Racing followers flood into Benidorm to get pleasure from ‘Costa del Cheltenham’ motion within the solar
British racing fans have started flooding into Benidorm for the ever-growing Cheltenham-themed week of booze and betting in the sun.
Punters who want to stretch their money are increasingly heading to the Spanish resort this time of year to enjoy the live horsey action while supping cheap booze and placing stakes. Cries of ‘Cheltenham here we come!’ were heard from Gatwick airport as party-loving Brits embarked for holiday hotspot alongside your Daily Star.
Hotel bookings in Benidorm have risen an eye-watering 225% around the festival, with The Marina Resort Hotel becoming an extremely popular location. The resort provides big screen TVs, pool parties and live DJ sets to make the festival a real occasion.
Plenty of punters also attend in racing-themed fancy dress. Prices for drinks are also markedly more affordable over in Spain, with the cheapest pint expected to cost around £1.70.
Punter Brian, from Belfast, usually attends Cheltenham festival itself but believes he’ll get more bang for his buck abroad and was looking to enjoy the racing in the sun. The 46-year-old, who came to Benidorm in a group of eight, said: “We were looking for something new – a new experience.”
Benidorm-loving Pete, 40, a builder from House of Construction, Dorking, said: “I go [to Cheltenham] most years for Guinness and fish and chips.” Brit Station is among bars showing races on the Calle Gerona. Bartender Petina Petrova, 35, said: “We’re still open for business.
“It’s still Costa del Cheltenham time. Normally, we have hundreds turn up and that is not going to change. Last year we had 1,500 people.” The popularity of jetting out to the Costa Blanca spot for the race meet has soared over the past few years. Fans find it impossible to avoid 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: “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.
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