What is the Best Travel Insurance 2024?

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Moneyfacts has been analysing data for 35 years and our Star Ratings act as a badge of quality, providing an easy way for you to identify exceptional products that deserve your consideration. The chart below shows a selection of those travel insurance policies awarded four and five stars, and you can see the full list of winners at the end of this page.

Featured travel insurance providers

Last updated: 10/07/2024

Covered2Go
Exclusive Offer: Save 10%* Today When You Use Code MONEY10.

Enjoy a fantastic 10% discount on our wide-ranging travel insurance plans with promo code MONEY10.

Why Choose Covered2Go?

Safeguard Your Holiday with Cancellation Cover of up to £10,000 per person.

Coverage for Emergency Medical Expenses and Repatriation up to £10,000,000 per person.

24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance.

All Pre-existing Medical Conditions are Considered.

No Age Limit on Single Trip Policies.

Cruise and Winter Sports Options Available.

Travel with peace of mind knowing you're covered with Covered2Go. Get A Quote Today!

*10% discount applies to Covered2Go policies only and does not apply to any premium generated to cover pre-existing medical conditions. Terms, Conditions and Exclusions Apply.
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Oasis Travel
Protect your holiday with Oasis Travel Insurance – offering cover for Single Trip, Annual Multi Trip & Backpackers! Simple Insurance, there for you in your time of need! Get a quote now and receive 10% off by entering the promotional code “MONEYFACTS10”!

We pride ourselves on our excellent customer service and cover, which is reflected in our excellent Moneyfacts 5-Star rating and why we’ve paid out over £2m in claims to date.

Emergency Medical Cover up to £20m

Cancellation Cover up to £6,000

Baggage Cover up to £3,000

Cover for medical conditions

No upper age limit*

Optional Extras include Winter Sports, Cruise, Gadget, Sports & Activities, Covid-19 & Business Travel

MyOasis Customer Self-Service portal available for all customers.

*Applies to Single Trip policies only
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Saga
Single trip cancellation up to £15,000, depending on your cover level

Saga Travel Insurance is for people over 50 with no upper age limit

Annual trip cancellation up to £20,000, depending on your cover level

Best choice for over-50s. Cover for most pre-existing medical conditions

Emergency medical cover up to £20 million, depending on your cover level
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Post Office
Whether you are looking to holiday within the UK or abroad make sure that you protect your upcoming travel plans as soon as you are booked with Post Office Travel Insurance.

No upper age limit on single trip policies and all medical conditions are considered

Upgrade your cover with ease

Outpatient holiday health support 24/7 with medical Assistance Plus
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LV=
Get a 10% discount when you buy our travel insurance online
Choose from either Essential or our Moneyfacts 5 Star rated Premier policy, which offers:

Up to £5,000 cancellation cover or £10,000 with our Premier Policy

All pre-existing medical conditions considered

Up to £10million emergency medical cover

Cruise cover automatically included on annual policies

You can choose to add cover for baggage and winter sports. You can also add cruise cover to single trip policies.
Go To Provider's Site
Just Travel Cover

Save 12% Today with Code MONEY12

Just Travel Cover is the UK’s Best Travel Insurance Provider as of the 2023 Insurance Choice Awards.

With medical treatment abroad rising and claims at an all-time high, Travel Insurance has never been so important.
At Just Travel Cover you can compare prices and policies from multiple insurers in one place, and you can save 12% with code MONEY12.

• Compare prices from multiple insurers
• No age limit
• Cover for hundreds of pre-existing medical conditions
• Exclusive “Smart Luggage” option with real-time payouts up to £550 for delayed/lost luggage.
• Protect your holiday with cancellation cover up to £12,500pp
• Emergency medical expenses cover up to £15,000,000

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TravelTime
TravelTime specialises in offering great value Single Trip, Annual Multi Trip, Winter Sports and Backpacker travel insurance.

Quick and easy to quote and buy

Choose from 3 great levels of cover

24 hour worldwide emergency assistance

Friendly UK based customer service
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Allianz Assistance Gold Cover

• £10,000,000 for emergency medical and associated expenses
• £25,000 for legal expenses
• £2,000 for damaged, lost or stolen personal possessions
• £20,000 for personal accidents
• £1,500 for delayed departures and much more should something unexpectedly go wrong.

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Admiral
Get 10% off when use the code MONEYFACTS23 at checkout*

Flexible Choice - Choose Single trip or Annual Multi Trip cover with varying levels of cover and many sports and leisure activities included as standard.

