Juneau's BEST Kept Secret: Super 8 Review (You WON'T Believe This!)
Juneau's BEST Kept Secret: Super 8 Review (You WON'T Believe This!) - Seriously, Just Trust Me.
(SEO & Metadata Stuff - Don't worry, I'll get to the juicy part!)
- Keywords: Juneau, Alaska, Super 8, Hotel Review, Travel, Accessibility, Amenities, Value, Cleanliness, Budget Travel, Juneau Airport, Downtown Juneau, Review, Honest Review, Super 8 Juneau, Best Hotels Juneau, Alaska Hotels, Budget Hotels, Travel Tips.
- Meta Description: Forget the fancy hotels. This is the REAL deal. My brutally honest review of the Juneau Super 8 - the "best kept secret" they TRY to keep hidden. Accessibility, cleanliness, amenities – the good, the bad, and the hilariously ugly. Buckle up, it's a rollercoaster!
- Title: Juneau's Super 8: The BEST (and Possibly ONLY) Honest Review You'll Read!
(Okay, Here We GO - The Real Stuff)
Right, so you're planning a trip to Juneau, Alaska. Awesome choice! Prepare for glaciers, whales, and… well, let's just say the hotel landscape can be a bit… intense. That's where the Juneau Super 8 comes in, a place they seem to whisper about with a slightly embarrassed tone. But guess what? After a week of exploring the beautiful but WILD Alaskan outback, my partner and I, we just wanted a place to crash. And by the gods of travel, did we find a place to CRASH.
First Impressions (And, Let's Be Real, My Panic)
Pulling up, the exterior isn't going to win any design awards. Think… functional. But inside… well, that's where the adventure really began. My first thought: "Oh god, what have I done?" Followed by a slightly hysterical, "Is that… carpet?" (Spoiler: It was. And it was everywhere.)
Access and Functionality: Actually, Pretty Impressed
Here’s the thing that surprised me. For a budget hotel, they genuinely tried with accessibility. The elevator worked (a minor miracle!), and I saw facilities for disabled guests listed. So, brownie points there, Super 8. I saw some CCTV in common areas and outside, which, coming from a city with a bit of… shall we say, "spirited" crime, was reassuring. The 24-hour front desk was a lifesaver when our plane was delayed, and their welcome was way more friendly than that of some of the more pompous places I've stayed at.
Rooms: Expectation vs. Reality (With a Side of "Could Actually Be Worse")
Okay, the room. Clean-ish. Really, that’s the best thing that you can hope for here. The air conditioning was a thing, the blackout curtains were a godsend (thank you, midnight sun!), and the free Wi-Fi in the room actually worked – which is HUGE when you're trying to post epic glacier pics on Insta. The internet access – wireless was okay, and thankfully, I could stream my weird true-crime shows at night.
Onsite Eats (Or, Why You Should Pack Snacks)
Right, dining. Let's be honest. The Super 8 is not a foodie destination. There's a breakfast service, and it's… well, it's what you expect. Cereal, those weird pre-packaged muffins, and coffee that tastes like… coffee. (I'm actually not sure. My partner, on the other hand, thought it worked but the coffee shop across the street had better coffee). No Asian Cuisine, no poolside bar (thank GOD, because who wants to drink margaritas in a freezing indoor pool?), and definitely no Michelin stars. But hey, there's a convenience store nearby, which, after a long hike, felt like winning the lottery. They provide water bottles, which is a nice touch.
"Things to Do" (And the Hilarious Lack of…Things)
Look, the Super 8 isn't about amenities, okay? There's no spa, no pool with a view, no fitness center. This ain't a resort! This is a crash pad. My partner kept asking about a sauna. "Honey, we're in Juneau. Go outside, it IS a sauna."
Cleanliness & Safety: The Sanitizer Obsession
Okay, here's where they (kinda) redeemed themselves. Post-pandemic, this place felt safe. They claimed to be using anti-viral cleaning products, there was hand sanitizer everywhere (seriously, everywhere!), and the staff seemed genuinely trained in safety protocols. Rooms sanitized between stays, which is a big check mark. The daily disinfection in common areas was noticeable, too. And most importantly, the bedsheets smelled clean, which is a win after a day of glaciers and whale watching.
Services and Conveniences: The Stuff You Actually Need
The daily housekeeping was consistent, which was great. The laundry service also helped, especially after falling in a mud pit on our hike (don't judge me!). The luggage storage was handy when we went off on day trips. The car park [free of charge] was awesome, saving money on parking fees. And the taxi service was always readily available.
