(Green print = Nice Hotel, Red = Bates Motel, Purple=bar/restaurant, )
= Baseops Pick - a Hotel taking top honors, great service and facilities for crew dogs.   

Anchorage, Alaska - The summer is sweet. The base is spread out so get a U-drive from AMCC or get a rental. No U-Drives for AMC crews less than 24 hrs on the ground.  We got horrible support from the base (since it's PACAF). The aircrew billeting is barely within walking distance of the shoppette. Northstar Inn is a decent hotel. The BX and Commissary is shared with Ft Richardson and sits between the two on the other side of the flight line. While the F-15s are flying, good luck trying to sleep (STAY OFF BASE IF POSSIBLE!). Downtown is pretty cool with plenty of restaurants. Make sure you hit any of the following places: Humpy's (order the Halibut Tacos), Snow Goose (excellent brews and on the water), Moose's Tooth (excellent pizza and beer), Chilkoot Charlie's ($1 beers before 10, no cover before 8), Hot Rod's, and the world famous Alaskan Bush Company (a right of passage for 135 crews). Only way to check email on-base is at Base Ops, off-base try Oscar's cigar bar. See ITT for discounts on fishing and cruises. Hike Flattop Mtn or Eagle River Park. Also, check out Piper's by the airport and watch seaplanes land while you sit on patio sucking down beers.  If the weather is nice, drive 2 hours north to Talkeetna and rent a flightseeing tour of Mt. McKinley in a ski plane (cost is around $150, bring advertisement from local magazine 'Coast' and get $10 off). It was one of the most beautiful flights ever (and I've been on a lot) - well worth the money for this once in a lifetime opportunity. If you want to see a real Moose up close and personal, drive 10 minutes to Chugach Park overlooking all of Anchorge and walk on the trails, lots of Moose and an awesome view. The Peanut Farm (sort of katty corner to the Bush Company) is a dumpy sports bar where you can go to watch your favorite team play football while you eat a great breakfast (diner food). Get there before 8:30 am or you'll get a lousy seat. Note: During the summer off-base hotels and rental cars are expensive as well as everything else. ~A fantastic place to stay downtown is the Voyager hotel. It only has 38 rooms, but they are extremely large with kitchenettes. It is also located right downtown, so you are conveniently located to the main avenue of Anchorage and the shops and restaurants. Avoid the Days Inn downtown like the plague. I actually felt as though I was in danger going to and from the place. Honestly, the police and drunks spent more time down in that end of town than I did. If you get some extra time, get a vehicle and drive out to Seward, Alaska. The drive takes about 2 hours through some of the most beautiful scenery you'll ever see. The Portage Glacier is along the way if you have an extra hour to spend on the trip. Once in Seward, rent a space on a tour boat and go out and see the Alaskan nature. The boat trips all include sea lions, seals, otters, birds, mountain goat, Bear Glacier and if you're really lucky you'll see killer whales from 25 feet like we did. Definitely the most awesome picture taking "memory" experience I've had in Alaska! A great place to eat in downtown Anchorage is Sullivan's which is located on the corner next to the big mainstreet mall. The food was a bit pricey, but the bar, service and food are out of this world. I will not make a trip back to Anchorage without stopping here!

~Winter rules apply in Elmendorf! They gave us a UDrive (appreciated, but not requested) and set us loose. The map that they provided was worthless unless you knew what building number was which. I recommend getting a map from the gate guard if you can, apparently they need the terrorists to have more info than us. Be aware, if you show before 6 AM, there is nothing on base and they WILL NOT open the dining hall. The Denny's close to downtown close at 2 AM, so we had to head down Seward Highway about 12 mi to find one. Terrible service (1.5 hrs for Breakfast), but standard Denny's otherwise.

