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Travel insurance

Relax and enjoy your holiday knowing you've got travel insurance

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Get travel insurance from £2.50*

  • Choose additional cover tailored to your holiday, including cruise, business and winter sports cover

  • Find cover for pre-existing medical conditions

  • Compare a range of policy types, including single-trip, annual cover and family travel insurance

*The cheapest price for a single-trip travel insurance policy. Based on a 30-year-old with no previous medical conditions travelling to Spain for 3 nights. Confused.com data - February 2024.

Important information

All insurance products exclude cover for known events. These are global events that can put you in danger and/or disrupt travel. The COVID-19 pandemic is an example of this. This exclusion applies if the event was declared as a ‘known event’ when you bought your insurance.

If you’re travelling to a place where there’s a known event, such as the ongoing conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, you will not be covered by your travel insurance.

If you travel against Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice or fail to comply with your destination's entry requirements, you won't be covered by any travel insurance you buy.

We compare 43 trusted travel insurance companies to find you our best deals

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Why is travel insurance important?

Travel insurance, sometimes referred to as holiday insurance, isn’t a legal requirement for most countries. But buying a policy as soon as you book could help to ensure that you're covered for anything unexpected that may happen before or during your trip.

For example, if you need to cancel your trip before you leave, a travel insurance policy has cancellation cover included which should cover you.

However, there are certain countries that require you to have travel insurance before you fly. An example of this is Cuba. You must have travel insurance for Cuba otherwise you won't be granted entry into the country.

Holiday insurance also covers medical treatment and emergencies while you're on holiday. The cost of medical treatment abroad can be high, even if you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Here are 2 examples shared by the Association of British Insurers (ABI):

  • The cost of treatment for injuries for a person after a fall in France was £80,000. The GHIC covered £64,000 of this, leaving £16,000 that the individual’s travel insurance company covered.
  • Another person’s travel insurer paid out £67,000 for medical treatment. This was for a lung condition that included private medical treatment in the Canary Islands and repatriation back to the UK.

A travel insurance policy could cover these costs, so you don’t have to worry about them while you're on holiday.

When should I buy holiday insurance?

You can buy travel insurance at any time up to your departure date. But it's worth considering buying a policy as soon as you book your trip so you're covered for a variety of circumstances that might mean you need to cancel your holiday.

As an example, even if you're going on a holiday that's ATOL protected, this will only cover you if your holiday provider goes out of business. Having travel insurance in place will cover you for other circumstances.

How to compare travel insurance quotes

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Tell us about yourself, the cover you need, and whether you’re travelling solo or with a group.

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Let us know if there’s any additional cover you need or whether you have any pre-existing medical conditions.

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We’ll show you quotes from up to 43 different travel insurance companies. Choose the policy that best suits your needs.

Compare travel insurance quotes

What type of cover do I need?

If you’re travelling through multiple countries on a trip lasting 1 to 18 months, this is likely to be the cover you need.

This is useful if you’re planning a short city break or your annual family holiday as it covers you for 1 trip to a single destination.

This might be more cost-effective for people who take multiple trips each year. Most policies have a trip length limit of 31 days.

What our travel insurance expert says

"Make sure you buy your travel insurance as soon as you book your trip as it doesn’t just cover you while you’re away. Buying early means you're covered for cancellations leading up to your trip, giving you peace of mind prior to your holiday. "
Matthew Harwood, Home & lifestyle insurance expert at Confused.com
Home & lifestyle insurance expert Confused.com logo

What does travel insurance cover?

Exactly what’s covered by travel insurance varies between providers, so check the details of your policy carefully before buying.

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What’s usually covered

  • Emergency medical treatment for anyone named on the policy
  • Cancellation cover for your flights or accommodation if you need to cancel your holiday unexpectedly
  • Theft, accidental damage or loss of your personal possessions or baggage
  • Emergency repatriation to bring you home if you fall ill or are seriously injured during your trip
  • Travel disruption if bad weather, strikes or mechanical issues mean your flight or ferry trip are delayed
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What’s usually not covered

  • Travelling against FCDO advice, for example by travelling to countries that the FCDO advises against
  • Pre-existing medical conditions might need a specialist policy
  • Incidents involving drugs or alcohol, including injuries you sustain while under the influence
  • Known events that occur before you buy your policy, such as natural disasters
  • Extreme sports or activities like scuba diving or skiing usually require a specialist policy
  • Changing your mind and deciding you don’t want to travel

How much does travel insurance cost?

How much you pay for holiday insurance depends on your personal circumstances. Here's how much it could cost depending on the type of policy you buy:

Policy type Price
Family travel insurance
£17.191
Single-trip travel insurance
£2.502
Annual cover
£11.853
Couples travel insurance
£4.204
Over-50s travel insurance
£4.205

The amount you pay depends on:

  • Where you're going
  • How much cover you want
  • How many people are named on the policy
  • Whether anyone named on the policy has any pre-existing medical conditions
  • Whether you want to add any additonal cover

1The cheapest price for a single-trip family travel insurance policy. Based on family of 4, including 2 adults aged 30 and 2 children with no previous medical conditions travelling to Spain for 7 nights. Confused.com data - February 2024.

2The cheapest price for a single-trip travel insurance policy. Based on a 30-year-old with no previous medical conditions travelling to Spain for 3 nights. Confused.com data - February 2024.

3The cheapest price for a European annual travel insurance policy. Based on a 30-year-old with no previous medical conditions. Confused.com data - February 2024.

4The cheapest price for a single-trip travel insurance policy. Based on 2 30-year-olds with no previous medical conditions travelling to Spain for 3 nights. Confused.com data - February 2024.

5The cheapest price for a single-trip travel insurance policy. Based on 2 55-year-old with no previous medical conditions travelling to Spain for 3 nights. Confused.com data - February 2024.

