Eclipse tourism for the 1%
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Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios
From Hawaiian cruises to curated viewing parties, wealthy travelers will be able to watch Monday's solar eclipse in the lap of luxury.
The big picture: Cities and towns in the "path of totality" will be flooded with eclipse superfans, many of whom will be taking road trips or camping to catch a glimpse of this rare celestial event, but there are also more exclusive options — for a price.
- For a little over $5,000, Smithsonian Journeys will take you on a five-day eclipse trip to the Texas Hill Country, including a tasting tour at a winery, a sunset cruise, guided nature tours and a private viewing party.
- Adventure travel company TravelQuest International organized a 12-day, $7,000-plus eclipse tour across northern Mexico, as well as a multi-day tour across Texas.
- Those who paid at least $1,400 for a 22-day Holland America cruise will launch from San Diego and see the eclipse off the coast of Mexico before landing in Hawaii.
- Some airlines have offered special flights to chase the eclipse path across the country. Others are planning to give passengers eclipse glasses on normal flights scheduled to fly within the path of totality.
Zoom in: Texas, which appears to be this year's prime eclipse destination, could see a massive $1.4 billion spending boom from the eclipse.
- Based on spending rates during the 2017 eclipse, Vermont is expecting between $12.9 million to $51.8 million eclipse-related spending inside the state.
- Officials in Oklahoma are expecting the state to pull in $7.4 million per day over the weekend and on Monday.
Whatever your vantage point, this will be the last total solar eclipse viewable from the contiguous U.S. until 2044.
