Denali Park Village

The staff were friendly, and there was coffee for sale in the lobby along with a nicely stocked gift shop. The location is the main draw: right by the Nenana River and a short way from Denali National Park. The rooms are small, with two tiny beds, no fridge, and no microwave. One of the only two washing machines serving three buildings was broken, which made the stay more of a hassle. Breakfast was far too expensive, and with better restaurants down the road, eating on site didn't seem worthwhile. Tour buses kept arriving, too.

The views were beautiful, and the employees on work-study were a pleasure to talk with. There were lots of young people from other countries who were eager to tell us where they came from and what they liked best about Alaska. The place was nice but very touristy. Front desk staff weren't very friendly. If getting around is hard for you, this may not be a good fit: we had to carry our luggage quite a distance to our room. Parking was limited for people who drove.

Our vacation package included a cabin by the river. It was clean, the shower was hot, and the place was quiet and peaceful despite having lots of guests. The cabin was small, more like a studio, and had very few outlets, though we expected some limits in such a remote spot. The restaurant service was good, but food was very expensive. The lukewarm breakfast buffet was mediocre and cost $30 per adult. We knew supplies would cost more in a remote place, but that price felt excessive, so we didn't eat there again.

I can't recommend spending your time or money here. The managers treated everyone like dirt, employees included from what I saw. This was the worst place I've stayed in Denali. Every time I've dealt with an Aramark-run business or lodging, I've had the same experience.