Alaska Good Sam Club

Helpful Hints When Traveling to Alaska



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Helpful Hints to prepair for your Alaska Trip.

Things to consider when RVing in Alaska for a recreational vehicles are electricity, fuel and water service.  Most all are avaliable but you should be self suffecient due to the long distances between stops.  Alaska has many great sights to enjoy.  Being prepaired will make your trip more plesent. 
 
To be sure, the longer you can travel self-contained in Alaska, the easier your trip.  But even those folks with on board generators and seemingly bottomless water and waste tanks eventually need service.  And in Alaska--where dump stations may be 250 miles apart it takes good planning to not have a problem.
 
I suggest that you first purchase a copy of the Milepost book.  It will be very helpful with your travels.  I also suggest that you consider purchasing Good Sam Emergency Road Service or AAA Road Service covererage.  If you have a problem with your vehicle I suggest you carry a spare fan belt, upper and lower radiator hose, spare idler pulley, antifreeze and oil.  A small tool box is most helpful.  Most of the time if you have the parts it can be fixed in remote areas.  This will keep you from spending a long time waiting for parts to arrive.  Make sure that tire pressure is up to manufactures recommended levels.  Make sure that tires are in new or like new shape.  One spare tire is all that is needed. 
 
Since 911 things have changed when crossing the American and Canadian boarders. Even at the time of this righting a passport is not needed. I recommend that you have one along with your drivers license.  It makes it easier. I am told that effective Jan.1,2008, passports will be required at both boarders. Passports are required at effective Oct.1,2007 if you are flying to Alaska.  Currently two picture ID's are required, one being your drivers license. For further info contact U.S. Boarder at Alaska Boarder crossing.  They are very helpful. If you do not have a passport be sure to apply now as it takes a while.
 
While traveling in Alaska at anywhere you may have a medical emergency. This can be very expensive. One case where a person had to be medivaced by ground and air to a hospital in Anchorage cost $35,000. I suggest that you purchase insurance coverage to help with this expense in case it is needed. There are two companies which offer this kind of service for about $100.00 which cover the whole family for one year. They are Good Sam Club Emergency Plus (goosameaplus.com) and (apollomt.com). This could save you a lot of money. This is only a suggestion.
Fire arms are not needed either in Alaska or Canada.  Canada prohibits pistols of all types. Long guns can be carried if they are unloaded and sealed.  Be sure to put your ammo in a seperate place.
 
Be sure to have insurance coverage for traveling in Canada.  Good Sam VIP and State Farm are the ones that I am familiar with.  I have had no problems getting coverage.  Make sure that you have full coverage as there are many uninsured motorist as in all states.  Full coverage pays. 
 
Health Ins. and Prescriptions should be checked to make sure that your coverage will work in both Canada and Alaska.  Canadians as I understand it have to purchase special medical ins. to be covered while in the USA.  Contact Good Sam insurance plans.  They may be able to help with this. Cell phone coverage will not work in most areas in the Yukon.  It will work in most areas in Alaska. 
 
We have a very thirsty varmit called the mosquito.  I find that carrying  lots of mosquito dope helps.  They love to bug you while you are camping. After a while you get use to them.  In very remote areas around swamps they are heavy in population. 
Also always be Bear aware. Take all precautions when hiking and camping.
 
 
If you need assistance I suggest that you get a copy of the Standby Sams book from Good Sam Club, or you can download from the internet, Good Sam Web site. Or download the Alaska list from this web site.
 
You can always contact me as Alaska State Director if you have any questions about prepairing for your trip.
 
Darwin Fischer
dandsfischer@hotmail.com
(907)-354-4423 

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