I went to Aruba in the 90s. Todd Gross and family flew down too. Jerry, you are so right. You HAVE to be in the path of totality. Even if you are at 99% there is still too much light. The 2024 eclipse has a wider path, thus darker at the centerline and longer. The West coast of Mexico has the best chance of clear skies but in the US Texas is the place to go. I will just watch the weather leading up to it and will drive anyplace in the Northeast that looks good.