Fairbanks Getaway: Clarion Hotel & Suites Near Ft. Wainwright!
Fairbanks Getaway: Clarion Hotel & Suites - A Review That's More Human Than AI (Hopefully!)
Okay, so Fairbanks, Alaska. Sounds wild, right? Visions of huskies, aurora borealis, and maybe even a grizzled prospector or two. And the Clarion Hotel & Suites near Ft. Wainwright? Well, that's where I ended up, smack dab in the heart of it all. Let me tell you, it was a trip. And this review? It's gonna be a trip too, buckle up.
Accessibility – The Good, the Bad, and the Slightly Confusing
Right off the bat, the elevator was a godsend. Because, let’s be honest, after a day of tromping around in snowy Fairbanks, any hotel with an elevator is a win. The hotel claims facilities for disabled guests, which is excellent news. But, like with a lot of places, you’ve gotta call ahead and double-check the specifics. I didn't need any assistance in my stay but the information is available, and that is important.
Internet Access – Bless the Wi-Fi Gods!
Thank goodness for Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!. Seriously, after the logistical headache of getting to Fairbanks (delayed flights, you name it), the promise of instant internet was pure bliss. The signal was generally good, though it did hiccup a few times. And, yes, there’s also Internet [LAN] if you’re old-school or have some serious bandwidth needs.
Cleanliness and Safety – Did They Get the Memo?
Look, I am a total germaphobe, so Cleanliness and safety are crucial to me. I was happy to see they were offering Anti-viral cleaning products and had Staff trained in safety protocol. I had a quick look for the Hand sanitizer and found it readily available, which is a good sign. There wasn't a whole lot being advertised about the hotel's COVID-era precautions. This is where I'm getting a little nervous. I just hope the rooms are actually getting the Room sanitization they claim. (I didn’t opt-out – I wasn’t about to risk it!).
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Fueling the Adventure (Or Not)
Okay, this is where things get a little…interesting. The restaurants are there, plural, which is promising. But, the reality seems to be a buffet-style offering for breakfast and a menu later in the day. The hotel notes they have Asian cuisine in restaurant. You're in Alaska! Who knew? Breakfast [buffet] – Hey, it fills the tank, right? (Though the scrambled eggs were… questionable. Let’s just say, they were committed to their yellow color.) However the Coffee shop was open, which was great for a late night coffee runs. The Poolside bar looked alright but there was no time to spend the day at the pool.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things Matter
The Daily housekeeping folks deserve a medal. Seriously, after the blizzard-like conditions outside, it was a joy to come back to a clean room. The Concierge looked helpful. The Convenience store was a lifesaver for those midnight snack cravings. And the Elevator (again).
For the Kids – Family Friendly, or Just Present?
They say the hotel is Family/child friendly. I didn't have any kids with me, so I can't vouch for this firsthand. There is a Babysitting service available, which is a plus, but also, good luck finding babysitters in the middle of nowhere.
Things to do, ways to relax -- Spa? Uh… Maybe??
I'm not sure. I didn't see the Spa or the Sauna. I'm pretty sure those weren't available. The hotel advertises a Fitness center which I wasn't able to try.
In-Room Amenities – The Bare Necessities, Mostly
Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Coffee/tea maker – all present and accounted for. The Hair dryer came in handy. The Internet access – wireless was a necessity. The Refrigerator was great for my snacks. The Shower was nice. Plus, there was water, which I was grateful for. These are the basic necessities.
Getting Around – Driving in Fairbanks, My God!
Car park [free of charge] – Yes! Fairbanks is spread out, so a rental car is essential. The snow and ice made driving a challenge, though. And, of course, they have Taxi service, but you might be waiting a while.
Overall Verdict – Should You Go?
Honestly? For the price, the Clarion Suites delivers. It's not a luxury resort. It's a solid, reliable basecamp for exploring Fairbanks and all its quirky glory. It's clean-ish, the Wi-Fi works, and the staff are pretty decent. Just keep your expectations in check, pack some snacks, and be prepared for a real Alaskan adventure. I'd stay there again if I had to.
Kennesaw's BEST Western Hotel: Unbeatable Rates & Amenities!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's meticulously planned travel itinerary. This is… my trip to Fairbanks, slap-dab near Fort Wainwright, and it's gonna be a glorious, unpredictable mess. And hopefully, hilarious. And maybe, just maybe, inspiring. Or depressing. Who knows!
