Dyea Dave

[ukbballfan]

The reason for the price difference is that Dyea Dave does NOT include the cost of the train in his tour price, whereas Chilkoot DOES include the price of the train. The train ticket alone is over $110.

 

According to the White Pass Railroad website the train to Fraser, where Dave will pick us up, is only $81.00 per person.

[tranceFusion]

According to the White Pass Railroad website the train to Fraser, where Dave will pick us up, is only $81.00 per person.

 

 

I am confused as to why there is a train involved? Dave's site says he will pick people up at the dock. Why doesn't he drop you off back there?

[VikkiGarcia]

The train is something many people ADD into his tour. You can tour with Dave no train, no problem. His van picks you up at the boat,and he will bring you back or drop you where ever you ask.

[ukbballfan]

I am confused as to why there is a train involved? Dave's site says he will pick people up at the dock. Why doesn't he drop you off back there?

 

The train is purely for our enjoyment. It's supposed to be the "thing" to do in Skagway. Dave is just making an adjustment on our behalf. Train ride is only 2 hours so theres still plenty of time for Daves tour and a return to the ship.

[kenish]

AddFusion- You also may not know the train station is only a 5-10 minute walk from the cruise docks. Skagway is about 2 miles long and 6 blocks wide. It's not like Juneau.

[weLuv2cruz2MUCH]

I have tried to e-mail Dave. He answered me once - said he couldnt help me - he was already booked for the time I wanted. However, he said he could hook me up with someone that did the same tour. He said expect an e-mail that night or the next. It has been over a week now, and no answer. I guess I am looking elsewhere for my tour.:mad:

[judyf]

I have tried to e-mail Dave. He answered me once - said he couldnt help me - he was already booked for the time I wanted. However, he said he could hook me up with someone that did the same tour. He said expect an e-mail that night or the next. It has been over a week now, and no answer. I guess I am looking elsewhere for my tour.:mad:

 

Check Chilkoot's website.

[millieandbill]

You'd better take Dyea Dave when you're in Skagway... your vacation is not complete without spending time with him. If he's cheaper, more expensive... it doesn't matter. I've never had a better time, with more bang for my buck or laughed so hard as with DD. If you want to know how honest business works in Skagway, hit him up for advice. I know he only recommends things he can stand behind, never to make a buck under the table.

 

I'd best stop before he desides to raise his prices on you all.

 

Years ago when I lived in Skagway, Dave used to tell all of us "If you hear anyone camplain about me or my tour, ask them how much they paid and refund their full money out of your own pocket. I'm good for it." I never refunded a nickel on his behalf, and know of nobody else in town who did either.

 

Be forewarned: his only con... playing pool. Gentlemen, do not even think of trying to play for money. You could loose the deed to your home over an afternoon with him. Ladies... he's a sucker for red wine after work. You stand a better chance, but may still loose the keys to your car.

 

I hope to make it back his way to spend a lot more time touring with him and his family soon.

 

Dave, tell your sister to save me a room at the inn for the boy whose mother in Maine is in love with you and your dog.

 

Andy - Dave wants to send you on a trip to Whitehorse with an interesting family. They speak a strange language. I'm not sure if it's French or not.

[Cosmic Rays]

Would you take the train to Carcross from Skagway or back to Skagway from carcross with Dave?

[ukbballfan]

Would you take the train to Carcross from Skagway or back to Skagway from carcross with Dave?

 

From what Dave's told me the train ride from Fraser to Carcross is pretty boring...thats why we're getting off in Fraser. Another thing is that the morning fog will decide which way we ride the train. If it's clear when we get off the ship we're doing the train and if foggy...Dave's gonna be by the ship waiting on us and we'll do the train back from Fraser.

Edited February 28, 2009 by ukbballfan

[Cosmic Rays]

From what Dave's told me the train ride from Fraser to Carcross is pretty boring...thats why we're getting off in Fraser. Another thing is that the morning fog will decide which way we ride the train. If it's clear when we get off the ship we're doing the train and if foggy...Dave's gonna be by the ship waiting on us and we'll do the train back from Fraser.

