While in Anchorage, Alaska we stayed at the Hampton Inn at 4301 Credit Union Dr, Anchorage, AK 99503.  Once we arrived at the airport in Anchorage, Alaska we called the hotel shuttle which comes by every 10 to 20 minutes 24 hours a day.  I think we had to wait about 10 minutes which the kids thought was “forever” in the cool drizzly mist outside the airport, but it wasn’t bad.  We just were not used to the cool rainy temperatures in the summer being from South Carolina plus we were tired.  It was 5:00 am our time back home.  The 4 hour time change had us a little bit off schedule and even though we napped on the plane it wasn’t like a full nights sleep!

The Hampton Inn was a fairly quick drive from the airport and the driver was pleasant.  There was only one other couple in the van with us.  We were able to check into the hotel, settle into our room, shower, and crash for a few hours before getting up and heading out on the town.  It was wonderful getting a hot shower and crashing into a comfortable bed after being up over 30 plus hours.

Why did we choose Hampton Inn?  There are multiple reasons, but here is a handful that swayed our family in the direction of going with Hampton:

1. We are Hilton Honors Members – a lot of time when we (mostly Jake) travels for work the nearest hotel is Hampton so we tend to stick with the Hilton line
2. Quality and service at the Hilton Hotels is pretty consistent
3. Clean Rooms
4. Comfortable Beds – we have slept in a variety of rooms / beds over the past 16 years of our marriage and Hilton beds typically more comfortable then other hotels that we have been at while traveling. A good nights sleep can make a huge difference on the following day!
5. Swimming Pool – most of the Hilton’s we have been at have either an indoor or outdoor pool which is always a hit for the kids
6. Continental Breakfast – decent and predictable breakfast (which is especially convenient when traveling with a family member that has food allergies or food intolerances) Not all the Hilton hotels have continental breakfasts, but all the Hampton Inn’s we have stayed out do have breakfast which is always a benefit when you have a hungry family every morning

The Hampton Inn not only had shuttle service to/from the airport, but also to several spots around Anchorage.  After some sleep and a good breakfast we were ready to hit the town and explore Anchorage.  We were the only ones on the shuttle at that time.  We asked the driver for recommendations on “must see” places to visit, shop, eat, and tour while we were in Anchorage (especially since we were only going to be in town 1 day, we wanted to squeeze in everything we could during our time there).

After we asked the question the driver took the time to pull over the van in a safe location, got a map of Anchorage out, started to circle and draw an outline of where we need to go that day, how to get there, and a variety of activities from sight seeing, shopping, tours, and great local places to eat or visit.  We did EVERYTHING recommended that morning, except 1 of the restaurants and that was only because we got hungry earlier than we expected and stopped to eat prior to getting to the restaurant which was delicious too!

It was thoughtful and AWESOME having that 2 minute explanation and highlights of the town.  It gave us a clear path to follow throughout the day without wasting time wondering around and trying to figure out what to do.  We left the hotel at 9 am that morning and didn’t actually get back to our home to start getting ready for bed until almost 11 pm that night.  Thankful that Hampton Inn hired good drivers who go the extra mile.  It made our day in Anchorage fun, memorable, and enjoyable for the whole family.  We got to see a lot more with his assistance then if we had just roamed around on our own.  It made it more efficient and we got to pack more into our one day of Anchorage than we ever anticipated.

I would definitely recommend that Hampton Inn in Anchorage if you are looking for a place to stay.  It is not the one downtown Anchorage but in the suburbs.  It was clean, family friendly, and a great place to stay.  It was the first hotel we had been in that had crayons and postcards that the kids could color in with crayons in the lobby and mail out.  Which was a neat “extra” piece for families traveling with kids.

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