You can’t go a holiday season without watching the Home Alone movies. And when watching Home Alone I always question to cost of things, like the NYC trip and that iconic house. And unlike most sequels, I truly don’t know if the first or second film is my favorite. I even paid a visit to the iconic Plaza Hotel in NYC last month to channel my inner Kevin. Apparently, it’s been 30 years since children were introduced to this wonderful hotel. Yes, Home Alone 2 is 30 years old. I find comfort in the fact that was several years later before I saw the movie. But still, what a way to make me feel old!
Even as an adult I still fantasize about what it would be like to live as lavishly as Kevin did on that magical vacation. The Plaza is as gorgeous as I could have imagined (and way out of my budget still!) But how much did this adventure cost in 1992? And even more shocking is what it would cost in today’s money. Want to know? Well, luckily our friends at NewYorkBets.com decided to analyze this Christmas classic to reveal precisely how much Kevin’s lavish trip in Home Alone 2 would cost.
What 9-year-old wouldn’t be spending like crazy on this once-in-a-lifetime scenario? Daddy’s credit card, everything you could imagine buying, room service? Heck, it’s my dream! While lost in New York alone, Kevin stays in a lavish suite at the iconic Plaza Hotel. No one knows how much this exact room would have cost back then but it couldn’t have been cheap. When looking at the hotel rooms today the Carnegie Suite offers a similar setup to the movie as it comes with a master bedroom, a living room, and a bathroom. For just one night, December 23rd, that room would cost $3,480. And I thought my room at the Hilton was pricey
In one of the movie scenes, we are shown the invoice for Kevin’s hotel spending. Just a measly $967.43. If you consider today’s inflation, this would now cost 113% more. Bringing that room service bill to a grand total of $2,062.92… poor Peter!
Also, using technology, NewYorkBets.com calculated the cost of an Uber ride from JFK Airport to the hotel in December 2022. This single-car journey would cost around $76.91 without a tip. (Can confirm that’s basically what I paid for the same trip, luckily split 3 ways).
If you’ve been doing the math this means that Kevin McCallister’s complete trip would have cost an estimated total of $5,917.20 in 2022. Yep, I can only imagine how mad I’d be if my kid spent that. We also are led to believe that the hotel comped some of that due to their well, error, of allowing a 9-year-old to check in to a hotel. Even still, was definitely cheaper for the family when they just left him in Chicago.
This is how much Kevin’s New York spending spree would cost today:
|
Kevin’s spending |
1992 |
2022 |
|
Hotel Suite (1 night stay on 23rd December) |
$1100 |
$3,480 |
|
Room Service |
$967.43 |
$2,062.92 |
|
Kevin Sundae (3 scoops) |
$18 |
$96 (16 scoops) |
|
Duncan’s Toyshop |
$23.75 |
$51.37 |
Even 30 years later the Plaza Hotel sees a yearly surge of Christmas bookings and even offers a Home Alone 2 package where guests can live like Kevin for their stay. The package includes a limousine ride around the city, a large cheese pizza, and a Home Alone Sundae (16 scoops of ice cream). I know where I’m spending the holidays next year! Though the Home Alone Sundae at a cost of $96 I may skip!
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