 

 

Great, that's what we are going to do now with him at his recommendation - train to Fraser and then be picked up..........it's so good to have these experts and ambassadors in this beautiful part of the world. We look forward to our first Alaska trip so much!

[Yukon]

From what Dave's told me the train ride from Fraser to Carcross is pretty boring...thats why we're getting off in Fraser.

 

Dave is probably the only person in the world who thinks that way - Lake Bennett has been getting rave reviews for its spectacular beauty for well over 100 years. Here's the Bennett-Carcross section of the line: http://www.railsnorth.com/bennett-carcross.html

[vbmom87]

From what Dave's told me the train ride from Fraser to Carcross is pretty boring...thats why we're getting off in Fraser.

 

Oh my gosh!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot believe Dave said that!!!!!!!!!!!! We took the train all the way to Carcross, and the scenery after Fraser was beautiful!!!! I cannot imagine anyone saying that stretch was boring. We were so glad we had listened to those who said to take the train all the way to Carcross. If I ever get back to ALaska and have time to do this trip, I will definitely be going all the way again. Wouldn't miss it!!!!! Geez...I am still in shock that Dave said that. Maybe he is desensitized to the beauty of the area. Oh my gosh!!!!! I cannot believe it!!!!!1

[vbmom87]

Great, that's what we are going to do now with him at his recommendation - train to Fraser and then be picked up..........it's so good to have these experts and ambassadors in this beautiful part of the world. We look forward to our first Alaska trip so much!

 

I think you got a poor recommendation.

[KS_Meadowlark]

:(I had looked forward with anticipation to this excursion to Emerald Lake with Dyea Dave for many months. Friends that we were traveling with told us that this was the best and asked specifically for Dave as our tour guide. After disembarking from the ship to meet Dyea Dave at the time and location agreed upon before arrival, and waiting and waiting, we finally called 2 different phone numbers on my cell phone because there was no sign of a bus or van at the Golden Princess. On the 2nd number, my friend reached Dave to learn that our bus/van would be there in 10 minutes or so. They were picking up passengers from another cruise liner. When it finally arrived, we initially boarded a nice passenger bus, but then switched to a 9 passenger van to ride with Dave as our escort. There was no step to climb into the van, but we would stop by Dave's house to pick it up. OK, so we all pile in. Seat belts in the van all worked except for the seatbelt for my husband ~ broken and couldn't get it to work. The 4th minor flaw to our dubious start was that the battery to the microphone didn't work, but Dave found a spare. Good to go.

 

If you are riding in the 9 passenger van and are sitting in the far back seat, you will not be able to hear Dave without that microphone. Passengers in the seats closer to the driver can hear Dave clearly, but if you sit on the back bench with no microphone working, you are not going to hear any commentary. I didn't mind the rough ride of the back because I expected that when I sat there, but I really hated that I could not hear the commentary. After Dave replaced the battery, we had about 15 minutes of clear narration before aq loud crackle started. About 1/3 of the way through the tour, I got tired of always asking Dave to use the microphone. I know that I could have kept asking, and listening to whatever I could hear over the crackle, but I just get tired of always asking. So my recommendation is that if the only available seats in the 9 passenger van are on the back bench, either insist on riding in the tour bus or save your money and just walk around Skagway. I know it is inexpensive compared to other excursions available, but my personal experience was not good and I certainly don't recommend it for anyone else:(.

Edited August 11, 2014 by KS_Meadowlark
I don't like the WinK icon at the beginning since my reply is negative.

[travgurl]

Check out Trails of 98 Skagway tours. http://www.tntours98.com/ After lots of research and reading reviews we have booked our party of 8 with them for next summer already. They seem to have fantastic reviews! It seems like a great way to see a lot of the area. Hope this helps you with your decision!

