Coast Inn at Lake Hood

After flying 5000 miles and facing a 16-hour workday the next day, I checked in, got a key, and hauled all my bags upstairs since there are no elevators. My room was far from the front desk, and the key wouldn't open the door. I lugged everything back down, explained the problem, got an eye roll, and had the key reprogrammed. Back up I went, only to find it still wouldn't work. This happened four times before I convinced the desk there might be a problem. Then I waited 15 minutes for the handyman. I've stayed at the Coast since 2010, and something like this always seems to happen. I don't know how this place stays open.

I've stayed at the Coast Inn at Lake Hood at least twice a year. The prices are good, and I like the restaurant, bar, and airport shuttle. The staff are always helpful and happy to see me. This latest visit was a bad one, though. Room #146 was so noisy I barely slept. The heater clanked loudly every time it kicked on. Maybe it was the refrigerator making strange sounds, or perhaps there were serious plumbing problems in the wall. Next time I'll ask for a room in the 130's. I've stayed in that range before and always slept well.

There's no elevator, so be ready to carry your bags up two flights. They offered to find someone to help, but there were seven of us and it was late. We just wanted to get to our rooms. The buffet cost $22 for an ordinary hotel breakfast. Eat at the restaurant instead, the food and prices are better.

The only real upsides are being near the airport and having a shuttle you can call when you need it. The rooms smell like decades of cigarette smoke, even though they've been turned into “non” smoking rooms. There's no elevator, so bring lots of luggage and you'd better not have skipped leg day. The front desk attendant did offer to help with bags, but what hotel doesn't have an elevator? It's a dated place, and at over $300 a night, renting a car and sleeping in it seems like a better deal.