2024 Eclipse Advise

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KingNothing13 United States of America
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2024 Eclipse Advise

#1

Post by KingNothing13 »


When do most folks start making their travel plans for Eclipses?

The 2024 Total area of totality will be 4-5 hours north or the same west of me - so we are planning on making a trip - somewhere

The two spots that we have looked at so far are the Dark Sky Preserve in Quebec or Stow Vermont. I plan on doing some more looking in the coming months. It would be good to have a list ready to go when it is time to make the actual reservations and plans.

So for people that have done this before, how far out did you start actually making your travel plans?
-- Brett

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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#2

Post by KingClinton »


You might want to speak with Joe, he has a few of these trips under the belt.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1322&p=14568&hilit=Eclipse#p14568
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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#3

Post by goldstar »


Lucky me will just have to step out to my front yard.
Bang on the track.....
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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#4

Post by KingNothing13 »


goldstar wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 1:37 pm Lucky me will just have to step out to my front yard.
Bang on the track.....
It's going to be about 97% in my front yard - that extra 3% I think will be worth the travel!
-- Brett

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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#5

Post by KingClinton »


From what I remember from the last American eclipse the big problems were accommodations and travel.
Roads became heavily congested in and out if the path of totality.
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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#6

Post by KingNothing13 »


KingClinton wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 3:02 pm From what I remember from the last American eclipse the big problems were accommodations and travel.
Roads became heavily congested in and out if the path of totality.
Yep.

At this point (just under 5 years out, :lol: ) is to make a vacation out of it - head to the area a few days before, and stay for a couple of days after. I know, wherever we end up, it is likely to be crazy with a lot of people.
-- Brett

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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#7

Post by bobharmony »


In 2017, we booked our rooms in Columbia, SC in January 2017. For the rest, we just winged it. As others have mentioned, driving there and back was the worst of it. We went down on the Saturday before the event and that day was the worst. Except for the drive home the day following the eclipse - but that was complicated by three fatal accidents on i-81 in Virginia! As others have said, travel was the worst part of it all for us. If we had extended a day or two on each side of the event, it would have been easier.

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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#8

Post by KingNothing13 »


bobharmony wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 4:43 pm In 2017, we booked our rooms in Columbia, SC in January 2017. For the rest, we just winged it. As others have mentioned, driving there and back was the worst of it. We went down on the Saturday before the event and that day was the worst. Except for the drive home the day following the eclipse - but that was complicated by three fatal accidents on i-81 in Virginia! As others have said, travel was the worst part of it all for us. If we had extended a day or two on each side of the event, it would have been easier.

Bob
One of the ideas I had was to check out the IDSA site in Quebec (as mentioned in my original post) and bring my telescope along with us - basically killing two birds with one stone, so we'd want to stay a little on either side of eclipse day.
-- Brett

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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#9

Post by notFritzArgelander »


Planning began at the 2017 in Idaho Falls. Older daughter and I went and I implored her to bring the little nippers along. She declined. Post eclipse she said "we've got to ALL do this in 2024". ;) Last we spoke she's thinking in terms of grand family reunion eclipse expedition. ;)
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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#10

Post by bladekeeper »


Hoping to make totality here. The track is running right through the middle of my state.

I shudder to think about how bad the traffic will be. The idiots around here go nuts when a new Chick-fil-A is opened. I can't imagine how bad the eclipse traffic will be. :lol:
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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#11

Post by notFritzArgelander »


bladekeeper wrote: Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:41 am Hoping to make totality here. The track is running right through the middle of my state.

I shudder to think about how bad the traffic will be. The idiots around here go nuts when a new Chick-fil-A is opened. I can't imagine how bad the eclipse traffic will be. :lol:
I found that getting TO it was a heckuva lot easier than getting AWAY.
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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#12

Post by allen g »


my wife and I just signed up for the Dec. 2020 Chile eclipse. It is with the University of Chicago Alumni group (not necessary to be an alumn although my wife is). A professor of astrophysics is leading the tour which includes a visit to the GMT, a night of viewing at an observatory among many other events and activities. It is open to the public and should be memorable.
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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#13

Post by kt4hx »


notFritzArgelander wrote: Thu Jul 18, 2019 4:01 am
bladekeeper wrote: Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:41 am Hoping to make totality here. The track is running right through the middle of my state.