The Clarion Hotel & Suites Fairbanks: My Alaskan Launchpad (and maybe my downfall)
(Okay, okay, I’ll try to sound vaguely professional, but seriously, this hotel better have decent coffee. My brain runs on caffeine.)
Day 1: Arrival and Initial (Mild) Disasters
1:00 PM: Arrive at Fairbanks International Airport (FAI). The first thing that hits me isn't the crisp Alaskan air, it's the sheer loneliness. I'm solo this trip. Always a good thing, and always a slightly terrifying thing. Finding the car rental place – that’s the first test. (Note to self: Pack a bigger map. My phone’s GPS is probably going to die in the wilderness.)
- Anecdote: Remember that video of the guy trying to unlock his rental car and it takes him like, five minutes? Yeah, that was me. Except it felt like an hour, and the car rental agent was definitely judging my rental car fumble.
2:30 PM: Check-in to the Clarion. Pray the room doesn’t smell like stale cigarettes and regret. (It almost did, but I demanded a new room. Score!) The lobby is… fine. Standard hotel lobby fare. My room? Okay, actually. At least the bed looks comfy. (I'm a big bed person. It's a priority.)
3:30 PM: Unpack the bare minimum. Too much unpacking will lead to existential angst. Must. Resist. Okay, suitcase zipped up.
4:00 PM: Explore the hotel a little. Oh, look, a (semi-functional) gym. I’ll get to that… probably. Definitely not today.
4:30 PM: Attempt to walk to a local restaurant. Failed miserably. Turns out, "nearby" in Alaska means "requires a car, you idiot." Back to the hotel to sulk.
5:00 PM: Dinner at the hotel restaurant. The menu is… interesting. Ordered the salmon. It was… edible. Let’s leave it at that.
6:30 PM: Stare at the ceiling in my hotel room. Think about the vastness of Alaska. Feel small. Contemplate the meaning of life. Decide chicken wings are the answer.
7:30 PM: Order chicken wings from the hotel kitchen. They're surprisingly good. Maybe Alaska isn’t so bad after all.
8:30 PM: Early to bed, maybe? I'm usually up way too late, especially when traveling. Will probably watch a terrible movie on the ridiculously small TV, get annoyed, and fall asleep anyway.
Day 2: Dogsledding (The Thing That Might Actually Kill Me)
- 9:00 AM: Wake up to the sound of silence. (Or maybe it was traffic. What even is traffic in Alaska?) Coffee, glorious coffee. Hotel coffee is… passable.
- 10:00 AM: Drive to the dogsledding excursion! I'm actually excited about this. Okay, maybe terrified. But excited!
- 11:00 AM: Meet the dogs. THEY’RE. SO. CUTE! These huskies are fluffy, energetic balls of pure, unadulterated joy. They're like the superhero squad of the Arctic. And they are LOUD.
- 11:30 AM: Dogsledding! This is it. My moment. The moment I either conquer the Alaskan wilderness or end up face-first in a snowdrift. (I'll be honest, the face-first scenario is a distinct possibility.)
- Quirky Observation: The dogs are intensely focused. Like, laser-beam focused on running. Also, they poop a lot. A LOT. The musher is incredibly patient.
- 12:30 PM: My dogsledding adventure. Okay, so the actual ride was a blur of wind, speed, and pure adrenaline. It. Was. Amazing. Bumpy, and cold, and I almost lost my hat, but amazing. (I also yelled a lot. Apparently, Alaskan air amplifies the decibel level of my shrieks.)
- Emotional Reaction: Pure, unadulterated joy! And a healthy dose of "I can't believe I survived that!" I felt utterly, gloriously alive. This is why I travel! To feel something.
- 1:30 PM: Hot chocolate and debrief with the musher. Turns out I’m not a complete klutz. Which is good, news.
- 2:30 PM: Drive back to the hotel. Sore. Exhausted. Elated. And craving a nap.
- 3:30 PM: Nap. Glorious nap.
- 5:00 PM: Decide to venture out for dinner. This time, I'm prepared, which, of course, means I’m going to get lost. My luck, really.
- 6:00 PM: Get horrifically lost. End up in a strip mall that looks like something out of a post-apocalyptic movie.
