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Compare travel insurance quotes and get peace of mind for your next trip

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Cover available for a range of pre-existing medical conditions
Choose additional cover tailored to your holiday, including cruise, business and winter sports cover
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 - August 2024.
**eSIM comes with pre-funded credit and the amount of data received in exchange, will vary based on the specific country you select. Compatible devices only. T&C's apply. Deal runs from 1st November 2024 to 8th December 2024.
¹Correct as of October 2024

We compare 44 trusted travel insurance companies¹ to find you our best deals

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What type of holiday insurance policy do I need?

Backpackers travel insurance

If you're travelling through multiple countries on a trip lasting 1 to 18 months, choose this type of travel insurance.

Explore backpackers travel insurance

Single-trip travel insurance

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.

Explore single-trip insurance

Annual travel insurance

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

Explore multi-trip insurance

Why is travel insurance important?

Travel insurance could help to ensure that you're covered for anything unexpected that may happen before or during your trip.

For most countries, travel insurance isn't a legal requirement, but some countries do ask you to buy travel insurance before you fly. For example, if you're travelling to Cuba you must have travel insurance otherwise you won't be granted entry into the country.

Buying a travel insurance policy can help you reclaim all or some of your costs if you need to cancel your holiday or cut it short. Cancellation cover is included as part of most travel insurance policies, along with baggage cover and cover for medical expenses.

Here are 2 examples of where travel insurance can help, from the Association of British Insurers (ABI):

The cost of treatment for injuries following 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 individual’s travel insurer paid out £67,000 for medical treatment for a lung condition that included private medical treatment in the Canary Islands and repatriation back to the UK.

Travel insurance with medical cover could help cover any medical expenses like these.

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.

What’s usually covered

Medical treatment. Anyone who's listed on your policy will be covered for medical treatment
Cancellation cover. Provides cover for your flights or accommodation if you need to cancel your holiday unexpectedly
Baggage cover. If your personal possessions or baggage go missing or are damaged while you're on holiday
Emergency repatriation. If you or anyone listed on your policy fall ill or are seriously injured during your trip and need to return home
Travel disruption. If you're unable to make your onward travel plans because of bad weather, strikes or mechanical issues
Lost or stolen passports. If your passport is lost or stolen while you're on holiday, travel insurance will usually cover the cost of replacing your passport.

What’s usually not covered

Travelling against FCDO advice. If you travel to a country that the FCDO advises against, you won't be covered. This includes countries with travel warnings or any safety and security concerns
Pre-existing medical conditions. Any medical conditions that aren't declared when you buy your policy won't be covered and will need a specialist policy
Incidents involving drugs or alcohol. Any injuries you sustain while under the influence won't be covered
Known events. This includes natural disasters. If an event like this occurs before you buy your policy and you still travel, you won't be covered
Extreme sports or activities. Certain activities usually require a specialist policy. If you want to play a lot of golf on your trip, you'll need specialist golf cover, and if your insurer doesn't cover scuba diving, you may want to consider a specialist scuba diving travel insurance policy.
Changing your mind. If you decide you don't want to travel anymore, you won't be covered for anything you've already paid for
Expired passports. Travel insurance policies won't cover expired passports. This includes the cost of renewing your passport and getting emergency documents to travel home. Use our passport checker tool to help put your mind at ease.

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
Single-trip travel insurance	£2.80³
Annual cover	£10.85⁴

³The 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 - August 2024.
⁴The cheapest price for a European annual travel insurance policy. Based on a 30-year-old with no previous medical conditions. Confused.com data - August 2024.

What affects the price of travel insurance?

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

How to get cheaper travel insurance

Choose the right type of travel insurance

If you only travel once a year, buying a single-trip policy might be cheaper. If you travel regularly throughout the year, it can be cost-effective to buy an annual policy, rather than multiple single-trip policies.

Avoid extras you don't need

If you're not doing any activities on your trip, like skiing or snowboarding, avoid adding these to your policy. They come at an added cost, so including cover for them when you don't need it means you're paying more than necessary.

Consider family, couple or group insurance

If you're travelling with other people, you might benefit from buying one group travel insurance policy, rather than individually. However, if someone you're travelling with has pre-existing medical conditions, it might be cheaper to buy individual policies.

Compare quotes

When you have decided what cover you need, shopping around and comparing quotes can help you save money.

Compare travel insurance quotes

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When should I buy holiday insurance?

It's important to consider buying travel insurance soon after you book your trip. You can buy travel insurance at any time up to your departure date. But buying your policy early could cover you for more, including a cancellation.

ATOL protection will only cover you if your holiday provider goes out of business. This is slightly different to ABTA protection, which protects you if you buy a package holiday which is road, rail or sea-based.

Travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition

Some insurers might not cover you if you have a pre-existing medical condition. Others might only offer you insurance at a higher price. This is because you might need emergency medical attention for certain conditions while you're on holiday. Some pre-existing 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 may have to pay for the medical treatment yourself. If in doubt, contact the insurer before buying your travel insurance.

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.

Tailor your travel insurance to your holiday

Winter sports insurance

This will cover you if the weather is too bad and causes piste closures, or for any lost or damaged equipment.

Find out more about winter sports cover

Gadget insurance

If your phone or laptop is damaged, lost or stolen while you're on holiday, gadget cover provides up to £1,000 towards replacements or repairs.

Find out more about gadget cover

Cruise cover

Includes cover for cruise interruption, cabin confinement, any unused excursions and missed port during your trip.

