See all properties

Van Gilder Hotel

Property class: 2.5

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Van Gilder Hotel

A bar area with a wooden counter, hanging lamps, and two stools.
A building with the name "Van Gilder Hotel" above the entrance.
Restaurant
A grand lobby with ornate chandeliers and a large screen.
A hotel room with a bed, a mirror, a sink, and a trash bin.

Reviews

6.2 out of 10

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Housekeeping

Explore the area

View in a map
308 Adams Street, Seward, AK, 99664
  • Place, Alaska SeaLife Center
    ‪4 min walk‬
  • Place, Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center
    ‪4 min walk‬
  • Place, Seward Waterfront Park
    ‪4 min walk‬

Room options

View all photos for Suite, 2 Bedrooms

A bedroom with a bed, a nightstand, a lamp, a window with curtains, a chandelier, and a framed picture on the wall.

Suite, 2 Bedrooms

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Classic Room, 1 Queen Bed

A bedroom with a bed, a nightstand, a radiator, a window with curtains, a bedside lamp, and a mirror on the wall.

Classic Room, 1 Queen Bed

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for 1 Queen - Shared Bath

A bathroom with a white sink, gold faucets, and a large mirror with an ornate frame. There are wall-mounted lights above the mirror and a towel rack to the right.

1 Queen - Shared Bath

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for One Queen & 1 Twin

A bedroom with a bed, a desk, and a dresser.

One Queen & 1 Twin

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for 2 Full Beds

A vintage black rotary dial telephone on a marble surface.

2 Full Beds

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Annex 1 Queen Bed

A bedroom with a bed, a nightstand, a lamp, and curtains.

Annex 1 Queen Bed

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Apartment Annex

A bedroom with a bed, a desk, and a dresser.

Apartment Annex

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed
  • Free WiFi

Classic Double Room

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds
  • Free WiFi

Similar properties

Reception
Marina Motel
Seward
  • Pet friendly
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Microwave
3.5 out of 5, Good, 624 reviews
$172 nightly
The price is $191
Sep 16 - Sep 17
Total with taxes and fees
Marina Motel

About the neighborhood

Seward

A stay at Van Gilder Hotel places you in the heart of Seward, steps from Chugach Heritage Center and Seward Community Library & Museum. .This historic hotel is 10.7 mi (17.2 km) from Kenai Fjords National Park and 0.2 mi (0.4 km) from Seward Waterfront Park.

What's nearby

  • Seward Community Library & Museum - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Alaska SeaLife Center - 4 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center - 4 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Seward Waterfront Park - 4 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Seward Boat Harbor - 1 min drive - 1.0 mile

Getting around

  • Kenai, AK (ENA-Kenai Municipal) - 139 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Woody's Thai Kitchen - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Tidewater Taphouse - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪The Breeze Inn Restaurant - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Ray's Waterfront - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Resurrect Art Coffee House & Gallery - ‬1 min walk

About this property

Van Gilder Hotel

Van Gilder Hotel offers 20 accommodations with complimentary toiletries. This Seward hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Bathrooms include showers. Hair dryers, change of towels, and change of bedsheets can be requested. Housekeeping is provided daily.
Make yourself at home in one of the 20 guestrooms. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms feature showers, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers.
Make use of convenient amenities, which include complimentary wireless internet access and concierge services. Guests can catch a ride on the complimentary shuttle, which operates within 25 yards.
Featured amenities include express check-out, luggage storage, and a library. A bus station shuttle is provided at no charge, and free self parking is available onsite.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free area shuttle up to 25 yds
  • Free bus station shuttle
  • Free self parking on site

Things to do

  • Art gallery
  • Library
  • Shopping mall

Family friendly

  • Free area shuttle

Conveniences

  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Shared microwave
  • Shared refrigerator

Guest services

  • Change of bedsheets (on request)
  • Change of towels on request
  • Concierge services
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Outdoors

  • In the mountains

Accessibility

  • No elevator

More

  • 3 floors
  • Built in 1916
  • Designated smoking areas
  • Victorian architecture

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer (on request)
  • Shower
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste (on request)
  • Towels provided

More

  • Heating

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 9:00 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 7:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Renovations and closures

The property is closed between September 10 and May 14.

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms

Property is also known as

Van Gilder
Van Gilder Hotel
Van Gilder Hotel Seward
Van Gilder Seward
Van Gilder Hotel Hotel
Van Gilder Hotel Seward
Van Gilder Hotel Hotel Seward

Van Gilder Hotel Reviews

Reviews

6.2
Rating 10 - Excellent. 119 out of 595 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 139 out of 595 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 125 out of 595 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 97 out of 595 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 115 out of 595 reviews

6.6/10

Cleanliness

7.4/10

Staff & service

5.6/10

Amenities

5.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Claude

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Love the old style hotel, staff was very nice
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Susan

Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Location was great
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Alejandro

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was one of the worst hotel experiences I have ever had. From the moment we arrived, the building looked neglected, with peeling paint and broken windows. The entire property is in very poor condition. The smell of mold is overwhelming throughout the hotel and inside the room. The bathroom is extremely old, the paint is peeling off the walls, and everything feels poorly maintained. The unpleasant odor made it very difficult to stay comfortably. I would not recommend this hotel to anyone. Please do yourself a favor and choose a different place to stay.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Ann

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We loved the historical memorabilia and stories as well as the friendly atmosphere.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

William

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean, friendly staff.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Wonderful and professional staff made our stay easy and enjoyable. Great location.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Karen

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Coffee area was lovely
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jason

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful property
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Scott

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great location in downtown - cool historic hotel :)
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Patrick

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fantastic location and very friendly/helpful staff. Perfect place to stay while exploring Seward.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Nikhil

Liked: Amenities
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Ok for a haunted hotel
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness
Very professional, friendly staff
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Chester

Liked: Cleanliness
Old hotel
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Jasmine

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Bathroom was clean. If you just need a place to stay, this place gets the job done. Staff was friendly. Needs some updates, but I was safe and slept peacefully.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice, old historical hotel, well maintained, antique settings in rooms.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The decor at the location was amazing. Feels like you're in the early 20th century.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

David

Van Gilder Hotel

The place is a little run down but our stay was fine. Love the architecture, quiet and in the center of town an easy walk to everything. If you want a 5 star hotel this isnt for you but my wife and I liked it a lot. If we ever come back to Seward will definitely stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Carol

Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
The history was interesting.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Holly

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

perfect location, old historic building

We had a good stay. The Van Gilder is a historic hotel with some age and issues, but was clean and relatively comfortable. The location was definitely the reason to stay here! It is within walking distance of everything in Seward, with amazing views of the water and downtown.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Valerie

Disliked: Amenities
Very convenient location. Historic hotel.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Lisa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful old building. Pictures around building talking about its history. Great location. Friendly staff. And hot chocolate in the lobby, not just coffee!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Eric

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service

Historic hotel in Seward.

Well located historic building in downtown Seward. Historic means no AC, small shower. Nice staff, sitting rooms with coffee and tea.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Wei

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A unique hotel and have a sense of history.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jim

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Quint and historical building in an excellent location
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

sherri

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Interesting, historic hotel. Beds were extremely comfortable! No elevator. Great location - close to shops, restaurants and the water.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025