- 6:30 PM: Find a diner and order a burger. The waitress is a gruff, but kind, woman who reminds me of my grandma. Heartwarming and depressing at the same time.
- 8:00 PM: Back at the hotel, watching the (still ridiculously small) TV. Feeling the after-effects of adventure, the cold, the exertion. This will be a good night's sleep. At least, I hope so.
Day 3: Culture and… More Culture? (and a possible breakdown)
- 9:00 AM: Coffee (needed) and breakfast at the hotel. Okay now I'm starting to feel at home.
- 10:00 AM: Visit the University of Alaska Museum of the North. This should be educational. (Pray for me.)
- Rant: Museums… I have a love/hate relationship with them. Love the history, hate the… silence. And the pressure to be “cultured.”
- 11:30 AM: The museum is actually pretty interesting. The displays are well-curated, the exhibits are informative. But I am still finding it hard to concentrate. I think I need a snack break.
- Anecdote: I try to be that person who “appreciates art.” I pretended to understand an exhibit on abstract ice formations for about five minutes before I gave up and wandered off to find the gift shop (which, naturally, had a surprisingly excellent selection of postcards).
- 1:00 PM: Pack a lunch to eat in the car and drive to the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. The thing is, I don't really like all of the tourist traps, and I was a little late, so it was a bit of a flop. The "culture" wasn't really working for me. Maybe something is wrong with me?
- 2:00 PM: Feeling a little overwhelmed by… everything. The vastness, the solitude, the pressure to be "doing things." Feeling a little sad. Need to turn things around.
- 3:00 PM: Decide, screw it, time to walk around the hotel. Maybe some retail therapy? I saw a mall nearby!
- 4:00 PM: The mall is pretty empty, but I bought a fleece. My only purchase!
- 5:00 PM: Back at the hotel. The room is starting to feel like a prison.
- 5:30 PM: Try to get my creative juices flowing. Write. Scribble. Edit this… thing. Inspiration is elusive.
- 6:30 PM: Order more chicken wings (don’t judge me). Have a small cry.
- 7:30 PM: Watch a terrible movie. Sleep.
Day 4: Farewell and Reflections (Maybe?)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Another coffee-fueled attempt to be a functioning human.
- 10:00 AM: Stroll down near the Chena River. The scenery's beautiful, I admit.
- 11:00 AM: Final moments of awkwardness in the hotel, maybe some shopping, maybe nothing at all.
- 1:00 PM: Check-out. The hotel staff is extremely nice, at least.
- 2:00 PM: Drive to the airport.
This is it. The end. The wrap-up of an adventure. Well, at least the beginning of the story that will be told by you. I'm still figuring out how I feel, it's all over.
The plane ride… long. In the airport, I bought a postcard. Was it good? Well, that depends. Did I have moments of soaring joy? Yep.
Raleigh's BEST Kept Secret: Suburban Studios Crabtree Valley!
Fairbanks Getaway: Clarion Hotel & Suites Near Ft. Wainwright - Let's Get Real! FAQ (and Maybe a Rant or Two)
Okay, So...Is This Clarion Actually "Near" Ft. Wainwright? Like, Can I Crawl There in an Emergency?
Alright, let's cut the BS. "Near" in hotel-speak often means "a reasonable drive, *if* traffic isn't a soul-crushing nightmare." And... look, it's *near* Ft. Wainwright. Like, a 10-minute-ish jaunt, tops. You're not, like, *in* the gate, but it's convenient. I say "ish" because, you know, Fairbanks. Traffic can hit you in unexpected places. I remember once, trying to get to a coffee shop from the Clarion and hit a *ten-minute* delay because of a deer. A deer!
So, no. Don't try crawling. Unless you're a highly motivated, possibly slightly deranged, soldier. Then maybe. But probably drive. Still, it's a good location if you're there for military stuff. Saves you from the downtown madness.
Is the Clarion Actually...Nice? You Know, Like, Not a Roach Motel?
Okay, let's be honest. Fairbanks isn't exactly known for its five-star luxury, folks. And while the Clarion isn't *luxe* luxe, it’s solid. It's clean (mostly), the beds are comfy enough, and they offer... well, they offer *stuff*. Free breakfast, which is crucial in the Arctic. (I'm fueled by lukewarm scrambled eggs and questionable coffee, so take that as you will).
