Guest Terms and Conditions
We look forward to your stay with us at Base Camp Anchorage Hostel !!!
It’s important that all guests understand a hostel’s shared accommodations (dorm rooms) and common spaces make hostels uniquely different from a private room in a hotel. During your stay with us you will meet travelers from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and nationalities. Over the years we have been heartwarmed by the friendships and positive social exchange that comes from this diversity. Being part of a welcoming social community requires guests to be considerate, kind, and respectful towards each other.
Our priority is the comfort and security of our hostel community and all guests are required to read and agree to our terms and conditions. Any guest(s), who does not abide by our terms and conditions or who in the opinion of our staff compromise the comfort or security of other guests or staff will be asked to leave our hostel and forfeit a refund. These instances are rare but we like to point out possible examples, which include: rudeness to other guests or staff, verbal aggression, sexual harassment, intoxication with alcohol or drugs, or continuing to be loud during quiet hours after you have been asked by staff to lower your voice.
Cancellations: 48 Hours
- Reservations can be canceled free of charge with 48 hours advance notice of your arrival date. After this time, reservations are charged the first night of your stay using the credit card on file.
- If your card authorization is marked as Invalid we will attempt to email/call you to use a valid credit card. If we do not hear back from you or are unable to process your reservation with a valid credit card within 24 hours prior to your arrival, your reservation will be canceled.
- As a small 25 bed hostel we are often completely booked during the summer and need to turn other travelers away. Please contact us if you are unable to make your reservation. If we can fill your bed with another traveler we will refund your reservation (minus a 4 percent credit card return fee).
Check-in Hours: 4pm to 11pm
- Check in hours are from 4pm to 11 pm. This provides us enough time to prepare our beds for arriving guests. If you are arriving after 11pm, please email us to arrange a late check-in. Please note, no one is at our front desk from 11pm to 8 am and entry to the hostel is by electronic key code access only.
Arriving after 11pm?
- Late-check in’s can be arranged for travelers arriving after 11pm. Please call or email us after making your reservation with your arrival date/time to arrange a late check-in. Please note: travelers arriving after midnight must book the previous night’s bed.
Arriving early before 4pm?
- Our office hours are 8am to 11pm. If you are arriving early into Anchorage before 4pm, you are welcomed to drop your bags off at our hostel for free (between 8am to 4pm) and go out to explore the city. If you would like to use our common spaces between 8am to 4pm, ex. Wifi, we have a $5 day use fee. This fee is waived if you rent a bicycle or go on a day hike with the hostel. Please do not arrive before 8am as there is no one at the front desk during this time. To check in earlier you will need to reserve the previous night’s bed and arrange a late check-in.
Quiet Hours: 11 pm to 7 am
- We strive to find a reasonable compromise with guests who sleep early for upcoming trips and those who like to socialize in the evenings. Our quiet hours begin from 11 pm to 7 am. For guests who enjoy socializing after 11 pm, there are several bars and restaurants just a short walk away from our hostel. For travelers arriving late, we ask that you be mindful of other guests when entering your room and use your phone for light.
Maximum Stay: 5 Days
- Our hostel is tailored for tourists and travelers visiting Alaska. Our 5 night maximum stay allows us to offer beds to as many travelers as possible. Unfortunately, we are unable to host local residents from the Anchorage area. Exceptions can be made for travelers attending a conference or another event, please contact us ahead of time.
- Over the years we find guests generally stay at our hostel 2 to 3 nights when they first arrive. Alaska is a big state and many tourist destinations require long drives and staying overnight in other cities. If you are visiting Anchorage for more than 3 days, please take a look at our “Explore AK” section on our site for information on recommended itineraries and places to visit. Guests also return to stay with us in between their travels to rest or restock on supplies.
Maximum Group Size: 8
- Our group sizes are limited to 8 or less people. Unfortunately, as a small 25 bed hostel we are unable to accommodate larger groups as it impacts our hostel’s resources and ability to offer beds to individual travelers.
Climbing Bunk Bed Ladders
- Our dorm rooms have bunk beds in each room. Top bunks require climbing a bunk bed ladder. Our bottom beds are on a first come first serve availability. If it is difficult for you to climb a ladder or sleep in a top bunk, please send us an email after making your reservation. Due to the increasing demand and extra time and logistics to arrange a bottom bunk request, (which may require asking a guest to switch beds during their stay), there is a $2 per day fee for bottom bunk requests. Please only request a bottom bunk if you are unable to climb or sleep in a top bunk for safety reasons.
- By sleeping in a top bunk the guest understands there is an inherent risk involved in climbing a bunk bed ladder or sleeping in a top bunk. In agreeing to our terms and conditions the guest or guests sleeping in a top bunk release Base Camp Anchorage, LLC or it’s staff from liability or claims for injury from falling off a bunk bed while climbing a bunk bed ladder or sleeping in a top bunk.