I shudder to think about how bad the traffic will be. The idiots around here go nuts when a new Chick-fil-A is opened. I can't imagine how bad the eclipse traffic will be. :lol:
I found that getting TO it was a heckuva lot easier than getting AWAY.
Agree with you there! After the 2017, I made a fatal error in my return route and got locked up for many, many hours. This next time, totality is going through our hometown in Indiana, so going there to set up on a relative's property to share the experience with them. Will not leave the area until a day or two afterwards once the mass hysteria has passed! :)

Of course despite best made plans, lots of things can happen tween now and then, and I need to remain alive to see it happen! :lol:
Alan

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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#14

Post by Bigzmey »


KingNothing13 wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 2:14 pm
goldstar wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 1:37 pm Lucky me will just have to step out to my front yard.
Bang on the track.....
It's going to be about 97% in my front yard - that extra 3% I think will be worth the travel!
Extra 3% definitely worth the travel! Try to book the place a year ahead. Staying for extra day or two after is a good idea.
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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#15

Post by Tycho65 »


Hi,
I am thinking of going to Chile Dec 2020 and/or USA 2024. For the latter I need a Visa. I am worried about the cost. Eclipse tours I have seen advertised for 5000-8000 dollars (conversion rate 1.3 pound sterling. I wonder is that the inevitable cost. E.g Soend 12000 is dollars for 2 eclipse trips, which could be ruined by rain.
Any tips to reduce costs?

Thanks.
Magnus.
London
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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#16

Post by OzEclipse »


KingNothing13 wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 12:46 pm When do most folks start making their travel plans for Eclipses?

The 2024 Total area of totality will be 4-5 hours north or the same west of me - so we are planning on making a trip - somewhere

The two spots that we have looked at so far are the Dark Sky Preserve in Quebec or Stow Vermont. I plan on doing some more looking in the coming months. It would be good to have a list ready to go when it is time to make the actual reservations and plans.

So for people that have done this before, how far out did you start actually making your travel plans?
Hi Kingnothing,
I have always started about 3 years ahead for independent travel. Researching weather prospects, travel logistics etc. Most arrangements can't be booked online until 10-15 months in advance depending upon the service.

I would not recommend either location you mention. Weather is best in Coahuila Mexico, pretty good in Mazatlan Mexico, and Texas and gets worse the farther north east you go on the path. I've listed links to a few April cloudiness summaries from Weatherspark. These start in Quebec and move south west to Mexico. I think Coahuila Mexico might be drug cartel country - so maybe not there. I'm not sure and would recommend that you research before heading there :?

Stowe-Vermont
https://weatherspark.com/m/25725/4/Aver ... ons-Clouds


Sherbrooke, Quebec
https://weatherspark.com/m/26459/4/Aver ... ons-Clouds



San Antonio TX
https://weatherspark.com/m/7137/4/Avera ... ons-Clouds


Torreon, Mexico
https://weatherspark.com/m/3986/4/Avera ... ons-Clouds



Mazatlan, Mexico
https://weatherspark.com/m/3239/4/Avera ... ons-Clouds

cheers

Joe
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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#17

Post by Arsene37 »


Hello !
KingNothing13 wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 12:46 pm When do most folks start making their travel plans for Eclipses?…
In 2017, my wife and me had a trip (30th marriage anniversary) in USA, ending in Wyoming for the eclipse.
We began reservations for the R.V. and most of the camp places over 8 months before, and a special reservation of the plane and the place to see eclipse one year before (there was a lot of place, though !)
Great memories ! (Monument valley, Petrified forest, Grand canyon, Dinosaurs land, Yellowstone …)
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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#18

Post by OzEclipse »


Tycho65 wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2020 2:39 am Hi,
I am thinking of going to Chile Dec 2020 and/or USA 2024. For the latter I need a Visa. I am worried about the cost. Eclipse tours I have seen advertised for 5000-8000 dollars (conversion rate 1.3 pound sterling. I wonder is that the inevitable cost. E.g Soend 12000 is dollars for 2 eclipse trips, which could be ruined by rain.
Any tips to reduce costs?

Thanks.
Magnus.
London

Hi Magnus,
With a little preparation you can organise your own trip at a fraction of the cost of a commercial trip. It does take some time and work to do this so you have to decide which is more important to you. But going on a commercial trip, you are paying for people to organise everything for you and you are sharing the travel costs for all the guides and leaders that go along on these commercial ventures. I went to the 2019 eclipse in Argentina. I estimate the total cost from Australia, airfares, accommodation and car rental was about USD 2000 for the entire eclipse part of the trip. I say estimate because I am extracting costs related to extended travel activities that I did before and after the eclipse. USD2000 is my best estimate of the cost if I had just gone over for a week observed the eclipse and looked around the eclipse region and then gone straight home. I spent a month touring in Chile and Argentina and clocked up another USD2000 in costs for that.

I have observed 14 total and 3 annular eclipses. I have booked a few tours to very difficult locations, polar, mid-Atlantic cruise etc but for most, I just organised my own travel with a close friend / observing partner. My good friend very sadly passed away, far too young, last April. I went to Argentina for the eclipse last July, partly in his memory because we had planned the trip together not long before he was diagnosed. So it was my last chance to complete a trip we at least planned together. I have to admit, I have found his loss difficult to deal with, eclipse chasing being a poignant reminder of his absence, and now I've decided to take a break from eclipse chasing for a few years.

