Top of the World Hotel
Built in 1974, one side of the Top of the World overlooks the Arctic Ocean, with views in summer of the offshore ice shelf. Its 50 rooms, some of which also face the city, contain queen, full and twin size beds, as well as private bath, cable TV and refrigerators. Take your towel and bathing suit down a block to the ocean. Hop in and you'll receive an official Polar Plunge certificate. The attached Pepe's Restaurant serves incongruous Mexican-American cuisine but it's a mandatory stop on the Barrow circuit. A stuffed polar bear stands guard in the lobby. The hotel offers a gift shop and a 24-hour front desk. You can take a cab to traverse the half-mile in from the airport.
Top of the World Hotel
1200 Agvik St.
Barrow, AK 99723
(907) 852-3900
(800) 882-8478 (toll free)
tundratoursinc.com
King Eider Inn
The handsome beige façade and attractive signage of this 19-room inn, family owned and built in 1998, stands apart from Barrow's typical plain-Jane architecture. The lobby features crafts and stuffed toys for sale, including polar bears. Named after a striking white and black waterfowl with the golden yellow cowl that frequents Alaska's North Slope, the King Eider requires you to follow Alaska tradition and swap your shoes for slippers inside the door to avoid tracking dust and pea gravel inside. The inn offers standard rooms, kitchenette rooms with a mini-fridge, microwave, rangetop stove and cookware, with either two full or one queen bed. A presidential suite features a stone fireplace, king-size canopy log bed, full size kitchen and Jacuzzi tub. The inn offers free Wi-Fi and local calls and can be found right across the street from the airport.
King Eider Inn
1752 Ahkovak St.
Barrow, AK 99723
(907) 852-4700
kingeider.net
Airport Inn
A five-minute walk from the airport, the aptly named Airport Inn offers 15 rooms, some with kitchens, Wi-Fi and breakfast included. The owner makes bread some mornings for the included breakfast. Basic rooms have the advantage of being the least expensive of the offerings in this quite pricey town. As with the other hotels, the owner will arrange pickup for tours for interested guests.
Airport Inn
1815 Momegana St.
Barrow, AK 99723
(907) 852-2525
