Alaska + Hawaii - Anyone been and have advice?

[Matt..]

I'm trying to get this years trip planned. Though i'm massively struggling to decide where to go! It will definitely be the US (i've been a lot, and love it!).

My current thought is mid-August to early September for 3-4 weeks. ~2 weeks in Alaska, and ~2 weeks in Hawaii.

Does anyone have any advice for either locations, and whether this is a good (or bad) time of year to visit either?

I'm into big landscapes, and have been to 16 US National Parks, and many other parks. So for me it's mostly about the outdoors (though no camping!).


Thanks

[Matt..]

ViperDave said:

I think one frustrating thing about AK and HI would be the backtracking of flights as you kind of have to go to the lower 48 first and then back again to get to HI when direct flights would save huge amounts of time.

Flights are insanely expensive in August/September. But this seems like a good time to go, so i might just have to go for it. (though my backup plan is Seattle > Glacier NP > Banff NP > Jasper NP > Kamloops > Vancouver > Olympic NP > Mt Rainier NP > Eugene > Crater Lake NP > SFO, which sounds fun, but not quite as adventurous and 'epic').

Economy flights are ~£1.6k (excluding island hoping in HI). But i'm not sure i'm up for that far in a non-exit row/more legroom seat. 6ft4 and economy is NOT fun. £1.6k to go business (from Dublin not London though).

In HI i was thinking of doing Kauai and Big Island (for Volcanoes NP). Though i haven't thought too much about it yet.

In AK i was thinking: Denali NP for the longest, Kenai Fjords (maybe some kayaking), possibly Wrangell St Elias (but it's very expensive), and maybe Katmai for bears (crazy money).

JohnS said:

If you are taking your camera equipment in your hold baggage, then make sure you get one with TSL approved locks, otherwise customs have a tendency to force open your case if you leave it locked.

My luggage is TSA approved But no delicate gear goes in there (tripod, batteries, chargers, filters, etc... do though). I usually pack everything into carry on. Though there's zero chance this can ever be the correct weight, so need to make sure it's not checked too closely!

Edited by Matt.. on Monday 2nd March 18:36

[Matt..]

ViperDave said:

plenty more to add though if you go that way!

Deciding is getting hard. I think if I don't do Alaska and Hawaii then it's cheaper, so I can probably get the full 4 weeks, whereas AK and HI are expensive, so probably closer to 3 weeks.

[Matt..]

Currently looking at something like this:

1. Fly into Anchorage
2. Fly out to Wrangell St Elias NP
3. Wrangell St Elias NP
4. Wrangell St Elias NP
5. Wrangell St Elias NP
6. Fly back to Anchorage, drive down to Seward
7. Seward (Kenai Fjords NP)
8. Drive to Denali NP
9. Denali NP
10. Denali NP
11. Denali NP
12. Denali NP
13. Drive to Anchorage
14. Fly to Big Island, Hawaii
15. Big Island
16. Big Island (Volcanoes NP)
17. Big Island
18. Fly to Kauai
19. Kauai
20. Kauai
21. Kauai
22. Fly to Oahu (Honolulu)
23. Oahu
24. Fly home



Not really sure Wrangell St Elias NP is feasible. It's expensive. Mainly due to having to fly in/out, and that flight is nearly £400 from Anchorage. You can drive it, but not really sure i want to do that road on my own.

Any thoughts on the route?

[Matt..]

I'm still failing to decide on which route. This is stupid now

I think Alaska and Hawaii will be a good £1,000 more expensive than my alternate route (~Seattle/Glacier NP/Banff NP/Jasper NP/Mt Rainier NP/Crater Lake NP/San Francisco).

Getting tempted by the alternate route on financial grounds now.

Must. Make. A. Decision. !!