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3.0
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Our Pick Of The Best Travel Insurance

Editor,  Editor

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

This page has been expert reviewed by Anna-Marie Duthie, insight consultant at Defaqto.

Heading off overseas? For peace of mind, both in the lead-up to your trip and while you’re away, you’ll need travel insurance. According to a Forbes Advisor study, 77% of Brits have bought a travel policy in the past, which suggests its merits are widely recognised.

Travel insurance is designed to cover the cost of unforeseen events which affect your trip – more on this below. This guide explores everything you need to know about this type of cover including how to find the right cover, and our pick of the best deals.

Our top travel insurance companies of 2024

We carried out some research with our panel of insurers (October 2024) to identify what we believe to be the top five travel policies for a family of four travelling to Spain for seven days. You can find more information on how we scored the policies in the Methodology section.

Why you can trust Forbes Advisor’s ratings

Our editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate product providers, so all companies are measured equally. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the methodology for the ratings below.

  • Market-wide survey of leading travel insurance companies
  • Rigorous assessment of policy features and cover options
  • Thorough analysis of pros and cons

Best for Premium Cost

Cover for You (Standard)

Cover for You (Standard)
5.0
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Price

£40.50

Cancellation

£3,000

Excess

£50

Price

£40.50

Cancellation

£3,000

Excess

£50

Why We Picked It

This policy pays up to £3,000 per person if a holiday is cancelled or cut short due to an emergency such as an accident, illness or bereavement. It also offers up to £2,000 per person for lost or stolen baggage.

It costs £40.50 and an excess of £50 per person is payable for each eligible claim.

This policy offers up to £15 million for medical emergency and repatriation expenses, including a £2,000 hospital benefit. It pays up to £30,000 for legal expenses and £1.5 million for personal liability cover.

Read our full Cover For You review for more.

Pros & Cons
  • £15m medical cover
  • £3,000 cancellation cover
  • £50 excess only
  • No excess waiver
  • Gadget cover costs extra

Best for Excess Waiver

Admiral (Gold)

Admiral (Gold)
5.0
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Price

£44.44

Cancellation

£3,000

Excess

£95

Price

£44.44

Cancellation

£3,000

Excess

£95

Why We Picked It

At just over £44.44, this policy offers up to £2,000 per person for lost or stolen baggage. It also pays out up to £3,000 per person if a holiday is cancelled or cut short due to illness, injury or bereavement.

This policy pays up to £15 million for medical and repatriation cover, including a £1,000 hospital benefit.

It also offers the option to waive the £95 per person excess on each eligible claim by paying an additional premium.

Read our full Admiral review for more.

Pros & Cons
  • £15m medical cover
  • £3,000 cancellation cover
  • Excess waiver available
  • £95 excess
  • Gadget cover costs extra

Best for Cancellation

Explorer Travel Insurance Single Trip Platinum

Explorer Travel Insurance Single Trip Platinum
5.0
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Price

£51.92

Cancellation

£5,000

Excess

£75

Price

£51.92

Cancellation

£5,000

Excess

£75

Why We Picked It

This policy offers extensive cancellation cover and pays up to £5,000 per person if a holiday is cancelled or cut short due to illness, injury or bereavement.

It costs £51.92 and levies a £75 excess for each eligible claim.

This policy offers up to £10 million for medical emergency and repatriation expenses.

It pays out up to £2,000 per person for lost or stolen baggage and offers gadget cover of up to £1,000 as standard.

Pros & Cons
  • £5,000 cancellation cover
  • £1,000 gadget cover
  • No excess waiver
  • No hospital benefit

Best for Excess

Saver Travel Insurance (Silver Trip Single)

Saver Travel Insurance (Silver Trip Single)
4.5
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Price

£50.58

Cancellation

£2,500

Excess

£50

Price

£50.58

Cancellation

£2,500

Excess

£50

Why We Picked It

Costing just £50.58, this policy offers up to £2,500 per person if a trip is cancelled or cut short due to an accident, illness or bereavement.

It pays out up to £2,000 per person for lost or stolen baggage and levies an excess of £50 per person for each eligible claim.

This policy offers up to £10 million for medical and repatriation cover, including a £1,500 hospital benefit. 

It also offers £50,000 for legal expenses and up to £2 million for personal liability cover.

Pros & Cons
  • £10m medical cover
  • £500 gadget cover included
  • £50 excess only
  • No excess waiver

Best for Gadget Cover

Puffin Gold Medical Single Trip

Puffin Gold Medical Single Trip
4.5
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Price

£48.07

Cancellation

£3,000

Excess

£75

Price

£48.07

Cancellation

£3,000

Excess

£75

Why We Picked It

At just over £48.07, this policy offers up to £2,000 per person for lost or stolen baggage. It also pays out up to £3,000 per person if a holiday is cancelled or cut short due to illness, injury or bereavement.

This policy pays up to £10 million for medical and repatriation cover, including a £1,000 hospital benefit.

It also offers the option to waive the £95 per person excess on each eligible claim by paying an additional premium.

Read our full Puffin review for more.

