Staying at the Captain’s Choice Motel in Haines: Easy, Comfortable and Quiet

Not every destination in Alaska has epic lodges and luxurious inns, but you’re sure to at least find some sort of pleasant accommodations that makes the trip comfortable and fun. The Captain’s Choice Motel in Haines is just that. It’s not a huge property and it’s fancy, but it’s clean, comfortable and convenient. It’s a great… choice… and really a solid addition to your trip to the Inside Passage.

We’ve got the full scoop on staying at the Captain’s Choice Motel in Haines and I think you’ll find that it’s actually a wonderful option, especially for a summertime visit when you want to be able to walk everywhere. If you have any questions about this quaint lodging in Haines or planning your time here, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and look forward to helping you plan your Alaska trip!

Why Choose the Captain’s Choice Motel

You can’t go wrong with the location of the Captain’s Choice Motel. It’s just a block off of “downtown” Haines and is walking distance to the marina and the dock where you catch the Alaska Fjordlines boat. You’re a five minute walk to the grocery store, ten minutes to Fort William Henry Seward and you’re on the side of town that’s an easy exit towards the Alaska Marine Highway dock or Chilkoot Lake State Park. Seriously, perfect location.

Another thing I like about the Captain’s Choice Motel is the community vibe of staying here. Each morning there is continental breakfast in the dining room and everyone kind of becomes buddies. Not a lot of people make the trek to Haines on their own (independent of a cruise line) so the people who’ve come here and are staying in town are very adventurous and typically have been on some sort of awesome road trip themselves. Each morning while we stayed at the Captain’s Choice Motel we met different people who had been driving the AlCan Highway or we on the last leg of their Alaska Marina Highway System journey. I know this might not seem like an awesome part of it necessarily, but it was great to talk with people and get ideas for our travels.

One more thing that makes the Captain’s Choice Motel such a cool place is that they also offer rental cars on site from their own fleet of Subarus and trucks. Haines is such a small town and the options are really limited, so if you’ve been traveling through the Inside Passage without a car and just using the ferries, you can rent a car through the motel and really be able to enjoy exploring Haines as much as possible.

Book the Captain’s Choice Motel here!

Captain’s Choice Motel Amenities and Breakfast

In the rooms are the Captain’s Choice Motel you’ll find the usual beds, table and chairs, and closet area. Additionally there are good sized mini-fridges as well as a coffee station is each room. Since Haines is such an active destination, you likely won’t be spending a ton of time here, but when you are here there is some seating in the lobby if you need to do a little work (hopefully not) or take a call.

The best part though is actually the outdoor space on the back side of the main lodge building. There is an awesome deck full of deck chairs and an unobstructed view of the Lynn Canal and the surrounding mountains. On a sunny day it’s great for relaxing or chatting with the other travelers.

As I mentioned there is also continental breakfast at the Captain’s Choice Motel. Starting at 7:00 am they open the dining room to a classic American continental breakfast which typically includes pastries, yogurt, fresh fruit, juice, coffee, cereal and hard boiled eggs. If you’re looking for something bigger or more of a sit-down meal, the Bamboo Room is a classic Haines eatery that’s been around forever and a day. There is also the Mountain Market Cafe (a two minute drive) for breakfast sandwiches and wraps, as well as lots of great snacks and beverages. We had a few early mornings so we did a combo of groceries and continental breakfast.

Room Options at the Captain’s Choice Motel

Because the Captains Choice Motel is spread across multiple buildings, there are quite a few different sorts of room types to choose from, which actually makes it great if you’re traveling as a family. There is the standard two queen room, which is just fine and plenty big, but then there are also rooms with a third bed or even a queen and a twin. You can book the layout the suits your traveling group best.

When you’re planning your time at the Captains Choice Motel, you can also request one of the rooms that has a kitchenette or even a jacuzzi. If you want to be higher up on the second level of the main lodge building, it’s best to call the Captain’s Choice and ask what room types have what views, if that’s important to you.

Parking at the Captain’s Choice Motel

Parking is included when you stay at the Captain’s Choice Motel. There is parking up top, behind the lodge building and below. Lot’s of options depending on where your room is, as there are many levels. If you’re renting a car through the Captain’s Choice Motel, check with the front desk as to where to park your car when it’s time to return it and then don’t forget to leave the keys with them!

More Things to do in Haines

I feel like Haines is kind of this sort of secret spot on the Inside Passage. Most of the cruise ships go to Skagway or Icy Strait Point and completely miss Haines, which makes it wonderful and quiet. I love this town because there is lots to do and it’s beautiful. There are a few museums, you’ve got two state parks, lots of options for fishing, boat charters, LOTS of Chilkat Tlingit totem poles, art and more. Haines is the version of Alaska that I wish still existed all through the Inside Passage and up into South Central AK.

When you’re planning your visit to Haines and your activities, I think spending 3-4 nights is perfect. This gives you plenty of time to hike and enjoy the wildlife and rivers, but then also you can have time in town and up along the Haines Highway. Everyone has a different style of travel and activities they look for, and I think that’s what makes Haines such a good destination to visit.

Here are some of our recommendations for things to do in Haines: