamed as a hostel since none of the rooms have bathroom. The shower is small and spectated by waterproof cloth. At night it is noisy...... it is the worst experience in a...

Strongly not recommend this place. ||||In general, Not like other place in the US, Alaska is not safe due to the lacking of police. I am so surprised to see Dan’s review about the threaten from the host and started to feel lucky for not confronting with the host about his rudeness and racism. Here is my story:||||We stayed 3 nights at this place. The 2nd day, we went a north arctic tour, which was booked before we get to Alaska as we always plan things ahead. The tour guide drove his van to pick us up at the ranch. When the van arrived the ranch, there are some people already in the car who also joined the same tour. These tourists want to use bathroom so they just went inside the main log cabin. My friends and I then step into the van and leave the side door open when waiting for these tourists. The male host seems not happy about other people use his bathroom. He come to our van and ask the tour guide:”do you see a sign of public bathroom?” “Then why are you parking here?” We are not interested with the conversation between the host and tour guide until the host changed his angry target. At the end of their conversation, the host turned his head and look at me straight at my eyes and said:”I respect every culture, but Chineses made a bad name of it.” Then he left and leaving me and my friends in the shock of feeling insulted and trying to understand what’s happened between the tour guide and the host. He ruined our mood for that whole day.||||1. It is the other tourists used his public bathroom without noticing him. We were simply stay in the van and waiting for them. We were tenanted in the place. Should had every right to use the bathroom.||2. We don’t know other tourists. From what I see and hear, some of them are not Chinese. They just have a Asian face.||3. The host didn’t ask whether we are Chinese or not and made his supercilious assumption that we are all Chinese.||4. He expanded his angry to other Asian tourists to us, who paid and followed every rules.||5. There is no sigh or notice saying people cannot use the public bathroom in the hallway.||6. We didn’t say anything when the host is talking to the tour guide.||7. We had not had any conversations with other tourists at that time.||||After reading reviews in Yelp. I found that all Chinese have terrible experience in this place. Plus by our experience, the host’s supercilious attitude towards Asians made me believe he is racist even when he himself is an Asian.||||Besides the treatment we got, the place itself is bad. It should be renamed as a hostel since none of the rooms have bathroom. The shower is small and spectated by waterproof cloth. At night it is noisy...... it is the worst experience in a...

At the outset, I would like to mention that I have had the pleasure of numerous aurora sightings over the years with Chandalar Ranch, which is located on private property approximately 20 miles from Fairbanks. The fact that I keep returning to this ranch and location for my aurora chasing activities should underscore how much I really enjoy the dark night setting there, the inviting lodge with its huge north facing windows as well as upper and lower level viewing areas and, finally, the wonderful owners and hosts, George and Joy, ||||The hosts do their utmost to ensure a comfortable, informative and exciting time for their guests. During periods when the auroras are quiet or the weather is not conducive for outdoors viewing, George sets up an informative video movie usually related to the auroras or arctic landscape to help pass the time. Coffee, tea and light snacks are provided but I would think that tips would be appropriate. George is also very knowledgeable about local wildlife and landscape, customs and native cultures and is quite the aurora photographer! ||||I have been on other aurora tours in the past but I continue to believe that the aurora tours offered by Chandalar Ranch are not only top notch but that they are also more reasonable than many other operators. The price includes pick-up and drop off at area Fairbanks hotels, although I understand that one can also self-drive themselves to the lodge for a reduced rate with a confirmed advance reservation. ||||Sometimes, other guests need to be reigned in, however, especially when it comes to using cell phone flashes and bright lights as others are trying to adjust their eyes to the darkness in order to see the faint colors of the auroras. I’m not sure how one can successfully overcome this annoyance, however, since some individuals just don’t understand proper aurora etiquette and photography. I know George tries his best to remind such photographers of proper protocol. ||||I look forward to my next aurora bookings with Chandalar Ranch and remain grateful to George and Joy for being such helpful and...