Van Gilder Hotel

I see a lot of low ratings for this hotel and was skeptical going in. But I was surprised and not disappointed in the hotel. I enjoyed reading about the history and the hauntings. I would definitely stay here again.

We literally got the last room in Seward. We found the hotel to be historic and charming, though a bit lacking for amenities since it is on the national register and I'm sure they want to be true to the nature of the place. There isn't an elevator, so youll need to take the stairs. The rooms are nicely appointed and comfortable. Coffee and tea available 24/7 on the main floor by the front desk. Everyone we interacted with was pleasant and helpful. We'd stay here again.

10/10 recommend! host was friendly and attentive, room was nice and clean, if ur looking for a more of an experience this is it bc its haunted! didnt see anything but definitely had eerie dreams. will be coming back

This place isn’t nearly as bad as all the one star reviews make it seem. It’s not the Hilton, but it’s Seward, Alaska. Should you be expecting the Hilton? It’s an old historic hotel. It’s nothing flashy or fancy. We stayed here while visiting Alaska for my 50th state. I only point this out so you’re aware I’m well traveled and this wasn’t my first vacation, lol. It was worth the price ($316) for two nights vs the airbnb prices, which were nearly twice as much in late September (shoulder season), lots of seasonal shops already closed or closing for the year. We also stayed in Talkeetna, Anchorage and Homer on the trip. This was the worst accommodations we stayed at, but I write this as an honest and fair rebuttal to the numerous 1 star reviews that make it sound absolutely awful. I would give it 4 or 5 stars if the water was warmer in the shower, but it’s tolerable and not cold, just lukewarm. If a place to sleep is all you’re seeking at an affordable rate, I’d say go for it. It needs a little love. Scraping the front of the building and repainting it would do wonders.

The outside of the building definitely needs restoration. But the staff was very attentive to our needs. Towels were plenty room was warm . Room had TV with many stations to choose from. Had every thing we needed to make our visit enjoyable for our first time in Seward. Bedding was was very clean, it’s a very old build but again we had everything we needed. Hotel attendant she was Angel.

If you are looking for shiny, new and fancy, don't stay here. The rooms were clean and the hotel is like a museum with a rich history including some ghosts (I didn't see any, but a plaque outside mentions some). Some reviews said it was dirty but it wasn't when I stayed there. Some of my group thought there was a funny smell but I didn't notice it. If there was any it was slight even to the sensitive smellers in the group. There is no question that the hotel is old and a lot of the decor and furnishings are old. That's the character of the place. However, it was a perfectly fine hotel and could not be better located for access to restaurants and shopping in the interesting shops along the main drag of Seward. If you are a "thread count" person look for a fancy place. If you are normal, stay here. They don't have a shuttle but they were able to send a cargo van for our luggage. There are plenty of taxi cab companies in town. Some of the rooms have bathrooms and others have to access shared bathrooms in the hallway. You can pick this when you make the reservation online so pay attention. The two rooms we got both had bathrooms and Murphy beds that would allow you to accommodate an additional person in the room. You can communicate directly with them over text through Google maps which allows you to get your questions answered if you have any.

Such a fun place! Stayed two nights with my folks in a two room suite. It's an historic building with tons of character. The additional bathroom and shower down the hall was nice when more than one of us wanted to use our room's facilities at the same time. George, the property manager, really made the place special. Not sure what else to say but every other lodger just loved him. The building and it's pipes probably need some TLC but other than that, you won't regret it. Walking distance (<0.2 miles) to downtown, restaurants, coffee shops, hiking, etc. (Love the Bear Room! Where you can get your morning coffee.)

The hotel and rooms were definitely very old, but they had a certain charm that I could appreciate. It’s not modern, but the character and atmosphere made the stay enjoyable.