Hotel prices soar as tourists flock to see solar eclipse

Susan Hochman, who for 7 years has been readying to recreation to see nan star eclipse connected April 8, will beryllium shelling retired hundreds of dollars for a one-night enactment astatine a humble edifice room successful Saranac Lake, New York, which is successful nan way of nan so-called totality.

She'll beryllium spending $650 to walk 1 nighttime astatine a Best Western hotel, wherever room rates are arsenic debased arsenic $99 during little engaged periods, according to edifice staff. 

"I thought that was crazy," nan New York City resident said. "I almost died astatine nan $650 complaint nan Best Western quoted, but astatine slightest I tin conscionable enactment location nan 1 nighttime that I need."

Hochman booked her accommodations successful October of past year. Still, she wishes she had made reservations acold earlier. "As overmuch arsenic I had fixed it forethought, I didn't scheme arsenic overmuch successful beforehand arsenic I should have," she said. She called nan inflated lodging prices "kooky crazy."

Initially, Hochman had planned to enactment astatine nan adjacent Saranac Waterfront Lodge, a luxury edifice connected nan lake, pinch friends. But astatine $700 a night, pinch a two-night minimum, nan edifice was retired of her budget. 

The costs for a room pinch 2 queen beds and a position of nan lake? $2,400. The room complaint drops to $1,100 connected April 8 connected nan time of nan eclipse, according to nan hotel, which added that guests started booking rooms location a twelvemonth ago.

By contrast, nan pursuing night, April 9, nan aforesaid room costs $131, while connected April 15 room rates driblet to $111. 

The Hampton Inn successful Carbondale, Illinois, besides situated successful the star eclipse's path, doesn't person immoderate rooms disposable connected either April 7 aliases 8. 

"We've been sold retired for months now," nan edifice said. A gross guidance squad sets nan hotel's rates, which a spokesperson said "are overmuch higher than usual" for nan April event.

$1 cardinal boost

Eclipse-related tourism could pump as overmuch arsenic $1 billion into section economies. All on nan astir 115-mile-wide agelong of onshore from Texas to Maine, from wherever nan moon's afloat blocking of nan sun will beryllium momentarily visible, towns are expecting a spike successful business arsenic hordes of sky-gazing visitors walk connected everything from lodging and dining to souvenirs.

Other types of accommodations, for illustration homes connected Airbnb, are besides successful precocious demand. There has been a 1,000% summation successful searches for stays on nan way of totality, according to nan home-sharing platform. 

As of April 7, 2024, complete half of nan listings connected Airbnb are already booked successful cities straight successful nan eclipse's path. AirDNA

Vacasa, different picnic rental guidance company, told CBS MoneyWatch that visitors look astir eager to watch nan eclipse from nan authorities of Texas, based connected searches for homes connected its site. Vermont is nan 2nd astir celebrated destination, followed by Maine. 

Average regular rates for homes successful Burlington, Vermont, are $506. In Dallas, they're $375. 

Airline summons prices are up, too. The mean formation value to Dallas-Fort Worth, landing connected April 7, is $1,900, according to recreation tract Hopper. 

For last-minute travelers eager to spot nan eclipse, Hopper lead economist Hayley Berg offered proposal for redeeming money. 

"Consider staying astatine hotels extracurricular of nan way of totality and driving into nan way successful nan day connected Monday," she told CBS News. "That measurement you'll salary a little complaint but tin still acquisition nan eclipse."

Kayak, different recreation platform, has launched a tool that lets group hunt for nan lowest-cost edifice destinations connected nan eclipse's way of totality. According to Kayak, hotels are cheapest, connected average, successful Montreal, Canada, which is besides a way city. The champion rental car deals connected mean tin besides beryllium recovered successful Montreal.