Little Annoyances & Quirks (The Fun Starts Here)
- The "complimentary" tea? More like "complimentary" dust.
- The elevator smelled faintly of… everything. Like, a whole bunch of people have been through it.
- The TV could be a little slow (it could have been the satellite)
- The shampoo bottles looked like they had been filled with the tears of a thousand Alaskan bears. But hey, they got the job done.
The Verdict: Would I Go Back? (Spoiler Alert: Yup.)
Look, the Juneau Super 8 isn't perfect. It's not fancy. It’s not Instagram-worthy. But here’s the thing: it’s honest. It’s clean enough. The location is great. And the staff? They were genuinely friendly and helpful, which, in a place where everything is geared towards tourism is a massive breath of fresh air.
If you're looking for five-star luxury, move along. But if you want a clean, comfortable, budget-friendly basecamp for exploring the magic of Juneau, then YES, the Super 8 is a solid choice. It might even be Juneau's best-kept secret. And, yeah, I'll probably be back. Because honestly, the value is there, and, hey, a comfortable bed is a comfortable bed.
Escape to Imlay City: Days Inn Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, 'cause this ain't your grandma's meticulously planned vacation itinerary. This is JUNEAU, BABY! And we're hitting it hard… or at least, trying to. My plan, for what it's worth, is to get out there, do things, see the sights, and not end up looking like a drowned squirrel. Whether I succeed? Well, that's the fun part, isn't it?
(Day 1: Arrival and the Existential Dread of a Budget Hotel)
- 1:00 PM: Arrival at Juneau International Airport (JNU). Oh, the romance of a smaller airport! Already feeling overwhelmed. It's… tight. And the wind… it's howling like a banshee. Trying not to blow away before I even get to the Super 8. This place is really something. I'm already regretting not packing my parka… or, you know, any kind of waterproof anything.
- 1:30 PM: Check into Super 8 by Wyndham Juneau. Ah, the Super 8. My home away from home. The… vibe is definitely "budget friendly." The carpet, I'm pretty sure, has seen some things. And by "things," I mean at least three generations of spilled soda and questionable stains. But hey, free breakfast, right? I'm telling myself it's character. It's gotta be character!
- 2:00 PM: Room Reconnaissance. Okay, so let's unpack. The TV remote seems to be… missing. Classic. Can I call the front desk or will it take me an hour to get through to them? And the existential dread of the mini-fridge. Does it work? Is that suspicious smell coming from it? Or just the general Super 8 ambience? I'll make sure to give it a once-over. Don't wanna get the food poisoning from room 204!
- 3:00 PM: The First Foray - Downtown Juneau (Maybe?). Okay, deep breaths. Need to find some food. And quickly. I'm thinking… a walk? Maybe? The wind. The rain. My rapidly fraying resolve. Okay, okay, I'll try. First impression of downtown: Charming, in a slightly-weathered-and-slightly-lonely kind of way. The shops are cute… but they got those high prices!
- 4:00 PM: Food Acquisition - Lunch at the Alaskan Hotel Bar. Found a place! The Alaskan Hotel. It's got history, it’s kind of divey in the best possible way, and the burgers are… well, I might have ordered two. Okay, so it may seem like I've overdone the lunch because I did… but I needed food. My nervous stomach could not handle the wind alone!
- 5:30 PM: Pacing like a caged animal in my room. Okay, I have food, but what to do? The rain keeps on dropping. So I start pacing. Then I unpack. Then I call the front desk and report that my TV remote has vanished into thin air.
- 7:00 PM: An early night. I feel so tired. The first day is often the hardest one. I’ll have plenty more to do in the upcoming days!
(Day 2: Glaciers and the Terrifying Beauty of Nature)
- 7:00 AM: The "Free" Breakfast Debacle. Alright, the moment of truth. The "free" breakfast at the Super 8. Let's see… the usual suspects are on display: stale muffins, mystery-meat breakfast sausages, and coffee that tastes suspiciously like motor oil. I choke down a piece of toast and vow to find a decent coffee shop. I take some for the road, too, ya know, for the next couple of hours!
- 8:00 AM: Mendenhall Glacier - The Beauty and the Beast. Okay, this is it. The one thing everyone says to see. And… wow. Just wow. The Mendenhall Glacier is breathtaking. Giant ice formations carved by the wind. It's absolutely massive. You know what else is massive? The amount of other tourists. It's a sea of cameras and selfie sticks, but hey, I’m happy to be here. I'm taking more pictures than I thought I would. Feeling: Awestruck and slightly claustrophobic.
