Hotels and Motels

Located in the center of Seward [1] and decked out with stuffed critters, the Hotel Seward (221 5th Ave., 907/224-2378 or 800/655-8785, www.hotelsewardalaska.com [2]) offers economy guest rooms with a bath down the hall for $99 d, and larger guest rooms for $129 d, along with modern guest rooms for $229–279.

Just two blocks from the boat harbor, Murphy’s Motel (909 4th Ave., 907/224-8090 or 800/686-8191, www.murphysmotel.com [3]) provides a mix of older guest rooms ($129–149 d) and newer units ($169 d), some with balconies. All rooms contain fridges and microwaves.

Situated on the north end of town, Marina Motel (1603 Seward Hwy., 907/224-5518, www.sewardmotel.com [4], $125–150 d) is a comfortable and clean place. All rooms include fridges, and the newer and larger units have microwaves.

Opened in 1916, and now on the National Register of Historic Places, the Van Gilder Hotel (308 Adams St., 907/224-3079 or 800/204-6835, www.vangilderhotel.com [5]) gets mixed reviews from guests. Some appreciate this antique-filled and immaculate blast from the past with Wi-Fi and a community kitchen, while others bemoan the lack of an elevator in a three-story structure and the small guest rooms. Rates are $99–149 d, or $189 for two-bedroom suites.

Directly across the street from the small boat harbor, clean and comfortable 100-room Breeze Inn Motel (1306 3rd Ave., 907/224-5237 or 888/224-5237, www.breezeinn.com [6]) has standard rooms (no view) for $149 d, and newer units with rather limited harbor or mountain views for $229–269 d. Breeze has free Wi-Fi.

It’s hard to beat the harbor-side location of Holiday Inn Express (907/224-2550 or 800/465-4329, www.holidayinn.com [7]), which also offers a small indoor pool (the only one in town), a hot tub, a breakfast buffet, a business center, Wi-Fi, and balconies on some units. The predictable chain-motel guest rooms cost $179–189 d for units facing the mountains, and waterside units are $229–239 d.

Fittingly located across from the railroad station, Whistle Stop Lodging (411 Port Ave., 907/224-5050, www.sewardak.net/ws [8], open seasonally, $135–145 d) provides a fun opportunity to overnight in a vintage Alaska Railroad car.