"Andreas Kohlmann" <axkohlmann@yahoo.de> wrote in message
news:brd7m0$tr5$01$1@news.t-online.com...
We are a family of 4 and wonder if travelling the Alaska Highway in
August
next year with a regular rental car is just a silly idea or feasible.
Wow! Nobody could accuse you of being unambitious! But it is entirely
feasible - about 4 million people do it every year <g
It may
sound crazy but such trips actually don't bother our 2 boys (7 and 4)
at
all - we travelled North Cape this year from Southern Germany without
problem - 10.000 km round-trip !
They will love the bits they can understand; emphasize history, gold
rush, wildlife, etc. (Sorry -- no igloos.)
I read it is 2.450 km from Dawson City to Fairbanks. How long does it
take ?
About 6 weeks <g
I also read in part it seems to be a horrible road in extremely bad
condition.
Most of it is in good condition; some sections may be unpaved, but it is
well built and well maintained. It *is* an international highway, after
all!
How about staying overnight ?
There is accommodation along the way, but you DO need to make
reservations. Food and fuel are available at regular intervals.
Furthermore needing to go back to Vancouver we figured out there is a
ferry
leaving south from Skagway (Alaska) to Prince Rupert (B.C.) and then
further
on to Vancouver Island. Any experience with this ?
Yes, it works well, and is a beautiful route. Alaska State Ferries,
then BC Ferries. Some offer cabin accommodation, some don't. You will
have to plan on how to get from the north end of Vancouver Island to
Victoria and Vancouver. Bus? Another rental car? Another drop fee?
Comments, help and open feedback would be highly appreciated !
Thanks in advance,
Andreas
Hints:
1) The FIRST thing to do is to buy a copy of "The Milepost", the bible
for Alaska Highway travellers. Don't delay -- you need it NOW! You
will probably find it for sale in bookstores in Germany. See more at:
http://www.themilepost.com/
2) Then there are dozens (hundreds?) of websites about the area and the
trip -- just google away every evening.
3) Where are you thinking of renting a car, and where are you thinking
of dropping it? The "drop fee" for a car rented from Whitehorse and
dropped at Skagway might be substantial; enquire first! It's only 108
miles, and they might be able to rent it to someone wishing to drive to
Whitehorse, but ... Also keep in mind that you would be dropping a
Canadian car in another country.
4) Car insurance has to be researched *very* carefully. It is
complicated, and can be expensive. There may be special rules about
damage to glass and paint from driving on gravelled roads, and about the
maximum distance you can drive. Get everything *in writing* before you
leave home. Do NOT rely on verbal assurances from car rental or
insurance agencies, and do NOT rely on this and other Newsgroups for
expertise in law, insurance, finance, third-party liability,
international diplomacy, etc. Advice - Yes. Expertise - No!
Good luck -- let us know how your plans are developing.
