Alaska Train — Local services in Alaska

I can not say enough good things. Everything from the excellent information available on their website to the very firendly and patient people who answered my questions on the phone and helped me book our train trips. Although, I do not end up booking a complete train tour package through them, I did use them to book our various train trips (only because my family isn’t crazy about motor coaches and they wanted to take the train all of the way up to Denali and back down to Anchorage at our own pace). However, on that note, I do want to say that even though we didn’t book a train package we were able to book the train portions of our trip (all 3 of them) and the price we received for the Gold Star service on all of the legs was less than booking through the Alaska Railroad directly. If you are looking to take the train for any or all of your trip, I highly suggest looking into Alaska Train’s prices and availablility. I found that they had more seat choice options available at a better price then Alaska Railroad did. If anyone is looking to use the train during their time in Alaska, I recommend you checking out Alaska Train’s website. It’s packed with all kinds of great information, tips and pictures which I found particularly helpful while plannng our trip. If you are looking for a deal on some great Alaska tour travel packages, check out their website and packages first. I found that more often their individual (a la carte) pricing was better then I was able to find anywhere else. And trust me, I searched everywhere, it took me over 2 years to plan and book our two week trip. Good luck and I hope your Alaskan vacation is as enjoyable and memoriable as...

Hubby decided to surprise me with the gold Star train ride from Fairbanks to Denali and back. Apparently he did not understand that the ticket included breakfast and 2 adult beverages on the way there and supper and 2 adult beverages on the way back. So we ended up eating 2 breakfasts and 2 suppers. Obviously not ideal. I ordered a whiskey sour on the way to Denali and it tasted like it had been made with a spiced rum so I didn't try another drink. The staff was very engaging. The seats were very comfortable. The food was ok but we weren't thrilled to have to eat at the same table with strangers. I guess they have to pair you up because of time constraints. We didn't see any wildlife along the way. Honestly the trees are so close to the train that you can't see much a lot of the trip, and when you can see the scenery, you are close to the highway so it's not like you are out in the middle of the wilderness. We ended up driving on that highway the next day and the scenery was much easier to see and had better vantage points. I know this sounds stupid, but we didn't realize that the train drops you off in the woods! Lol. I guess we assumed it would drop you off at a town with a visitors center. Nope! So unless you've preplanned a guided tour or an ATV trip, you will be wandering around the visitors center for 4 hours until the train comes back to get you. The visitors center is nice with exhibits, a cafe, bathrooms and is the start to several trails. However, 4 hours is a long time to be there with nothing else to see or do. Overall was the Gold Star train ride nice? Yes. Was it worth the extra money...not really. But now we can say that...

GOLDSTAR service

Cost: $585

Date: 09/19/2023

Sad to give this experience 1 star, because I live here and want to be proud.

Trip from Anchorage to Girdwood takes 75 minutes. The railroad does not shift the train schedule to adjust for when Alaska starts rapidly losing the daylight towards the end of the summer, so out of the 75 minutes, the first 45 were in complete darkness.

As soon as we boarded, we were asked if we were only travelling to Girdwood and assured we would be the first to be seated at the restaurant and first to be served breakfast, so that we would have enough time to eat. Unfortunately, we were seated the absolute last and if the food was brought to the table just 5 minutes later than it had been, we wouldn’t have even had the time to taste the food. Entertainment-wise at the restaurant, while waiting, we watched the server pour a glass of water right from the facet with a sign “Not for drinking” and bring it to someone’s table.

By that time it got light outside, so my dad stepped on the open deck to take a photo. That’s when the person in charge came running and yelling “Quick! Quick! Those getting off at Girdwood, get ready! Quick!” What an atmosphere of nervousness and rush. My guests felt like they were getting quickly kicked off before the train took off immediately. I’m mostly disappointed for my visitors who were left with this bad taste in the mouth.

In 15 years of living here, probably the most disappointing “touristy” experience of all. Unfortunately. I think Alaska...