6 Days, 5 Nights in Alaska for Only $2200 Per Person

🌲✨ I used to think Alaska was all about the northern lights… but wow, was I wrong! My spontaneous Labor Day weekend trip showed me that summer in Alaska is literally BREATHTAKING 🤯💙. I caught the very last bit of summer sunshine in Anchorage and beyond. Here’s my full 6-day, 5-night itinerary packed with natural wonders, wildlife, and affordable luxury—all without breaking the bank! Day 1️⃣: Arrival in Anchorage ✈️ Flight: Round trip $250 (booked in advance!) 🏨 Hotel: Hyatt House (used points—about 40,000 points for 5 nights? Worth it!) 🍓 Breakfast included—their fruit platter was so fresh! Also grabbed free Brita bottles and energy bars which literally saved us during long days out. 😍 First impression: CLEAN AIR, MOUNTAIN VIEWS, AND MIDNIGHT SUN! Anchorage is way more than a stopover. Day 2️⃣: Palmer + Heli & Paddle Tour 🚁 Booked a 4-hour helicopter + paddleboarding tour on Viator—$1,000 (yes, the splurge of the trip… but SO worth it). We saw TWO blue ice caves!! Paddling on a glacial lake with icebergs around me felt like another planet 😭💙. 📸 Photos came out like National Geographic. If you do one thing in Alaska—make it this. 🍻 Lunch at Glacier Brewhouse in Anchorage—loved their seafood! ~$65 per person. 🏡 Stayed at a motel in Wasilla—cozy and cheap at $250/night. Day 3️⃣: Matanuska Glacier Tour ❄️ Took a guided glacier walk—$150 for 3 hours. Honest review? SKIP IT if you’ve already done a helicopter tour. The ice wasn’t as bright blue, the path was mostly dark frozen soil 😬, and the water was muddy. Not insta-worthy. 🚗 Drove to Seward after. 🍽️ Dinner at a local spot—pretty bland, $60 per person. 🏡 Stayed at Seward Breeze Inn—basic but clean, ~$250/night. Day 4️⃣: Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise 🛥️ 6-hour wildlife and glacier cruise—$250 per person (lunch included!). We saw HUMPBACK WHALES 🐋, orcas, sea lions, mountain goats, and so many birds! The water was unreal turquoise 💚. When we reached the glacier—MIND BLOWN. Massive, blue, pristine… and we even witnessed a huge chunk calving into the water! The sound echoed for ages. Note: Bring binoculars and a good jacket—it gets chilly! Day 5️⃣: Exit Glacier + Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center 🥾 Hiked Exit Glacier—FREE and gorgeous! Easy trail with epic views. 🦌 Then visited the Conservation Center ($25)—saw bison, moose, bears, elk… almost everything except foxes (which was fine cause they’re sneaky anyway). Only downside: some enclosures have fences, so photo ops aren’t perfect. 🍺 Dinner at 49th State Brewery—okay, not amazing. ~$55 per person. 🏨 Stayed again on points at Hyatt Place. Day 6️⃣: Anchorage Sightseeing & Flight Home 🏛️ Visited the Anch Museum—$25, pretty interesting! 🌳 Walked around downtown parks—kinda boring tbh. You don’t need more than half a day here. ✈️ Flew home feeling fulfilled and already dreaming of my next Alaska trip! Final Thoughts: You don’t need to be rich to experience Alaska’s beauty. With smart planning—using points, choosing tours wisely, and packing snacks—you can have an unforgettable light-luxury experience under budget! Would I go again? ABSOLUTELY. Maybe next time—aurora season? ❄️🌌 #US #Alaska #Anchorage