Cover when you need it - We insure a wide range of medical conditions.

Cover for young and old - We don't think age should hinder adventure which is why we offer travel insurance to holidaymakers aged 18 to 70.

Access to our 24-hour Multilingual Emergency Helpline - If you’re injured or fall ill while on holiday, you can call our 24-hour Emergency Assistance Helpline

_*
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Coverbaloo

Holidays are a time to switch off from regular life, and you need quality insurance that’s tailored to your circumstances to be able to properly relax knowing that you’ve got things covered. We work with a wide panel of specialist insurers to cover many different scenarios at competitive prices.

Age doesn’t stop you travelling and neither should your travel insurance, which is why we don’t impose any upper age limits on our policies, so you can still make sure you’re protected at any age.

Pre-existing medical conditions or illnesses can also make it preventative to get the right cover in place, but not with us. Our experienced team of advisers can talk you through anything if you have concerns, but we can cover most pre-existing conditions so nothing has to get in the way of your peace of mind.

So, whether you’re going on a solo adventure, a romantic city break as a couple, a lazy beach holiday with the family, or a cruise around the world, we’ve got you covered.

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loveit coverit
We’re a travel insurer that goes above-and-beyond to provide excellent cover and the friendly face of insurance. With over 1 million policies sold and 30 years’ experience, our Moneyfacts 5-Star rating says it all when it comes to our world-class level of service.

UK customer service

24/7 helpline

In partnership with AXA

Covid-19 cover Included

Over 50 sports covered

Easy to claim

Medical cover up to £15 million

Cancellation cover up to £5000

loveit coverit travel insurance will protect you, those you’re travelling with, and your belongings wherever you’re going. Visit our website today for a free instant quote.
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Leisure Guard
Medical Expenses for Medical Emergency & Repatriation (up to £15,000,000)

Trip Cancellation, Curtailment & Interruption (up to £7,500)

Personal Luggage(up to £3,000)

Leisure Guard travel insurance has a 24hr emergency helpline in place should you need us.

Cruise cover is included with all of our policies at no additional cost
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Good To Go Insurance
Medical travel insurance

Experts in cover for medical conditions

No upper age limit

Cover for cruise holidays

Covid-19 emergency medical cover abroad included in all policies

Covid+ policies include cancellation cover if you contract Covid-19 before you travel
Go To Provider's Site
Insure With Ease
Great value travel insurance

All policies include emergency medical cover abroad and cancellation if you contract Covid-19.

Discounts for couples, families and single parent families

Backpacker / Gap year cover

Cover for adventure sports and activities available

Wedding cover available
Go To Provider's Site
Insurefor.com
Flexible cover options to suit your trip

Insurance that covers you worldwide

Annual and Single Trip policies

Cover for pre-existing medical conditions

Award winning customer service
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Big Blue Cover
Big cover at affordable prices

Cover for Pre-existing medical conditions available

Cover for you and the people you travel with

24/7 emergency medical support, 365 days a year
Go To Provider's Site

Note

Links to third parties on this page are paid for by the third party. You can find out more about the individual products by visiting their site. Moneyfactscompare.co.uk will receive a small payment either if you click the links or if you use their services after you click through to their site. All information is subject is subject to change without notice. Please check all terms before making any decisions.

Disclaimer

The list of travel insurance providers on this page is a selection of services available and gives you an idea of the kind of options available. You can find out more about the individual products by visiting any of the providers listed. All information is subject to change without notice. Please check all terms before making any decisions. This information is intended solely to provide guidance and is not financial advice. Moneyfactscompare.co.uk will not be liable for any loss arising from your use or reliance on this information. If you are in any doubt, Moneyfactscompare.co.uk recommends you obtain independent financial advice.

What elements of the travel insurance policy do we look at?