Edited August 12, 2014 by travgurl

[Budget Queen]

I went out with Dave, three times this year, having him guide twice and Jeanine once. All were excellent. Each time, I was in a "shuttle" bus, type, not a van. I did sit in the last row, on one trip, and had no issue with hearing the commentary.

 

It sounds like this was a mechanical issue, that hopefully will be addressed.

 

I highly recommend Dyea Dave. My trips all were excellent and with good timing since I combined two of the trip with the White Pass RR.

 

I actually have three more trips to Skagway this year, and likely will go up to Carcross, at least once more with him. :)

[mr green]

I went out with Dave, three times this year, having him guide twice and Jeanine once. All were excellent. Each time, I was in a "shuttle" bus, type, not a van. I did sit in the last row, on one trip, and had no issue with hearing the commentary.

 

It sounds like this was a mechanical issue, that hopefully will be addressed.

 

I highly recommend Dyea Dave. My trips all were excellent and with good timing since I combined two of the trip with the White Pass RR.

 

I actually have three more trips to Skagway this year, and likely will go up to Carcross, at least once more with him. :)

 

I have been with Dave once. It was very very good, and I too was in the last row.

[TinCan782]

Has anyone booked the Ykon Rail & Bus Excursion (7 hours) by Chilkook Tours? THey also offer a Skagway/Carcross Rail & BUs Excursion for 9 hours but I think this one would be pushing getting back to the ship on time.

On July 16, we took the Bennett Scenic Journey booked through Chilkoot. VERY nice day...train up to Carcross, 25 passenger bus back to Skagway. I cant compare or comment on Dave but I can say I had a very positive experience with Chilkoot - I would recommend Chilkoot without hesitation. We were on the NCL Pearl and had more than enough time for this all day excursion which was not available through NCL.

 

Photos...

 

Videos (more yet to be posted)...

Edited August 12, 2014 by TinCan782

[HappyAmma]

Meadowlark, :)

 

Aside from the microphone issue this could have been our report when we were with Dyea Dave June 2013 (Princess). We didn't see his van at the dock, we stopped by his house, changed vans, etc. We also had to go back to another ship for passengers who left their passports, but we were quite a ways out town by that time.

 

That being said, we had a fun trip. Understand that DD is a genuine character. He's been telling his stories for a while but is a great tour guide. If you can put up with his quirks you will have a wonderful time. He's also a nice guy and I'm glad to see he's still giving tours.

[cruisee<3]

Thanks to this thread I just booked my excursion for 3 with dyea Dave and cancelled my rental car reservation :) it just seems easier this way..

[Hol the Viking]

When planning a tour in Skagway we can only recommend Dyea Dave ( dyeadave@msn.com) .

We have booked the Mini Bus tour to Emerald Lake and return by train from Fraser in advance through the web. Was a great trip. Dave is a great guide knows everything about the area and the people and his humor is marvelous. Have made the tour in Sept.14.

[pklein9747]

Thanks for the review! We just booked the Emerald Lake Tour for next May and are considering if we should take the train either up or back. Did you plan the train trip ahead of time or just buy the tickets when you got there?

[jlocole]

We did the same Dyea Dave trip In Sep 2014. Train ride back from Fraser was the highlight. You need to get your train ticket in Skagway BEFORE getting on the bus. We bought train tickets online before we left on the cruise. You should be able to buy them the day of the tour. Dyea stops at the train station in Skagway at the start of the trip for people to get the return train ticket.

[Hol the Viking]

Thanks for the review! We just booked the Emerald Lake Tour for next May and are considering if we should take the train either up or back. Did you plan the train trip ahead of time or just buy the tickets when you got there?

 

We have made the morning tour by bus and took the train back from Fraser. This was recommended by Dave. And he was right, we had mavellous weather and phantastic views on either way.

We booked train tickets in advance through the web. However; I think it is ok if you buy train tickets in the morning as the train was not fully booked at all. Dave will stop at the train station.