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Blockbuster Getaways: The Real Cost Of Iconic Holidays In 2024
The Iconic Holidays
2024 has been the year of movie nostalgia, with nearly 88,000 articles written about the topic over the past year. From the hotly-anticipated Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and Bridget Jones 4 to last year's Barbie sensation, the wave of throwbacks has washed over pop culture. Cinemas are also leaning into the trend by bringing back classics like Titanic and Interstellar for its 10th anniversary. It's clear that throwbacks are everywhere, dominating the media.
Nostalgia isn't just dominating pop culture (just look at the buzz around Oasis getting back together) but it's also stirring up memories of iconic trips in the movies we grew up with. At My Budget Break, we're taking a deeper dive into nostalgia with our latest research revealing how much those iconic trips and holidays from our favourite TV shows and films would cost today compared to when they were originally set. We've calculated how much famous holidays would cost from the Las Vegas stag do in The Hangover to the lavish train journey in Murder On The Orient Express, all the way to Kevin and Perry's Ibiza jaunt.
Interested in how much it would cost Baby's family to spend all summer at Kellerman's like they would have done back in 1963? We've reversed inflation to find out how much it would have cost our beloved characters back in the day and how much they would be out of pocket should the trips occur in 2024. Let's just say, the rise in the reversed inflation has increased those prices by a long, long way.
Murder on the purse strings as the Orient Express is 5375% more expensive than in 1934
A truly nostalgic and timeless classic, Murder on the Orient Express was first published as a murder mystery novel by Agatha Christie in 1934, then adapted for a film of the same name released in 1974. 2024 is the 50th anniversary year of the first film, but with nostalgia and reboots being so prevalent in modern-day pop culture, a new version directed by Kenneth Branagh was put out into the world in 2017.
Nowadays, the Orient Express is a sought-after trip for many. Travellers can go on a very similar route to the one penned in the novel but without the grisly plot line. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Istanbul to Paris is the closest fans can get to taking the legendary route, however, there's been a 5375% price increase to what it would have cost back in 1934. For a twin cabin across the 5-night trip, it costs a minimum of £17,500 per person. Using the reverse inflation calculator, we can estimate that back in 1934 this would have been £291.91. If you're looking for even more luxury, a cabin suite will set you back £38,000 per person, and you have the option to add on champagne or a small celebration cake for an extra cost.
Joey's big break would cost his friends 85% more in 2024
One of the most popular sitcom shows of all time, Friends, has cemented its place in pop culture history with the characters firmly embedding themselves in everyone's hearts. This September, the show celebrates its 30th anniversary, and a new tour has been launched for New Yorkers that takes fans around the city to visit the characters' favourite locations.
In our research, we wanted to explore the cost of two trips, the first one being Joey's big break in Las Vegas. The show sees Monica, Chandler, Ross, Rachel and Phoebe all travel to Vegas to meet Joey at the Caesar's Palace Hotel. Whilst there are variables in terms of how some characters travel (Phoebe and Joey's road trip home) we've based our calculations on the average flights from JFK to LAS, with a one-night stay in the hotel.
We researched what the total cost would have been back when Friends was aired in 1999, and it would have cost £264.03 per person for flights and hotel rooms. However now in 2024, there's been an 85% increase taking the total for this trip to £490 per person.
Ross's second wedding in Friends would cost each person 88% more in the present-day
London, baby! Another famous holiday the Friends (apart from Phoebe) embarked on was to London for Ross and Emily's wedding. Basing this on a two-night stay in The London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square along with return flights from JFK LHR, the total trip would have cost £674.54 per person back in 1999. However, in 2024, there's been a huge 88% increase to a total of £1,268.50 per person.
Would you pay £455 for the holiday out of The Inbetweeners movie?
A coming-of-age classic, the 2011 film follows Will, Simon, Jay and Neil travelling to Malia in Crete for a lad's holiday. The iconic scene of the boys pulling up to their hotel and facing what is probably one of the worst-rated hotels is one that still has fans laughing about to this day, but how much would this holiday have cost the group?
Basing our prices on the cost of hotel and flights back in 2011, we estimate that this trip would have cost £317 per person for flights out of London and one-week accommodation. It's not possible to stay in the actual hotel in the film (not that anyone would want to or that we would advise that!), so our prices are based on the average price of the lowest-rated hotels in Malia with two people sharing a room. With a total room cost of £356.05 back in 2011, this price has now inflated to £511 in 2024.
With a total holiday cost of £455.50 per person in 2024, there's been a 43% increase for this holiday to Malia.
Kevin & Perry Go Large, just like Ibiza's 84% increase in price tag
Ibiza is known for having one of the highest holiday costs and is now more expensive than ever. The film follows Kevin and Perry wanting to follow their dreams of becoming DJs (amongst many other desires) as they head to Ibiza with Kevin's parents.
