Grande Denali Lodge by Aspen Hotels♡

Excellent lodging choice

10.0

Traveling to Grande Denali Lodge from Anchorage on Alaska Railroad was a breeze. They were waiting for us at the depot with smiles and room keys. The accommodations are clean and have everything we need. The fridge and microwave are key. The views are spectacular and the staff is friendly and helpful. While there is only a preorder box lunch option (I wish we could get lunch at lunchtime), the food in the lodge has been very good! I love the Northern Lights cocktail. The Brussels sprouts app is delicious. Traveling with my husband and teenager, adventures have been very convenient- the transport for each adventure picks you up right out front. We would definitely stay again.

Great view from the top of the hill

6.0

Maybe a bit unfair, but have to be honest. Great view from the top of hill. Only a limited number of rooms were open at the time of the stay because of water problems (due to a late thaw). Never did get hot water at the room. Plus, the room was pretty far away from the entrance (if there were a limited number of rooms open, why so far away?). Otherwise, the room was fine. And a great view.

Nice lodge, great staff and service.

8.0

The lodge is at the top of the hill. The staff is friendly, the lodge clean, the rooms are a decent size, you don't feel cramped. They offer free shuttle service from the train to the lodge, around town, and to the Denali Visitor park center where you pick up park buses to go into the park. I would stay here again.

worth the splurge

10.0

great location just above the touristy Denali village. views from wraparound balcony behind bar are jaw-dropping. Bed very comfortable. our room was located just above the door where tour buses lined up very early to load luggage so more noise than we expected. Shuttle buses frequent, free and helpful. Drivers friendly and knowledgeable. Also a fun 15 minute walk UPhill from the village

Nothing Grande About This Hotel

2.0

There’s unfortunately nothing “grande” about this place other than the view from the cliff top location! My not so grande experience started at the train station, playing “hunt the bus”. The hotel bus was the only one not displaying a sign, and the scruffy driver was busy scratching and surfing instead of looking for his passengers. We had the pleasure of being forced to listen to his stand-up routine on the journey up to the hotel. He won’t make the cut! It got worse! We arrived at the hotel in a full bus of 48, to find just one person on check in duty! What a shambles! I bypassed the queue and went to get a beer! That was $12+ when you figure tax and the inevitable tip, for a local beer, and it gave me an idea of things to come! Rooms are in an accommodation block across from the main building. It’s more like a barracks block, and the shoddy construction means that you can hear every bit of noise. Yep, that’s every conversation ( and other things too), plus every toilet flush or shower. Sleep quality was very very poor. This $500 a night hotel would be $80 max in the lower 48! Bring ear plugs to sleep! The hotel restaurant wouldn’t win any prizes. Breakfast is a “take it or leave it” $40 when you include tax and tip. The alternative is the lobby cafe, with a great long queue and, you got it, one clueless girl serving! The restaurant is closed for lunch. In the evening you can get the world’s smallest piece of salmon for $56 plus tax and tip! The seasonal staff are sweet and friendly, with many being from Eastern Europe, but the problem is that maybe only one in five have done hospitality work before, and they haven’t got a clue! The biggest failure here is management, who are invisible. The positive is that the park service bus comes up to the hotel to collect you. WiFi is good. If you come here, be mentally prepared for the Great Alaskan Rip Off, which the hotel executes 100%. With such a short season, they probably have no choice! And yes, I too didn’t get advised that housekeeping was on request, nor did I get any water in the room. But that’s so they can sell you small bottles of Coke’s Dasani filtered tap water at just under $4 a pop!

This Lodge needs major overhaul

4.0

This hotel was a low budget . No housekeeping service you need to request it which we weren’t told upon checking in . Rooms had no drinking water or cups . The air conditioning wasn’t cooling either . Bathroom could be cleaner too . Restaurant food was good .