Susan Hochman, who for seven years has been planning to travel to see the solar eclipse on April 8, will be shelling out hundreds of dollars for a one-night stay at a modest hotel room in Saranac Lake, New York, which is in the path of the so-called totality.
She’ll be spending $650 to spend one night at a Best Western hotel, where room rates are as low as $99 during less busy periods, according to hotel staff.
“I thought that was crazy,” the New York City resident said. “I almost died at the $650 rate the Best Western quoted, but at least I can just stay there the one night that I need.”
Hochman booked her accommodations in October of last year. Still, she wishes she had made reservations far earlier. “As much as I had given it forethought, I didn’t plan as much in advance as I should have,” she said. She called the inflated lodging prices “kooky crazy.”
Initially, Hochman had planned to stay at the nearby Saranac Waterfront Lodge, a luxury resort on the lake, with friends. But at $700 a night, with a two-night minimum, the hotel was out of her budget.
The cost for a room with two queen beds and a view of the lake? $2,400. The room rate drops to $1,100 on April 8 on the day of the eclipse, according to the hotel, which added that guests started booking rooms there a year ago.
Read more at CBSnews.com
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