~Bombay Deluxe Restaurant (907) 277-1200 was a Terrible!  Don't waste your time eating here. The food was good, if you can ever get any. We had a crew of 5, going out to eat on a Saturday night. Out of 20 tables, only about 5 were already occupied when we arrived at 20:00. After being seated immediately, it took 10 minutes for the waitress to just bring us water, then another 15 minutes to come back to take our order. 50 minutes later the food finally arrived, but only for 4 out of our 5 people. When we asked the waitress about it, she claimed it would be right out, then disappeared for another 15 minutes. Apparently she'd learned her trade from the manager, because he ignored us also, despite everything short of tackling him to get his attention. Finally, 1 &  1/2 hours later, and after the rest of us had finished eating, the waitress put in another appearance. We told her to cancel the missing meal, and just bring the check. Apparently adding up a check wasn't one of her skills either, because 10 minutes later she still hadn't returned. Our only solution was to just throw down enough cash on the table to cover the check and leave, hoping that no one ever wastes their time by going to this place again.  Cook Inlet was an okay hotel.  Went to Humpy's after reading the suggestion here...the beer selection was good, but the Fish Taco's sucked. If you're looking for a good place to eat and don't mind the price, The Glacial Brewing Co.(?) was extremely good and right downtown. Piper's is overrated, but the Halibut in the dining room was excellent.  ~Mile 103 on the Seward hwy. Stop at the Brown Bear Saloon. Good selection of Micros, pool table and friendly locals. Reminds me a little of the old "Birdhouse Bar" that used to be just down the road.

Eielson AFB, Alaska - Billeting is across the street from the chow hall - which serves a nice hot breakfast on a cold morning. There is a great exchange and commissary (connected together by a covered, heated walkway) to buy some sundry items, snacks, and a few Alaska items to bring home. The chow hall puts together damn good in-flight meals, but they are slightly slow providing them on short notice, so get your orders in early. For lodging, the Captain Bartlett Inn located in downtown Fairbanks is relatively nice. The rooms are spacious and the whole place has a "log cabin" feel to it. The bar which is attached to it makes for a nice evening of fun after flying. They don't offer any breakfast deals, though, and you are 30 minutes from base (which sucks). Sadly, your best bet at Eielson is to stay on base so you can avoid the drive into base from Fairbanks. The base is situated about 5 minutes from North Pole, Alaska (great place to have your Christmas Cards postmarked from!) and about 20 minutes away from Fairbanks. If you have some cash in your pockets and don't mind spending it all on dinner, get a vehicle from TRANS and eat at Pikes Landing in Fairbanks. They have Alaskan King Crab legs (they're no cheaper there than they are here, unfortunately) and excellent salmon. The entire meal is upscale, but you don't have to dress up. Great food, excellent service and highly recommended! Another "neat" dining experience is the "Alaskan Salmon Bake" at Alaskaland. This dinner is seasonal, so you have to time your trip to get it. It is all outdoors (be sure to bring a jacket if it's cold out) and is great food and atmosphere. The salmon is grilled and marinated so that it ranks as a true "outdoor Alaska" experience. A "Don't Miss" while at Eielson is heading out to the little airstrip in North Pole and getting an ultralight ride. Actually, they are microlights (basically a hanglider attatched to a seat/engine system. For $40.00 you get 1/2 hour of instruction by one of Alaska Sky Systems IPs. Bring a video camera, a set of gloves, and a jacket and you will have the time of your life. Contact them at (907) 488-9100 or goto their website. ~DO NOT get a box lunch at Eielson!!!!

Gold Rush Inn was decent.  Billeting offers wireless internet in the lobby's cyber cafe if you are so equipped. If not, there are four computers at your disposal. When getting a vehicle from Trans, tread softly! They have a deal with the local police to report vehicles in unauthorized location and then they tow them. Our crew chiefs had a vehicle towed while trying to pick up their buddies from a local bar. Even the ski resort at Ft Wainwright is off-limits. However, on some days if you show up in uniform you get free lift tickets (you are allowed to change before you ski). Food-wise, be sure to check out the Food Factory in North Pole or Fairbanks. Near the airport is a place called The Pumphouse which has descent food and a great selection of booze. Geraldo's on the main drag has pricey pizza and calzones.  ~Be sure to visit the "Silver Gulch" brewery. They have free beer tasting in the summer months and it is well worth the experience. You can find directions somewhere there. We did so you can.

~Do not let them try to put you in the Klonodike Inn. Cigarette and blood stains on the comforter in one room, enough said.  If you have time off, and don't mind the drive, Chena Hot Springs is 1+30 away, and is a great place to relax. We had nice rooms, a bar, and the hot springs. It was only for one night, but it was worth it. I think the only way you will get lodging there is if you beg and plead, we were there during the Eskimo Olympics and all rooms in Fairbanks were completely booked.

