Chena Hot Springs Resort

Dog sledding was a real highlight. The kids loved it, and the dogs were so friendly. Our rooms had no internet or phone reception, and Wi-Fi was only available in the lobby. The rooms were okay, but the heater was old enough that we needed a portable one to stay comfortable, especially with temperatures around -30°F during our aurora trip. The food was good, though on Friday and Saturday we waited nearly an hour to be seated. The aurora tour was decent, and having a yurt helped a lot in that cold. They had coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and ramen, and the staff were very nice. They also gave us useful tips for setting up our phone cameras to photograph the aurora. It was a memorable trip despite the extreme cold.

Lunch was good and the restaurant staff were fine, though they were clearly understaffed and terribly overworked. The hot springs were just okay, with quite a bit of plant matter floating in the water. My bigger problem was a $309.99 charge on my credit card, on top of what I paid for lunch and the pools. I called the front desk to dispute it, and the reception rep asked me to send him the details so he could pass them to the person who handles those issues and comes into the office at midnight. I did as he asked. Five days later, Chena still hadn’t replied, and the charge hadn’t been credited. Stay away. The restaurant staff were great, but I don’t trust the administration staff.

The setting is hard to beat: a huge hot spring pool in a winter wonderland, the ice museum with its ice bar and friendly bartender, and the aurora at night. Tour guides were around and happy to share what they knew about the aurora and taking photos. It was an unforgettable experience. I didn’t stay overnight, so I can’t comment on the rooms, and I skipped the expensive restaurant. The cafe and gift shop had Alaska souvenirs and cheaper food options. But they stopped making drinks more than an hour before closing. I asked for one just before 10 on a Saturday, with closing at 11, and was told the machine had already been cleaned. I could understand that at 10:50, but not 9:50. The accessible bathrooms were also filthy or in disrepair, which is why I rated the service low. Some accessibility details, separate from my rating: check-in in the main building is on a platform, so you may need to flag someone down for help. There’s one accessible bathroom on that level. When I visited, it was filthy and in high demand, and its sink was broken. The buildings aren’t connected, so getting between them can mean taking several paths. Those paths were packed with snow when I was there, though my rollator handled them okay for the most part. There’s a step at the entrance to the pool and hot springs. The hot springs have a ramp, and I saw water wheelchairs, though I’m not sure how to get one. The handrail gets very cold and can be tricky to use. You can access the pool by stairs and a handrail, while the indoor hot tubs require climbing several steps to reach the platform. Outdoor shoes aren’t allowed in locker rooms or wet areas, so bring water shoes or sandals. Crocs and flip-flops are allowed. The hot springs can dehydrate you badly, but there are free water refill stations, so bring bottles. Family change rooms are available but aren’t especially accessible. The main rooms have accessible showers and toilets. When I visited, the women’s accessible shower stall was filthy and the accessible toilet had a broken lock. The main part of the ice museum is accessible, but stairs lead to the bar and several other ice areas. The room doorways are quite low, and the igloo entrance is child-sized.

The kennel tour was definitely worth doing, and you can pet the pups. Dinner was great too. We only got a day pass and didn’t stay overnight. I found the dressing room clean, though I still wore flip-flops. Lockers cost 50 cents each time you close them. The hot springs were clean and so enjoyable, I loved them. The indoor hot tub and pool were clean, although the pool tiles were dirty. The Ice Museum was awesome, and the Appletini was good.