We’re here to help you find the sunniest place in the UK. UK sun can be a bit hit or miss but we have created the ultimate guide to finding that sunshine on a staycation holiday. A staycation holiday is a trip near home, but it can be a bit more exciting than going down the road! They are perfect for trips that avoid public transport or offer minimal travel times. You will notice that the South Coast dominates the top 10. While there are sunny places all over the UK, we’ve focused on those that give you the best possible chance of nurturing your tan! The UK is full of places that will make yo ..read more

The Olympics 2024 are right around the corner, kicking off on the 26th of July, with the Paralympics slightly later, beginning on the 28th of August. This year there are 329 medal events with 184 countries participating in the Olympics. What makes this year even more special is that this is the first year to achieve gender equality in the games. There is an equal 50 – 50 split between male and female athletes. Now that the EURO’s has just finished, keep the momentum going with another trip to see a spectacular sporting event. Like the EURO’s, the Olympics are also held only once every four yea ..read more

Passports are our golden tickets to exploring the world! To seek new experiences with friends and family or to embark on epic solo adventures. Whatever the destination, we must invest in a passport to travel far away from home, unless you’re the King (because all British passports bear the title of ‘His Majesty Charles III’). Also, a passport is free for anyone born in or before 1929. So, if you happen to be under 95, whenever you’re going and wherever you’re going remember your passport! A brief history Our passports are older than we may think! The earliest reference dates back to 450 BC in ..read more

Do you travel with a GHIC Card? Travelling to and from the EU has changed post-Brexit. However, travelling with a GHIC and suitable travel insurance should give you peace of mind. Whether your EHIC is still in date, or you now have a GHIC, (which replaced the EHIC) we wanted to share some up-to-date travel advice and rules around this item on your travel kit list. What is the difference between the EHIC and the GHIC? Although GHIC cards have been available since the UK left the European Union, no healthcare arrangement existed for anyone travelling to Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Switzer ..read more

Island hopping is a unique way to explore different parts of the world. Some islands will be considered tourist hot spots, but you can find some wonderful places when exploring foreign Islands. Whether you prefer to plan every detail or go spur of the moment, there are island hopping breaks for everyone! Take a look at some wonderful island-hopping holidays: Here are our top 10 favourite island holidays… Greece, where you have many islands to choose from, and travelling between them takes as little as 20 minutes. Thailand, which was named 2024’s top adventure destination. Croatia was voted a ..read more

Welcome to the second part of our EURO’S 2024 guide. Here, we will discuss the remaining stadiums and some more top tips on how to make the most of your time away. If you missed it, make sure to read part 1 of the blog. Frankfurt Arena England will play their second game at the Frankfurt Arena (Deutsche Bank Park) on the 20th of June. The arena is a 20-minute S-Bahn ride from the city centre and a 25-minute tram from the Mainufer fan zone (the northern bank of the main river). Staying in Frankfurt will set you back about £81 a night and while here, you can explore the various historical sites ..read more

On Tuesday 4th June at 08:00, 25 D-Day veterans departed by ferry from Free Spirit’s closest city – Portsmouth – to France alongside a flotilla of vintage warships. These included Royal Navy patrol boats and WWII-era motor gunboat 81. Together, they were off to attend commemorations in Normandy with a commemorative torch for a vigil at Bayeux (on Wednesday). By 16:00 that afternoon, more veterans graced the waves from Portsmouth to Normandy to mark the 80th Anniversary of D-Day that week. Like many trips to Northern Europe, The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans assisted this group of veterans ..read more

A last-minute holiday is one way to plan a surprise for a loved one who needs a well-deserved break. Plus, they can be a great way to get more for your money – whether interest rates continue to fall (or not) over the next six months. Although future interest rates are never 100% certain, the heatwaves we saw in Europe in the summer of 2023 and 2022 are likely to arrive again in the summer of 2024. As Europe shows no signs of chilling out, travel agents may see a “dramatic spike” in travellers booking last-minute summer holidays once again. Will you be one of them this summer? If you book a la ..read more

This is part 1 of a 2-part blog on Euro 2024 where we will look at all the stadia and host cities involved in EURO 2024. We’ll be paying particular attention to the venues where England and Scotland will play over the coming weeks. All prices referred to in the following paragraphs were correct at time of publish. Arguably one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year is due to start soon. So, get your football shirts ready for EURO 2024 which kicks off on the 14th of June. This year they are being held across Germany in 10 different host cities. It is the first time a German nation ..read more

Have you ever considered a wildlife adventure? Well, now might be the time to start. Currently, around 58% of European tour operators provide wildlife excursions. What’s more; these types of holidays are becoming increasingly more popular: 87% of Brits said that they would prefer to see animals in the wild than in captivity. Will you be the next to book a wildlife excursion? Here at Free Spirit, we have many staff members who have enjoyed exciting wildlife adventure holidays. Just look at some of the amazing experiences our team has had… Daniel and the turtles Our project manager Daniel was lu ..read more