- 9:00 AM: A Quick Hike (and Near Death Experience). I attempt a short hike on a trail around the glacier. "Easy," the brochure said. Lies! LIARS! It's muddy, slippery, and the wind is trying to push me off a cliff. I swear I could have easily tripped over my own feet! Emotional Reaction: Panicked exhilaration.
- 11:00 AM: Back to Town - Coffee and Respite. I feel so much better after my coffee. I'm ready to do anything now!
- 12:00 PM: A Second Stab at Lunch. I feel the munchies coming and I decide to make a second stop at that place I went to yesterday, I’m really starting to like it!
- 2:00 PM: Shopping for Gear (and Regret). Okay, this will be a short trip. More walking, more rain. I’m definitely buying a waterproof jacket, it’s not expensive but I'm sure I am going to wear this for a while.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner Fail. I try to get a nice dinner. Big Mistake. I’m not sure I like any of these restaurants. The food is great and all, but I feel like I have to move. I feel like I need to be somewhere!
- 7:00 PM: Back to Super 8 (with a Bang). I don’t really want to go back, but I am so tired!
(Day 3: Whale Watching and the Question of Life's Purpose)
- 8:00 AM: The "Free" Breakfast Returns… The Dread. Same breakfast, different day. I'm starting to believe the coffee is motor oil. I see a few familiar faces from yesterday, we exchange tired smiles. Commiseration is the only thing that matters here.
- 9:00 AM: Whale Watching - Yay! Finally, the big event! Whale watching tour. The boat is a little cramped, and the seas are a little choppy. But it's worth it. Oh, it's worth it. Seeing a humpback whale breach is a moment of pure, unadulterated joy. I swear I almost cried. It's just… magical. Emotional Reaction: Pure, unadulterated joy
- 11:00 AM: The Unexpected Drama - Sea Sickness and Lost Hats. The choppy seas. Someone on the boat is vomiting. I, surprisingly, am holding my own. But the wind has claimed another victim: A poor woman's favorite hat has flown overboard. It's a tragedy! A moment of intense empathy and maybe, just a little bit, schadenfreude.
- 1:00 PM: Back on Shore - Reflecting on Whales and Existentialism. The whales are spectacular. I'm still buzzing with the memory of them. I also start thinking that I probably should have studied something like Marine Biology instead of whatever it is I actually do. Self-reflection intensifies.
- 2:00 PM: Souvenir Shopping - The Utter Pointlessness. I try to find some souvenirs, but I can’t find what I want.
- 4:00 PM: The Hotel Room – What Am I Doing With My Life? It’s the last day! The last day! And I’ve done a bunch of nothing. It’s fine, I’m fine, right?
- 7:00 PM: Last Supper – The Alaskan Hotel Bar (Again?). Yes. Again. It's comfortable. Familiar. The burger, as always, hits the spot. I think I’m going to miss this place. And maybe Juneau. Sort of.
(Day 4: Departure - So Long, and Thanks for the (Mostly) Good Times)
- 7:00 AM: The Final (and Possibly Fatal) "Free" Breakfast. The last stand! I steel myself for another round of mystery sausage and potentially fatal coffee.
- 8:00 AM: Packing, and the Relentless Reality of Laundry. Packing is always a chore, but here, it's a matter of survival. Wet clothes. Damp socks. The looming mountain of laundry. Emotional Reaction: Resignation.
- **9:00 AM: Checking Out - Farewell to the Super 8
Juneau's Super 8: The Dirty Little Secret (You WON'T Believe This!) - A Messy FAQ
Alright, alright, settle down, adventurers! You've stumbled upon the… *thing*. The Super 8 in Juneau. And let me tell you, it’s not exactly what you see in the glossy brochures. It's... well, it's an experience. Consider this your pre-emptive therapy session. Because after this, you might need it.
1. So, what’s the BIG deal about this Super 8, anyway? Why all the… *hype*?
Hype? Honey, there’s *no* hype. That's the thing. It's Juneau's best-kept secret precisely *because* it's not trying to be. It's the… *anti-hotel*. It’s like a slightly musty, slightly bewildered time capsule that somehow, *somehow*, provides shelter. And sometimes, that's all you need after battling a ravenous bear-sized crab during a tour (true story... almost).
