February 13, 2025

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The best travel insurance | Cheap holiday insurance

The best travel insurance | Cheap holiday insurance

If you’re travelling abroad this year, travel insurance could save you from an expensive disaster. We explain what to look out for when picking a policy and some of the best travel insurance providers on the market.

If you’ve travelling overseas this year, whether it’s a two-week beach holiday or a long weekend city break, you should consider taking out travel insurance.

It’s something that could get you home if your plane is cancelled thanks to bad weather – or pay for extra days in a hotel while it clears up – and that’s before covering you for lost luggage, medical bills and a host of other things.

In this article we explain:

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance covers the cost of unforeseen events and mishaps that either stop you from going on holiday or affect you while you’re away.

Depending on the policy, it might cover you for:

  • Medical bills if you suffer illness or have an accident while you’re away
  • Cancellation of your trip for reasons outside your control
  • Lost, stolen or damaged baggage

There are two main options to choose from when taking out a travel insurance policy:

  • Single trip — covers you for one trip of a specified length only
  • Annual multi-trip — covers you for all your trips for one year (if you travel a lot this can work out cheaper than lots of single policies)

You need to make sure that your travel insurance is valid in the country you’re going to. In the UK, providers will offer cover for:

  • Europe only
  • Or the more expensive, worldwide policies (these either include or exclude the US)

In 2023, holidaying Brits made 574,000 claims on their travel insurance, According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), paying out £890 a time on average. So while these policies won’t stop bad things from happening, they can save you having to find the money to pay for unexpected costs even after you return from your holiday.

Read more: Ten budget travel tips

What does travel insurance cover?

Many people opt to take out travel insurance to cover potential medical care while away.

Every week, 3,000 Brits need emergency medical treatment while abroad, according to the ABI. The average medical claim in 2023 was £1,724, but some claims were far higher with one insurer paying out £25,000 in repatriation and medical costs for a traveller who was injured in a forest fire. 

But it isn’t just about covering medical costs. It can protect you against a range of unplanned events:

  • Cancellation or trip interruption for reasons outside your control
  • Missed transport or delayed departure for reasons outside your control
  • Personal injury and death, including medical evacuation
  • Lost, stolen or damaged items, including baggage, passports and money (your home contents insurance may also provide cover)
  • Accidental damage or injury caused by you

Read more: Passport renewal costs and waiting times

What is not covered by travel insurance?

Travel insurance won’t cover you for a risk that is known about.

For example, if you have a long-standing illness that means you can’t go on holiday, your insurer might not cover you for the cancellation costs.

Insurers also won’t cover you if you have to cancel your trip for reasons within your control. For example, if you miss your flight because you woke up late, your claim is likely to be rejected.

Travel insurance is also unlikely to cover you if you have been irresponsible. For example, if you leave your valuables in your hold luggage, or if a claim is related to alcohol or drugs.

Risky activities are also excluded from most standard polices – this could be anything from horse riding to mountain climbing or skiing. Generally you’ll be able to find an add-on or upgrade the policy to cover many of these – winter sports cover if you’re skiing, for example – but make sure to check.

Each policy will have specific things it won’t cover, and these will vary depending on the provider. So it’s important to read the terms and conditions carefully.

Read more: How to make sure travel insurance pays out

Do I need travel insurance?

Unlike car insurance, travel insurance isn’t a legal requirement. However, it does come with a host of benefits, such as cover for medical emergencies.

The cost of overseas medical treatment can really add up, especially when you include repatriation to the UK. According to the ABI, there is one recorded case in 2022 when a traveller in Thailand contracted a serious blood infection which needed intensive medical treatment. The bill eventually came up to £250,000 which was paid in full by their travel insurance provider.

You also need to think about how much it would cost to pay out for your luggage and belongings if they were lost, stolen or damaged and also what you might stand to lose if your holiday company went bust before you made the trip. These costs would all be covered through your travel insurance policy.

How to buy travel insurance

You can buy a travel insurance policy directly from an insurer, or you can go through a comparison website. It’s sometimes easier to use a comparison website as it will quickly show you a range of potential policies to choose from.

If you have an existing health condition, you’re going on a trip which will include activities not covered on a basic policy, or you’re aged 65 or older, you may need a specialist insurer. There is a list of these on the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) website.

