Budgeting for an Alaska Trip

Everyone that is planning a trip to Alaska, needs to ask themselves, why they want to go. Is it for fishing, hiking, the rivers and lakes, the mountains, photography or a bit of all these. Some summers in the north country are warm and dry, others are wet and cloudy most of the time. Have a fall back position and don't lock yourself into a particular thing to do at a set time. If it is hot and smoky in the Interior, then head south to Valdez or the Kenai, and visa versa. If photography is your reason, and you find it rainy and cloudy most of the summer, do something else and plan to come back. There is so much to do and see in Alaska. You can divide the state into at least five or six different sections that are different from the others. Plan your trip but stay flexible if the need arises to do so. Some people go to Alaska and don't enjoy the trip, to me because they had no real reason to go, other than they had never been before. It is a long trip and a bit expensive. If fishing is your main concern, then find out when the salmon runs occur in the state, when is the bottom fishing the best out of Homer or Prince William Sound area (Valdez) and plan to be in those locations at the proper times based upon historical data. I plan to be in certain places at bill paying time each month as I used electronic ebill paying. So I want a place with good WiFi or good AT&T cell service so I can run my computer on my hot spot.

I recommend people not put off going to the north country, because this isn't the perfect time for them to go. Sometimes we have to put off trips due to work, health, finances, etc. but I have known people that put off doing something and then one of them dies. Of course they never know, but the surviving spouse does. consider flying up and RVing for a couple of weeks if time is tight, take a cruise ship tour, drive up or whatever works for you and your traveling companions. It is the trip of a lifetime that can be repeated over and over, if the traveler desires.