Find out more about cruise cover

Business cover

Business cover offers the same level of cover as standard travel insurance, but with tailored extras for equipment, business money and alternative travel.

Find out more about business cover

Free eSIM with up to 10GB of roaming data when you buy travel insurance**

With roaming charges making an unwelcome return, eSIMs are a convenient option when travelling. eSIMs are non-physical and are embedded into most newer smartphones; meaning you won’t have to put anything physical into your device, it should already be there.

How does it work?

Simply buy your travel insurance, claim your free eSIM, and install it onto your device at the tap of a button. Your eSIM with 10GB of roaming data will kick in on a local mobile network when you get to your destination.

Get a quote

Find out more about eSIMs

Image of a mobile mentioning Black Friday and the updated eSIM reward from 2GB to 10GB

**eSIM comes with pre-funded credit and the amount of data received in exchange, will vary based on the specific country you select. Compatible devices only. T&C's apply. Deal runs from 1st November 2024 to 8th December 2024.

What specialist travel insurance policies are available?

Family travel insurance

Covers 2 adults and up to 8 children with 1 policy.

European travel insurance

Covers you for any holidays you have planned in Europe.

Long stay travel insurance

Long stay travel insurance is the perfect policy for those who plan to travel for an extended period of up to 18 months.

Over 50s travel insurance

Provides quotes for travellers over the age of 50.

Worldwide travel insurance

Covers you for travel to multiple locations around the world.

Adventure travel insurance

Covers you to take part in certain activities when you’re on holiday.

Pregnancy travel insurance

Helps provide peace of mind for any unexpected problems while away.

Volunteer travel insurance

Covers you for volunteer work while abroad.

What our travel insurance expert says

"Summer travel brings excitement, whether that's planning your family holiday or a summer travelling around the world. It's important to think about travel insurance and what you need cover for while you're away.

"Even though it's warmer in most places, summer holidays can still be affected by extreme weather. Having travel insurance in place as soon as you book your holiday covers you for any cancellations, as well as cover for repatriation and medical expenses, leaving you time to enjoy your summer break."

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert

Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert

How to compare travel insurance quotes

Tell us about yourself

We need to know the cover you need, and whether you're travelling solo or with a family or group.

Choose your level of cover

Tell us if there's any additional cover you need or whether you have any pre-existing medical conditions.

We'll do the hard work

We'll show you quotes from up to 44¹ different travel insurance companies. Choose the policy that best suits your needs.

¹ Correct as of October 2024.

Why use Confused.com to compare holiday insurance quotes?

We're regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and so are all 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.

We compare quotes from our 44 travel insurance providers to ensure you have the right level of cover for your holiday. So you can focus on enjoying your trip.
We helped over 250,000 customers get travel insurance last year, so they're able to relax and enjoy their holiday knowing they have the right cover in place.

Looking to plan your next holiday?

Our holiday budget calculator can help estimate the cost of your next trip in just a few minutes

Try our holiday budget calculator

Our customers say:

"Simple and easy to use, found great value travel insurance deals."

Suresh - Confused.com customer (August 2024)

"Confused.com was very easy to use and gave me a wide range of options for my travel insurance."

Pearl - Confused.com customer (August 2024)

"I sorted my travel insurance within minutes using confused.com. Managed to get a good deal quickly and without any fuss."

Stephen - Confused.com customer (August 2024)

"Quick and easy to get a quote and very cheap travel insurance."

Gurlal - Confused.com customer (August 2024)

"Great low price travel insurance to cover everything you need, used this for a short trip and will buy again for next holiday."

Christiana - Confused.com customer (August 2024)

Confused.com travel insurance scores a 4.7 out of 5 rating
based on 905 reviews as of 08/08/2024

Holiday insurance for popular destinations

Frequently asked questions

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.

Do I need travel insurance for the UK?

We recommend that you get a travel insurance policy before you go anywhere, even if you don’t leave the UK for your holiday. A UK travel insurance policy usually covers you for all the things you’d be covered for when abroad, including:

Cancelled accommodation meaning that if you have to change your UK travel plans, your UK travel insurance policy should be able to help you recover your accommodation costs. However, if you’re in lockdown and plan to travel abroad, then you won’t be covered by your policy.
Cancelled travel. If you’re travelling in the UK and your flight, train or bus gets cancelled, then your travel insurance policy could cover it.
Luggage cover means you’re insured if your luggage goes missing, gets damaged, or is stolen. Any valuables you have in your luggage should also be covered.

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

Even if you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), it's still a good idea to buy travel insurance. There is a limit to what an EHIC or GHIC card can cover and they don't recover costs for cancellations or lost baggage.

Travel insurance guides

Tourist tax news - What you need to know

Tourist tax isn't a new thing, but there are changes happening when it comes to how much we can expect to pay to visit certain places. Read our guide to learn more.

Travel insurance for non-UK residents

Learn everything you need to know about travel insurance for non-UK residents with our in-depth guide.

How to keep your belongings safe while travelling

From scams to theft and pickpocketing, tourists are often a target while on holiday. Find out how to protect belongings, and get travel insurance before you go.

One-way travel insurance

Planning on emigrating? Or maybe you're heading off on a trip but don't know when you'll be back? Read more about how one-way travel insurance can cover you.

High-risk travel insurance

High-risk travel insurance covers you for more dangerous destinations and high-risk activities. We explain what could be covered, including specific activities and even medical conditions.

Travel disruption insurance explained

We take an in-depth look at travel disruption insurance, and see how it could help you.

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.

Page last reviewed: 8 August 2024

Reviewed by: Alvaro Iturmendi

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.