Pros & Cons
  • £3,000 cancellation cover
  • £1,000 gadget cover
  • No excess waiver

Summary of our top providers


Editors’ Take Company Forbes Advisor Rating Price Cancellation Excess Learn More
Best for Premium Cost Cover for You (Standard) 5.0 5-removebg-preview £40.50 £3,000 £50 Get A Quote
Best for Excess Waiver Admiral (Gold) 5.0 5-removebg-preview £44.44 £3,000 £95 Get A Quote
Best for Cancellation Explorer Travel Insurance Single Trip Platinum 5.0 4.5-removebg-preview-1 £51.92 £5,000 £75 Get A Quote
Best for Excess Saver Travel Insurance (Silver Trip Single)

4.5 4.5-removebg-preview-1 £50.58 £2,500 £50 Get A Quote
Best for Gadget Cover Puffin Gold Medical Single Trip 4.5 4.5-removebg-preview-1 £48.07 £3,000 £75 Get A Quote

How to choose the best travel insurance

1. Decide which type of cover you need (single trip or multi-trip)

2. Look at the right territory for your trip (ie, European or worldwide)

3. Ensure all planned sports and activities are included (if skiing or snowboarding, you’ll need specialist winter sports cover)

4. Disclose any pre-existing medical conditions

5. Check the excess (the amount that will be deducted from any successful claim)

6. Add any extras, for example cover for tech, gadgets, or equipment

7. Compare providers and premiums

8. Check that cover limits such as medical bills, cancellation and baggage, are adequate

9. Double-check the policy terms and note any exclusions or limits

10. Buy the policy and store the claims number in your phone.

What types of travel insurance policy are there?


Single trip

Provides cover for one single trip to a specific destination over a fixed time

Annual multi-trip

For travellers planning more than two trips a year to various destinations

Worldwide

Covers travel to destinations across the globe. These policies either include or exclude the USA, Canada and the Caribbean (and sometimes Mexico)

Family

Offers cover for family members and can work out cheaper than buying per person cover

Group 

Covers up to 12 friends or family members, providing they’re travelling from the same country

Cruise 

Protects against risks associated with cruise holidays, such as cabin confinement and missed port departure

Winter sports 

Offers extra cover relating to winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding

Backpacker 

For longer trips overseas, often to multiple countries

Over 65s 

Specialist cover for older travellers who may be more likely to claim for medical treatment. Also known as ‘senior cover

Under 18s 

Specialist cover for minors when travelling without a parent or guardian

Business travel

Specialist cover for those travelling for business purposes.

What does travel insurance cover?


Medical expenses

Cover for hospital treatment and medical bills should you fall ill or have an accident. Look for at least £1 million for travel to Europe and at £5 million for travel to North America

Repatriation

Standard cover for costs incurred should you need to be flown home for medical reasons

Cancellation or curtailment

If you are forced to cancel or cut short your trip for reasons listed within the policy, such as illness or job loss. Cover should equate to the cost of your holiday. Cancellation cover will reimburse the holiday costs should you need to cancel your trip before it has begun, due to a reason cited by the insurer in the policy document. Curtailment is usually coupled with cancellation up to the same sum insured, however this covers you once your trip has begun should you need to end the holiday early and come home

Missed departures

Covers the loss of any pre-paid expenses as well as additional accommodation or travel expenses incurred if you miss your departure due to a reason stated in the policy

Baggage and belongings

Protection if your luggage or possessions are lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed. Cover should equate to the cost of your belongings but at least £1,500 is recommended. Note that insurers often set separate cover limits for baggage delay, valuables and single articles

Personal liability

Cover in the event you injure someone or damage their property while away. Look for at least £2 million. 

How much does travel insurance cost?

The cost of travel insurance premiums costs will vary according to the following factors:

  • Your destination: Worldwide cover is more expensive than Europe-only – and more expensive still if you’re travelling to the US, Canada, the Caribbean and, in some cases, Mexico
  • Your age: Generally, the older you are, the higher your premiums will be as your risk of claiming is greater
  • Your health: If you have one or more pre-existing medical conditions, you will need to declare them which is likely to increase the cost of the premium
  • Type of trip: Cover for skiing or activity holidays is more expensive due to the greater associated risks
  • Level of cover: Many insurers offer a range of policies; Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum, for example. Top packages offer higher policy limits often a lower excess – but cost more to buy

Note that Insurance premium tax (IPT), charged at 20% on travel insurance, is included in all quoted premiums when you search for travel insurance.

The cost of being without travel insurance

  • The average claim on a travel insurance policy in 2022* was £973
  • The average claim for emergency medical treatment in 2022 was £1,750 – the highest figure recorded since the ABI began collecting data in 2004
  • The cost of an air ambulance back to the UK from within the European Union in 2023^ averaged between £22,000 and £26,000. From elsewhere in the world the cost was between £65,000 and £74,000.

* The Association of British Insurers (ABI)
^ Travel association, ABTA

“Shopping around using our comparison service will unearth the most competitively-priced travel policies, but always ensure you’re getting the protection you need. Check the cover limits and exclusions, and answer every question accurately and in full. That way you know you’re getting maximum value – and you’re fully covered.”