~Captain Bartlett Hotel was a dump, best bet is to stay on base. ~Stayed at the Westmark Hotel in Fairbanks. Nice rooms and free breakfast every morning. It's a little better than the usual 'continental breakfast', but not an all out hot breakfast. Food in the downstairs hotel/bar is also quite good.

Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada - Cold Lake's not too shabby.  The town is separated into two parts--North Cold Lake and South Cold Lake.  North Cold Lake (further from the base) is right next to the lake itself (which offers some incredible fishing), while South Cold Lake has the majority of shops, restaurants, etc.  The Lakeland Inn is in South Cold Lake and is within walking distance to the movie theater, coffee shops, and car rental place.  There's a bar attached to the hotel called Taps that serves good food.  Try some Canadian grub like Poutine (french fries drenched in gravy and cheese).  Just a walk away we had a phenomenal meal at a place called The Chameleon Bistro.   Incredible gourmet meals, desserts, and fine wines are offered along with impeccable  service.  Try the buffalo steak or pepper steak along with the cheese cake!  Prices are very reasonable considering the quality of food.   A great lunch spot is Clarke's General Store located in North Cold Lake right next to the marina.  They have world class milk shakes and fish and chips (nice and greasy).  Of course being Canada, the beer flows and is pretty cheap.  Kokanee Gold on tap was the premium stuff.  For higher class accommodations, you may want to check on some bed and breakfast-type places next to the lake.  The gym on base rocks and the people on base are very friendly and helpful. ~Cold Lake sucks. If you are going to a Maple Flag, MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE that your WHOLE crew stays off base. Or don't go. MF will direct that your enlisted will stay in their 'special quarters', which are big trailer houses divided into 10'X12' bunk bedded, no TV, no Radio, NO Air conditioned, piss smelling rooms. You WILL have crew rest issues if your people are billeted here. MF will try to sell you some bullshit about how they have policies and that's how ACC does it, but if you're not ACC then why play by their rules? Get Off base somehow and your life will be much better. The El Lobo is fine, standard hotel, walking distance to both bars ==> the girls at the Kaos Club (bar, not strip joint) are cool and friendly. Cold lake has nothing to do except drink. So bring something, somehow. Edmonton is 3 hour to the south for the weekend, great time, go for sure. The flying is fun. 

Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada - Delta Fredericton 506.451.7914 is a nice hotel.  Nice stop on return from the desert. Airport is small. Use PLH fuel for DoD contract. Use Capital Airways for FBO services. The Delta hotel is on the level of a Hyatt or Hilton.

Goose Bay,  Canada - Goose Bay is a hole. They have one or two clubs that are sausage fests on Ladies night. Trappers has good 'cook-your-own steaks' and good beer. (Hope you like Molson or Labatt) The Aurora isn't much but its the best thing in town (better than the Labrador and British Barracks). If your get a day and a rental car, Muskrat Falls is a descent way to kill time. Every place takes US dollars but get Canadian or they'll screw you with the exchange rate. First off, the billeting office ONLY TAKES CASH!!! Plus you must pay upfront. The rooms aren't the greatest but in case you're bored or snowed in there are tons of TV channels. The chow hall is expensive ($13) but it is all you can eat and the food is good. If you go off base a cab will run $15 Canadian. Food-wise there is a good pizza place (like Pizza Hut) across the street from a pub, a supermarket, and a sports bar. ~Hotel North (709) 896-9301 / (709) 896-9302 is the newest hotel in town and far better than the Labrador or Aurora. This is also the only place that has a free continental breakfast and is conveniently located next to Subway.Woodward Aviation is an excellent FBO with new facilities. Long distance phone calls and icecream are both free.  If you are there in the winter, be sure to rent some snowmobiles (Candians call them skidoos just like we call all sodas Coke). Don't waste money renting off base. Contact the Brits in hanger eight (896-6897). It costs $35 Canadian for a half day or $50 for a full day. Price includes skidoo, guide and all necessary gear including snow suits.  Mulligan's is the best pub in town. It has friendly girls behind the bar, great food, and the Guinness flows like water. After midnight on Friday or Saturday catch a ride or take a cab to Maxwell's. ~Northland Hotel was decent compared to the Labrador Inn. We stayed at both the Lab Inn and the Northland and thought that the Northland was better, primarily because it's a lot quieter. It's also a lot newer. The big plus to the Lab Inn is that they have a pretty decent restaurant in the hotel. We ate at Trapper's one night and did the "grill your own steaks" thing. It was decent but not great. We had a better time at "Mulligans" pub down the street from the Lab Inn. We had great Caribou burgers and Poutain and the people there were extremely friendly. The bartender tried really hard to find someone who could get us "screeched" but no one was available. The biggest plus about Goose Bay is the FBO, Woodward Aviation. What an awesome FBO! They provided everything we needed (WX, flight plans, calls to TACC, fuel, hangar coordination, crew trans, etc.) without us even having to ask. Rod and Nicole are both very friendly and will take great care of you. Give them a call @ 1-800-563-5202 or e-mail them @ woodcyyr@hvgb.net  One last thing that we saw but didn't get to try were the Skidoos that the Brits have to rent. For 35$/day it looks like you can have lots of fun. Overall, Goose is not a garden spot but it's definitely not the hole that most people say it is. ~I am not sure about Woodward Aviation, but Irving Aviation really takes care of you.  Right as we got in, there were employees greeting us and welcoming us to Goose Bay, Canada.  Nadine was so very helpful during our stay.  She had us Ice Cream and drinks waiting for us right as we walked through the door.  She was also very helpful in giving us the intel on the night life of booming Goose Bay.  She went well out of her way to make everything go smoothly.  I definitely recommend Irving Aviation in Goose Bay and anywhere else they are located.  ~The El Greco is a $12 CDN taxi ride from the North Hotel. They have excellent food there. Anything from pizza (which is the best I have ever had) to Caribou (that the owner made especially for our crew). The owner is very hospitable. Prices on food were very reasonable.

