NPR Reviews Provided by
Denali Bluffs Hotel

Excellent location, helpful staff
User:
Judy K from: Acton, Massachusetts
Published Date: Sep, 22, 2023 Travel Date: Sep, 1, 2023 Rating: 5 I am so happy that I chose this hotel. I had read reviews and knew that I didn't want to be on the ground floor because you hear people walking above you. So I got a second floor room and walked without shoes to be considerate of those under me. My room was 24 in building 24. It has a great view.
The staff are pleasant and helpful. They operate a shuttle into the park which runs only once per hour. It also stops in the little town but the town is close enough to walk to. I found that a big benefit. I picked up supplies and made some meals in my room. There's a refrigerator and coffee maker.
The restaurant of the hotel has a limited menu that didn't appeal to me. But I'm sure it did to others.
The front desk staff offer to put people on a list for wake up calls when the aurora is visible but the list is very long. They gave me excellent advice and told me when to set my own alarm and where to go outside to look. It worked.
The staff is knowledgeable and helpful regarding things to do in the park.
My bag was delivered to my room after my arrival by train and brought down from my room and transported to the train for me when I was leaving.
The grounds are pretty with many separate building of maybe a dozen rooms in each. Unlike other hotels that use overpowering floral sprays, this room smelled lightly of cedar.
Subratings:
- Value: 4
- Location: 5
- Service: 5

Bluff Hotel
User:
936syedh from: Chicago, Illinois
Published Date: Sep, 17, 2023 Travel Date: Aug, 1, 2023 Rating: 4 Great place to stay and very close to Denali park entrance. The room was kind of small to fit 3 people sith only one bathroom to share. But we managed. The parking was free and restaurant food choices were plenty. We had a wonderful stay. Breakfast was not provided free.
Subratings:
- Value: 5
- Location: 5
- Service: 5

Really need to up their game.
User:
williamcB7272QO from: Houston, Texas
Published Date: Sep, 17, 2023 Travel Date: Sep, 1, 2023 Rating: 3 So I felt like I was staying in a local motel. A coffee maker but no cups. The room was nice looking. The beds were okay. The balcony could have had a nice view but they have allowed small trees to grow right in front of the balcony. And they completely block the view.
They don't offer anything for free not even coffee well they might offer it in the room but you need cups and water to fill it. They could put a couple bottles of water in the room seeing as they have no vending machines on site. They have a place in the lobby that has 4 dollar coffee. And 3 dollar bottles of water. But they close early. The breakfast was lack luster and expensive for you what you get. One guy running around trying to help everyone while also dealing with the food etc. Dinner was good but expensive.
Maybe put some water and soda in the fridge in the room and charge for what we take.
This was a 2 star experience at a 4.5 cost for one night.
No pictures to share because I was so upset with the place.
Subratings:
- Value: 1
- Location: 4
- Service: 2

Great Rooms, Great Views, Great Service
User:
GovisBob from: Norfolk, Virginia
Published Date: Sep, 15, 2023 Travel Date: Sep, 1, 2023 Rating: 5 Stayed two nights in a second floor room with an awesome view. Room was spacious and well furnished. Heater in bathroom was appreciated. You do have to walk outside to get to rooms, and the paths can get steep. Requested a cart for transport up the hill and it arrived as promised. Pick up and delivery of luggage to and from the train station was a real plus. Bags were delivered to rooms directly from the train and taken from rooms back to train. This was our third time visiting Denali, if we make it back a fourth time, we will look to stay here.
Subratings:
- Value: 4
- Location: 5
- Service: 5

If you are driving to Denali, don’t stay here.
User:
John33290 from: Woodland, California
Published Date: Sep, 14, 2023 Travel Date: Sep, 1, 2023 Rating: 2 We stayed here 2 consecutive nights.
Room: newish mountain modern. wood wall and ceiling; laminate flooring entry and bathroom, carpet remainder of room. working A/C and heater. modern appliances, furnishings; cable reception for TV poor. appeared clean.
rooms are set in attached condo-like rows, 2 or 3 stories high.
PROS:
Denali Tour Bus (we took the Tundra Wilderness Tour) picks up at hotel. Indeed the tour that we took, ALL the guests were from this one hotel and there were no other pick-up stops.
also Hotel Shuttle bus hourly to Denali.
you could effectively get to Denali via cruise ship/bus, rail etc. and stay here and not need a car. (There is a restaurant on site and several local restaurants offer pick-up service).
CONS:
MOST expensive hotel room we’ve ever stayed in; a 3 star room at a 5 star price.
caters to tours. as noted above, main advantage is shuttle; you could effectively get to Denali via cruise ship, rail etc. and stay here and not need a car. (There is a restaurant on site and several local restaurants offer pick-up service).
Not secure wifi.
NO elevator; problem if you’re not on the first floor.
Tour group hotel. If you go to the restaurant soon after the tour group gets dropped off, you are in the salmon run.
Road noise. Train noise!
Only 9 parking spaces near lodge area .
Perky Moose Lunch box for $21 was a sandwich on a palm sized bun, bag of chips, 2 small apples, Kirkland bottle water, commercial shortbread cookies. The snack box provided by the tour included chips, turkey sausage stick, granola bar, exercise bar, bag of nuts and raisins, brownie bites, and water—the lunch box wasn’t needed.
Seasonal staff (the hotel closes in the winter) and it shows.
Summary: if you have a car, you can easily drive to Denali yourself even in rainy weather and catch a tour or the green bus shuttle. traffic is minimal compared to other national parks. If you stay at this hotel, you should plan to use the hotel shuttle (S) otherwise you’re paying a premium for convenience that you don't need.
Subratings:
- Value: 1
- Location: 5
- Service: 1