The Moneyfacts Star Ratings for Travel Insurance are based on the weighting of specific product features, outside of premiums, that are likely to be the most relevant to those looking to take out a policy. A considerable number of features will add to the final score, and some of this information includes:

Age limits
Trip length
Medical cover
Cancellation cover
Travel abandonment
Travel delay cover
Baggage cover
Valuables limits

Travel delay claim time
Missed departure cover
Missed connection cover
Ski equipment cover
Wedding cover
Personal liability cover
Personal accident cover
End supplier failure

Scheduled airline failure
Winter sports
Business trips
Cruise cover
Excesses
Cash cover
Pet care cover
Golf cover

Age limits
Trip length
Medical cover
Cancellation cover
Travel abandonment
Travel delay cover
Baggage cover
Valuables limits

Travel delay claim time
Missed departure cover
Missed connection cover
Ski equipment cover
Wedding cover
Personal liability cover
Personal accident cover
End supplier failure

Scheduled airline failure
Winter sports
Business trips
Cruise cover
Excesses
Cash cover
Pet care cover
Golf cover

Age limits
Trip length
Medical cover
Cancellation cover
Travel abandonment
Travel delay cover
Baggage cover
Valuables limits

Travel delay claim time
Missed departure cover
Missed connection cover
Ski equipment cover
Wedding cover
Personal liability cover
Personal accident cover
End supplier failure

Scheduled airline failure
Winter sports
Business trips
Cruise cover
Excesses
Cash cover
Pet care cover
Golf cover

Travel Insurance Star Ratings 2024

Click the headings below to see the full list of star ratings awarded.

Annual Travel Insurance - Five Star

A to Z Insurance - Premium
A to Z Insurance - Standard
AA - Gold
AA - Gold (AA Members)
AA - Silver
AA - Silver (AA Members)
Able2Travel - Gold
Able2Travel - Platinum
ABTA - Travel Insurance Platinum
Admiral - Admiral Platinum
Adrian Flux - Premier Plus
Age Co - Platinum
Ageas - Gold
Ageas - Platinum
AllClear - Platinum
Annualtravelinsurance.com - Super Plus
ASDA Money - Premium
ASDA Money - Superior
Avanti Travel Insurance - Classic
Avanti Travel Insurance - Classic Cruise
Avanti Travel Insurance - Deluxe
Avanti Travel Insurance - Deluxe Cruise
Bank of Scotland - Platinum Account Travel Insurance
Barclays - Travel Pack
Barclays - Travel Plus Pack
Benenden Health - Platinum
Bettersafe.com - Gold
Bettersafe.com - Platinum
Bettersafe.com - Platinum Medical
Bettersafe.com - Premium Cruise
Blue Insurance - Premier Plus
British Mountaineering Council - Alpine & Ski/High Alt & Remote
CCS Insurance Services - Premier Plus
Cedar Tree Travel Insurance - Platinum
Churchill - Travel Insurance
Citybond Suretravel - Supreme
ClearSkies Travel Insurance - Gold
ClearSkies Travel Insurance - Platinum
ClearSkies Travel Insurance - Premium Cruise
Columbus Direct - Gold
Co-op Insurance - Platinum
Co-operative Travel Insurance - Super
Coutts & Co. - Coutts Travel Protection
CoverCloud - Gold
CoverCloud - Platinum
Covered2go Travel Insurance - Gold
Covered2go Travel Insurance - Platinum
Covered2go Travel Insurance - Silver
CoverForYou - Gold
CoverForYou - Platinum
Coverwise - Gold
Coverwise - Gold Select
Coverwise - Platinum
Coverwise - Platinum Select
DFDS - Prime
DFDS - Supreme
Emerald Life - Gold
Emerald Life - Platinum
Emerald Life - Premium Cruise
ERGO Travel Insurance - Optimum