How to get cheaper travel insurance

  • Compare quotes: When you know what cover you need, shop around and compare quotes to get that cover at the best price possible.
  • Choose the right type of travel insurance: If you only travel once a year, single-trip travel insurance might be cheaper. If you travel regularly throughout the year, it can be more cost effective to buy an annual policy, rather than multiple single-trip policies.
  • Consider family, couple or group insurance: If you’re travelling with other people, it could be cheaper to buy 1 policy together, rather than individual ones. However, if someone you’re travelling with has pre-existing medical conditions, it might be cheaper to buy individual policies.
  • Avoid extras you don’t need: If you're not doing activities like skiing or snowboarding, consider whether you need to add them to your policy. If you include them you’re paying more than you need to.

Can I get travel insurance if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

Some insurers might not cover you if you have a pre-existing medical condition. Others might only offer insurance at a higher price. This is because certain pre-existing medical conditions mean you might need emergency medical attention while you’re away, which your insurer might have to pay for. So, they see you as a higher risk. These conditions include:

  • Diabetes
  • Cancer
  • Stroke
  • Serious heart conditions
  • Respiratory conditions
  • Terminal illnesses

You must tell your insurer about any health issues to make sure you’ve got the right cover. If you don’t and need to make a claim, it could be rejected and you'd have to pay for medical treatment yourself. If in doubt, contact the insurer before buying.

If you can’t find suitable cover, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) might be able to help. This organisation has set up a directory of insurers who cover customers with pre-existing medical conditions through their brand MoneyHelper. You can also phone MaPS for free, impartial advice on 0800 138 7777.

Additional cover for your holiday

Skiing travel icon

Winter sports cover

Winter sports insurance means you’re covered if the piste is closed due to bad weather or lack of snow, for example.

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Gadget insurance

You can get up to £1,000 of cover towards the cost of replacing your gadgets if they're lost, stolen or damaged while you're on holiday. This includes your laptop, phone. 

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Cruise cover

Including cruise cover means you’re insured for cabin confinement, missed ports, emergency transport to hospital and unused excursions.

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Business cover

If you’re travelling for business, you might have a laptop or other business equipment that you want covered in case it’s lost, damaged or stolen.

Why use Confused.com?

  • We're regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and so are all of the travel insurance companies we work with. This means we follow strict regulations to make sure you're treated fairly and get the best policy for your needs. 
  • We work with our trusted partner, theidol.com, an authorised intermediary who specialise in insurance comparison. They help us select the best available quotes for you from our range of travel insurance providers.

Expert help and support

All the information you see on our website is reviewed by our expert panel. This is made up of experienced professionals working in the insurance and personal finance industry. Our dedicated insurance specialists are here to help you throughout your journey.

If have any questions about your travel insurance, you can fill out our online form. Our customer support team will get back to you within 5 working days.

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Our office address is 2nd Floor, Greyfriars House, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff, CF10 3AL, United Kingdom.

Find out more about who we are, how we make money from insurance and more on our about us page.

Types of travel insurance

Need more help?

How do I make a claim on my travel insurance?

Get in touch with your travel insurance provider as soon as possible. If you have your policy details to hand, you could contact them while you’re still on holiday. They might send you a claim form, or ask you questions over the phone. They should be able to guide you through their process from there.

Make sure you keep any relevant documents to hand:

  • Receipts
  • Photographs
  • Correspondence
  • Crime reference number, if the police were involved

Has Covid-19 affected travel insurance

Yes it has. Even though most countries don’t require PCR tests anymore, Covid-19 is still something that you have to consider when travelling, especially the cover you get as part of your holiday insurance. Since the pandemic, policies that include Covid-19 cover protect you against things including:

  • Cancellation cover due to contracting Covid prior to your trip
  • Repatriation if you’re unwell due to Covid-19 while you’re away 
  • Accommodation or travel costs if you need to stay longer or isolate as a result of Covid
  • Medical expenses and emergencies as a result of contracting Covid or treatment required

Covid-19 is now something that has to be considered when travelling. If you travel against FCDO advice, any travel insurance policy you have is void and you won’t be covered if you need to make a claim.

The level of cover you get varies depending on the policy, so it’s important to read the policy wording before you buy.

What if I have 2 travel insurance policies?

Accidentally having 2 travel insurance policies can cause problems if you need to claim, as you might find each policy only pays a portion of the claim. This comes with the admin headache of making 2 separate claims.

Do I still need travel insurance if my holiday is ATOL protected?

While ATOL protection can help if your airline goes bust, that’s the only scenario it covers. Travel insurance protects you in many other ways.

Do I need travel insurance if I have an EHIC or GHIC?

A valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives you access to state-level healthcare in the EU. With the card, you can get the medical care at the same price a citizen pays. This means it might be free, if the country you’re visiting has free healthcare, or it might come at a cost.

The EHIC or GHIC aren’t replacements for travel insurance, though. If you want cover for replacing stolen property or the use of emergency services such as mountain rescue, you need a valid travel insurance policy. Travel insurance can also help cover the cost of any medical fees that aren't covered by the EHIC or GHIC that you are responsible for.

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Page last reviewed: 14 February 2024

Reviewed by: Matthew Harwood

Confused.com’s Travel Insurance solution is provided by theIdol.com. theidol.com is a trading style of Investment Discounts On-Line Ltd and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office; Investment Discounts On-Line Ltd, One Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AA. Registered in England no: 04231834. theidol.com is part of the Legal & General group.

Our service is free and compares a wide range of trusted household names. Confused.com is an intermediary and receives commission from theidol.com if you decide to buy through our website which is based on a percentage of the total annual premium. We pride ourselves on impartiality and independence – therefore we don't promote any one insurance provider over another.