~Great North Hotel was a nice hotel. Just outside the base perimeter in Goosebay, it doesn't look like a hotel from the outside. It looks more like a warehouse but the accommodations are nice. There is a meeting / breakfast room very nicely maintained by the staff (wide variety of juices, coffees, breakfast cereal etc). It is included with your room charge. Subway and A&W Resturants are appx 100 yrs down the street. There is also a place called Trapper's Cabin that is a bar and grille. The selling point about Trapper's is you cook your own cut of meat. The chops, steaks, and chicken breasts are quality cuts and there are plenty of fixins to perk up the taste. The only downside to the hotel? It is next to a bar called Shooters (I think) and when it's closin time you can hear the drunks as they stagger to their cars or home (not conducive to an early show). All in all not a bad place to go.

Greenwood, Nova Scotia, Canada - On-base Billeting (aka The Shacks) sucked.  Goods: The Base Ops/Terminal folks take good care of you. They have fuel. Others: 'The Shacks' as they were referred to by the folks on base as well as the locals in town were simply that. The were noisy, rickety, and overall piss poor! The billeting office is open only 1200-1600 on the weekends, so late arrival and early departures are not convenient at all. No servicing available if your ride is equipped with crappers and sinks...no lav dumping, no potable water. My advice...avoid the place...say you just couldn't make that extra 75 miles across the peninsula from Halifax and stay over there!

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Sheraton was a nice hotel. Try to stay downtown if time and rooms permits. The town has a great waterfront with lots to do. Much nicer town than staying at St. Johns. The airport is well out of town so expect 30-45 min trip between the airport and downtown. Taxi to downtown was about $40Cnd. Due to a large number of tourist this time of year (June), we were not able to get rooms downtown on Friday night & moved to the Airport Hotel. That hotel was decent but very isolated. There is an aviation museum near the hotel but that's about it. Before you leave, stop by the airport terminal & get live lobsters.  ~Casino Hotel ( http://www.casinonovascotia.com ) was an excellent hotel for both the refined and the gamblers. Right on the waterfront. Near great seafood and traditional restaurants. A 20 minute ride from the airport.

