BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – The Great American Eclipse is expected to bring tens of thousands of visitors to Vermont on April 8th, and as the day inches closer, scarcity and prices have only increased in the hospitality industry.
Trying to make some last-minute eclipse plans to stay in Vermont? Good luck.
There are just a few rooms left at Vermont hotels in the path of totality, most of them close to $1,000 a night. Availability in New York is pretty much the same story. But there are a few options where you can save up to $500 compared to a stay in the Green Mountains.
Kim Donahue with the Vermont Lodging Association says capacity is around 90% for hotels and motels under the full effect of the eclipse. “The eclipse is certainly adding a level of occupancy that we don’t normally see in the course of the year,” she said.
It’s a similar situation for short-term rentals, though we did find an entire summer camp for just $5,000 a night. Maybe a posse of procrastinators will arrange an eclipse to remember.
But for those still on the hunt, they might find a better deal further south. “In the southern part of the state, we’re still seeing about 40% to 50% occupancy rates,” said Julie Marks with the Vermont Short-Term Rental Alliance. She says the short supply and high demand of eclipse lodging is inspiring some Vermonters to open up their homes to visitors for a weekend. “There’s certainly enough anecdotal buzz to think that there are more and more people kind of entering the marketplace recently to take advantage of this upcoming event.”
If a warm bed in a stranger’s house isn’t an option for you, the great outdoors doesn’t look likely either. Most RV sites in the region are all booked up or won’t be open yet for the season. And state officials haven’t decided if they will open up Vermont State Parks for camping.
Experts say there’s always the option of holding out for a place to stay a little longer. Early April weather is unpredictable and with varying cancellation policies, something could open.