Essential Travel Ltd - First Class
esure - Extra
Fit2Travel.co.uk - Gold
Fit2Travel.co.uk - Platinum
Flexicover - Diamond
Free Spirit - Super Duper
Get Going Travel Insurance - Diamond
Globelink International - Annual Multi Trip
Go Walkabout Travel Insurance - Gold
Go Walkabout Travel Insurance - Silver
Goodtogoinsurance.com - Platinum
Goodtogoinsurance.com - Premium Cruise
Greatcover.com - Super Plus
Halifax - Ultimate Reward Current Account
Hays Travel - Gold Cover
Hays Travel - Gold Cruise Cover
Holiday Extras - Gold
Holiday Extras - Gold Cruise
Holidaysafe - Platinum
Holidaysafe - Premier
Holidaysafe - Premier Plus
Holidaysafe - Premier Wintersports
Howden - Economy
Howden - Elite Cover
Howden - Premier
Howden - Premier Plus
Howden - Standard
HSBC - Premier Account
Insurancewith - Platinum
InsureandGo - Black
InsureandGo - Gold
InsuredToTravel - Gold
InsuredToTravel - Silver
InsureMore Travel Insurance - Deluxe
Insurewithease.com - Gold
Insurewithease.com - Platinum
Investec Bank - Voyage Visa Platinum
Jackson Lee Underwriting - Holiday Travel +
Journeyman Services Limited - Travel Insurance
Leisure Guard - Premier Plus
Lloyd & Whyte - Premier Plus
Lloyds Bank - Club Lloyds Platinum Account
Lloyds Bank - Platinum Account
loveit coverit - Premium
LV= - Premier
Mark Bates Ltd - Gold
Mark Bates Ltd - Platinum
Millstream Underwriting - Travel Insurance
Multitrip.com - Premier Plus
Nationwide Building Society - FlexPlus Worldwide Family Travel Insurance
Naturesave - Premier Plus
NatWest - Reward Black
Navigator - Diamond
Navigator - Gold
Oasis Insurance - Diamond
Oasis Insurance - Ruby
Online Travel Cover - Voyager Plus Prime
Online Travel Cover - Voyager Plus Supreme
P J Hayman & Company Limited - Travel Plus Premier Plus
Penguin Insurance - Premier Plus
Post Office Insurance - Premier
PremierCare - Premier
PremierCare - Premier Plus
RAC - Black Cover
RAC - Silver Cover
RIAS - Gold
RIAS - Platinum
Royal Bank of Scotland - Reward Black
Saga - Saga Plus Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
Saga - Saga Standard Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
Sainsbury's Bank - Gold
Sainsbury's Bank - Platinum
Santander - Travel Insurance
Select & Protect - Gold
Ski Club of Great Britain - Diamond Cover
Ski Club of Great Britain - Ski Club Platinum Membership
SkiCover.com - Voyager Plus Prime
SkiCover.com - Voyager Plus Supreme
Southdowns Insurance Services Limited - Platinum
Southdowns Insurance Services Limited - Platinum Gadget
Southdowns Insurance Services Limited - Platinum Select
Southdowns Insurance Services Limited - Platinum Select Gadget
starttravel.co.uk - 4 Star
starttravel.co.uk - 5 Star
Staysure - Comprehensive
Staysure - Signature
Switched On Insurance - Premium
Switched On Insurance - Ultimate
Tesco Bank - Premier
The Co-operative Bank - Everyday Extra
Thomas Cook - First Class
Towergate Insurance - Premier
Towergate Insurance - Premier Plus
Travel Insurance Saver - Gold
Travel Insured - Premier Plus
TravelGeo - Platinum
Trusted Insurances - Diamond
Trusted Insurances - Ruby
Ulster Bank - ufirst Private Current Account
Ulster Bank - ufirstgold Account
Unite Insurance - Premier
Unite Insurance - Premier Plus
Unite Insurance - Standard
Virgin Money - Club M Account Travel Insurance
Virgin Money - Gold
Viva Travel Insurance - Platinum
Voyager Insurance Services - Prime
Voyager Insurance Services - Supreme
Wesleyan - Travel Insurance

