Glacier Bay Lodge

The Glacier Bay boat tours run by the same company, so getting everything arranged was easy. Check-in is in the main lodge, which also has the national park visitor center, a small museum, a gift shop, and a full-service restaurant with lovely views. There are picturesque trails just a short walk away, too. The cabins are simple and rustic, but charming, clean, and well kept, with comfortable beds and big windows looking out at the woods. Raised boardwalks wind between them through the forest. This is a cozy, convenient base for exploring Glacier Bay National Park from Gustavus, Alaska. It isn't luxury lodging, but it's serene and close to nature, and suited our needs perfectly.

The staff were clearly tired after a summer together and were overworked, but they were still wonderful. Everyone in the restaurant was friendly and helpful, as were the boat crew and the people at the front desk. They held things together impressively. Being right in the national park is the biggest advantage. You can walk to the Hoonah tribal house, boat tour, kayaks, and hiking trails. The bus ride from the airport was fun, too. Our room was cozy and fine, but there was no Wi-Fi in it, only in the restaurant in the main lodge building. During our three-night stay, nobody came by to change the sheets or bring fresh coffee. We liked the restaurant, and the prices were surprisingly reasonable for what you get. A $16 hamburger with fries out here is pretty good. I'm sure some Gustavus lodges have better food, though. At $22, the breakfast buffet is a good deal if you want coffee and juice, so you'll probably go for it. The food isn't very good and gets worse as the morning goes on. Still, with nowhere else to go, it's a better value than ordering à la carte.

The lodge is right where you want to be if you're visiting the National Park, and it's an easy way to enjoy Glacier Bay without taking a cruise. The food was good and the staff were great. Rooms have an old-school feel, but ours was clean and in good shape, with very comfortable beds. The lighting is dim, and there are only standard wall outlets, so bring your chargers.

We were very disappointed by the day boat tour being canceled for the second day in a row, and by how the ship operators and glacier bay day lodge handled it. Flying to gustavus isn't easy or cheap, and many visitors only have one or two days there. More than 100 people were left without a way to see the park's main attraction. The boat workers left it to the NPS rangers to tell us at 6:22am, just 15 minutes before boarding, that the tour was canceled. There were no other boats or activities available apart from hiking or sea kayaking. Our stay at Glacier Bay Lodge itself was very nice.