Frequently Asked Questions
Airport Shuttles: The Local Committee will provide shuttle service between the airport and the University on the 24th, 28th (after 9 PM) and 29th of June. To sign up for the service log back into the online registration and select modify your registration to answer the two questions regarding shuttle service on the first registration page.
Blog: An unofficial blog with suggestions about getting to Alaska on the cheap, suggested itineraries, planning your trip, finding roommates, etc. are available here.
Car Rental: Avis is offering the following rates to ASM participants:
Sub-compact $40.99 per day $240.99 weekly
Compact $43.99 per day $259.99 weekly
Midsize $46.99 per day $271.99 weekly
Full-size $50.99 per day $303.99 weekly
Mini Vans, $97.99 per day $523.99 weekly
4X4 Trucks $97.99 per day $523.99 weeklyAll rates include free unlimited mileage. There is an additional 11.1% airport concession fee & 10% Alaska car rental tax. For rentals originating in Anchorage higher fees apply. Rates do not include optional charges such as: Loss Damage Waiver, Additional Liability Insurance, gasoline charges, additional drivers, etc. A $150.00 one-way service fee applies to rentals from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Special no one-way fee when renting from Anchorage to Fairbanks! These rates apply only to travel within Alaska.
For reservations please contact the Fairbanks Avis location at 907-474-1014 (press zero if you get voicemail; anyone at the Fairbanks office can take your reservations). Reference: Convention Rate Code 00.
***Note from the Local Committee: Driving on unpaved roads (e.g., the Dalton Highway, the Denali Highway, the McCarthy Rd.) is NOT permitted under commercial rental car agreements. Check your personal automobile insurance coverage to see if off-pavement travel is covered***
Children: At this time, UAF is unable to provide or recommend child-care providers. Children are permitted to stay with their parents in on-campus housing for free (up to one child per double-occupancy dorm room or two children per fully-rented apartment), however UAF housing services is unable to offer roll-away bedding or sleeping bags. Children attending field trips will need to be registered as guests during registration, but do not need to pay the guest fee (choose the guest registration option and during payment enter FieldTripsOnly as the discount code).
Collecting Permits: Scientific collecting permits can be obtained from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, Permits Section, P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811 (907-465-4148; dfg.dwc.permits@alaska.gov; http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov). The application review process can take several months, and those interested in collecting are reminded that driving to and from Alaska involves crossing an international border.
Collection Visits: The UAM Mammal Collection will be available for visiting researchers beginning 29 June 2009, after the conclusion of the ASM meetings. Researchers interested in visiting the Mammals Collection should contact the collection manager, Brandy Jacobsen ( , 907-474-6947) at least two weeks prior to the meetings to make arrangements.
Driving to Fairbanks: Driving from outside Alaska ("Outside" in local parlance) is a memorable but significant undertaking. Persons considering driving to or within Alaska may find some helpful tips here. Some approximate driving times (one-way) to/from Fairbanks:
| Anchorage, AK - 6 hrs | Skagway, AK - 13 hrs |
| Denali National Park & Preserve - 2 hrs | Wasilla, AK - 5 hrs |
| Haines, AK - 12 hrs | Whittier, AK - 7 hrs |
| Homer, AK - 10 hrs | Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (McCarthy, AK) - 8 hrs |
| Seward, AK - 8 hrs | Valdez, AK - 6 hrs |
Ferry Service: The Alaska Marine Highway System provides ferry service from Bellingham, Washington through the Inside Passage to conclude at either Haines or Skagway. Alternatively, the ferry runs from Bellingham to Juneau and separate ferry runs once a week across the Gulf of Alaska to Whittier. Travel on the Alaska Marine Highway is an unforgettable experience, with frequent marine mammal sightings and beautiful scenery.
Field Trips and Family Programs: The Local Committee is considering several post-conference field trips. Fairbanks and the surrounding area provide a diverse array of outdoor and cultural activities for friends and family members of all ages accompanying conference participants. Recommendations for planning your trip to the area are available here.
Fishing: Alaska is an excellent place for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. We have received several inquires about fishing in Alaska in late June and will try to make information available here. Please e-mail any fishing-related questions you may have to the ASM 2009 Fishmaster.
Flying to Alaska: The University of Alaska Fairbanks is located 4 miles from Fairbanks International Airport (FAI). Alaska Airlines is the predominant commercial airline serving Fairbanks, although Northwest and Delta serve FAI during the summer months. Most flights from Outside route through Anchorage, although there are non-stop flights between Fairbanks and both Seattle and Minneapolis on Alaska Airlines. Shuttle service between FAI and UAF will be provided on Wednesday, 24 June and Sunday, 28 June. Alternative itineraries to consider include flying into Anchorage and renting a car or taking the train to Fairbanks.
Guests: Guests include all accompanying adult particpants who will not be attending technical sessions, contributing papers or posters, or participating in committee meetings but who may want to attend social events and pre- or post-conference field trips.
Passports: All persons traveling through or into Canada need to have a valid passport or Air NEXUS card. This includes flights that stop in Canada and ferries that pass into Canadian ports (such as Prince Rupert). For more information visit to the US Customs and Border Protection.
Rail Service to Fairbanks: The Alaska Rail Road runs from Seward, Alaska to Fairbanks, through Anchorage and the center of Denali National Park and Preserve. Trips between Anchorage and Fairbanks tend to run around 12 hours. There is no rail service between Alaska and Outside.
Travel Funds: Are there funds or travel grants available from the University of Alaska to offset costs associated with the meetings? Unfortunately, UAF is unable to provide such general travel assistance. However, students giving oral presentations on the theme of Landscape Genetics may be eligible for registration waivers awarded by the Alaska EPSCoR program.
