Like many Southeast Alaska spots, Sitka is only accessible by air and by sea. But with less than 20 miles of paved road, it doesn’t take visitors long to get the lay of the land. Located downtown, a bit more than block from the water, Aspen Suites Hotel Sitka is within easy walking distance to many of the city’s main sights and attractions.
Opened in 2018, Aspen Suites Hotel Sitka is the newest hotel on the island community. The property features 71 suites; all offer a nicely stocked kitchen with full size refrigerator, two-burner ceramic cook top, microwave, toaster, and coffee maker. It’s an ideal set-up for extended stays, traveling families, or simply anyone who prefers not to eat out for every meal.
Accommodations are spread throughout four floors, and offer one or two queen beds. My Single Queen Suite was located on the fourth floor. A window on the exterior wall looked mainly over the hotel parking lot, however it also included an unexpected small partial view of the waterfront. Another plus –the window actually opened, letting fresh air into the room.
The room was spacious in comparison to the average hotel room. An oversized desk did double duty as a dining table and charging station for electronics. There were no USB ports in the room, but the lamps on both nightstands and desk had easy to reach electric outlets on their base. My suite also had a sofa bed.
The bathroom featured a single sink vanity and shower/bath tub combination. Though I appreciated the Tarocco Sicilian Blood Oranges toiletries, I hope the single-use plastic bottles will soon be replaced with more eco-friendly, refillable alternatives.
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The heater and air conditioning unit was located beneath the window. It did a good job regulating the room’s temperature, light sleepers may find it difficult to sleep with it running.
Housekeeping service is provided weekly, not daily. However, if you need anything along the lines of extra towels or blankets, the front desk will have them delivered to your room.
There is no onsite restaurant, but there are a number of restaurants within an easy walk. Complimentary coffee and tea are provided throughout the day in the lobby. There are a couple of vending machines with snacks and drinks in the guest laundry room, where a half-dozen coin-operated machines are available. There is also a small fitness center on the hotel’s first floor with a treadmill and elliptical trainer.
The hotel is less than two miles from the Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport.
Rates start at $189 in winter and $309 during summer months. Wi-Fi is included, but during my stay, I had to login repeatedly to restore service. Aspen Suites Hotel Sitka offers a number of dog-friendly rooms for an additional fee. You can book your stay directly with the hotel or through your favorite booking site such as Booking.com or Hotels.com.
Review and photos by San Francisco Bay Area travel writer and television correspondent Dana Rebmann. She stayed at the property while traveling with John Hall’s Alaska. As always her thoughts and opinions are her own.
