Benidorm set for largest and booziest Cheltenham Festival ever as followers race to Spain
As the Cheltenham festival draws closer thousands of brits are jetting off to Spain to enjoy the festival in the Spanish sun with itinerates filled with live DJ sets, pool parties and €1 pints
Thousands are Brits will be traveling to Benidorm this weekend ahead of the Cheltenham Festival(Image: ‘)
Benidorm is gearing up for Cheltenham – and it’s going to be the biggest betting and booze-filled bonanza yet.
Bar owners are bracing themselves for a huge influx of racing fans ready to hit the strip and let their hair down this week.British holidaymakers will descend on the Spanish city in their droves to watch the world-famous racing festival, which starts on Tuesday, with hotel bookings up 225%.
The popularity of jetting out to the Costa Blanca spot for the race meet has soared over the past few years, as Brits are lured in by the promise of cheap pints in the sun while watching the action unfold.
Zoe Harris, chief customer officer of package holiday firm On the Beach, said: “We’re so close to hearing the Benidorm roar erupt as the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle gets underway.
“It’s clear from the number of punters heading over that this is shaping up to be the biggest Cheltenham Festival Benidorm has ever seen. The bars will be packed from first race to last and you’re guaranteed to hear the cheers echoing down the strip with every winner.”
The firm launched Cheltenham Festival package holiday to Benidorm which it says has proved a winner. Bookings to the two hotels included in it are up 225% for the week of the racing.
Richard Jobling, owner of the Benidorm and Beyond travel website, said it’s made even busier by the fact it’s St Patrick’s Day as well – with revellers “morphing into one”.
He said: “Cheltenham Week is now very much a significant event in the Benidorm calendar. It has firmly established itself as a ‘thing to do’ over the past decade, more so in the last five years.
“It originated more out of chance than any grand design. Saint Patrick’s Day was the main source point, so to speak, as the whole resort goes green. On March 17 nearly everyone is wearing green and the place is bouncing.
“As the Cheltenham Festival always coincides with Paddy’s Day they morphed into one, and you will find people coming out to experience Cheltenham followed by Saint Patrick’s Day.”
Enticed by pints, never-ending nightlife and Benidorm’s unbelievable €1 beers it’s no wonder why so many Brits are grabbing their passports to attend Cheltenham under the Spanish sun.
Many Brits are eyeing the Marina Resort Hotel to be the best place to stay once the festival gets underway. The resort is teeming with big screens, pool parties, and live DJ performances creating a one-of-a-kind Cheltenham experience.
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