Lancaster's Backpacker Hotel

The staff was kind. Our room was very small, barely enough space for two bunkbeds and our backpacks. Its sole use was for sleeping. There were no welcoming places to sit or drink coffee. We would do so in the lobby where the dust added to the historical hotel. I would expect a place like this to have complimentary drinks at the minimum, but everything required an added cost. The complimentary breakfast was nothing to write home about, although it was a kind gesture. If you don't come when breakfast starts, they will run out of croissants and bagels. Highly recommend The Potato restaurant where we ate most of our meals. We stayed for two nights, on our last night before an eight hour drive, a band, 20 yards away, was playing until after midnight. The music was good and normally we would enjoy this event, but it was very loud and we were not able to sleep in preparation from the next day. Mind you, this music was significantly louder considering we were placed next to the bar, away from the main, advertised building. Needless to say, we do not recommend.

6 months ago

The Lancaster's is vintage... about 100 years old and surrounded by the Wrangell-St Elias National Park in Alaska. It doesn't have heat but they don't rent it out in the colder weeks at the beginning and end of the summer tourist season. The rooms are private with most having bunkbeds (perfect for backpackers), bathrooms are shared and the parlor inviting. All linens are provided. The staff is very friendly and accommodating and Housekeeping does a great job keeping everything fresh and clean.

9 months ago

McCarthy is a rather unique place- minimalistic, a bit laid back, full of wonderful and friendly people. ||||The Lancaster fits right in- simple but reasonably clean. 10 rooms share 2 showers and 2 toilets, rooms come with beds or bunks, a chair, a clean towel and a bar of soap for each bed. Contrary to the Ma Johnson, rooms in the Lancaster come with an outlet - big plus :) ||||The last time I was in a hostel is a few decades back but fellow guests told me this is one of the nicest hostels they have been to. I enjoyed my stay before and after a backpacking trip, but me giving 4 stars is based on their evaluation.||||Reading through the "can you say a little more about it" section of this review makes me laugh- no, there for sure is no EV charging station at the hotel, and no, McCarthy is not really known for its city center. ||||It's McCarthy, go there for a real unique experience. Rough it and love it at own risk. But when you do, you will not regret.

2 years ago

The room was clean but the shared bathrooms could use some work. The staff are super-friendly and helpful. My room had a bunk bed with two twins that worked fine. WAY over-priced for what you get. McCarthy has very few hotel/housing options so the prices are pretty high for what you get pretty much everywhere. Personally, I thought it was quieter than the inn across the street.

8 years ago

This place has basic rooms that were everything we needed after a day or days exploring the McCarthy area and just needing to crash. Breakfast was included and was delicious in the bar/restaurant next door. We felt like we were in a western movie with the accomodations, the town, the characters, the dogs. If you like adventure you will love this place. Many advenures to explore due to the St Elias guides and the small single airplanes to fly you over the glaciers. Both have local offices to pick the adventure you want. Loved this part of our Alaska trip and will return. Highly recommend.

3 years ago

Everything was just as described except the room was larger that we expected. The room was clean and comfy, staff was really nice and went out of their way to find me ice when I tweaked my knee hiking. We are retired and felt very comfortable here and never had a wait for the bathroom or shower. In the morning we were served a top notch included breakfast at the Saloon next door (bacon, eggs, homemade scones, fruit and cereal!) Be advised the rooms have no keys, we left most of our luggage in the car and just carried backpacks for overnight with us on the shuttle. Cons: Our room #8 had no overhead light, only a small desk lamp on a end table that didn't fit between the beds so was not usable. Wash cloths would have been really nice to have. And I asked for a quiet room and we were put right outside the Saloon's kitchen vent fans which ran until 11 pm then was on again at 6:20 am. Still a good value for the location.

8 years ago

If you want a 5-start-accomodation with all its perks, then this might not be what you are looking for- but then again, McCarthy might not be the right place for you altogether.||We loved out stay the the Lancasters- the rooms very neat and clean, the staff, especially Kris, was super friendly and helpful. Since we spent all day in the outdoors and all night either at the Golden Saloon or the Roadside Potatohead, the Lancasters Hotel was the perfect place for us (to crash at night).

8 years ago

You pretty much know what you are getting here. Its a room with twin beds or bunk beds, one electrical outlet, and bathrooms downstairs. The rooms were clean, the bathrooms would get very dirty by the end of the day though. I do think they do a good job of letting you know what to expect in their emails. ||||There is no wifi. You can purchase wifi for 9 dollars a day. If you have Verizon, then you'll have great signal. If you have TMobile, you will have no service till you make it back to Chitna. ||||The staff was WONDERFUL. Everyone was helpful and friendly. Can't say enough good things about the people we talked with. ||||Options are really limited in McCarthy/Kennicott, so they can pretty much charge whatever they want. It felt expensive, but we were willing to pay. The breakfast included was hearty and warm.

8 years ago