2. Okay, okay, spill the beans. What's the *worst* thing about it? Be honest!
Honestly? The carpets. Oh, the carpets. They have *stories*. Stories whispered only to the vacuum cleaner, which sounds like a dying walrus. I’m not kidding. I once saw a stain that looked suspiciously like a map of Middle Earth. Also, the breakfast. Let’s just say it’s... "nutritious" in the loosest possible sense. You’ve been warned. Bring your own granola bars. And maybe a Hazmat suit (kidding! Mostly...).
3. Is it *really* that bad? Like, are we talking bedbugs and a haunted room situation?
Alright, look. I’ve stayed there, like, five times (don't judge me; options are limited in Juneau). Bedbugs? Thankfully, no. Haunted room? Maybe. I *swear* I heard a ghostly dial tone on the phone one night. Turns out, it was just the wind... or maybe the ghost of someone trying to order room service from the 1980s. Nah, it's generally clean, just... weathered. Think "character," not "creepy."
4. Tell me a story, a specific memory? I want to feel this experience!
Okay, you asked for it. This is the heart of the beast. Okay, picture this: Last summer. I, a weary travel writer (cough, cough), arrive after a *brutal* flight delay. Tired, hungry, just wanting a shower. Room 212. The door... sticks. I wrestle with the lock for what feels like an eternity. Finally, *thud*. In. The room? Dim. The air...thick with the scent of faint disinfectant and something vaguely… floral. The bedspread? A vibrant, almost aggressive, pattern of turquoise and… well, I'm not sure *what* those shapes were. Let's call them "abstract squiggles." I collapse on the bed. I think. I *hope*. Then, the sound. The rhythmic, almost hypnotic *drip, drip, drip*. From the ceiling. A leak. A gentle waterfall, right onto the head of the bed. I called the front desk. They seemed… unfazed. "Oh, yeah, the leaky ceiling. We'll get to it eventually." Eventually? Eventually is my cue to leave. Right? Wrong. There was no other place to stay, period! I slept curled up on the edge of the bed, using a towel to shield my head. The next morning? Best sleep I've ever had. The sound, gone. The sun shining, and the realization that I'd survived another Juneau adventure. So, the Super 8? It's a humbling, hilarious, ultimately weirdly *satisfying* experience.
5. What are the *good* things then?! Is there any redeeming value?
Alright, okay. Yes. The staff! They’re like the unsung heroes of hospitality. They're usually friendly (even if they seem to have seen things you and I can't fathom) and genuinely helpful. And the location! You're close to everything. Seriously, everything. You can walk to the Mendenhall Glacier (after being absolutely terrified you'll be caught in a rock slide). And the price? Let's be honest, it's a steal compared to the other Juneau options. When you're on a budget and just want a place to crash between bear-watching tours, it really can't be beat.
6. What about the breakfast everyone keeps bringing up? Is it truly as dire as the rumors?
Look, let’s be frank here. Expectations must be incredibly low. It’s free. That's about the best thing I can say. There will be coffee that may or may not be coffee. There will be a selection of pre-packaged pastries that have the nutritional value of cardboard. Cold cereal, bread-like toast. And maybe, *maybe* some sad, rubbery eggs. My advice? Eat before you arrive. Or, do like I do: bring a box of your own breakfast and grab a coffee to go.
7. Okay, you’ve sold me (and slightly terrified me). Any tips for surviving, nay, THRIVING at the Juneau Super 8?
Alright, survival guide time! 1. Bring earplugs. Trust me. 2. Pack your own snacks. 3. Embrace the absurdity. 4. If the door sticks, persist. 5. Don't expect perfection. 6. Take photos. You WILL need them to verify the experience later. And most importantly: Lower your expectations. Then, lower them *again*. And then… just laugh. Because it’s all part of the adventure. And by the time you're ready to leave, you'll probably have a story you'll be telling for years.
8. So, would you recommend it? Be honest!
Look, if you're a princess expecting a castle… no. If you need a sterile, perfectly curated experience… run away. But if you're an adventurer, a budget traveler, someone who appreciates a good story *and* a certain level of quirky charm? Absolutely. I wouldn't necessarily *recommend* it, mind you. But I certainly wouldn’t *warn* you against it. It's Juneau. Nothing's perfect. And really, that's part of the fun. Go in with eyes wide open, a sense of humor, and a healthy dose of skepticism. You might actually… enjoy it. (Don’t tell anyone I said that!)
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