Your premium will depend on a range of factors such as your age, health, type of policy and destination. This is why an average travel insurance premium will probably be meaningless, so make sure you do your research and get a quote from several different providers before deciding on a policy.

What are my rights during strike action or travel disruption?

What are my rights during strike action?

If your flights are cancelled due to strike action you might be entitled to compensation from the airline. But for this to apply, customers must have been given less than 14 days’ notice.

It also depends on whether the airline was at fault or not: so if it’s the airline’s staff who are striking, you should be entitled to compensation.

If you’re worried that your flights might be delayed or cancelled, you should also check your travel insurance policy.

Some policies cover you for a cancelled or delayed flight, provided you took out the policy before the strikes were announced.

But if you haven’t yet bought your insurance, you may be out of luck. This is because most insurers won’t cover you for strikes which were already known about.

Read how travel insurance could catch you out.

The best travel insurance

Below we’ve listed some of the best travel insurance providers on the market, all of which were nominated in Times Money Mentor awards 2024.

Either click on “Go to provider site” to find out more or take out a policy with one of our selected providers, or “Compare travel insurance” to look at a whole of market comparison of quotes suited for you






Other notable providers

Despite not winning a nomination at the Times Money Mentor awards, these providers also offer a decent policies.







Expert travel advice and inspiration

Make informed decisions about your next trip with the help of our award-winning travel writers. From city breaks and beach holidays to cruises and safaris, explore the world like never before.

Visit Times Travel

The best travel insurance for cruises

If you’re thinking about taking a cruise, it’s important to take out special additional cover such as a cruise insurance to protect you.

Cruise insurance is normally offered as an add-on to travel policies, and protects you if you:

  • Miss connections to reach the departure
  • Fail to get back on board after planned stops
  • End up being confined to your cabin

Though if you want a dedicated travel insurance policy for a cruise, here’s an option to consider:


Editor’s choice: Best savings accounts in February

Whatever your plan for the cash, it makes sense to ensure your savings are earning the best rate they can. We name the top-paying easy access, fixed, and notice rates on the market. 

The best winter sports cover

If you’re planning a skiing and snowboarding trip then it’s important you have insurance that will cover you if you’re involved in an accident on the slopes.

Most travel insurers will offer winter sports cover as an optional add-on to their regular cover and will protect you if you:

  • Need to be airlifted off the slopes or rescued and need medical treatment
  • Turn up and there’s no snow
  • Can’t start skiing and snowboarding because of avalanche risk
  • Find out your equipment – such as skis, snowboard and boots – has been stolen

It’s difficult to predict what the next ski season will look like. But if you’re booking now and want cover for the essentials, here’s a policy to factor into your calculations.


What should a basic travel policy cover?

When shopping for travel insurance, you should ensure your policy comes with the following as standard:

1. Medical expenses

This covers the costs of any emergency medical and surgical treatment while you’re away.

It usually costs more for cover in the US as medical bills can run into the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Any treatment that can wait until you get home is not usually included.

Most policies offer cover of £1 million for medical costs in Europe. This is usually £2 million in the US.

2. Repatriation

This is where you might need to be evacuated from the country you’re visiting.

Repatriation usually happens when you need to get back home to the UK in the event of a medical emergency and is usually covered as standard in most travel insurance policies.

3. Cancellation/curtailment

This covers any travel and accommodation costs you have paid for and can’t use or claim back.

You need a good reason to cancel your trip, so make sure you double check the terms and conditions of your policy.

4. Missed departure

This covers your extra accommodation costs and travel expenses should you miss your departure due to situations outside your control.

It usually includes your car breaking down or being involved in an accident. Leaving home at the last minute won’t count.

5. Delay

This covers you for delays to your travel plans, such as severe weather conditions.

Delays known about before (such as strikes) won’t be covered.

6. Baggage cover

This should cover you if your baggage is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.

You might need extra cover for gadgets or valuable possessions as there are usually limits on separate items.

Losses need to be reported within a certain time frame and you must have a written report from your airline if it loses your baggage.

7. Personal liability cover

This should cover you if you are liable to pay damages due to:

  • Accidental bodily injury to someone
  • Or for loss or damage to someone else’s property
  • Claims made by family members or employees won’t be covered

What extra cover can you buy?