Annual Travel Insurance - Four Star

Adrian Flux - Economy
Adrian Flux - Premier
Adrian Flux - Standard
Age Co - Gold Plus
Ageas - Silver
AllSAFE - Premier Plus
Alpha Travel Insurance - Alpha Zero
Alpha Travel Insurance - Alpha Zero Wintersports
Annualtravelinsurance.com - Super
Aviva - Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
Barrhead Travel Services - Premier Plus
Benenden Health - Gold Plus
Bettersafe.com - Standard Cruise
Big Cat Travel Insurance - Premier
Black Travel Insurance - Premier Plus
Blue Insurance - Premier
British Mountaineering Council - Trek/Rock
Caravan and Motorhome Club - Motoring and Personal Plus Cover
CCS Insurance Services - Economy
CCS Insurance Services - Premier
CCS Insurance Services - Standard
Cedar Tree Travel Insurance - Gold
Citybond Suretravel - Premier
ClearSkies Travel Insurance - Standard Cruise
Columbus Direct - Silver
Co-op Insurance - Gold
DFDS - Enhanced
Direct Line - Select Premier Travel Insurance
Direct Line - Travel Insurance
Direct Travel Insurance - Premier Plus
DogTag - Max
easyJet - Platinum
Emerald Life - Standard Cruise
ERGO Travel Insurance - Protect
ERGO Travel Insurance - Winter Sports Optimum
Essential Travel Ltd - Executive
esure - Classic
Europesure - Platinum
Explorer Travel Insurance - Platinum
Flexicover - Gold Wintersports
Free Spirit - Super
Freedom Insurance Services - Platinum
Goodtogoinsurance.com - Gold
Goodtogoinsurance.com - Standard Cruise
Greatcover.com - Super
Holiday Extras - Silver
Holiday Extras - Silver Cruise
Holidaysafe - Standard Wintersports
Howden - Premier Cover
Hughes Insurance - Premier
Hughes Insurance - Standard
Insurance Republic - Diamond
Insurancewith - Wintersports Multi Trip
InsuraTrip.com - Super
Insure & Escape - First
InsureandGo - Silver
insurefor.com - Premier
InsureMore Travel Insurance - Standard
It's So Easy Travel Insurance - Enhanced
Jackson Lee Underwriting - Sports Travel +
JS Travel Insurance - Platinum
Leisure Guard - Premier
Lloyd & Whyte - Economy
Lloyd & Whyte - Standard
M&S Bank - Travel Insurance
Monzo - Premium Travel Insurance
Multitrip.com - Premier
Naturesave - Economy
Naturesave - Premier
Naturesave - Standard
NatWest - Reward Platinum
NatWest - Reward Silver
Navigator - Pearl
Oasis Insurance - Emerald
Online Travel Cover - Voyager Plus Enhanced
P J Hayman & Company Limited - Travel Plus Premier
Penguin Insurance - Economy
Penguin Insurance - Premier
Penguin Insurance - Standard
Planet Earth Travel Insurance - Annual Multi Trip
Post Office Insurance - Standard
PremierCare - Economy
PremierCare - Standard
RIAS - Silver
Royal Bank of Scotland - Reward Platinum
Royal Bank of Scotland - Reward Silver
Select & Protect - Silver
SkiCover.com - Voyager Plus Enhanced
Snowcard - Adventure Basic
Snowcard - Adventure Plus
Snowcard - Extreme Adventure
Snowcard - Max Adventure
Snowcard - Pro Adventure
Southdowns Insurance Services Limited - Gold
Southdowns Insurance Services Limited - Gold Gadget
Southdowns Insurance Services Limited - Gold Select
Southdowns Insurance Services Limited - Gold Select Gadget
SportsCover Direct - Gold
Swinton Insurance - Swinton Travel
Tesco Bank - Standard
The True Traveller - Traveller Plus
Thomas Cook - Premier
Towergate Insurance - Economy
Towergate Insurance - Standard
Travel Insurance Saver - Silver
Travel Insured - Premier
Travel Insured - Standard
Travel Republic - Super Plus
TravelGeo - Gold
TravelGeo - Silver
TravelInsurance4Medical.co.uk - Superior
TravelTime Travel Insurance - Premier Plus
Unite Insurance - Economy
Virgin Money - Silver
Viva Travel Insurance - Gold
Voyager Insurance Services - Enhanced
World First - Premier
World First - Standard

Single Trip Travel Insurance - Four Star

Adrian Flux - Economy
Adrian Flux - Premier
Adrian Flux - Premier Plus
Adrian Flux - Standard
Age Co - Gold Plus
Ageas - Silver
AllClear - Gold Plus
AllSAFE - Premier Plus
Alpha Travel Insurance - Alpha 50 Wintersports
Alpha Travel Insurance - Alpha Zero
Annualtravelinsurance.com - Super
ASDA Money - Value
Aviva - Single Trip
Barrhead Travel Services - Premier Plus
Benenden Health - Gold Plus
Bettersafe.com - Gold Medical
Big Cat Travel Insurance - Premier
Black Travel Insurance - Premier Plus
Blue Insurance - Premier
British Mountaineering Council - Travel
British Mountaineering Council - Trek/Rock
Caravan and Motorhome Club - Motoring and Personal Plus Cover
CCS Insurance Services - Economy
CCS Insurance Services - Premier
CCS Insurance Services - Standard
Cedar Tree Travel Insurance - Gold
Citybond Suretravel - Premier
Columbus Direct - Silver
Co-op Insurance - Silver
DFDS - Enhanced
Direct Line - Travel Insurance
Direct Travel Insurance - Premier Plus
DogTag - Max
easyJet - Gold
Emerald Life - Standard Cruise
ERGO Travel Insurance - Protect
ERGO Travel Insurance - Winter Sports Optimum
Essential Travel Ltd - Executive
esure - Classic
Europesure - Platinum
Explorer Travel Insurance - Gold Plus
Flexicover - Gold Wintersports
Free Spirit - Super
Go Walkabout Travel Insurance - Working Holiday
Goodtogoinsurance.com - Gold
Goodtogoinsurance.com - Standard Cruise
Greatcover.com - Super
Hays Travel - Silver Cover
Hays Travel - Silver Cruise Cover
Holiday Extras - Silver
Holiday Extras - Silver Cruise
Howden - Premier Cover
Hughes Insurance - Premier
Insurance Republic - Diamond
Insurancewith - Wintersports Single Trip
InsuraTrip.com - Super
Insure & Escape - First
insurefor.com - Premier
InsureMore Travel Insurance - Standard
It's So Easy Travel Insurance - Enhanced
Journeyman Services Limited - Travel Insurance
Leisure Guard - Premier
Lloyd & Whyte - Economy
Lloyd & Whyte - Standard
loveholidays - Premier Travel Insurance
M&S Bank - Travel Insurance
Multitrip.com - Premier
Naturesave - Economy
Naturesave - Premier
Naturesave - Standard
Navigator - Pearl
Oasis Insurance - Emerald
Online Travel Cover - Voyager Plus Enhanced
P J Hayman & Company Limited - Travel Plus Premier
Penguin Insurance - Economy
Penguin Insurance - Premier
Penguin Insurance - Premier Plus
Penguin Insurance - Standard
Planet Earth Travel Insurance - Single Trip
Post Office Insurance - Standard
PremierCare - Economy
RIAS - Silver
Select & Protect - Bronze
Select & Protect - Silver
SkiCover.com - Voyager Plus Enhanced
Snowcard - Adventure Basic
Snowcard - Adventure Plus
Snowcard - Extreme Adventure
Snowcard - Max Adventure
Snowcard - Pro Adventure
Southdowns Insurance Services Limited - Gold
Southdowns Insurance Services Limited - Gold Select
SportsCover Direct - Gold
Swinton Insurance - Swinton Travel
Tesco Bank - Standard
Totaltravelprotection.com - Gold
Towergate Insurance - Economy
Travel Insurance Saver - Silver
Travel Insured - Premier
Travel Insured - Premier Plus
Travel Insured - Standard
Travel Republic - Super Plus
TravelGeo - Silver
TravelInsurance4Medical.co.uk - Superior
TravelTime Travel Insurance - Premier Plus
TUI - Single Trip
Unite Insurance - Economy
Virgin Money - Silver
Viva Travel Insurance - Gold
Voyager Insurance Services - Enhanced
World First - Premier
World First - Standard

Travel insurance explained

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance gives you protection against specific financial losses, health risks or incidents when travelling abroad. Travel insurance cover can be for a single trip, annual multi-trip covering multiple holidays and destinations as long as you check these countries are covered before you travel, and backpacking cover for extended trips to multiple destinations.

How does travel insurance work?

Travel insurance will cover the cost of any losses or costs you have incurred as a result of an accident, cancellation or delay. If you are unfortunate enough to have had a problem while on holiday, you can then file a claim to cover the costs or losses from this with your travel insurance provider. When you file a claim, you are submitting evidence to your insurer about what happened and the losses you incurred as a result. The insurer will then review your claim to check its validity and to check it meets the policy’s terms and conditions. They will then make a decision about how much to reimburse you for.

What does travel insurance cover include?

Lost or stolen possessions – items such as your luggage, cash to a certain limit and important documents. Specific items, such as musical instruments, sports equipment, jewellery and other expensive items, may require separate cover. If it’s valuable to you then check with your insurer that it is covered.
Disruptions and cancellations – if your trip is cut short by an unexpected event, a flight is delayed, or a trip cancelled then you should be able to claim for the costs of these disruptions through your insurance.
Medical expenses – it’s important to declare any pre-existing medical conditions before you buy your travel insurance. Some insurers will not cover certain medical conditions, including Coronavirus, others will, but only if they are notified as part of buying the policy. Also, declare any adventurous sports or high-risk activities as again your insurer may exclude incidents that result from these from your cover.
Legal fees – your insurer may cover the cost of any legal fees incurred when you are involved in an incident that isn’t your fault.

Why buy travel insurance?

Planning a holiday is an exciting time and finding a good travel insurance policy is essential to making sure your holiday goes as smoothly as possible. Unexpected events, such as bad weather disrupting your flight or even cancelling it, losing your luggage or theft of your property, could all devastate your trip away. You should buy travel insurance as soon as you have booked your holiday to make sure you get the benefit if you need to cancel unexpectedly.

Travel insurance with COVID-19 cover

COVID-19 cover has become an essential component of any travel insurance policy since the pandemic hit in 2020, though it’s important to bear in mind that you won’t be covered under every coronavirus-related scenario.

Typically speaking, most travel insurance policies will now offer cancellation cover if you or a member of your travel party tests positive for COVID-19 in the two weeks before the trip, and if you contract the virus while on holiday you’ll usually be covered for the associated medical costs as well, together with any additional accommodation and transport expenses.

However, you almost certainly won’t be covered if you’re travelling to any country on the red list, and neither will you be covered if Government restrictions (either at home or in your destination) prevent travel. You also won’t be covered if you cancel because you don’t feel safe going, and some policies won’t uphold COVID-19 claims if you’ve chosen to decline the recommended vaccinations.

It’s important to note that the rules regarding travel and coronavirus – and any relevant travel insurance policy – can change quickly, so it’s essential to stay up to date and be prepared for the fact that you’re taking on additional risk by travelling in the current climate. As well as making sure you’ve got insurance that’s as comprehensive as possible, always try to book flexibly so if circumstances change you don’t run the risk of losing out financially, and always carefully check the policy document, as specific terms will always differ between providers and products.

How to buy the right travel insurance

Six ways to get the right travel insurance for you:

Finalise the countries you are visiting so you know which geographical regions you need cover for.
Check that the activities you want to do are covered and to the level you need.
Consider group insurance if you are travelling as a family.
If you are travelling multiple times throughout the year, a 12-month policy could save you money.
Make sure you are happy with the excess and levels of cover.
Compare prices to get the best value for the cover you need.

Can I get travel insurance for free?

Travel insurance is offered as part of a current account by several different financial providers. Several accounts are available that come with Worldwide or European travel insurance cover. However, some of these accounts will charge a fee.

In addition, you will also need to check that the insurance offered meets your needs or the potential risks of the country you are travelling to. For example, some insurers may not insure older people or those with pre-existing medical conditions. It is also less likely that current account insurance offerings will cover losses as a result of cancellation or delay due to weather conditions.

Visit our charts to compare bank accounts with travel insurance.

Travel insurance for over-70s and 80s?

Some travel insurers set a maximum age of 65 for their policies, so travellers near or over this age will need to check their policy adequately covers them. By taking a policy specifically for those over 70, you won’t have this worry and you could benefit from additional cover such as:

Pre-existing medical conditions
Special medical equipment needed for and during travelling
Holiday cancellation due to ill-health
Lost medication
Cover for your carer or travel companion

Should I buy family travel insurance?

Buying travel insurance is essential to protect your holiday and, if you are travelling as a family, it can be expensive to buy multiple individual policies. Family travel insurance can cover your whole family with only one policy and one cost.

It usually covers families who reside at the same address, including two adults and up to five children (aged up to 18).

As with any travel insurance policy, you should check the cover that it comes with to make sure it meets your needs.

What travel insurance do I need for a cruise?

If you are planning a cruise for your next holiday, then specific cruise insurance is worth considering. Unlike standard travel insurance, this covers the specific activities and risks that come with a cruise. For example, travelling to multiple countries is automatically covered, but you must check your destinations are not excluded by your insurer. The length of your cruise may also exceed the maximum number of days allowed by most travel insurers.

Travel insurance for golf clubs

Golfing equipment is generally as heavy as it is expensive, so making sure you are covered for this when going on a golfing holiday is important. You can either check if your standard travel insurance policy will cover your golfing equipment or buy special golfing insurance. This specific type of insurance will cover you for the loss, theft or damage to your golf clubs and associated equipment. It can also cover green fees if you need to cancel your trip.

Travel insurance and dementia

It’s important to let your existing travel insurer know about your dementia diagnosis. Having dementia should not prevent you from getting insurance but you may find that you have to look at more products to find one that will cover you. Some insurers may either choose not to cover you at all, some may charge you more money, whereas others may exclude costs arising from your condition from your policy.

If your insurer is open to covering you, it is likely that you will be asked a series of medical questions. This will help the insurer decide on whether they can provide you with cover, which situations they can cover you for and the cost of this cover.

