Planning Your Trip to Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula?

Why Booking an Alaska Travel Package is a Great Option

By Jeremy Anderson

Co-owner of Silvertip Lodge and Cabins

Alaska offers a vast and diverse range of places to stay, trips to take, and experiences to enjoy. For over 22 years, we’ve crafted itineraries tailored to adventurers of all kinds. Working with a company like ours when putting together different Alaska travel packages gives you the opportunity to build a trip to suit your needs. Check out our custom package form to get started!

The most important things when planning your trip to Alaska are figuring out what you want to do when you are up here and where you want to stay. These choices will determine the best time to book your Alaska Travel Package. Another key consideration is how much you’d like to explore independently versus hiring a guide. When we talk to guests these are the first things we help figure out to make sure the best trip possible happens. Oh yeah and booking well in advance helps ensure that you get the trip you want. While it is possible to plan a last minute trip to Alaska, the earlier you plan the better chances you have of getting the perfect Alaskan adventure!

While you can visit all 12 months of the year the best time to come are the summer/fall months of May 20th-Sept 30. These are the nicest, warmest, and months of the year that also have the most light (see south-central chart). These months also offer the most things to do for someone traveling to Alaska for a vacation, which we will discuss in the next section! If you want lots of daylight and the warmest weather then come the first of 1/2 of the summer. If you want to see more moderate temps and some fall colors late August into October is the key. In terms of weather, look at these climate charts to see precipitation and wind, among other things.

Now there is one common phrase here in Alaska: If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 mins. Our weather changes often so be prepared for it by having the appropriate raingear and layers of clothing. I will add that in the last 4-5 years we have noticed that the historical charts I linked to above are more of guidelines and with our climate changing the charts aren’t as accurate as they have been in the past with wind and rain so just be prepared for anything and you will have a good time.

There are so many options of things to do while you visit us in Alaska. Start your trip planning by reading our last blog (10 things to do on the Kenai Peninsula) as we discuss some of our favorites! Typically people are building an Alaska trip package with us that has a variety of guided adventures, sightseeing, and fishing trips. Guests tend to then add some free days into their stay at our cabins so they can explore on their own with driving around the Kenai Peninsula, hiking local trails, or just relaxing around the town of Soldotna. As you explore more of what do do in our area, reach out to us to help you plan your Alaska Package itinerary.

Booking Your Flights & Rental Car: Once you have your reservations set for your upcoming trip to Alaska you want to finish your planning by getting your flights and rental cars taken care of right away. If you wait to get flights or rental cars booked you may pay more then needed or be in a position that is not ideal. If you are doing a fishing & lodging package with us it is often better to make sure of our availability before finalizing flights so you have things planned properly. If you are doing a day trip with us you most likely have things set already and are adding this to your trip. Either way know that this is a very important part of finalizing your plans to Alaska. Flights can be booked 1 year prior to trip date and rental cars are similar. For flights & rental cars we recommend using Travelocity or Expedia to start your search for the best prices. If needed you can also use Turo for car rentals. If you have an airline that you have points/ miles with that’s a great option as well!

Adding Trip Insurance: We highly recommend trip insurance when you book a travel package to Alaska. Unexpected things can happen from flight schedule changes to something medical before you come and you are liable to the cancellation policy for everything you booked. It is affordable and takes care of you if you can’t make your trip. It can include just your time with us or your entire trip and there are medical options you can choose as well. Our guests have had success with Travelex and Alliance in the past but there are other options out there as well. Typically you need to get this setup within a few weeks of your reservation with us.

One thing Andrea and I are great at is helping you navigate what to do with your time in Alaska, whether it’s your first trip or you are an annual visitor! Our seasoned partners on our Guided Adventures and Fishing Trips are top-notch and have been working with us for years. These trusted relationships make planning your Alaska Travel Package with us seamless. Let us help you create your dream trip to our great state and experience Alaska just like the locals do—with the best adventures we personally enjoy and often guide ourselves.