Staying at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel – the Holland America Preferred Lodge

Choosing a hotel in Fairbanks isn’t too complicated once you know the style of stay you’d like to have. You might just want a standard hotel or maybe a rustic cabin. I like them all and each level of luxe and comfort has its place, but staying at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel is a great option for both a nicer hotel and a property that’s convenient to any activities you’ll be planning. A part of the Holland America Lines tour collection, this is the primary hotel for Holland America cruise guests when they do a land tour, so it’s designed to continue the pleasant cruise line experience.

We’ve got all the info on what to expect when you’re staying at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel, including things to do around Fairbanks and other tips for planning your Alaska trip, particularly if you’re visiting via Holland America. If you have any questions about this hotel or planning your trip, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a fun Alaska trip.

Why Choose the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel

Fairbanks isn’t a fancy city dripping with luxury, but there are some great places that are very well maintained, well managed and feel upscale. The Westmark Fairbanks hotel is just that, and if you’ve been roughing it as you travel through Alaska, checking in here feels like you’re truly back in civilization. The rooms are nice and they’re big enough to stay comfortable as a family of four.

We stayed here during the winter season so had much more luggage than a summer trip and uniquely, having more closet space than most hotel rooms was actually a highlight for us. We don’t typically unpack our suitcases unless we’re staying somewhere for four day or so, but having enough space to hide our suitcases away, hang up our snow gear and unpack our clothes was great. The ability to settle in makes travel much more manageable.

Other highlights include a nice fitness center, artwork and sculptures of the Alaskan landscape and wildlife, and a lounge space for learning about the Aurora Borealis and just hanging out, which is great for kids.

Book the Westmark Fairbanks here!

Tips for a Great Stay at the Westmark Fairbanks

When you’re booking your stay at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel, consider how much time you think you’ll be spending in the room. Because there are slightly larger rooms with more sitting space, if you know you’ll need downtime to recharge, book one of those. In the winter months there aren’t lots of public areas in Fairbanks to kick back and reset, so it’s nice to have that in your hotel.

Upon checking in, ask if you can be on one of the higher floors on the north side of the hotel. In the winter, if there is a really bright Aurora Borealis night, you may be able to see them from your room if you’re high enough away from the parking lot lights below. You’ll always have a better time seeing the Northern Lights in Fairbanks if you can get out of town away from the light pollution, such as up at Aurora Pointe or out at Murphy Dome, but if you just are hoping to see them from your hotel, you’ll need to be as far from city lighting as possible.

Even if you don’t score a view of the Aurora while you’re staying at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel, at least you’ll have your breakfast included if you’re staying October through April. There is a large breakfast spread each morning that is complimentary for guests so you can head downstairs, grab a bite and reconvene with your travel crew to talk about your plans for the day.

Room Options at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel

Because the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel is traditionally a transitory hotel for cruise guests, most people staying here are usually only checking in for two days at most, so the Westmark doesn’t have a wide variety of room types to accommodate different types of travelers. Here you’ll find standard king rooms (no sofa bed), standard two queen rooms, and then deluxe versions of each. Even though there are no pullout sofas, if you need it all rooms can accommodate a rollaway. The different between the suites and the standard rooms is just a bit more square footage with a bigger sitting area.

In comparison with other Fairbanks hotels, the Westmark does have some of the largest rooms. They seem significantly larger than Pike’s Waterfront Lodge but not as big at the Best Western Plus Pioneer Park. Everyone needs a different amount of space, so book what’s right for you.

Location of the Westmark Hotel in Fairbanks

One of the great things about staying at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel is its location. In summer months it’s in a very walkable spot for downtown, but in winter you’ll want to drive most places, and there is plenty of parking for guests to come and go. Parking is included in your rate and even at the end of the day, it’s not a struggle to find a spot. From the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel you’re only a few minutes from jumping on the Expressway to head towards Denali National Park or east towards Chena Hot Springs. It’s convenient to lots of restaurants and, again, walking from here is a breeze.

Dining at the Westmark and Nearby

As I mentioned, breakfast is included at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel. It’s located just off the lobby in their large dining room. The breakfast spread include eggs, meats, fruits, yogurt, oatmeal with fixings, pastries and toast, coffee, tea, juices… It’s got everything you expect of a hotel breakfast. If you want something more custom and really good, the Cookie Jar is AWESOME (drive to it) or the Creperie is really good too.

There are countless lunch places all around town, and dinner too. At the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel you’ll find the Red Lantern for a nice meal. They’re open for lunch, dinner and drinks from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. My favorite dinner place in Fairbanks though is actually going to surprise you: Soba Moldovan Restaurant. It is the best food in Fairbanks, I swear. It’s downtown and hidden in the Co op Plaza, but it’s worth visiting.

Things to do in Fairbanks

I feel like when people talk about visiting Alaska, Fairbanks is a last thought, but it shouldn’t be. I love this city, it’s people, it’s dogsled culture and the beautiful nature all around it. Fairbanks is THE winter destination in Alaska with ample dark sky space to watch the Northern Lights and endless outdoor opportunities, whether you’re looking for a mellow snowy escape or hardcore Alaskan adventures. In summer, Fairbanks is a great home base for visiting the Arctic Circle, Denali National Park, spending days kayaking or fishing. It’s beautiful!

Ideas for Fairbanks activities:

Where to Stay in Fairbanks, Alaska

Keep in mind when you’re planning your trip to Fairbanks that it is not a large city. It’s the second largest in Alaska, but it’s not huge. Hotel options are limited and when it comes to booking a luxury hotel stay, that’s not really a thing here. There are nice hotels and really cool lodges and vacation rentals, but white glove luxe ain’t happening. We’ve stayed in all kinds of Fairbanks accommodations, so have solid recommendations (below). I like being based downtown if we have a diverse, busy itinerary, but staying outside of town up in the hills is such a treat, it’s worth planning a night or two away from the city.

You’ll find that the cost of lodging in Fairbanks ranges wildly from season to season. In the summer, standard hotel rooms are not likely available for under $250 per night, with the average being well over $300 per night. In the winter you can get some awesome hotel deals as low as $125 per night. Just keep this in mind as you’re planning your visit to Fairbanks or anywhere in Alaska.

Here are our hotel picks in Fairbanks: