How Free Spirits Explore With Annual Travel Insurance

We wanted to hear from our own Free Spirit clients about their holiday experiences and which destinations they would recommend. We spoke to two frequent travellers who each hold an Annual Travel Insurance Policy with us. You’ll be amazed at some of the holidays they’ve been on!

Firstly, we spoke to Mr. Jackson, who has had an Annual Travel Insurance Policy with Free Spirit for several years now. He always takes out an annual policy as he often travels to sunny, scenic Mallorca in the Balearic Islands, where he has had a property since 1983! Typically, he goes there around three times a year. He makes the most of his Super-Duper policy – it allows him to stay abroad for up to 45 days for any one trip before having to return to the UK, and he uses his maximum allowance each time!

Although Mr. Jackson has a property he can spend time in overseas, he also travels further afield and sees lots of other countries as well. Once a year, he visits Morocco in North Africa, where he stays in Agadir, which sits on the Atlantic Ocean shoreline at the foot of the towering Atlas Mountains. He often embarks on a day trip to the bustling city of Marrakesh, to explore the bustling souks (market places) and visits the spectacular mosques, palaces and gardens. As such, he was pleasantly surprised to find that Free Spirit’s Annual policy for European travel covers Morocco at no extra charge.

An aficianado (devotee) of all things Italian, Mr. Jackson also loves to visit the Italian Lakes in Northern Italy. He recommends them because of the beautiful scenery. The three largest lakes are Maggiore, Como and Garda, each of which are located below steep mountains and feature charming lakeside villages to explore. You can also go on kayaking trips, visit Roman ruins, explore castles and head off on hillside hiking trails.

The Italian Lakes can be a stopping-off in point in a wider exploration of the country. For example, Mr. Jackson has previously spent time in Milan in the Lombardy region, enjoying this vibrant city’s energetic mix of fashion, art, architecture and football. From here, he took the train from Milan to Lake Garda, a journey that is less than two hours long, making it perfect for a day trip.

From Lake Garda, he then found it easy to get a rail connection to Verona. The 30-minute journey transported him to this historic city, the setting of Shakespeare’s famous play Romeo and Juliet. Here, he viewed the beautiful medieval and Renaissance era buildings as he strolled along the banks of the Adige River. Verona also boasts a 1^st-century Roman ampitheatre – the Verona Arena – where you can see operas and plays. You can even visit ‘Juliet’s House’, a 14th-century building featuring a balcony overlooking a courtyard that is said to be the inspiration for one of the play’s most iconic scenes. All in all, a trip to the Italian Lakes is the perfect summer escape, a location from which you can visit several amazing places in just one stress-free holiday!

When we asked whether there were any locations or types of holiday still on Mr. Jackson’s bucket list, he revealed a few that he would like to experience one day. He has enjoyed several wide-ranging cruises around the Mediterranean, but has never embarked on a river cruise. This is something he is keen to do when he can.

He was particularly interested in taking a European river cruise on the Rhône River which traverses the waterways of southern France. Running through the region of Provence, from Lyon in the north to Avignon in the south, this trip features stunning historic cities, beautiful countryside, renowned vineyards and scenic riverside villages. A key attraction is the opportunity to sample Côtes du Rhône and Beaujolais wines, well as many delicious cheeses and local regional delicacies.

Mr. Jackson has previously been to Madeira, an archipelago comprised of four islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of Africa. He enjoyed the subtropical climate, botanical gardens and rugged mountains in this autonomous Portuguese region. However, Mr Jackson has never actually been to Portugal itself, and this is another destination on the list.

He’s particularly interested in visiting the capital city of Lisbon, where he plans to wander through the cobbled medieval streets of the Alfama district, before heading uphill to the stunning medieval São Jorge Castle. The ornate Jerónimos Monastery in the Belém district is on his must-see itinerary, and he intends to explore the lively shopping districts of Baixa and Chiado. After all the sight-seeing, unwinding with a coffee and a Pastel de Nata (a traditional Portuguese custard tart) at a waterfront café overlooking the Taga river is also on his to-do list!

Mr Jackson normally gets his Free Spirit Annual Travel Insurance Policy online as he finds the process easy. However, he knows that support is available on the phone from our friendly customer support team should he need it.

As frequent travellers who love to see new places, Dee and Graham are true free spirits! They’ve held an annual Free Spirit European travel policy with us for many years. They often have up to 10 holidays year!

The highlight of one of their more recent trips was a May to June early summer holiday, where they set sail on a Tall Ship called the Star Clipper. This trip was described by their captain as not only a cruise, but a ‘sea experience’. They began their journey by first flying into Istanbul, the capital of Turkey, where they got to visit mosques, palaces and the Grand Bazaar before setting sail. Dee and Graham were pleased that Turkey was covered by Free Spirit’s European travel Annual policy, as it sits in both southeastern Europe and Asia. On the voyage, they also stopped at a few Greek islands and ended the trip on the Greek mainland in  Athens, where they explored the historic sites. However, they did warn us that the Acropolis still has some scaffolding surrounding it to support the ancient structure. They added that: ‘The weather was more than hot but the whole trip was amazing, and we are hoping to sail on her (the Star Clipper) again very soon.’

They also went on another cruise in September which saw them visit Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Estonia. They described the cruise ports as ‘beautiful, clean and elegant cities’. Whilst they were at their various destinations, they did lots of sightseeing. In Denmark, they even got to witness the changing of the guard in Royal Copenhagen.

One aspect Dee and Graham mentioned was that they had managed to see the Northern Lights on a previous holiday. They went to the north of Norway to see this amazing natural phenomenon and said: ‘Good grief what an experience, recommend it to everyone but do wear lots of warm clothing, and take a good camera!’ With this in mind, they managed to get some perfect holiday photos of the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, on their trip too.

They also visited the Italian Lakes in July – as mentioned earlier, this is one of Mr. Jackson’s bucket list choices. However, Dee and Graham noted that they were very crowded. They also visited Venice and Verona, but again felt that the number of people visiting, as well as the heat, was extreme. If you do decide to visit one of these places, take a look at what it’s like in the shoulder season.

Montenegro was another memorable summer holiday destination for Dee and Graham. They enjoyed wandering through the picturesque Venetian streets of the city of Kotor, and also ventured out on a boat trip in the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic Sea in Boka Bay.

Every year, Dee and Graham travel to try to get away from the ‘cold and damp’ English weather. For example, on a January holiday, they went to Madeira – one of Mr. Jackson’s previous holiday destinations – where they welcomed the glorious sunshine. However, they do still appreciate the English weather when it is sunny.

The couple recently had four UK holidays in one year. One of their favourite places is Shropshire, which they went to three times. Here, you can find the famous Iron Bridge, Coalport China factory, and the Victorian Blist Hill Village/Museum. With a Free Spirit Annual Travel Insurance Policy, trips in the UK are also covered, provided they have at least one night of pre-booked accommodation. Be sure to take advantage like Dee and Graham have!