The weather prospects are much better in central Argentina, moisture from the Pacific could cause cloud to appear as the eclipse cools the atmosphere in Chile. Jay Anderson has analysed cloud probabilities for this eclipse. The graph below illustrates it and you can read his full weather analysis at http://eclipsophile.com

Image

All you need is an air ticket to Buenos Aires, connecting flight to Neuquen and return flights. Then you need accommodation in Neuquen (booking.com works pretty well in south america) and a rental car. You can drive from Neuquen to the eclipse site and back on eclipse day. The eclipse is in the middle of the day so a self-drive day tour of 250km each way is very feasible.

If you are not an experienced eclipse chaser, I have some articles on my web site that might be helpful
The eclipse part of my web site is
http//:joe-cali.com/eclipses

EYE SAFETY FOR SOLAR ECLIPSES
http://joe-cali.com/eclipses/Eye_Safety/index.html

ECLIPSE PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BEGINNERS AT THIS YEARS TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE IN THE USA
http://joe-cali.com/eclipses/PLANNING/T ... photo.html

SOLAR FILTERS FOR TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSES - MAKING YOUR OWN SOLAR FILTER HOLDER
http://joe-cali.com/eclipses/EQUIPMENT/ ... lters.html



Here's a copy of some advice I sent to some friends who are very experienced eclipse chasers.
This advice is specific to travel in Argentina and deals with travel logistics not eclipse chasing.
Some things learned from this years trip to Argentina.

Driving
When driving in Argentina, headlights on all the time, day or night or the police will pull you over and can fine you. I got pulled over once, they wanted to fine me but I gave an oscar deserving performance of a dumb ignorant non-spanish speaking tourist and they eventually gave up trying to make me understand and let me go. I was crossing between the provinces of San Juan, San Luis, and Mendoza, whereas you will be going between Neuquen and Chebutt provinces. Each have their own local laws including driving laws. Check with your rental car provider but lights on is a safe insurance policy. You can't go wrong.

You may also get stopped at the border crossings of provinces and asked to pay entry taxes. I was stopped at some borders but not others. It's was between AR$30-70 per entry.

Mobile phone and mobile internet
Terry and I found that mobile reception in Argentina was mostly poor, and relatively expensive local SIMCARDS we purchased with data plans did not deliver what was promised even on rare occasions when we had reception. Perhaps you have data roaming? Regardless, I recommend that you do an offline download of all the regional google maps you can possibly need into your GPS enabled phone or tablet. Both Terry and I found this worked reasonably well. See attached video.

What's App ++

Most hotels, accommodations, car rental agencies and other providers will communicate with you via text but only using "What's App" so register and join before you leave if you are not already a member.


Cash and Currency exchange
Cash can be difficult to obtain. Some hotels, I imagine the Hilton is one, will take credit cards. Terry and I used apartments which afforded more space, had fridges & kitchens so that we could prepare sandwiches for trips in remote areas and dinners if we returned late. However proprietors insisted on being paid in USD cash or Argentine cash. If you eat most of your meals in the hotel, you can book your meals to your room. We had to pay in local cash currency for petrol. No USD, mostly no credit cards. A few larger city gas stations would accept credit cards. On the highways, even major highways, gas stations only took Pesos.

ATM's will only issue maximum equivalent of USD90 in Argentine Pesos and depending upon the bank, ATM fees ranged from USD12-USD30 per withdrawal. If you have time in BA, and are there during their very restricted opening hours, banks would exchange AUD or in your case USD at very good "official" exchange rates with no other fees. I found Banco Nacional better and Santander was a disaster. In Mendoza, an attempted withdrawal of equiv of AUD135 from a Santander ATM resulted in 190 being withdrawn from my bank account but no cash being dispensed. Effective exchange rate - infinty.

Swings and roundabouts. An error on a nine day car rental in Chile that was quoted at USD390 resulted in me only being charged USD45 or $5 a day instead. I returned the car and keys to an empty counter at the end of my trip then spent several days in airports and flying and only discovered this error after returning back home.

So bring plenty of US cash with you, but don't wave around big wads of it. The economy in Argentina is pretty tough for locals these days so crime is on the rise. As Australian's we need to be more aware of this than you as American's. The violent crime rate in Argentina is 6x higher than in AU and mostly higher than that in Australia except for a few measures. However for you guys, just do what you normally do for personal security, the violent crime rate in Argentina is only 1/10 of that in the USA and on most measures it is lower in Argentina than the USA.

