Alaska Backpackers Inn

Best hostel in Anchorage, hands down!
The hostel is within walking distance of downtown, with two bars in close proximity. It is far enough away though that you don't get any seedy drunk characters hanging around. Getting to the supermarket/walmart/barnes&noble means walking to downtown and getting a bus, but to me that was no big deal. The whole place is new and very clean. Is is gradually being built up with artworks on the walls and most floors have already been painted/decorated. You can see that it's still having it's finishing touches added but that doesn't detract, if anything it makes it all the more obvious how professional and how dedicated the owners/staff are to making the hostel the best it can be. The kitchen is well equipped and there is a big screen TV (with cable) and a foosball table in the common room in the basement. It's a real community atmosphere with a weekly dinner that everybody participates in and enjoys. Rooms are sparse, as are the bathrooms (no towel racks or benches -- sorely missed) but given the age of the hostel (been open only five months!) it's probably just something that they are getting around to adding in. They have a keycard system so you need to swipe in to get into the building, and into your room-which makes you feel very safe and secure inside. Lockers are also provided in the rooms. I couldn't fit my 75L pack in there but it didn't matter so much because all my valuables could be fit in there and my pack could be chained to the bed. I can't stress how much I enjoyed staying here and what a great setup they have. As time goes on I hope it stays this way! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this hostel to anybody traveling to Anchorage.