Cafe - Palmer

I've been going to the V-ho for some 15 years now and it is damn near the quintessential Alaskan/American Diner. The prices have risen lately, but that's everyw... read more I've been going to the V-ho for some 15 years now and it is damn near the quintessential Alaskan/American Diner. The prices have risen lately, but that's everywhere and everything lately. Open 24/7, it's a great choice after church and your only choice at 3am.

The front desk staff was extremely rude to all of my guests, with each person sharing their own unpleasant encounter with the woman at the front desk. She was i... read more The front desk staff was extremely rude to all of my guests, with each person sharing their own unpleasant encounter with the woman at the front desk. She was inattentive, dismissive, and condescending. Several of us had broken heaters in our rooms, and her response was to merely stare at us as if it was our issue, before handing out a 50-year-old space heater that smelled terrible. The rooms were so cramped that you could barely sit down anywhere except on the bed. One room even ran out of soap, and when I brought it up to the front desk, the staff member didn't apologize or explain anything; she simply disappeared into the back and placed some soap on the counter without a word. To make matters worse, there is no elevator, and all rooms are accessible only by a rickety staircase. The front desk is absurdly located inside a restaurant, which adds to the chaotic setup of tiny rooms and poor service. We had reservations for September 8 and 12, and the sole positive aspect of our stay was being able to cancel our September 12 reservation after the horrendous experience on the 8th.

It's difficult to find a better price for this hotel, but it does come with a few drawbacks. The rooms are quite small, though they are clean. There's a compact... read more It's difficult to find a better price for this hotel, but it does come with a few drawbacks. The rooms are quite small, though they are clean. There's a compact refrigerator, but no microwave or coffee maker available. The shower knob was broken, making it challenging to adjust the temperature. However, the water pressure was quite good. The room doors tend to stick, which means you have to pull or push them shut; this can be quite noisy late at night or early in the morning. We were on the first floor, which meant walking past the restrooms to get to our room, and the hallway had a strong smell of urine, although our room did not have this issue. The bed was very comfortable. The window can be opened, but there's no screen, which feels a bit concerning given the first-floor location. Nonetheless, for the price, it’s hard to beat.

For the love of all that is good, make sure you avoid the cafe during irregular hours. You'll find a mix of people there, whether they're eating or just hanging... read more For the love of all that is good, make sure you avoid the cafe during irregular hours. You'll find a mix of people there, whether they're eating or just hanging out...

We visited this restaurant before heading to Hatcher Pass. I ordered the three-piece fried halibut, which was tasty but not outstanding. I'm saving my high expe... read more We visited this restaurant before heading to Hatcher Pass. I ordered the three-piece fried halibut, which was tasty but not outstanding. I'm saving my high expectations for Humpy's. They were...