St. John's, New Foundland, Canada - Delta Hotel is a great hotel close to the bars where all the action is.. Esso Aeroflight (709-570-0765) is THE chart-toppin', booty-whoopin' FBO... Throughout many years, our squadron has had nothing but the finest service from Esso with their support of our countless deployments and re-deployments... These folks treat you like superstars and can hook you up with the finest of all your lodging and transportation needs... And if things aren't going so well on the MX side of the house while enjoying your stop-over in St John's, they are able to provide immediate and complete support in arranging for whatever equipment is needed to get you fixed up...Contact Linda or Stacie at (709) 570-0765 to set things up; they are the best! Linda, Stacie, Ray, and Mike will take good care of your crew! ~The Delta is a real treat. Less than a block away from the town's brand new hockey arena. Ask the front desk if they have any free tickets for that night's game/event. Ask for 9th floor rooms overlooking the harbor - it comes with free continental breakfast and late afternoon hors d'ouvres. (the other floors don't). Bring your swim trunks - heated indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, gym - NICE.  Centrally located in the city, only 18 minutes from the airport (airport support and transport was outstanding). Check in for our 24 people took less than 10 minutes. The micro brews in the newly renovated bar are excellent. The breakfast buffet, while a little pricey, is very good.  O'reilly's is within stumbling distance and is the best Irish pub in town. It's great any day of the week but it rocks on Thursdays. Bored? Check out the Avalon Mall. Big theater and shopping is cheap in Canada. Also, check out Signal Hill - site of Marconi's first trans-atlantic radio transmission. Yeah, so what... but the view is great! The Delta Hotel and the Newfoundland Fairmont are the high hook-up while you enjoy your stay... Both are close to the infamous George Street (Fairmont perhaps not so much, but cry me a river...) 1892 and Northern Light are the predominant brews in St John's as the Quidi Vidi Brewing Co is located here in St John's -- all fine choices! For the best meal you've had in a long while, try Django's near the Fairmont... Crooked Crab and Hungry Fisherman are also good choices... Typical bar food is available on George Street (Jungle Jim's is the place to hit if you just are just looking to fill up for a night at the Roxbury...)St john's is a great opportunity to enjoy wicked-good seafood, choice beer, and excellent hospitality overall! Have fun! ~One of the best restaurants in the downtown area is The Cellar. Great seafood and an outstanding wine selection at reasonable prices make this place a required stop every time I've passed through. I don't know the exact address, but everyone in town knows where it is. ~The name of the restaurant is the hungry fisherman. Great hotel in the same building - the Murray Premises next time you are there. Great rooms and a perfect location. Don't judge by the lobby. It is in the same building as a great restaurant and a coffee shop. 

~If the ATM machine is not working, the front desk will make a cash advance on your gov card.  Sometimes they charge 3%, most of the time they do not.  Any leftover money can be put towards your hotel bill.  Also, Esso Aviation rocks!  Those clowns at Irving tried to hose our crew when we went to Esso (Military Contract Fuel).  They (Irving) called the Delta and cancelled our hotel rooms when we did not purchase fuel from them.  Call home for cheap - Canada Calling Cards

~Aiport Inn was a dump!  During the summer months, St John's is a pretty big tourist attraction. If you want to stay downtown, make sure you make your reservation as far out in advance as you possibly can. If you wait, you end up staying at the Airport Inn. First, you will most likely get placed in a smoking room. Which smells like ass. You also get all the noise from the airport which is about a block or so away. The cab ride to downtown is about $15 (Canadian). Another thing was that the staff was less than cordial and certainly weren't the most efficient of workers. Check in didn't take all that long. But, check out was a nightmare. We got down there about 45 min before our bus time and finally left the hotel about 30 min AFTER bus time. We only had about 20 guys that needed to check out. The little bar at the hotel was nice, though. A good place to pre-game before heading downtown. There is no continental breakfast there, the prices at the hotel restaurant were pretty large for what you got, and there is NOTHING within walking distance. Again, make your reservations for downtown as soon as you know you are going there!

Update: 5/8/07 ~WOODWARD ESSO AVIATION , < MIL CON > 1-888-490-3776 or (709) 579 3776 is the FBO that handles DOD aircraft. WOODWARD ESSO AVIATION is THE chart-toppin', booty-whoopin' FBO ... Throughout many years, our squadron has had nothing but the finest service from ESSO with their support of our countless deployments and re-deployments ... These folks treat you like superstars and can hook you up with the finest of all lodging and transportation needs... And if things aren't going so well on the MX side of the house while enjoying your stop-over in St.John's, they are able to provide immediate and complete support in arranging for whatever equipment is needed to get you fixed up .. Contact Natalie at 1 888 490 3776 or 1 709 579 3776 or yytoperations@woodwardaviation.com to set things up, she is the best. Natalie, Tony, Ray and Mike will take good care of your crew.

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