First of all, Seward Hotels were all booked. This was the last room in town for miles. We were stuck, but tried to tolerate the horrible experience since we were only staying 3 nights and spent most of the time on wonderful excursions in this incredible town (not hotel related outings). Warning: they don't tell you that a certain wing allows animals (barking most of the time). If you have fur allergies, you will definitely have a reaction (like me)--since animals sleep on the beds, I had to pull the quilts and pillows off the bed.
After paying at the front desk, we entered our room. There was a l/8 inch moss like layer of dust all over everything in the room, including the coffee maker, coffee envelopes, ice bucket, microwave, refrigerator, lamps, tables, tv (cable was not connected), carpet behind door had a thick layer of dust too. Room smelled old and dusty. The sinks are outside the bathroom in the room (no privacy if you go with friends). Sink was backed up. We went to front desk to tell them about the dust and sink. Even though upset, I was very polite to the staff. The older woman at the front desk just stared at me, blank face and said nothing. I had to ask her if she could come and look at the room. She walked quickly thru the room. I ran my hand through the dust, leaving a trail. She said nothing. I said, "how could this happen? This room hasn't been cleaned in at least months?" "Was this room closed up and you just opened it up because you were sold out?" I was trying to make sense of it all. This was not just a few weeks of dust. Again, she said nothing, blank face. I asked if there were any other rooms available, which I knew there wasn't, but I had to ask just in case of a cancellation. She said no. She didn't offer to have the room cleaned. I had to ask HER. I asked if she could have the room cleaned. I explained that we would be gone for 6 hours and I could not be in the room when it was cleaned because of allergies and asthma (I did not know yet about the pets til the dogs started barking til late). The woman said nothing. On her rushed way out, I pointed to the sink and asked if someone could unclog the sink. She just walked out. I never checked out the bathroom with the shower and toilet til we got back.
When we returned, half of the room was cleaned. Still covered with dust included food related things, as mentioned above, including the ice bucket, coffee maker, packets of coffee. Also thick dust patches on the rug were still there. I went to use the toilet and the seat was worn down to the bare wood. The pipe at the bottom of the toilet where it flushes down was stained with brown stains. The shower curtain liner was torn and coated in a haze of soap scum. There were long black hairs in the tub, although it the tub and tile appeared clean. The grossest thing was that there was a basket of complimentary soaps in tubes in a basket on the back of the toilet. The only problem was that they were half empty, scummy, and left over from the last guests. They never changed the supplies.
No AC, not usually needed in AK, but it was hot. There were three small windows on first floor 3 feet from the driveway and 10 feet from parking lot. Two windows had cracked cranks and could not be opened, one of which had a missing screen, the other a broken screen. So we only had one crank out window, low to the ground, cars passing by 3 feet away in the dirt driveway, dust coming in. There was a fan stored in the dust layer on the table between the beds. We wiped it off and used it. We had to shut the window though for safety reasons, the noise of cars, and the sun stays out late. You need to close the curtains. One woman said all their window cranks and screens were broken on the second floor, and they had little kids.
The second night I found black hair on the top sheet when I pulled back the covers. I slept on top of the bottom sheet without covers, in my clothes. I seriously thought about sleeping in the car. No other hotel was available.
Its great they offer a blow dryer, but it is yellowed with age and the nozzle was missing the vent, had a sharp piece of metal sticking out and numerous cracks in the head. We had to make sure our hair didn't get stuck in it because the only way to shut it off was to hang up the head, the unit being about 6 feet off the ground next to the sink. At least kids couldn't get burned.
I don't like confrontation. I know this is a small family owned business and they are trying to make improvements. I support these businesses. Its hard for them because the busy season is only from May to September. I can look past broken, and old, but I can't look past severely dusty and the hair. Upon leaving, we saw two young girls with a cleaning cart, and low and behold, one of the workers had long black hair. Was that the reason long black hair was in the shower? How could she not have seen it? And when she made the bed?
There's a wing with bedrooms that share a bathroom for those who want a cheaper room. Small dirt parking lot for maybe 10 cars. You usually have to find a spot down the road. Looks quaint in the pictures. It looks pretty, you just have to look deeper. I don't recommend staying here because you don't know what you will get. Some people raved about the place.
Book your hotels many many months in advance so you have a selection. If you get a room at the Seward, ask to see the room before you pay for it. At this point, I would recommend doing that anywhere, anyway. I know I sure will. If it's dirty, etc., I would take pictures. This was when you call the credit card company to withdraw the charge for a hotel you don't stay at, you will have your proof that the room was unsatisfactory. They should do a merchant charge back. We were stuck in this place, but you don't have to be. Check into the other hotels in town.
Posted by Uursha, from NJ on Aug 19, 2012
