Getting Started

Choosing a reputable RV rental company, choosing when to go, choosing where to go all adds to the enjoyment of planning your own adventure.  For us, Alaska is the ultimate destination for an adventure at our own design.  No 'rent-a-crowd' from Cruise Ships or Tour Buses, no "must be in a town for a motel room by dark" and no "concrete jungles".

This is our second RV trip to Alaska.  Our first trip in 2006 balanced exploring in an RV, sailing the Alaska Marine Highway on the Ferries and exploring the Pan-handle by rental car and staying in log cabins.  We had 6 weeks in which to explore last time, this time we are limited to just 4 weeks and a tighter budget.

So our first plan was to watch the specials being offered by RV companies.  Some seem to only provide RV's for Cruise Ship tourists that drop off at one point, and RV to a subsequent point where they get back on the Ship with the Crowd.  One such firm refused to rent to us, since we weren't on a Cruise Ship.  Other's seem to target the fishermen, and focus on shorter term rentals, and that wasn't us either.  So thanks to a great special on offer at $109/day unlimited mileage and you can read all about the extras, like no cleaning on return, and all the gear inside is included, plus Insurance is included, we went with the same trusted business we used on our first trip,  Great Alaskan Holiday's, yes a a strange name for an RV hire company.  We couldn't fault them last time.

When to go? was chosen by our kids School holidays and adding extra time out of school, their exams and for Australian's, that meant September.  So a deal was taken, September 2010 it is.

Next the Airfare.  As they say, if it's not Boeing, we're not going.  Webjet gave us our best indicators of how the airfare dollar was travelling, and after a few months of watching, saw a great deal, so armed with this price, we went to Flight Centre  where a real person does all the work and they not only beat the deal, but improved all those extras, like food on the flight.  Web specials and discount airlines offer great prices but at a few costs, firstly, the weight of the baggage you can carry (extra comes at a price), secondly, food, and lastly, times for the flights.  We secured a great special flying on Air New Zealand (with food) but the timings will make this hop a little long, with some airport lounge wait times being up to three hours.  On the up side, we had planned to fly into Anchorage on Alaska Airlines,  (don't you think their logo on the Tail looks like Bob Marley) and Flight Centre were able to link our teenage kids discount specials on Air NZ with Alaska Airlines, saved us heaps.  So we are flying Brisbane - Auckland - LA - Anchorage.

So, now it's where to go, and I'll save that for the next Blog.