There’s a lot of excitement building for the solar eclipse that’s happening on Monday, April 8, 2024. Having the chance to see a solar eclipse is quite special, and it’s an opportunity that doesn’t come up often.
With the eclipse only a few weeks away, there’s still time to plan a short trip to position yourself for the best view, and it could be a great use of points.
Why This Eclipse Is Special
This year’s eclipse is a special one because some Canadian cities will be along the path of totality.
In case you’re unfamiliar with eclipse terminology, totality is the stage of a solar eclipse where the moon comes between the earth and sun and completely blocks out the sun’s light. The path of totality is the area on earth that will be in the moon’s shadow, where the totality will be visible.
Canadians last had the chance to witness a partial solar eclipse in 2017.
Prior to this, the last total eclipse visible within Canada was on February 26, 1979, and the next one won’t be until August 23, 2044.
The Eclipse Path
This year’s eclipse will enter Mexico, travel through the United States, and finally enter Canada through southern Ontario just before 2pm Eastern Time. It will pass over Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and finally exit the country through Newfoundland.
A total eclipse will be a very different experience from a partial eclipse, so take the opportunity to enjoy this rare natural phenomenon if you can.
Many schools across the provinces have cancelled classes for that day, so if you don’t live in a city that is on the path of totality, what better excuse to take a day trip to or stay overnight in a city that is.
You can check to see the path the eclipse will be taking on the Eclipse 2024 website. Keep in mind that the closer you stay to the center of the path of totality, the more time you’ll get to experience totality.
To help with the planning, we’ve put together a list of hotels that will be on the path of totality that still have points redemption rates available at the time of writing. While there are other hotels that you can book, we’ve based our list on our current points valuations, and these properties will allow you to maximize your value.
Also, if you have a Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Award hanging around, this may be a good use for it.
Comparatively, if you have a Hilton Honors Free Night Reward or IHG Anniversary Free Night, hold on to those. In most cases it’ll make more sense to just pay the cash rate, with one notable exception in Niagara Falls below.
In case you aren’t familiar with them already, free night certificates and awards are annual benefits for holders of a hotel brand’s affiliated credit card.
For example, the Canadian-issued Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card and Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card come with an annual Free Night Award worth 35,000 points, which you receive on your cardholder anniversary date.
In the US, there are several Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards from American Express US and Chase that offer Free Night Awards, too.
Canadian Hotel Redemptions in the Path of Totality
Below we’ve gathered a list of hotel redemption options across the path of totality, so that you and your friends and family can take in this incredible sight without breaking the bank.
The pricing in cash and points for the day of the total eclipse were accurate at the time of writing; however, the prices and availability you find may be different.
If you’re booking a Marriott hotel, consider making your booking through the Prince of Travel affiliate link, which helps to support the website.
If you’re booking a Hilton hotel, consider making your booking through the Prince of Travel affiliate link, which helps to support the website.
We’ll start with the properties in Ontario since it will have the most visibility of all the provinces. The major cities in totality will be Hamilton, Burlington, Niagara Falls, Belleville, and Kingston.
TownePlace Suites Hamilton is available for 20,000 Bonvoy points, or a $184 (all figures in CAD) cash rate.
Alternatively, consider a stay at Homewood Suites by Hilton Hamilton for 30,000 Hilton Honors points or a $184 cash rate.
In Burlington, you can book into The Pearle Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection for 28,000 Bonvoy points or a $377 cash rate.
Another option is the Holiday Inn Burlington Conference Centre, which you can book for 18,000 IHG points or a $185 cash rate.
In Niagara Falls, a great redemption might be at the Hampton Inn Niagara Falls/Blvd, which is available for 50,000 Hilton Honors points as opposed to a $1,318 cash rate.
In Belleville, you can choose between the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Belleville for 17,000 IHG points or a $159 cash rate, or the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Belleville for 15,000 Bonvoy points or a $139 cash rate.
Heading down the highway to Kingston, there are three hotels available for the eclipse:
- Hampton Inn by Hilton Kingston for 30,000 Hilton Honors points or a $421 cash rate
- Candlewood Suites Kingston West for 16,000 IHG points or a $159 cash rate
- Courtyard Kingston Highway 401/Division Street for 25,000 Bonvoy points or a $212 cash rate
In Quebec, the major cities in totality are Sherbrooke and Montreal.
Unfortunately, there are no redemption options in Sherbrooke available anymore. However, for Montreal, there are still a few, with the ones below giving the best value:
- Courtyard Montreal Downtown for 32,000 Bonvoy points or a $277 cash rate
- Holiday Inn & Suites Montreal Centre-Ville Ouest for 20,000 IHG points or a $199 cash rate
In New Brunswick, the city of Fredericton lies in the zone of totality and has a couple of good redemption options:
- Delta Hotels Fredericton for 24,000 Bonvoy points or a $251 cash rate
- Hilton Garden Inn Fredericton for 40,000 Hilton Honors points or a $336 cash rate
Parts of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland will be along the path of totality; however, there are unfortunately no good redemption options within a reasonable distance of these regions.
Important Things to Keep in Mind
Keep checking the forecast as the eclipse draws closer because your ability to see the totality will depend on it. If the forecast calls for clouds and rain, you may want to proactively cancel your hotel booking.
Make sure that you make a refundable hotel booking and take note of the cancellation deadline, should your plans change.
Outside of the 2–4 minutes in totality, it’s dangerous to look directly at the sun without using appropriate eye protection or viewing it through a pinhole camera. For those looking for eye protection, you’ll want to buy a pair of glasses with a specially designed solar filter.
These can still be purchased online through retailers like Amazon.
Conclusion
A total solar eclipse is a rare event in Canada. If you’re planning on viewing this unique natural phenomenon, I highly recommend making your way to a destination where you’ll be in the path of totality.
If you need to drive in to this location from afar, make a memorable trip out of it. There are still hotel redemptions available, but act soon, as they’re getting booked up quickly.
I’ve booked my Nexus Card Interviews for that date. Hoping for clear skies as well at the Peace Bridge in Ft Eire.
I would also suggest the Courtyard Brossard and the Sheraton Saint Hyacinthe (though it looks as though they are heavily booked from the 8 to 9)