Alaska Creekside Cabins

The place looked like it might be great, but the management seemed fishy. I booked Alaska Creekside Cabins through Expedia using “reserve now, pay at the property,” and unfortunately never got to enjoy the stay. Two months before arrival, the owner tried to charge my card, not once but twice. When I asked about it, they said they charge every guest in full early once they reach 95% capacity. That wasn’t disclosed in the reservation or booking terms. It’s misleading to advertise “pay at property” and then change the terms after a booking is confirmed. The owner also confirmed they do this to lock people in. I believe charging a card without approval is illegal, and they didn’t even communicate about it first. When I questioned the charge, the owner didn’t provide any written policy. Instead, they acted unprofessionally, said I was “not a good fit” for the property, and asked me to cancel. I canceled to avoid more trouble, and the experience was very disappointing. The property may look nice, but the owner’s practices didn’t feel transparent or trustworthy. Be aware that they may try to charge months ahead of time, their policies may differ from what Expedia lists, and customer service may be unprofessional if you ask questions. I strongly recommend booking elsewhere unless you’re comfortable with unexpected charges and changing rules. Contact the property to make sure they won’t charge early just because they want to. I have a screenshot of the conversation as proof. I hope this helps the owner understand that there are rules, even in Alaska. If a booking says Pay Later, the rules can’t be changed for reservations already made. If full payment is needed at some point, change the reservation payment method or at least tell customers in the policy.