Spanish language
Don't expect a to encounter a lot of English speakers in Chebutt and Rio Negro provinces. They are not tourist hubs. Some Spanish is very useful. However my traveling companion could not say much more than please, & thank you. We only linked up for the eclipse. He downloaded the spanish language component of the Google Translate App into his phone before departing so that he didn't need to be connected to the internet. The app is quite remarkable. You can type, or speak and it will translate. he could also poiunt the camera at a menu or text and it would do OTR and translate the document into English.

Spanish pronunciation / accent varies from country to country as indeed it does in English - think USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, Pakistan, various African Countries and NZ.

BA has it's own dialect spelled Castillano but pronounced "cas ti jar no." y's and ll's are pronounced with a j sound
eg yo is pronounced as "joe" and llama as jarma.

It is sometimes spoken very fast with words all rolling into one another joined by rolling R sounds. The J pronunciation is used across Argentina but the fast rolling R is not as common outside BA and they typically slow down a little for gringos.



Good luck

Joe
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Scopes: ATM 18" Dob, Vixen VC200L, ATM 6"f7, Stellarvue 102ED, Saxon ED80, WO M70 ED, Orion 102 Maksutov, ST80.
Mounts: Takahashi EM-200, iOptron iEQ45, Push dobsonian with Nexus DSC, three homemade EQ's.
Eyepieces: TV Naglers 31, 17, 12, 7; Denkmeier D21 & D14; Pentax XW10, XW5, Unitron 40mm Kellner, Meade Or 25,12
Cameras : Pentax K1, K5, K01, K10D / VIDEO CAMS : TacosBD, Lihmsec.
Cam/guider/controllers: Lacerta MGEN 3, SW Synguider, Simulation Curriculum SkyFi 3+Sky safari
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Tycho65 Great Britain
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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#19

Post by Tycho65 »


Thank you so much, Joe! So much insight and detail, it's great. Thanks for your brilliant website, and I hope to make one of those 2 total eclipse trips. Better start learning Spanish!

Magnus
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Re: 2024 Eclipse Advise

#20

Post by OzEclipse »


Magnus,
Thank you so much, Joe! So much insight and detail, it's great. Thanks for your brilliant website, and I hope to make one of those 2 total eclipse trips. Better start learning Spanish!


Magnus,

Depends on your language learning skills, some find it easy, some find it hard. In the 1990's I traveled to Central and South America on two longish trips totalling about 8-9 months. This was long before google translate, hell it was almost before the internet ;-) So it was a matter of learn Spanish or else have a very difficult trip. For the amount of travel I planned, it was an easy decision. If you are just going to go for a week or so for the eclipse, maybe the smartphone will do. Really depends on what else you want to do. I gave a lift to an Argentinian Artisan from San Pedro de Atacama in Chile to the Argentine border. He didn't speak English. Because I could converse in Spanish, we had a really nice chat for the whole two hours. Those are the experiences you miss out on. Checking into hotels, getting through the airports is easy with or without the language.

There is an online Spanish school called http://fluencia.com. I did some lessons with them to brush up before going to Spain in 2017. I hadn't used my Spanish for 20 years. I found them pretty good. You can do a few free introductory lessons to try it out before subscribing.

I have also heard that young bilingual Spanish speakers in Latin America will tutor you at very reasonable rates live via video chat. If you find an Argentine tutor, you could even consider hiring them in Argentina to travel with you as translator/guide.

Argentina is a country with incredible landscapes, friendly people, great produce, wonderful cooking, art, history, culture, marine and mountain wildlife, great beer and wine. Something for everyone! It is definitely deserving of much more than a hit and run eclipse visit. If you decide to extend your travels beyond the eclipse, get in touch and I can give you lots of recommendations in Argentina and Chile specific to that time of year.

Cheers

Joe
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Amateur astronomer since 1978...................Web site : http://joe-cali.com/
Scopes: ATM 18" Dob, Vixen VC200L, ATM 6"f7, Stellarvue 102ED, Saxon ED80, WO M70 ED, Orion 102 Maksutov, ST80.
Mounts: Takahashi EM-200, iOptron iEQ45, Push dobsonian with Nexus DSC, three homemade EQ's.
Eyepieces: TV Naglers 31, 17, 12, 7; Denkmeier D21 & D14; Pentax XW10, XW5, Unitron 40mm Kellner, Meade Or 25,12
Cameras : Pentax K1, K5, K01, K10D / VIDEO CAMS : TacosBD, Lihmsec.
Cam/guider/controllers: Lacerta MGEN 3, SW Synguider, Simulation Curriculum SkyFi 3+Sky safari
Memberships Astronomical Association of Queensland; RASNZ Occultations Section; Single Exposure Milky Way Facebook Group (Moderator) (12k members)
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