Hire car insurance

If you want to see more of your holiday destination than just the airport and the resort then hiring a car is a great idea. However, hire cars can often cost you more than just the headline rate that you book them at - even if you manage to get a great deal through one of the many hire car comparison sites out there.

A major example of one of these ‘stealth’ expenses tends to be insurance, so we’ve put together our top three useful insurance tips that can save you time, money and frustration at the hire car rental desk:

1. The real cost of basic cover

A basic level of insurance is often included in the hire car rental costs. However, this won’t stop the hire car company trying to sell you a whole heap of additional protections on top of this. This basic level of insurance cover will provide you with the minimum level of insurance protection for the country you are planning to travel in – however, remember that this may be just indemnity against third parties should you have an accident or injure someone.

Any cover for damage to the hire car itself will be subject to an excess and often the standard level of insurance does not include the cost of repairs to things such as tyres, wheels, glass or wing mirrors. That’s why it’s a good idea to carefully check what you are covered for.

Tip: Always take some time to make sure you understand the level of insurance you have with the basic hire. Even if the insurance with the hire car covers you for damage to the vehicle it is often the case that it carries a hefty excess. An excess means that you will be responsible for the cost of repairs up to a certain level.

For example, let’s say your car hire includes cover for damage to the vehicle (often called Collision Damage Waiver or CDW) with an excess of £1,000.

So you have a collision with another car where the total repair bill for the hire car comes to £2,500. You must pay the first £1,000 of this bill with the remaining £1,500 paid by the hire car insurance. Just as with comprehensive cover here in the UK this excess must be paid by you regardless of whether the accident was your fault or not.

2. Excess waiver insurance

Hire car companies will often attempt to sell you Excess Waiver Insurance (EXI) as a way of avoiding the basic CDW excess. This is - if you like - insurance for your insurance!

At about £25 per day, the cost of buying this at the rental desk can be far more expensive than arranging your own cover beforehand. Some providers will not mention you taking out this cover until you arrive to pick up your hire car, often catching people off guard and flustered.

Tip: Insurance excess waivers are not compulsory. However, if you decide to opt out of this additional insurance then don’t be surprised if the hire car company insists on you leaving a substantial deposit – usually taken from your credit card and held onto by the rental firm until you return the car in an undamaged state.

Instead of paying hefty additional fees when you pick up the hire car take out EWI before you travel. This is available from an array of UK providers and will cover you for the excess for a fraction of the cost of cover from the rental firm. However, even with EWI, if you have an accident, you will still have to pay the excess and then claim this back from your insurer. In addition, if you opt for this ‘standalone’ excess waiver insurance then don’t be surprised if the hire car firm still insists on taking a hefty deposit’ as well. If you use hire cars frequently then you can buy policies that will cover you for rental car excess fees for a whole year.

Compare car hire excess insurance

Purchasing your car hire excess insurance in advance can save you up to 65%. Compare car hire excess insurance with the help of Excessbuddy.com.

3. More cover than you need

One of the many extra insurances that you’ll be offered at the rental desk is personal injury cover. As the name suggests this covers the driver and any passengers in the vehicle for personal injuries if you are involved in an accident.

People can worry about medical costs when travelling outside the UK – hence for many this can seem like a good idea – and it is…except that if you’ve taken out travel insurance for your holiday or trip abroad then personal injury is often already covered.

Tip: Check if your travel insurance policy covers you and your family for personal injury and medical costs while abroad. If it does – and most good travel insurance policies will – then save your money and decline this extra insurance.

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Hire car insurance

1. The real cost of basic cover

2. Excess waiver insurance

Compare car hire excess insurance

3. More cover than you need

What is the best travel insurance in 2024?

Featured travel insurance providers

What elements of the travel insurance policy do we look at?

Travel Insurance Star Ratings 2024

Annual Travel Insurance - Five Star

Annual Travel Insurance - Four Star

Single Trip Travel Insurance - Five Star

Single Trip Travel Insurance - Four Star

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What is travel insurance?

How does travel insurance work?

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What does travel insurance cover include?

Why buy travel insurance?

Travel insurance with COVID-19 cover

How to buy the right travel insurance

Can I get travel insurance for free?

Travel insurance for over-70s and 80s?

Should I buy family travel insurance?

What travel insurance do I need for a cruise?

Travel insurance for golf clubs

Travel insurance and dementia

Hire car insurance

1. The real cost of basic cover

2. Excess waiver insurance

Compare car hire excess insurance

3. More cover than you need

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