Headed to AK to Moose hunt in September 2014 and will have to stay in Anchorage a few days on the way in and out.  I have done some internet searches for hotels and they seem expensive to me. The more reasonably priced ones do not have good reviews...Like smells like puck and cat urine.   Would welcome input on where to stay and eat economically in Anchorage.  What about places to get good seafood?

Well economic and Anchorage do not match up well.  You can expect to pay $100+ for a room per night and food is expensive unless you eat fast food.

Even the $5 footlong at Subway is $7.

Mike

I stayed at the Capt.Cook Hotel for one night. It was pricey but clean and top notch. Fletchers sports pub in the same building was excellent for diner, again pricey but excellent. There is nothing cheap in Alaska if your traveling.

Alaska is not known for inexpensive food or lodging. If you like pizza, though, the Moose's Tooth is as good as I have ever eaten, and not expensive by Alaska standards.

Steve,

I stayed at the Qupqugiaq Inn, 45/night it was clean and secure at least in 2002.

For eats chek out, Humpy's, the Snow Goose Rest. and sleeping lady Brewery. There was a great breakfast joint called Blennie's, not sur eif I am spelling that right.

Sean

There is every type of food in Anch.  All ethnic foods, plus the more common styles.  A lot will depend on where you stay and if you have a car.  If you are downtown, Club Paris is hard to beat for a great steak.  

As to hotels, it may be better to hit the chains.  There are many hotels available in town, and Sept. Is the tail end of the tourist season so availability should not be an issue.  How long will you be in Anchorage before you head to the bush?

When are you going to be in Anch, dates?  Are you planning on renting a car?  How many in your party?

Bluegill sez,
"I stayed at the Qupqugiaq Inn, 45/night it was clean and secure at least in 2002."

We stayed in our pickup camper in one of the RV Parks (read, parking lots) in 2012, and I think it was $50 a night then. Alaska is awesome, but it ain't cheap.

Thanks all for the input...Please keep it coming.

The Qupqugiaq Inn I believe has gone up significantly since 2002...like tripled.

As it stands today, we fly into Anchorage on 9/6/14 then fly to McGrath on the 8th then into the bush same day...so two nights going in will be spent in Anchorage.

Coming out is the tricky part but if all goes as scheduled, we will fly back into Anchorage on 9/23 then home on 9/25. So another 2 night in Anchorage.

I did look into the Hostels and they seem very reasonable and a few have private rooms.

My favorite hotels in Anchorage are the Dimond Center Hotel, The Captain Cook, and for long-term the Voyager as it has large rooms and frig, etc.  Many of the hotels have free shuttle service to and from the airport.  The Dimond Center hotel has a pretty good continental breakfast that is included in your room fee.

All the restaurants the guys mention above are great, I would also add the Glacier Brewhouse, and then the Snow City Cafe is fun for breakfast.  For sushi I like Komagoro (spelling is probably only close) I think its on 4th, or the New Sagaya on the Old Seward Highway.

If you get downtown check out the Snow Goose Restaurant, good food and good beer (brew pub).

I am a big Micro Brew fan...IPAs are at the top of my list!

We have stayed at the Puffin Inn on a couple of trips out by the airport.  It's clean and pretty quiet with big rooms.

There are a number of places to eat in the area also.

Mike

I woke up a time or two on the floor of Chilkoot Charlie's, dont remember how much that cost though.  

When I was there Simon and Seaforts I think it was had the best primerib and beer battered halibut ever.

I'd second the Moose's Tooth for both beer and pizza. We rented a motor home, so I can't help with the motels.

Inexpensive and Alaska are rarely used in the same sentence, but the experience is certainly worth the cost.

Well, thanks to all your input I am starting to see I can probably get in around $100 a night at a decent hotel. When we get to Anchorage it is still their high season rates but when we get back there the rates have drop by $40 plus buck a night. Once I pick a place I will call to see if I can get off season rates on all nights.

Also been looking at the eateries some have tossed out.  There appears to be some fine food served in Anchorage. Has anyone had BARENTS SEA COLOSSAL RED KING CRAB LEGS that go for $70 at the restaurants?

We stayed one night at Dimond Center in Anchorage and found it very nice with a great breakfast   They also provided a freezer for our halibut
I had my heart set on king crab while in Alaska but couldn't believe they cost $50 a lb!   Didn't think I could digest that.

Stayed at the MicroTel near the airport.  Fairly expensive, but not as much as most.  Not the greatest hotel, but it was clean, no smell.  Can't complain.

Food:  Moose's Tooth.  Food in AK is very expensive.  Moose's Tooth is the best - great food, good service, good price.  You won't regret it.

Have fun.

What going rental vehicle prices in Anchorage, anything with 4WD? ....Thanx

Now have 5 weeks vacation, and thinking about just flying to Anchorage and just tooling around a couple weeks, just to so called get my feet wet for being there the first time...

Mike's suggestion about the Puffin Inn is a good one as long as you recognize that you'll be in the quivering underbelly of Anchorage (Spendard) when there.  Personally quivering underbellies don't bother me too much.  

Gwennies for breakfast is pretty hard to beat.  Also, Snow City Cafe downtown is great for breakfast too.  Like several others have said, The Moose's Tooth and Humpy's are both good watering holes with good sensible food.  The view westward out of the bar at Simon & Seafort's at sundown is pretty awesome if the weather is clear.