To provide a peace of mind you might be able to add the following on to your policy too:

Read more: Is credit card travel insurance any good?

Travel insurance FAQs

Many people solely take out travel insurance to protect themselves from medical expenses. But there are lots of other reasons to consider it. Here are some of the most common questions related to travel insurance:

Q. When should I take out travel insurance?

It’s usually best to take out travel insurance as soon as you have booked your trip.

While many people think of travel insurance as something that covers problems while they are away, some policies cover you for issues, accidents and illnesses that stop you from being able to travel.

Cancellation is one of the main reasons that people claim on a travel insurance policy. If the cancellation happens before you have bought insurance then you wouldn’t be able to claim.

Q. Does travel insurance pay out for existing medical conditions?

Some insurers do provide cover for existing conditions. However, it is vital that you flag these conditions during the application stage. If you don’t it could invalidate your policy.  

Q. Do you need to tell your travel insurance provider if you have a new medical condition?

If there is a significant change to your personal health then you’ll need to inform your provider. This includes being diagnosed with a new long-term illness.

Failure to do so could invalidate your policy.

Q. Can you get travel insurance if you’re over 75 with medical conditions?

Yes. In fact, there are some providers on the market which tailor their policies towards an older demographic. For example, Saga has dedicated policies for over 50s and over 70s.

Q. Does travel insurance cover cancelled flights?

Most travel insurers provide basic cover for cancelled flights. Aviva’s travel insurance, for example, will pay out if your flight is cancelled due to an airport shutdown.

If your airline cancels your flight then you should claim a refund directly with them, so your travel insurance could cover other costs such as hotel bookings and vehicle rentals, for example.

Q. Do I need travel insurance for Europe?

If you’re a British citizen, you’ll have access to a Global Health Insurance Card. This provides free or subsidised public healthcare in the EU, but it shouldn’t be considered a replacement for travel insurance. 

Most EU countries don’t offer free medical care like the NHS, so if you’re ill while on holiday you could still be hit with a medical bill.  

If you’re not a UK citizen, consider that some visa applications require you to have a suitable travel insurance policy in place before you apply. If you’re applying for a Schengen visa to travel Europe you’ll need a policy in place which covers medical claims up to €30,000 during your trip.

Read more: Is private health insurance worth it?

Q. Is Turkey in Europe for travel insurance?

It depends on the travel insurer. Some categorise Turkey as being in Europe on policies while others require you to buy a worldwide policy if you’re visiting Turkey.

Q. Do I need travel insurance for Ireland?

If you’re visiting Northern Ireland, you will have the NHS to use for medical emergencies. If you’re trip is in the Republic of Ireland, you may be required to pay for medical treatment. In both countries through, travel insurance can provide protection for your belongings and also pay out for cancellation.

Q. Does travel insurance cover illness before travel?

Some travel insurance policies will provide cover if you are too ill to travel. This depends on the policy though, and there may be a list of illnesses that are (and aren’t) covered. This is why it’s important to take out insurance as soon as you book a trip, so you’re covered if you do need to cancel beforehand.

Q. Does travel insurance cover missed flights?

Your travel insurance might cover missed flights, although it will depend on the reason for missing the flight. If it is something out of your control, such as transport delays or extreme weather conditions you may be covered. But if it’s a change of mind or you not putting proper plans in place to get to the airport, you are unlikely to be able to claim.

Q. Does travel insurance cover pregnancy?

Pregnancy isn’t seen as a existing health condition and most insurers will still cover you if you’re pregnant. However, there is usually a set week at which they may refuse cover. This depends on the insurer (and the travel company). In some cases you may need to take a note from your doctor confirming how many weeks pregnant you are and whether it’s safe for you to fly.

Q. Do I need travel insurance for Jersey?

If you’re visiting Jersey, or any of the other Channel Islands, travel insurance can be useful because you can use it for medical treatment, if you need it, as there is no NHS. It will also cover you for other scenarios, such as cancellation or if your belongings go missing.

Important information

Some of the products promoted are from our affiliate partners from whom we receive compensation. While we aim to feature some of the best products available, we cannot review every product on the market.

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