Bit of advice/experiences needed.
Were looking at booking a jolly up in work for Cheltenham 2010
Were looking at the Guiness stand, anybody done it before, is it worth the extra, is it just too busy for a decent day out? Any advice for a cheap (er) way to do things there?
Were waying up, Limo or Hotel or train home, etc, etc
Any info gratefully received.
Cheers
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There will be lots of people there and moving around is very difficult, but if you want to be in a beer tent with some pals soaking up the atmo and seeing the odd bit of racing - then the Best Mate enclosure is cheaper and ideal for this.
The Guinness Grandstand is not really worth the extra.
Organise a minibus or cab of some kind, as there is an excellent drop-off zone system in operation and your driver can park up for the day for £5 - then meet you at a prearranged spot after racing.
Hotels are expensive, and never close to the course - so you are as well travelling further afield to get something more reasonably priced.
You will be all finished at 6pm - so your driver can take you onto somewhere else for food and the evening etc.
Hope this is of some help.
Im going for my mates stag do on the Friday, 20 of us in fancy dress of course!....never been before so its always good to read advice on what or what not to do!
btw you will struggle to get a hotel for the thursday night and if you do, will find its well over-priced. We looked at going up on the thursday but the prices were a joke! Going on the friday and coming back on the Sunday. Anyone been out in Cheltenham itself???
already looking at cab there and back to home (ish) for a late curry and beers.
Mines a (mini) stag do as well on the Friday
Did it last year, best sporting day money can buy.
Get there as early as possible as Cheltenham gridlocks on racedsy and you lose valuable 'studying' time.
Excellent day though and cheltenham in the evening is a great night out.
There are special buses which run from the station to the course and takes about 20/30 mins. Cost is £2 approx. Last year Dean Kiely and Scott Carson were sitting in front of us.
You also need to purchase Cheltenham tickets in advance I would say.
It is packed at the festival, but the atmosphere is superb. Best of them all IMO and I have been to The Grand National , The Derby, Ascot etc.
Never stayed over night because most / all places tend to be pre booked more than a year in advance or the prices are sky high.
We just go for General admission, so you can go to various parts, bars etc.
Overall rating - fantastic !
What others have said really, very busy. A LOT of Irish! Ya good ting!
Train to continue the party.
You do not need to pre book tickets except for Friday. If you do however you will get them slightly cheaper. We have club tickets, £60/65 which are worth getting IMO. You can get into areas which are not so packed.
The bus ride back to the train station is legendary, great sing songs. I have done the train back to London at night once or twice and basically it's a horrific. Whether you've booked a seat or not you'll be kucky to get one. Some drunk will be in yours.
Cheltenham itself in the evenings is just too much for our crowd (45-65 age range). We stay in a hotel a few miles away and get a local train into Cheltenham in the morning and a mini bus back in the evening. Staying down there is the best bet. We go home on Thursday morning.
For atmosphere it is without doubt the best sporting occasion of the calendar.
One year we did Chepstow on Saturday, Taunton on Monday and Cheltenham on Tues, Weds, Thurs! We were much younger then!
The other meetings at Cheltenham in Oct, Dec and Jan are completely different; the course seems so strange when it is 75% empty.
Another good day is the Hennessy Gold Cup, last Saturday in November at Newbury. We have a mini bus going there in just over 3 weeks.
Good info