House Rules

Guest Terms and Conditions

We look forward to your stay with us at Base Camp Anchorage Hostel !!! 

Throughout the world, hostels provide unique opportunities to experience a welcoming social community while traveling.  During your stay, you will meet travelers with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and nationalities.  It’s important that all our guests understand a hostel’s shared dorm rooms and common spaces are uniquely different from a private room in a hotel.  As a result the comfort, safety, and security of our guests are our main priority.  All guests are required to read and agree to our Terms and Conditions below.

COVID Rules: 

• Nobody wants to get sick while they are on vacation. For the safety of our hostel community, we are unable to host travelers who are feeling ill.  Please notify staff if you are not feeling well; which includes a sore throat, cough, runny nose, or a fever.  We will help you find more suitable accommodation and access to health care in Anchorage.

• To improve our hostels’ ventilation, we use air purifying systems that use UV light to kill viruses and bacteria.   These are installed throughout our common spaces and dorm rooms.   

Maximum Stay

• Our hostel is tailored for tourists and travelers visiting Alaska.  We have a 5 night maximum stay and are unable to host local residents from the Anchorage area.  If you are a traveler and would like to stay longer due to a conference or another event, please contact us ahead of time.  

• Keep in mind that Alaska is a big state and many tourist destinations require long drives and staying overnight in other cities.  If you are visiting Alaska for more than 3 days, please take a look at our “Explore AK” section for information on recommended itineraries and places to visit.  

Quiet Hours

• We strive to find a reasonable compromise with guests who need to to sleep early and guests who like to socialize in the evenings.   Our quiet hours begin from 11 pm to 7 am.  For guests who like to continue socializing after 11 pm, there are several bars and restaurants just a short walk away from our hostel. 

• Arriving after 11pm? we ask that you be mindful of other guests when entering your room and use your phone for light.   

Major Credit Card

• Guests must own a major credit card.  

• The first night of your stay will be pre-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 with a $2 processing fee.  Group sizes of 5 or more people who pay with a single credit card will have a 3% credit card fee added to their booking. 

Cancellations

• Reservations can be canceled free of charge with 48 hours advance notice of your arrival date.  After this time, reservations will be charged the first night of your stay using the card on file.

• Due to a rising increase of invalid credit cards, If a credit card authorization is marked as Invalid 48 hours before your arrival date, we will email/call you to use a valid credit card. If we do not hear back from you or are unable to process your card with a valid credit card 24 hours prior to your arrival date, 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.  Guests who do not show up for their reservation with no advanced notice prevent other travelers from staying with us.  Please be mindful of your traveling community and reach out to us ahead of time if you are unable to make your reservation.

Check-in Hours

• Our check in hours are 4pm to 11 pm.  This gives us time to prepare the rooms for our guests. Please keep in mind that our front door is by electronic key code access and no staff is in the lobby from 11pm to 8 am.

• Flight arrives after 11pm? We provide late-check ins. Please email us after you reserve so a late check-in can be arranged.  

Minimum Age

• No children 12 or under, ages 13-17 yrs must be accompanied by an adult.

Maximum Group Size: 8

• Our group sizes are now limited to 8 or less people.  Unfortunately, as a small 25 bed hostel we are unable to accommodate larger groups as it impacts the hostel’s resources and our ability to offer beds to independent travelers. 

Climbing Bunk Bed Ladders

• Our dorm rooms have bunk beds with top bunks that require climbing a ladder.  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 or write us a message in the comments section when making your reservation.  We will do our best to reserve a bottom bunk for you. 

• 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 any of it’s staff from any and all liability or claims for injury or damage to property from falling off a bunk bed while climbing a bunk bed ladder or sleeping in a top bunk.

ADA Accessibility

• Unfortunately, we are a small hostel with limited resources and space.  Please note there are 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. 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.  Clean indoor slippers can be used.  

Hostel Activities

• Over the years we have enjoyed teaching guests how to chop wood and learn how to start a sauna or tipi fire.  Unfortunately we have had some close calls with guests almost injuring themselves.  Out of safety concerns we no longer allow guests to perform these activities.  By signing our guest terms and conditions, guests agree not to chop wood or start a fire in our tipi or sauna.  Guest also agrees to not hold Base Camp Anchorage liable for any injuries if these tasks are performed.     

Traveler Etiquette 

• Hostels are uniquely different from hotels in that guests share dorm rooms and common spaces.  Being part of a welcoming community requires guests to be considerate, kind, and respectful towards each other. Our priority is the comfort and security of all guests.  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 examples 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. 
  

• Responsible alcohol drinking in the common spaces is allowed 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.