Solar eclipse fans have splashed out huge sums on luxury trips offering extraordinary views of today’s spectacle. An estimated 1.5 million people are expected to travel to Spain for the eclipse, with some opting for five-star hotels, private yachts and other exclusive experiences, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Luxury packages and yacht charters
One package advertised by the St Regis Mardavall in Mallorca costs €15,000 (£13,000) and includes a hotel stay, a trip aboard a private yacht called La Dragonera, meditation classes at sea and catering.
Another eclipse fan paid €6,000 (£5,100) to charter a 54ft yacht off Mallorca for four hours. Writing on Reddit, he said the price included a skipper and had been booked at what he described as "peak eclipse pricing".
Special flights across Europe
Others are taking to the skies for the event. Specially arranged flights are carrying passengers thousands of feet above Europe, according to Business Insider. UK-based Air Charter Service charged around $1,200 per person for flights leaving London, with passengers travelling to one of several possible viewing locations depending on conditions.
The destinations include Valladolid and the Balearic Islands in Spain, as well as Reykjavik in Iceland. Elsewhere, Brussels Airlines is carrying 100 passengers on a special flight over France, with tickets costing around $350 each.
The sold-out experience includes around two hours in the air and was organised in partnership with Switzerland’s Urania Public Observatory. Aisle seats are being kept empty to give passengers more room to see through the windows.
Private jets and airline specials
The observatory has also teamed up with European private aviation company ASL Group for another eclipse flight departing from Liège in Belgium. Seats aboard the sold-out Embraer E135 private jet cost around $920 per person.
Spanish flag carrier Iberia is also operating a special flight from Madrid, although places were not made available to the public. The eclipse is also due to be livestreamed from the Iberia aircraft using its Starlink internet connection.