Minimum Age: 13 yrs and older
- Children 12 or under are not allowed to stay at our hostel, children between the age of 13-17 yrs must be accompanied by an adult.
Major Credit Card
- Guests must own a major credit card in their name.
- The first night of your stay will be authorized on your credit card 48 hours prior to your arrival date. On arrival, you can pay your reservation in cash or use your credit card. Group sizes of 5 or more people who pay with a credit card will have a 3% credit card fee added to their booking.
Traveler Etiquette
- Responsible alcohol drinking in the common spaces is allowed until 11 pm if you are 21 years or older. Intoxication or notable impairment with alcohol or drugs is not allowed.
- No smoking is allowed inside the hostel or within 20 feet of any entrance.
- No eating or drinking in the dormitories. This often disrupts other guests and creates spills and permanent stains to linens that are difficult to remove.
Illnesses Feeling Sick?
- Nobody wants to get sick while they are on vacation. For the safety of our hostel community we are unable to host travelers who appear ill. If a guest displays signs or symptoms of illness: which includes a cough, runny nose, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, etc: you will not be able to stay in a dorm room and we will help you find more suitable accommodations in Anchorage (ex. Private room in a hotel). If a guest has allergies: it must be well controlled. Guests who have persistent runny nose, sneezing, or coughing will be unable to stay at our hostel.
- To improve our hostels’ ventilation, we use air purifying systems throughout our common spaces and dorm rooms.
ADA Accessibility
- Please note we are an older facility with 5 steps to the entry of our hostel. If you would like to stay with us, we will do our best to make sure your stay is as comfortable as possible.
Pets
- Although we love animals, pets are not allowed at our hostel. Please note emotional support animals are not allowed. Service animals in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act are allowed.
Shoes
- To help keep our floors clean and sanitary, we require shoes to be left in our arctic entry. Personal indoor slippers can be used or purchased at our hostel for $2.
Hostel Activities
- Over the years we have enjoyed teaching guests how to chop wood or learn how to start a fire in our tipi or sauna. Unfortunately we have had close calls with injuries. Out of safety concerns for our community, guests are not allowed to chop wood or start a fire. While staying at our hostel, guests agree not to chop wood or start a fire in our tipi or sauna. Guest also agrees to not hold Base Camp Anchorage, LLC liable and takes full responsibility for any injuries to themselves or other guests if these tasks are performed.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are your amenities?
- Gear Rental: We rent bear spray, tents, sleeping bags, cooking stoves, etc. Check in with staff on arrival.
- Free High Speed WIFI
- Laundry $8 (includes Washer, dryer, & detergent).
- Secure personal lockers
- Free Breakfast which includes do it yourself pancakes and oatmeal along with coffee & tea.
- Fully equipped kitchen for cooking your own meals
- Bicycle Rentals for day use from our hostel.
- Wood fired sauna
- Free parking on premises
- Free same day gear storage (long term storage incurs a daily fee)
- Chickens!!! They are a favorite with many guests and you are welcomed to feed them.
- What are your Office Hours?
- Our office hours are 8 am to 11pm. The first night of your stay will be authorized on your credit card 48 hours prior to your arrival date. On arrival, you can pay your reservation in cash or use your credit card.
- What if my flight arrives after 11pm?
- We provide late check-in instructions with advanced notice. Send us an email after you make your reservation with your arrival time and we will coordinate a late check-in.
- Do you include linens?
- Yes, linens are included.
- Do you include towels ?
- Towels can be rented for $2 or purchased.
- We encourage guests to travel with their own towels to promote sustainable travel practices.
- Luggage storage while I am traveling?
- We provide long term storage for a daily fee of $2 per day for small items (carry on size luggage) and $3 for larger items (check-in size type luggage).
- How do you get to the hostel from the airport ?
- BY BUS (15 minutes)
- Buses from the airport (domestic) to our hostel costs $2 dollars and drops you off on the corner from our hostel, a 1 minute walk from the bus stop. Take the Route # 40 bus and exit at 26th Avenue just past Northern Lights Blvd. Tell the bus driver to drop you off at the white windmill at 26th ave or press the button to get off the bus when you see the windmill on your right. Walk down 26th Avenue on the same side where the bus drops you off, we are located half a block away on the left. The bus leaves every 15 to 30 minutes from the airport at 6:38 am until 11:43 pm (Monday through Friday). On weekends it leaves at 8:33 am until 7:34 pm.
- BY TAXI (10-15 Minutes)
- A taxi or Uber from the airport will cost between $15-$20 US dollars. As soon as you exit the airport, you will see the line for taxis. For mountaineers or cyclists with large luggage, van taxi’s are also available.
- BY BUS (15 minutes)