Roll Call Alaska 2014
Anyone traveling to Alaska in 2014? We ,my wife and I, are planning a trip and was wondering if anyone is planning on going in 2014 also. Would go this year, except we have two weddings to go to in...
Forum Discussion
We used our Kroger card at Fred Meyer grocery store gas pumps in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska on our trip last summer to get 10 cents/gallon discounts on regular gas. So, if you get the card-lock card for use in Canada and already have a Kroger card that you use in the US, you can get good discounts on either regular gas or diesel on your Alaska trip (at least in the towns that have a card-lock or a Fred Meyer).
However, you will find that having a credit card with a microchip, as well as a magnetic strip, will definitely speed use of self-service gas pumps at Canadian gas stations. We got one from USAA before our Alaska trip and were glad we did.
In addition, we get 1% back on all our purchases, not just on gas, with our USAA credit card. So, we were able to get 1% back on our entire Alaska trip--gas, food (including in Canada, where groceries are more expensive than in the US), RV parks, glacier cruises, etc., etc.
Whether 5% back on fuel costs or 1% back on all your purchases is the better deal depends on how much you spend on non-fuel purchases. For example, restaurant meals are often outrageously expensive on the Alaska and Cassiar highways. Of course, we also paid nearly $8/gallon for regular gas at Muncho Lake, so you have to decide which is best for you.
Whatever you decide, RVing in Alaska and Canada is the adventure of a lifetime, so don't let high fuel costs worry you so much you can't enjoy it!
However, you will find that having a credit card with a microchip, as well as a magnetic strip, will definitely speed use of self-service gas pumps at Canadian gas stations. We got one from USAA before our Alaska trip and were glad we did.
In addition, we get 1% back on all our purchases, not just on gas, with our USAA credit card. So, we were able to get 1% back on our entire Alaska trip--gas, food (including in Canada, where groceries are more expensive than in the US), RV parks, glacier cruises, etc., etc.
Whether 5% back on fuel costs or 1% back on all your purchases is the better deal depends on how much you spend on non-fuel purchases. For example, restaurant meals are often outrageously expensive on the Alaska and Cassiar highways. Of course, we also paid nearly $8/gallon for regular gas at Muncho Lake, so you have to decide which is best for you.
Whatever you decide, RVing in Alaska and Canada is the adventure of a lifetime, so don't let high fuel costs worry you so much you can't enjoy it!
