Aurora Villa

The rooms were clean, but there was no room service, and by day five our trash had piled up enough that we bought our own bags. There was nobody available to handle complaints. Breakfast meant freezer burritos from Costco and corn dogs kept in a fridge, and nobody alerted guests when the northern lights were out, though I hear nearby places do that. The shared spaces were rough during our stay. Guests had screaming kids every night, quiet hours weren’t quiet, things were messy, and people slept in the common areas. We complained more than once, but nothing changed. There was no peace unless we went out, so we drove to Sutton, the national park, and Anchorage. Honestly, Fairbanks sucks, and so does Aurora Village. Don’t be taken in by the website. It isn’t luxurious, more like a dorm-style hotel with a virtual assistant. Maybe it’s okay when other guests follow the rules, but it’s way overpriced for what’s offered. Based on other reviews, it seems the same family lives there, or the owner lets family stay and run amok. Don’t spend your time or money here. Look at Jim’s review, that’s exactly what we experienced. I don’t recommend it at this price. It’s worth 60 bucks a night at most. See the videos.

The V Lodge was beautiful and worked perfectly for our group of six. It’s close enough to downtown Fairbanks, but far enough away to avoid much light pollution, so the aurora viewing location is ideal. The only downside for us was dim indoor lighting, even with all the lamps provided. Some people may like that, others may not.

The shared areas were chaotic, and my girlfriend and I left after one night to book somewhere quieter, even though we’d planned to stay two nights. A large Chinese family seemed to take over the common space: children ran around screaming in the mornings, the kitchen was constantly occupied, and their belongings and rubbish were spread around. Other guests, including us, ended up in our rooms just to get some quiet. As a native Chinese speaker, I felt embarrassed by their behavior. I’ve never written a review before, but this stay was disappointing enough that I wanted to speak up. The place felt poorly managed, cleaned, and maintained. Sound carries easily, and with self check-in, cleanliness seems to depend entirely on the guests. We found shoes and even a jacket on the floor in shared spaces. I hope future visitors respect that this is shared accommodation, not a private home. The owner needs to take responsibility for cleanliness and service quality. Otherwise, the high price just isn’t justified.

We paid $700 a night, and it was a miserable stay that felt like a waste of money. When we arrived, the main room was filthy: overflowing trash, a dirty table, and a sink full of dishes. Nobody came to clean at any point during our stay. The included “breakfast” was freezer-burned Jimmy Deans or stale cereal. There was another couple staying there, and we could hear every little thing they did from our rooms. The decor looked cool but wasn’t practical or comfortable, so we went to Walmart to buy pillows. There was no one on site to help with anything, and I can’t see how they call it a four-star hotel with no service. This is the biggest hotel scam I’ve ever encountered.