19 Best Hotels in Juneau, the Inside Passage, and Southeast Alaska, Alaska

On a small pond near Mendenhall Glacier, this large, jaw-droppingly landscaped home may be Alaska's finest B&B. Owner Maryann Ray pulls out all the stops for guests, with two outdoor hot tubs; ambient fireplaces; jetted bathtubs; a library full of books and DVDs; four-poster beds with high-end mattresses; private balconies; a Skype account for free calls home; hot breakfasts; and a well-stocked breakfast nook. Maryann and her daughter Rachael are skilled itinerary planners, and Rachael is even licensed to plan and perform weddings.

Gold-rush pioneer John Olds built this American foursquare home in 1906, and a major restoration transformed it into downtown Juneau's most elegant B&B. Owners Linda Wendeborn and Mark Thorson are laid-back and accommodating, and guests can expect lively conversation with their gourmet breakfasts and afternoon wine and treats. Rooms are tastefully decorated with handcrafted antiques. The fourth-floor Governor's Suite has a fireplace, a hot tub, and a 180-degree view of downtown Juneau. Two rooms on the bottom level have private entrances and look out on a lush garden, where the hot tub sits under a gazebo.

This high-end sportfishing lodge—often cited among the top three luxury lodges in Alaska—offers guests an opportunity to fish in both the saltwater and freshwater areas of Admiralty Island with local guides. Rates include round-trip transportation from Juneau, all meals, guided activities, and up to 100 pounds of fish processing and freight to Juneau.

Conveniently located in Juneau's historic downtown, the Silverbow has contemporary, charming hotel rooms on two upper levels. Four rooms are tiny, but they're comfortable, and all rooms have flat-screen televisions and homey touches such as rubber duckies for the tubs. Guests stroll downstairs each morning for a filling breakfast, and there's a delightful Italian restaurant, In Bocca Al Lupo, within the same building.

Guests at this upscale fishing lodge a 45-minute floatplane ride from Ketchikan can choose from several accommodation styles, eat bountiful meals with all the trimmings, and fish from custom-built 25-foot cabin cruisers under the care of expert fishing guides. Rooms have good views, and area wildlife includes whales, sea lions, bears, and eagles. Fish processing and packaging is included in the package pricing. Nightly rates including all meals start at $1,475 per person.

At this fishing lodge with waterfront cabins, you'll gather for home-cooked meals after a long day of fishing to socialize and scheme for the next day's adventure; all-inclusive two-day, three-night packages start at $2,395 per person. There's a main lodge, a two-bedroom cabin, a three-bedroom house, and an outbuilding with five suites—room for up to 40 guests at any given time. Guests who don't want to fish can stay with fishing guests at a special rate of $395 per person, per day, including meals.

A standard all-suites hotel near the airport, the Aspen is well suited to everyone from business travelers to families. Though in an industrial area, it's within walking distance of one of Juneau's easiest and most popular trails, the Mendenhall Wetlands Trail, on the far side of the airport.

Once Juneau's most prestigious hotel, the Baranof Hotel has begun to show its age, although it does retain some of its old glamour. The ground floor offers the property's most inviting spaces; the dark art-deco lobby creates an old-money atmosphere reminiscent of 1939, when the hotel first opened, and a small lounge, the Bubble Room, is a popular spot for legislators when they're in town. Rooms on the front side have the best views, but street noise may keep you awake at the lower levels.

A quick floatplane ride from Sitka, this cozy fishing lodge is on Baranof Island, a remote and magnificent location from which to explore the surrounding landscape and view wildlife that includes bears, whales, and eagles. Fishing packages that start at $6,550 per person for five nights include transportation from Sitka, boats and guide service, lodging in cabins with private baths, and gourmet food and wine served at communal meals. Special wildlife photography seminars and fly-fishing classes are offered throughout the summer. The lodge has two wood-fired hot tubs, and nearby is a natural hot spring.

Built of spruce logs on a 97-acre property facing the Icy Strait, this inn's strengths include an inviting lobby with a central fireplace and moose antler chandeliers and spacious and luxuriously furnished guest rooms. A full-service restaurant (open to the public for dinner) specializes in seafood but also serves steak, vegetarian entrées, and wild game. Room rates start at $520 per person per night; the price includes meals and ground transport around Gustavus for activities booked through the inn.

On the outskirts of Haines, straddling Mt. Ripinski, the Cliffhanger makes the most of its spectacular surroundings, providing unrestricted views of the Chilkat Range and Lynn Canal from the wraparound deck and from the giant windows of the two suites. Guests can also relax in a deck-side hot tub (clothing optional) and explore the mountain trails accessible from the property. This remote and private home is up a steep dirt road; a ride from the ferry terminal or airport can be arranged.

This Best Western property in Mendenhall Valley is one of the more reliable options in a city where lodging can be a bit of a gamble. Rooms are clean and comfortable, staff are friendly, and—given the distance from town—rates are more reasonable than other hotels. If you have a access to a car, want to be close to the airport, or prefer a quieter neighborhood, this is a solid choice. 

A high-rise by Juneau standards, the seven-story Four Points by Sheraton is one of the city's better lodgings, with decent, if somewhat overpriced, rooms. Fans of Northwest Coast art will appreciate the authentic Alaska Native carvings on display in the lobby, as well as the contemporary panels in the rooms. McGivney's Sports Bar & Grill, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has a lounge area. Waterside rooms on the upper level have views across the Gastineau Channel, and some rooms have king-size beds.

Choose your own adventure at the Glacier Bay Country Inn, from basic rates (one-night stay plus meals) to extensive (four nights, all meals, a two-day fishing excursion, and a one-day Glacier Bay cruise). Other add-on options include bear watching, kayaking, and chartered flightseeing tours over the park. Surrounded by 160 acres of meadows and forest, the Inn also boasts one of region's best restaurants—and you need not be a guest to dine. 

This charming Victorian-style hotel—the smallest property in the Best Western chain—is less than a mile from the airport in the Mendenhall Valley and has spacious and homey rooms. Each room is brightened by cheerful colors and comes with jetted bathtubs and, as the name would suggest, beds topped with voluminous feather comforters. Guests especially appreciate the big breakfast buffet that includes omelets, pancakes, and hot cereals. Dinners are available from Tuesday through Saturday.

A short walk west of downtown, this nicely appointed but visually unremarkable hotel (formerly known as the Prospector) is a favorite with business travelers year-round and lawmakers during the winter legislative session. Rooms are spacious and have cherrywood furnishings, leather chairs, and ottomans. T. K. Maguire's dining room and lounge, just off the lobby, serves prime rib, steaks, and seafood, and Sunday brunch is popular.

Half the rooms at Wrangell's largest inn have excellent ocean views, and others look out on Mt. Dewey and downtown. Guests can also enjoy the waterfront view from the outdoor patio and the restaurant, one of the best in town. Room types range from doubles to suites with kitchenettes.

The Westmark has large rooms, many overlooking Crescent Harbor; the best are the corner suites (but all could use an update). Downstairs, the Raven Dining Room is open for three meals a day, with seafood (including beer-batter halibut), pasta, chicken, pork, and steak, and a large deck for outdoor dining. Adjacent to the Raven, the Kadataan Lounge serves up a diverse menu of bar food.

On a secluded beach outside Angoon, on Killisnoo Island, this lodge offers all-inclusive three- and four-night stays in waterfront cabins of varying sizes and configurations, making it a good choice for groups. In addition to saltwater and freshwater fishing excursions, guests can choose from a range of eco-tours that include flightseeing, heli-hiking (helicopter delivery to a mountain top), and kayaking. Rates include round-trip transportation from Juneau.