Lynn View Lodge, Cabins, & Rental Cars — Hotel in Alaska

We did not stay at the Lynn View Lodge itself, so this is about the car rental only. The 1st vehicle we were assigned was filthy inside and out. I get that the outside of a vehicle in a place like Haines is going to be a challenge given rain and dirt roads, so no big deal on the outside of vehicle. But previous users trash inside the vehicle should not happen. I removed dirty tissues and an empty drink bottle. I took the vehicle to the local car wash and for a couple of bucks vacuumed up lots of dirt on the driver and passenger side floors. After driving the vehicle of a couple of days, it was evident that the shocks were shot. Vehicle #1 had about 55k miles on the odometer. Each little bump in the road required hanging on tight and correcting the tracking of the vehicle. So, I decided to ask for a vehicle trade. The person helping me with this, Kenny, was very helpful and I had no issues with him. He was accommodating at trading out vehicle #1. The 2nd vehicle was somewhat better, although still had some questionable issues. For example, since we were going to be driving the vehicle quite a distance one of the days, I decided to check the oil. Not only was it black as coal, it also barely registered in the dip stick. Since I wasn't interested in dealing with a seized up engine, I decided that adding a quart of fresh oil was a prudent preventative step. The vehicle had around 33k miles on it. I am guessing it had never seen an oil change, at least in the last 10 to 15k miles. The tires had about 2/32nds of tread remaining, clearly worn down to the wear bars. I kept the vehicle speed no higher than 55 just to not tempt fate. I had no issues with the personnel I dealt with. My suggestion is to stay on top of maintenance of the vehicles to avoid hazards...

Car review, not hotel-

We are reluctant, first-time cruisers. We do not enjoy being crammed in shuttles, ships, water taxis, elevators, etc. The freedom renting a car here afforded us was worth every penny!! We were able to explore the beautiful area by ourselves, and on our own schedule. It was like being let out of cruise ship prison!!!

We got a red Subaru, which was parked quite literally across the street from the cruise ship. All communication was done via text and/or email, never even met an actual person. See above and know we didn't mind that. Might have been the most convenient car rental ever. We just dropped it off with a full tank, left the keys in it, and were back in the ship in 10 mins!

The car itself is what I call a Maui (Haines) cruiser, meaning it was dirty, had some dings, cracks, and scuffs... bear scratches, but it gets you where you want to go. It ran fine (had about 45k miles on odometer). Plus, it was super cheap.

There is a lot to see around this area and this might be your best chance of seeing the most. You can even drive to the Canadian border in about an hour. If you want to "get away" from the cruise ship wind-up dolls, this is a great option. Best...

When we arrived at our room at the Lynn View Lodge we were greeted with the most stunning view ever. The large sliding glass doors offered a view of snow topped mountains rising up from the waters of the largest fjord in Alaska. We never tired of looking out at this spectacular wilderness scene. ||||The room was rather small but the vastness of the view made it almost seem like we were outside. Everything in the room was neat and tidy. Our young host, Miranda, was full of energy and enthusiasm as we asked her for suggestions of what to do. If you like wildlife you’ll be very happy. Haines is famous for its grizzly bears and bald eagles. There are scenic drives and trails to enjoy. ||||We were disappointed that no breakfast was offered but fortunately we were renting a car from her so we could drive to restaurants and grocery stores in the nearby town of Haines. The Lodge is only a mile from the Alaska Ferry Terminal but everything else is too far to walk to. There is only one expensive taxi in town and the sights are spread out so I highly recommend...