The pair stay in the area of Santa Eulalia, and we've based our costs on the average 1 week holiday to the party island. So, in 2024, there's been a huge 84% cost increase compared to what it would have been in the year 2000. Flights and a 1-week stay back in 2000 would have cost around £317, however in 2024 this looks closer to £600, not including the monumental cost of club tickets and refreshments.
Much of the filming was done in the famous club Amnesia, which even pays homage to the film with a Kevin and Perry event where tickets start from 60 euros (approximately £50.50). However, those who have been to clubs in Ibiza will know that drinks aren't cheap. To put this into perspective, a bottle of water costs, on average, around £1.20 in the UK. But in Amnesia, you can get a "Water Pack (x5 Bottles)" for 40 euros. Inflation, indeed.
Gimme Gimme Gimme a breakdown of Sam, Bill and Harry's travel costs
In June 2008, Mamma Mia and its star-studded cast took the world by storm, grossing $694.6 million at the box office worldwide. The feel-good flick saw daughter Sophie Sheridan invite her potential three fathers to her wedding on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi which happened to be filmed on Skopelos. We wanted to discover how much it would have cost Sam, Bill and Harry to souper trouper their way to Villa Donna in Greece, and it seems Sam would have spent the most on his journey.
Our research found that Sam Carmichael played by Piers Brosnan would have travelled from New York to Skiathos, costing around £426 back in the year 2008. If he wanted to take that same trip again in 2024, the average flight cost for this route would be £674. We know Sam made this a one-way trip, so luckily for him, he wouldn't have had a return flight cost.
Even though Sam wouldn't have had to pay his hotel costs, researchers at My Budget Break found that the average price of a hotel on the island of Skopelos would cost holidaymakers around £413 for a week, a 58% increase from £261 back in 2008.
Colin Firth's character Harry Bright would have arrived on the island from London, with return flights from London Heathrow to Skiathos airport in Greece, costing around £212 back in 2008. Now? The average cost of these flights would be around £336. This trip coupled with a one-week hotel stay would cost around £749 in 2024, a 58% increase since 2008.
Finally, Stellan Skarsgård playing the eclectic Bill Anderson arrived by his private boat. Unfortunately, it's unknown what Bill's sailing route would have been, but we estimate that arriving in Greece via yacht from the UK would cost several if not tens of thousands of pounds
Dirty Dancing's staycation would cost 1670% more in 2024
Released in 1987 but set in 1963, Dirty Dancing is the epitome of a nostalgic, classic film. The soundtrack alone has been an anthem for many throughout the years, and the notorious lift is often being attempted at weddings and parties. In the movie, Baby (Frances Houseman) and her family are enjoying a staycation at the fictional Kellerman's Resort, which is also a very real property named the Mountain Lake Lodge located in Pembroke, Virginia. The property itself even offers a Kellerman's package for holidaymakers to book and live out their nostalgic dreams!
Our research has found that it's estimated the family stayed at Kellerman's for 3 weeks throughout August. In 2024, with an average cost of £236.56 per night, it would cost approximately £4963 for a family of four at the Mountain Lake Lodge. That's a 1670% increase from 1963, where the average cost would have been £280.46.
The Hangover stag do would cost 55% more in 2024
This list would not be complete without discussing the world's most disastrous stag do in The Hangover (2009) when Alan, Stu and Phil took Doug on a night to (he might not) remember. Our research found that the foursome travelled, in a Mercedes-Benz 220SE, from their homes in Pasadena California to Caesar's Palace Las Vegas on a round trip of 513.8 miles.
Back then, this route would have cost £38.92 in gas, however now that same trip would be almost double the cost at £68.19. To stay for one night only in the Hangover Suite in Caesar's Palace back in '09, the group would have been looking at a room cost of £1109.35 (£277.33 per person). However, in 2024, you're looking at a 50% price increase to £1715, which increases even more when you add the £33.95 ($44.95) resort fee and a £75.61 ($100) security deposit. We can't imagine the group got this back.
In summary, this stag would have cost £1448.72 in total back in 2009 working out at £362.18 per person. In 2024? There's been a 23% price increase per person, which works out to a total cost of £445.79 per person, or approximately £473.17 including all extra hotel fees.
You can find a holiday to suit all the family with My Budget Break, from relaxing all-inclusive holidays to wondrous city breaks. Check out our spa breaks if that's more your thing, or use our handy by-budget guides to find a holiday that fits every option.
About My Budget Break
At My Budget Break, we aim to help people get away no matter their budget, but helping others spans across other areas too. 10% of our profits are given to charity each year, all with travel and hospitality in mind. Our two charity partners are the Family Holiday Charity, an excellent partner which helps families go on holiday to spend quality time together that otherwise wouldn't have been able to. Our second charity partner is the Hotel School, an organisation that allows people in less fortunate situations to develop valuable skills within the hospitality industry, which can lead to future employment opportunities.
Methodology: Buzzsumo used to discover the number of articles written about nostalgia across the last 12 months. Research conducted September 2024. Full methodology available on request.
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