Alaska Island Hostel - Petersburg is located in a three-story family home and is open from May 1 to August 31 only. The helpful, friendly owner lives on the third floor; the dorms and a bathroom containing a shower are on the first floor; and the open plan kitchen, living room, and a bathroom are all on the second floor. There is a strictly enforced no shoes and no bare feet policy. There is no lockout, and guests are issued with a code to facilitate access during the day. Check-in is between 5 and 10 p.m. or later by arrangement in advance. Check-out is at 10:45 a.m.
The Location
The hostel is located at 805 Gjoa Street, eight blocks from downtown and is very easy to find. The ferry dock is one and a half miles away on foot or by taxi. The airport is much closer. There are two grocery stores, one of them downtown, and the other four blocks away close to the post office on the way to the airport. There is ample parking at the hostel.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The sleeping accommodation consists of three four-bunk dorms, consisting of men's and women's single-sex dorms and a family room. Since the maximum permitted number of guests is twelve, early reservation is strongly recommended. Each dorm is lockable, and there is a large locker assigned to each bunk. Padlocks are provided. All bedding is provided. There are two bathrooms for use by the guests, but only one of these has a shower, which is attached to a bathtub and functions well, although there can be a long, frustrating wait to use it during peak periods. Towels are provided. Guests are expected to take a towel from the pile and use it only once. There is ample space to change, there are lots of hooks for clothes, and plenty of space for soap and shampoo.
Common Spaces
The common room contains chairs and a sofa, a dining table, a television, and a computer, which is available to guests free of charge and usually has a fast internet connection, although sometimes the connection fails. Guests with their own laptops can use the Wi-Fi connection. There is no book exchange, but there are games/jigsaw puzzles, and there is a large collection of books and some maps related to Petersburg and other places in Alaska. It is not a "party" hostel and is more suited to those who like it quiet. There is a good, friendly social atmosphere, where backpackers eagerly exchange their travel experiences. The kitchen is well equipped and unlimited free coffee (and sometimes cookies) is provided. Smoking and "intoxication" are prohibited.
Summary
The hostel is spotlessly clean. The owner or her deputy seems to spend most of her time washing and cleaning and will do laundry for the guests for a small fee but displays excessive zeal in throwing away guests' food when she thinks it is no longer edible, rather than leaving it to the discretion of the guest. However, the hostel is good value and provides an excellent base from which to explore Petersburg and the surrounding area.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
July 2009
Location/Contact
4.8 Average from 6 Ratings
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