– Kevin Pratt, editor Forbes Advisor

Cheapest travel insurance quotes

The price of a travel insurance policy is determined by a number of factors, a crucial one being the destination. Below we’ve listed the minimum a traveller is likely to pay for a travel insurance policy, and the average policy price, based on the country of travel.

DESTINATION CHEAPEST QUOTE AVERAGE PRICE
Spain
£7.80
£11.58
France
£6.00
£8.96
Italy
£6.72
£10.75
USA
£19.88
£32.68
Netherlands
£6.00
£8.96

Average of five cheapest quotes for a 30-year-old solo traveller taking a 10-day trip. Includes emergency medical cover. October 2024

What level of cover can I choose from?

Travel insurers can offer various levels or ‘packages’ of cover, for example Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Bronze packages offer the most basic level of cover and, as a result, premiums tend to be cheapest. The excess (the amount deducted from any successful claim) also tends to be higher, while there may be more exclusions and fewer extras such as cover for gadgets, for example.

Gold and Platinum travel insurance plans tend to cost more but offer higher limits for eventualities such as medical treatment, cancellation, and lost and stolen luggage. Coverage is wider spread and excesses tend to be set lower.

Pro Tip

Weigh up what level of travel insurance plan best suits your requirements. While you never want to be underinsured, you don’t want to pay for cover levels you don’t need either

What optional extras does travel insurance offer?


Gadget cover 

Protects gadgets such as a tablet, laptop or mobile phone against loss, theft or damage

Travel delay 

Offers an inconvenience benefit up to a pre-specified amount if the booked outward or return journey is delayed for a set period of time (typically 12 hours) after checking in

Scheduled airline failure

In the event the airline goes out of business

End supplier failure 

In the event the hotel, travel company or airline goes into administration

Legal expenses 

Covers legal fees for an incident that was not your fault

Cash 

Some policies include cash as standard, but for others, you’ll have to pay extra. Any cover for cash will also be subject to maximum limits

Natural catastrophe and terrorism cover 

For claims relating to a natural disaster such as volcano eruptions and earthquakes, and those relating to acts of terrorism

Sports and activities cover 

For high-risk activities or winter sports, such as skiing and snowboarding

Golf

With some policies it’s possible to add on cover for golf clubs and other valuable golfing equipment, plus non-refundable green fees

Passport cover

Many travel policies will cover the cost of replacing lost or stolen passports as standard, while for others you may have to add on this cover separately

Hospital benefit

Covers the cost of necessities such as food while the policyholder is in hospital

Weddings 

Specialist wedding travel insurance will cover some risks associated with getting married abroad, such as loss of the rings or damage to the wedding dress, for example. Also for cancellation, curtailment cover and medical emergencies.

Pro Tip

If you make several claims under different sections of a policy – for example, one for loss of luggage and another for medical expenses – you’ll be charged an excess for each section

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What methodology did we use?

We used our travel insurance comparison service to search for single trip policies for a family of four (two adults in their 40s, and two teenagers) travelling to Spain for seven nights in October 2024. We’ve assumed no members of the family have any pre-existing medical conditions.

As per guidance from the Government’s Money Helper website, all policies include a minimum of:

  • £1 million in medical and repatriation cover (for Europe)
  • £2,000 in cancellation cover
  • £1,500 in baggage and belongings cover

We then considered:

  • Premium cost
  • Coverage limits
  • Excess payable per successful claim
  • Extra cover such as gadget insurance.

We used this information to arrive at our Forbes Advisor star ratings. Five stars refers to the best (or joint best) policy factoring in the above criteria and overlaid with editorial judgment.

The excess listed applies to each person listed on the policy and to each accepted claim.

If you are struggling to find suitable or affordable cover, the government’s Moneyhelper directory may be able to help. It can also be contacted on 0370 950 1790.

Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Forbes adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.

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What is travel insurance?

The purpose of travel insurance is to provide compensation in the event that you encounter a major problem while abroad. In some cases it may also be possible to get travel cover for trips in the UK.

For example, you fall ill or have an accident and require medical treatment, your luggage is lost or stolen, or you are forced to cancel the trip entirely due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness or bereavement.

There are different kinds of travel cover depending on the type of trip and the destination. And premium costs will vary according to factors such as your age and health.

Exclusions to a standard policy include some sports and activities, or cover for pre-existing medical conditions. However, these can often be bolted onto cover, or accessed through a separate specialist policy.

Why is travel insurance important?

How do I make a claim on a travel insurance policy?

When should I buy travel insurance?

Can I get travel insurance with a pre-existing condition?

What restrictions are there?

Does it matter where you are travelling?

Do I need travel insurance for UK holidays?

Do I need travel insurance if I have a GHIC?

Can I get travel insurance if I'm pregnant?

Can I get my money back if I decide not to go?

Does travel insurance cover you if your holiday firm goes bankrupt?

What are the most common travel insurance claims?

Can I get travel insurance if I'm already on holiday?

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