Barrow, Alaska Reviews and Ratings

I worked on the North Slope Alaska from May to September of 2005 and flew in and out of Barrow August through September.First and foremost: Eskimos are some of the most personable and hospitable people I have ever met and I have lived and worked 27 years International. The comments I use are simply to describe my experience and to educate not to criticize.1: Reservations should be made 3 to 4 months in advance. Barrow is a heavy duty oil support town April to September and many rooms are simply booked so many days a week every week for crew changes from the outer camps like Cape Simpson and others and I saw many travellers arrive and have no rooms to stay in. Their only option is to go out to the university research center on the Peninsula and beg rooms. On unscheduled flight I had to sleep in my aircraft.2: Pilots it's worth the trip outside the airport property to see the Memorial to Will Rogers and Wiley Post. Also aircraft such as old DC 4's and DC 6's Beavers planes on floats all types of helicopters a pilot's dream.3: Take the bear watching trips but realize that you won't always see the Polar Bears. They don't drink Coke and they don't carry timetables. You may see 4 and have a great experience or you may not see any. Enjoy the ride and take pictures of the Northernmost Mexican restaurant the people the crystal clear nights the seals and ice pack.4: Space for everything on flights are limited and expensive so we crammed as much as legally possible into every opening. This makes for an uncomfortable flight to tourists used to their comforts. Also remember that many Eskimos and some non-Eskimos spend 8 months indoors with many other people during the winter so as a matter of conservation you won't see a lot of bathing and waste of water. I love the culture and had no problems however a couple of passengers had some problems and made comments best left at home in Dallas or where ever.5. Hotel rooms are Spartan