Copper Whale Inn — Hotel in Alaska

Salmon Berry Tours arranged our 10-day stay in Alaska and it began with 4 nights at the Copper Whale Inn (please see separate review for Salmon Berry Tours). We arrived at 1:30am and had clear instructions on how to enter the Inn and how to get into our rooms because Lorene, the General Manager, texted a few days before our arrival to give instructions. Our keys were just where she told us they would be and we got into our rooms easily. After a full day of traveling we really appreciated the easy access and extremely comfortable beds.

My teenage kids were in the Pilot's Lounge which had a queen bed and pull out couch with a private bathroom. It was perfect for their needs. My kids enjoyed the tea kettle and coffee maker. My husband and I got the Inlet View room which was a bit bigger and also had a private bath and a great view of the Cook Inlet. I appreciated that the room had a refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker. On our third day there we were able to use the washer and dryer after 6pm for a nominal fee. The entire place is extremely clean and cleverly decorated.

The breakfast is something to rave about! Star carefully sets breakfast out very early in the summer mornings. The spread, while we were there, included boiled eggs, many varieties of yogurt, granola, cereal, pastries, meats, cheese, bagels, lox, fruit and more. We really appreciated the gluten free bread and oat milk. The coffee was the best we had in Alaska! We enjoyed sitting with other guests and talking to them about their Alaskan adventures.

We loved our time at the Copper Whale Inn. Lorene treated us like family and made sure that we felt welcome. She planned a special getaway for our family which kick-started our amazing stay in Alaska. Her attention to customer service really sets this place apart from the other hotels we stayed at while in Alaska.

On our 4th day we had an early train and had to leave at 5:30am. Star was setting up for breakfast and offered us food to go. We got to the train station and one of my kids realized that they did not have their phone. We were in a panic trying to figure out what to do, when the other kid yelled “Look, there is Star”. Yep, Star saw the phone and water bottle in the kitchen and got into the car to find us. Disaster averted until that same kid later realized they also lost their wallet. We had to get on the train, but we texted Lorene and asked if Star could check the room. Star tore the room apart with no luck. No other hotel would provide this type of personal care. Oh, It turns out that my husband had the wallet in a secret pocket of his back pack- sorry Star!!

We ended our trip back at the Copper Whale Inn. We were very excited to go “home” for one last night. The kids got the same room and my husband and I got the SpeakEasy which was super cool. The bed in that room was also extremely comfortable. We found the hotel to be very quiet and we slept with the windows open with no issues. Outside of SpeakEasy there is a nice water feature that is not only gorgeous, but provides white noise. The deck outside of the room was being replaced while we were there and that will be super nice when completed.

Again, we loved this establishment. Star and Lorene put it over the top. Thank you for taking such care in providing a memorable experience y’all! We hope to be back...

If you want a cookie cutter big box type of hotel experience (a la Hilton, Marriott, IHG, etc.) then the Copper Whale Inn will not be for you. However, if you want a more homey, cozy, comfortable "vibe", then the Copper Whale Inn will be a good fit.||There are 2 buildings, almost looks like someone's home. In the main building, there are rooms upstairs and downstairs. Note - no elevators and the stairs may be a bit steep and narrow for some people. We are seniors and had no issues with the stairs.||We stayed 2 separate nights at the Copper Whale Inn and stayed in 2 different rooms. Night #1 we stayed in the Inlet View room which as the name says has a view of the water in Anchorage. Night #2 we stayed in the Speakeasy room which was in the lower level of the main building. These rooms had their own bathrooms; note, not every room does so be sure to read the room details when booking. Both rooms were cozy & comfortable with the modern amenities of a large screen TV, lots of plugs for devices and strong wifi. Compared to a traditional/chain (ex. - Marriott, Hilton) room, the rooms at the Copper Whale Inn are on the small side.||Breakfast is included with your stay. It's self serve with a selection of meats, cheeses, yogurt, pastries, etc. It felt European to us!||A big selling point for the Copper Whale Inn is the location. Located on the corner of 5th and L Streets, the Inn is in the heart of downtown Anchorage. It is next door to Simon & Seaforts restaurant and a very short walk from many shops, restaurants, a liquor store, etc. If you are taking the Alaska Railroad to either Denali, Fairbanks or Seward, the Copper Whale Inn is a 5 minute drive to the rail depot or a 20 minute down hill walk; super convenient!||Also, in front of the Copper Whale Inn is a place to rent bikes which is important as just behind and down the hill from the Inn is access to the paved Coast Trail. The Coast Trail is an amazing way to walk or bike along the water, out toward Earthquake Park in 1 direction (3.3 miles from the Inn) or to parts of downtown Anchorage in the other direction (about 1 mile). The Coast Trail is a great way to see the inlet in Anchorage as well as see birds and other wildlife.||Pro Tips - during the summer season, hotel rooms in Anchorage are hard to find as the cruise lines take most of the rooms at the larger hotels. This puts pressure on the other available rooms so....do yourself a favor a book your stay at the Copper Whale Inn way in advance!||Lorene is the General Manager of the Copper Whale Inn. She provides professional customer service. If you follow what Lorene tells you to do everything will go great! And if you don't follow her directions, well that's on you! :-) The Inn accommodates late check in and the rooms will not be ready before 3pm as they have them cleaned after each stay. Communicate with Lorene on your schedule and she will be able to assist.||The location, cozy charm and staff of the Copper Whale Inn make it a good place to stay...

Copper Whale Inn is a great place to stay in the downtown Anchorage area for a great price. It is owned and operated by a local business-woman. So it felt great knowing I was supporting a local business during my travel. This isnt your typical hotel with someone waiting on your every need 24/7. The staff is friendly and will stay late or give plentiful directions for checking in even if you are coming in extremely late (2am in my case). The rooms are nice, beds cozy, and bathrooms well cleaned. I stayed in the shared bathroom which was a little cheaper and worked well. Think of it more like a bedroom in your house where you walk down to the hall for the bathroom, with another guest staying in another bedroom. They also offer rooms with personal bathrooms if you prefer. This place is great for solo travelers, a couple, or even families. They only have a limited amount if rooms and may book fast! The continental breakfast is great, with a decent selection of quick items from cereal to bagels and toast to fresh fruit and cheese. Good enough to start your day off for a few hours before grabbing lunch. The inn is within walking distance or transit of most of the area, close to excellent dining options, breweries, bars, shops, and the Anchorage Museum. Theres also a bike rental place in front of the inn (Anchorage city is relatively flat with only a couple hills). One thing to keep in mind if you are staying in the downtown region, expect to stay within that area or you will probably want to rent a car. Taxis/Uber/Lyft will cost you $30-40 per trip. There is a bus system that is cheap, but limited where and when it operates. Alternatively you can grab a tour that will pick you up (see their sister company Salmon Berry Tours). Should you rent a car, there's paid parking across the street for...