I stayed there once, and, honestly, I had lower expectations. I’ve stayed in places where I'd swear the wallpaper was judging me. This was better. No visible roaches. A minor victory. The decor? Let's just call it "functional." Think "beige." But hey, you're in Fairbanks. You're probably not there for the interior design. You're there for the Northern Lights, or dog sledding, or... well, you get my drift. Don't go expecting the Ritz, and you'll be pleasantly surprised. I think the pool was closed during my stay, which I was a bit bummed about, I'd have loved a dip after a day of staring at frozen stuff.
About that Free Breakfast...Is it Worth Rolling Out of Bed for? Real Talk.
The free breakfast. Ah, the great equalizer. Look, it's *free*. That's the key. It's not going to win any culinary awards. It's gonna be the usual buffet line-up. Scrambled eggs that might be real or might be a powdered concoction, but honestly, at 6 AM, who *cares*? Cereal, some fruit (likely from a can, but hey, vitamins!), maybe some sad-looking pastries. The coffee...well, let's just say it's caffeinated. That's the important thing. You need that. You *need* it.
I made a mistake once. Tried to be fancy and order room service. Big mistake. Way more expensive than it was worth. So, yeah, the free breakfast? Roll out of bed. Grab some carbs. Soak up the caffeine. It's the fuel you need before braving the Alaskan wilderness (or, you know, another freezing walk). I had hash browns once that were...well... they weren't horrible, but they were also not the best hash browns I've ever had. Which, to be fair, is most hash browns, generally. Food, in general, is just fuel, in this scenario.
What About the Amenities? Do They Have a Pool? And a Gym? (Please God, Tell Me They Have a Gym!)
Okay, the amenities. This is where things get a little... variable. They *usually* have a pool and a hot tub. Emphasis on *usually*. Check before you go. Because, honestly, after a day of freezing your butt off on a snowmobile, a hot tub is a life-saver. A *literal* lifesaver.
The gym? Ah, the gym. It's a hotel gym. Which means it's likely to be a room with a treadmill, a weight machine that looks like it's been through a war, and maybe some free weights. Don't have high expectations. But, hey, something is better than nothing, right? You might find yourself sharing it with a guy who is wearing a really loud tracksuit. I did. Don't judge, you be you, bud. As for other amenities. It has a restaurant, which, again, is convenient... I'm too lazy to drive, on vacation.
Is the Staff Friendly? Because After a Long Flight, I Don't Need Attitude.
Okay, this is a big one. The staff. They're generally pretty good. Like, genuinely friendly and they seem to care. They're Alaskans! The people are generally nice in Alaska. They're probably used to dealing with a lot of tourists who are tired, overwhelmed, and possibly slightly delirious from the cold. So yeah, I've always had good experiences with the front desk staff. And housekeeping? Always a pleasant interaction. They seem to work hard.
And, bonus points, they can probably tell you where to find the best reindeer sausage in town. You *need* to eat reindeer sausage. Seriously. It's an Alaskan thing. Don't leave without it. That's my biggest advice. And try the local brews too. Seriously, embrace the local. It's the best way to make the most of the trip. Make friends with the front desk. You'll need help occasionally. I'm generally terrible with directions.
Is There Anything *Bad* About This Place? Be Honest!
Alright, honesty time. The Clarion isn't perfect. The rooms can be a little... dated. Remember the "beige" I mentioned earlier? Expect more beige. And sometimes, the Wi-Fi is slower than glacial melt. Which, in Alaska, is saying something. I’ve had a few issues where the hot water was a bit sketchy, but it’s usually fine. This is life.
Also, it’s Fairbanks. Let's be clear: It’s not exactly bustling with nightlife. You won't have tons of restaurant choices right outside the door. You'll need a car to go anywhere decent, which you are probably going to have anyway, so you can do all the cool things.
Would You Recommend It? (Spit it Out!)
Look, if you're looking for a clean, comfortable, and *convenient* base of operations for your Fairbanks adventure, then yeah, I would. It's not going to blow your mind with luxury, but it's reliable. And,Hotels In Asia Search
Post a Comment for "Fairbanks Getaway: Clarion Hotel & Suites Near Ft. Wainwright!"