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Hotel prices spike in Europe as travelers rush to see solar eclipse
In Reykjavík, average room rates on Wednesday nearly doubled year over year to $793 (£587), while Spain’s finance ministry expects 460,000 overseas eclipse visitors.
Hotel room prices across parts of Europe are surging ahead of the region’s first total solar eclipse visible from the continent in this century, as large numbers of travelers target viewing locations.
In Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík, visitors were paying $793 (£587) on average for a room on Wednesday, a 98% increase versus the same day last year, according to data cited from Lighthouse Intelligence.
Spain is also seeing strong demand, with the finance ministry expecting 460,000 overseas tourists to travel specifically to see the eclipse. Lighthouse Intelligence data showed room rates rising 135% year over year in A Coruña to $451 on average, with Mallorca up 24% to about $448.
Authorities in Spain are warning of added wildfire and traffic risks tied to the forecast, including expectations of 1.5 million more car journeys than usual on Wednesday. The plan includes a large police operation, with 35,000 officers scheduled to support a safety campaign.