Made In Chelsea: New York set to put Brits in an Empire State of mind
As the cast of Made in Chelsea trade the streets of SW3 for the glamour of New York in the new TV series, many viewers can be forgiven for turning green with envy. However, new research from Confused.com reveals that Brits are channelling their envy into inspiration when it comes to choosing where they next head on their holidays.
Research from the leading price-comparison site reveals that reality TV programmes are now so influential that they are dictating the destinations that people are choosing to go on holiday to. In fact, nearly a quarter (22%) of Brits admits their holiday destination choices are inspired by the locations of popular TV shows.
Since the first series of Big Brother aired in 2000, Britain has become a nation of reality TV lovers, with 83% of people admitting that they now watch reality television. And with Made in Chelsea: New York kicking off on August 4th, Brits will once again be glued to their seats.
Swapping the King’s Road for Madison Avenue, Spencer, Binky and chums have been filming in the Big Apple’s hottest hot-spots, and have been spotted hailing taxis while laden with shopping bags. And with nearly one in five (17%) Brits saying they watch Made in Chelsea, viewers will be fervently jotting down the locations they see before planning their next trip.
The Made in Chelsea gang aren’t the first reality TV stars to trade their home town for more exotic climes. The cast of TOWIE famously traded Essex for sun-soaked Marbella; while the cast of Geordie Shore have waved goodbye to the Tyne on four different occasions, heading off to Magaluf, Cancun, Europe and Australia.
And the destinations reality stars visit have a big influence on where Brits want to go on holidays. New York, the setting of many iconic TV moments, is the most inspirational destination with 28% of those surveyed saying they have been inspired to visit there. And with the Made in Chelsea gang treading the bars of Broadway, New York could well continue to be the destination that tops the holiday charts.
The Made in Chelsea stars may also be encouraging Brits to visit the capital, with nearly a quarter (24%) saying they have been inspired to visit London - perhaps to frequent the haunts that Spencer and co visit.
Six of the best: the destinations inspiring Brits holidays
Destination - Number of Brits inspired to visit
New York 28%
London 24%
Sydney 21%
Paris 17%
Marbella 12%
Newcastle 11%
Despite Brits heading out to these exotic destinations, worryingly many travellers do so without travel insurance. A staggering 29% of Brits said that they have been on holiday without taking out travel insurance. Amazingly, half (50%) of those Brits said they thought they didn’t need the insurance, while 21% said they couldn’t afford it. More than one in seven (17%) said they simply didn’t get round to buying a policy.
Sammy-Lea Samways, head of travel insurance at Confused.com, says: “Following in the footsteps of our favourite TV stars is something many people dream of, and our research shows that many Brits are making their dreams reality.
“With Made in Chelsea’s trip to New York hitting our screens in August, we’re sure people will be watching eagerly and planning their next trip around the destinations that the cast visit.
“However, it’s really worrying to see that 21% of Brits said they couldn’t afford travel insurance. Travel insurance is a vital component of any trip and whether people are travelling to New York or Newcastle, they should consider purchasing a policy just in case the worst was to happen. With policies starting from as little as £1.371, there really is no reason to travel without it. Travellers should also check their existing products, such as bank accounts, as they may be covered through that.
“As an added bonus, anyone who buys a travel insurance policy from Confused.com over the next few months will be able to enter into a prize draw to win one million pounds or a weekly prize of £10,000. Money that could be used to emulate the Made in Chelsea gang’s trip to New York.”
To help inspire Brits further on their travels, Confused.com has produced a “what type of traveller are you?” quiz. Take the quiz find out what your travel personality is at:
confused.com/travel-insurance/articles/which-type-of-traveller-are-you-quiz