What It’s Like to Stay at Aurora Villa in Fairbanks, Alaska
Before I give any opinions about my stay, let me share the details and a description of the property to give context.
I decided to travel to Fairbanks the week leading up to Christmas 2023 with hopes of seeing the Northern Lights and having a Thoreaux-type escape in nature’s quiet. I did not reserve a car and I had planned to stay in the room day and night to rest, read, write, and try to see the Aurora through the window of my room. I can’t remember how I learned about Aurora Villa, but I had it pinned on my Google Maps as I place I wanted to visit. When I decided to book my reservation I was only able to reserve for 3 nights, as everything was sold out. This is important to note if you’re hoping to chase the Aurora because it’s best to give yourself at least a week for better chances of solar activity occurring.
The Aurora Villa was listed on Google as a 4-star Hotel and is located 15 miles from downtown Fairbanks. The property is nestled in a residential area and there are no restaurants nearby. [More on this when I get to the tips below.] The property is comprised of two buildings. The first is the main “lodge” as I like to call it with only 7 rooms. 4 upstairs and 3 downstairs. The second building is more like a private house which is rented out in its totality. I stayed in the main building in room 4 on the second floor, which has 2 queen beds.
When you first enter the building there is a small entry-way with a bench where you will have to take your shoes off and put on disposable slippers. *I felt strange leaving my shoes at the front door initially, but quickly welcomed not having everyone’s wet or muddy boot tracks through the halls and common area.
Each room has floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook a valley of forest up against a mountain and there is a main common area on the first floor with the same dramatic windows as in the room, a long dining table with chairs, and multiple couches for taking in the view. The common area also has a couple of refrigerators, a tiny ice machine, a microwave, a Keurig, and canisters of hot water ready to dispense. There were unlimited amounts of green tea, hot chocolate packets, apple cider packets, and varieties of Keurig coffee pods. There is no stove. There is no restaurant, pantry, or vending machine. There is no room service. There is a tiny fridge available in the room with complimentary snacks and instant ramen.
The rooms have radiant heat in the floors, thick comforters, and plenty of amenities in the bathroom; shampoo, conditioner, body wash, towels. There is no housekeeping provided during your stay so if you need additional blankets or towels they are available in a housekeeping cabinet on the second floor. There are also a few parking spaces available next to the main building in case you rent a car.
Last and probably one of the most important parts to note is that this property does not have any staff working inside the building until a housekeeper comes to clean out a room of a party who has left. There’s no one at a front desk. There’s no concierge to give you tips or directions. Before you arrive you have to complete paperwork sent through your email and at check-in time, 3:00 pm, someone will text you the pin to the keypad on the door of your room to get in. The way you will communicate with the property staff is through text message. You will also note there are a lot of rules about conduct at the property and if you check out late you are billed a fee by the hour. There is a strict no noise after 10 pm policy and I believe it’s a result of the insulation and Aurora tourist activity. The acoustics aren’t great because of its minimal modern design, there isn’t anything to absorb sound and guests seem to return to their rooms late after heading out on an Aurora-chasing tour. Some of them end as late as 3 am. This property also attracts guests from around the world with different perspectives on volume and making noise.
You can find restaurants that will deliver food to Aurora Villa through apps like UberEats. You may have to be patient if looking for an Uber to pick you up from the villa. I was able to secure rides from the airport and downtown, but I did experience a cancellation and had to have patience for someone to accept my ride request. Don’t be in a rush. You can’t schedule an Uber ride in advance.
Given everything I shared above, here’s my take and recommendations if you decide to book a stay at Aurora Villa.
I believe the parts about no one working in the building and no kitchen or restaurant are key for managing expectations and how to prepare for your stay. When I first arrived at the property I didn’t see another soul until I ran down to grab my food delivery. My recommendation is to go food shopping in town before checking in to the room and ensure you have all of the conveniences you want during your stay, particularly if you don’t rent a car. With the keypad entry, no one working on the property, and the lack of available food, this place felt more like an Airbnb than a hotel. I read some reviews where people called it a hostel, but I wouldn’t go that far.
I spent my time sitting in the chair situated in the corner of my room reading and looking out the window, using my laptop and journaling at the desk provided, doing gentle yoga in my room, taking photos outside and in the common area, eating and chatting with fellow guests in the common area, and on my last night at the villa, whilst laying in bed and periodically checking out the window, the Northern Lights made their appearance and I was able to run down the stairs and see the Aurora just outside the building. This was the ultimate dream come true.
In summary, if you are prepared with the understanding that this is a remote property with no usual amenities provided at a 4-star hotel, but is an ideal location for rest and seeing the Aurora Borealis, this could be a great place to stay. My feeling is that it is expensive for what it is, but I don’t regret having stayed there. I also saved money by not joining an Aurora chasing tour group, which can be pricey and add up, and staying at the property to see from the comfort of my room.
If you want to give Aurora Villa a chance for yourself, click HERE to reserve your stay. Let me know if you have any questions.
