Racing Fans Ditch Cheltenham for Budget-Friendly Benidorm, Saving Big on Beer and Hotel Deals!

RACING fans are shunning the Cheltenham Festival in their droves and heading off to sunny Spain.

Punters are heading to sunspots like Benidorm – and are saving hundreds of pounds to boot.

Fancy dress is the norm in Benidorm during Cheltenham weekCredit: Times Media Ltd Revelers watch the Cheltenham Festival races at the Marina Resort hotel in BenidormCredit: Times Media Ltd How the costs compare from Cheltenham to Benidorm

The most obvious difference is the weather… it’s a sunny 22°C in Spain compared to as low as 2°C in Cheltenham – with the chance of snow.

It’s shorts and sunnies instead of tweeds and wellies.

But the shocking difference in cost is the biggest draw – with the option being up to THREE times cheaper.

Many regular racegoers — groups of friends who have attended the festival for decades — have said they have been “priced out” of the UK event.

So for the same money as a train ticket from London to Gloucestershire, they are heading out to the likes of Benidorm in sunny Spain to enjoy the full experience for a fraction of the price.

While loyalists at the racecourse face the prospect of and hour-long queues for the loos, the smart money is heading to the

As well as forking out £7.50 for a Guinness in Cheltenham, burgers cost £12, and a ticket for the day will be somewhere between £47 and £180.

But in Benidorm, it’s £1.70 for a pint, burgers are around £6 and entry to most of the bars are free – and many have jumbo screens showing every single race.

In 2025 Sherryll Barker, 55, and husband Gary, 56, chose Benidorm – and were delighted.

Sherryll said: “We were going to go to but it was so expensive.

“We’d have wanted to be in the executive end, and by the time you’ve paid for your race tickets and two-night accommodation, we were ­looking at paying £1,500, and that’s without food and drink.

If you fancy trying out Benidorm this year, our travel partners have come up with these sure-fire winners.

Best price deal

• If you want more cash for your flutter, this is the one. On the Beach is offering a 7-night stay at the Benibeach Apartments (Self-catering) flying from London Luton on 7 March 2026 — From just £153pp (based on four sharing).

All-In winner

• Fancy unlimited food and drink while you study the form? On the Beach has 7 nights at the 4⭐️ Dynastic Hotel (All-Inclusive), flying from Stansted on 8 March 2026 — From just £495pp.

Regional Runners

• Fly from Birmingham for a full-board week at the 4⭐️ Hotel Rio Park from £467pp, or jet out from Glasgow to the 4⭐️ Voramar Hotel (B&B) from just £382pp.

Enjoy the sunshine on the beach in Benidorm and then watch the fun at CheltenhamCredit: Getty

Bet on Jet2

• Prefer Jet2 Holidays? Grab a Half-Board stay at the 4⭐️ Medplaya Hotel Regente from Luton (7 March) — From just £468pp.

Punters get into the party spirit in Benidorm in March 2025Credit: Times Media Ltd Punter Nathan Jones, 34, from Leeds cheers on his horseCredit: Times Media Ltd Craig Moore, 47, from Okehampton and Glyn Williams, 47, from Bristol in full party modeCredit: Times Media Ltd

“Coming here, we’ve paid £1,300 for five nights, flights and accommodation included.

“When we arrived yesterday, the weather was glorious, and it was snowing in Cheltenham.”

So Sherryll and Gary paid £1,300 for five nights in Spain, compared to £1,500 for two nights at Cheltenham – saving themselves £200 and getting three extra nights FREE.

Cheltenham has responded to its falling numbers with a range of changes designed to entice fans back.

Most notably, the price of a pint of and apply across all 16 racedays at the track in 2025/26.

Spirits have also benefitted from ‘minor reductions’ while, for the first time, Prosecco will be available.

Punters will now be able to take their drinks anywhere around the venue too following the removal of all restrictions.

In a bid to improve the raceday experience the overall capacity at the track will be cut from 68,500 to 66,000.

is however cementing itself as the new No1 ­alternative for racing enthusiasts.

Sun, sangria and the sport of kings – what’s not to love?

You can also find other travel bargains with our carefully chosen partners.

We have amazing trips to see the superstars of

There are also amazing.

And we have ticket and hotel deals for and in 2026.

And we have some great deals to see thrills and spills of the F1 season, including a week-long trip to the

* Prices correct at time of writing but are subject to change.

Inothewayurthinkin jumps a fence on the way to winning the Gold Cup in 2025Credit: Sunday Times