A Silicon Valley startup is redefining the limits of luxury travel by offering reservations at a planned hotel on the Moon, with prices ranging from $250,000 to $1 million per guest.
GRU Space aims to build a permanent hotel on the lunar surface by 2032, with testing and initial construction scheduled to begin in 2029.
The first lunar habitats will be inflatable structures designed to accommodate up to four guests for multi-day stays.
Visitors will be able to enjoy moonwalks, drive vehicles across the lunar surface, and even play golf. According to the company, the first hotel is expected to operate for about ten years.
In the future, these structures will be reinforced using lunar materials and expanded to host up to ten guests. Eventually, they are expected to be replaced by more luxurious buildings, including a brick structure inspired by San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts.
‘We really need to go to the Moon, literally,’ said GRU Space founder Skyler Chan, 22, in an interview with The Observer.
At least on paper, the hotel is not intended to be merely a playground for wealthy tourists. It is presented as a step toward humanity’s future beyond Earth, reflecting a growing belief in tech circles that civilization’s next chapter includes destinations in space.
Chan argues that space is currently dominated by governments and companies funded by the ultra-wealthy, and he hopes that off-Earth tourism will help stimulate a broader space economy.
‘Lunar tourism is the best first lever to jumpstart the lunar economy,’ he said.
In addition to the high cost of accommodation, travel to the Moon itself will be even more expensive. On its booking website, the company notes: ‘The final cost has not yet been determined, but it will likely exceed $10 million.’
Applicants will be required to pay a non-refundable $1,000 fee and undergo a screening process, including passport verification as well as medical and financial documentation checks.
The company plans to begin reviewing applications later this year.