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TPG's comprehensive guide to independent travel insurance — including coronavirus coverage

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

As we head into the middle of summer and vaccination rates continue to expand, travel is surging back. More countries are opening back up to tourists , and many U.S. destinations are seeing a notable uptick in visitors. If you are planning to travel this year, it's a good idea to think about third-party travel insurance. No one wants to think about having to cancel a trip last minute or something going wrong while away from home. But having travel insurance can help give you peace of mind and potentially save you hundreds or even thousands in case things do go awry.

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We'll start off with everything you need to know about third-party travel insurance coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic before diving into the ins and outs of trip protection as a whole.

Interested in travel insurance? Visit InsureMyTrip.com to shop for plans that will fit your travel needs.

Trip insurance during COVID-19: What you need to know

We'll give you the bad news first: Some travel insurance plans do not cover coronavirus disruptions . This holds true whether your plan is included with your credit card or was purchased from a third-party provider. The most important thing to do is carefully review the policy details — some plans specifically exclude COVID-19, while others exclude pandemics in general.

Related: Will future travel insurance plans offer coronavirus protection? Experts say yes

While it's true that trip insurance covers illness and emergency evacuations, the coronavirus pandemic does not fall under the qualifying criteria unless you personally have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, which falls under the typical clauses on illness.

Travel insurance doesn't cover cancellations from airlines, restricted country entrance guidelines based on coronavirus-related border closures or many of the pandemic-related reasons why you might not be able to complete a trip as planned.

Related: When should you purchase travel insurance, and when are your credit card trip protection benefits enough?

Plans typically cover unforeseen issues such as accidental bodily injury; loss of life or sickness; severe weather; terrorist incident; and jury duty or a court subpoena that cannot be postponed or waived. If you need to cancel your trip and are looking for full reimbursement under the policy, it must be due to a covered reason listed within the policy's wording.

Some airlines now offer free coronavirus coverage — but even if you qualify, your coverage and benefits are often quite limited.

How many insurance plans offer COVID-19 coverage?

Your insurance options will vary depending on your destination, trip duration and many other factors. However, let's show you an example in action from the insurance marketplace website InsureMyTrip .

In the screenshot below, you'll see that a traveler from New York purchasing insurance for a hypothetical two-month stay in Mexico in the fall of 2021 has 25 plans to choose from.

However, someone looking for COVID-specific coverage should select the "Top Picks for COVID-19" option at the left-hand side of the results page. This will then display the best options for your unique travel details.

Furthermore, costs and coverage vary significantly between the coronavirus-covered plans. A comprehensive plan in this example trip — issued by Trawick International in the above screen shot — starts at $412.16, while a basic medical plan with emergency coverage for serious COVID-19 issues only — issued by WordTrips — costs $124.44.

The easiest way to do a side-by-side comparison of these plan options is by checking the Compare boxes for each of them.

From this page, you'll see that the comprehensive plan (Safe Travels Voyager) is just that — comprehensive. For the significantly higher cost, you're receiving trip cost protection along with coverage for baggage loss or delay, travel delay, emergency medical, emergency medical evacuation and more. The Travel Medical Plan, on the other hand, only offers coverage for emergency medical services (including evacuation) and only when you leave your home country. This medical plan won't offer any assistance if you aren't traveling abroad.

So, if you're worried about losing money on a trip due to contracting COVID-19 or other related fears, what should you do?

Haven't left home yet? Purchase "cancel for any reason" or coronavirus-specific coverage before you go.

If you're planning for a trip in the near future, you may still be able to purchase coverage now.

But while you can usually purchase basic travel insurance up to 24 hours before departure, most premium add-ons such as "cancel for any reason" coverage must be purchased within a certain number of days from when you made your initial trip payment. If you've already had a trip planned for some time but haven't purchased insurance yet, do some research to see if you're still within the correct timeframe from your initial trip payment in order to qualify for "cancel for any reason" coverage — or other time-sensitive benefits.

If you're worried you may need to cancel your trip for a pandemic-related reason, a "cancel for any reason" insurance plan could be a good investment to hedge your bets. Some comprehensive plans will offer "cancel for any reason" coverage if all eligibility requirements are met, but that option will cost more — usually an additional 40-50% on top of the base premium.

With Squaremouth travel insurance , for example, you'll have to purchase "cancel for any reason" insurance within 14 to 21 days of making your initial payment on vacation expenses, and you also have to insure 100% of your trip costs in addition to canceling your trip at least 48 hours before departure time to receive a refund of up to 75% of the trip cost.

Related: Everything you need to know about "cancel for any reason" travel insurance

If you're only concerned about worst-case scenarios, consider a medical evacuation plan

As of Jan. 26, 2021, travelers entering the U.S. must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test before boarding their international flight into the country.

But, this policy did raise questions for some travelers: What if a traveler is asymptomatic, or the test result is a false positive? Where can tests be found last minute? If a traveler can't return home, who foots the bill for unexpected expenses?

Enter companies like COVAC GLOBAL , which offer coronavirus-positive travelers a way to get home without flouting CDC requirements.

While commercial, private and charter flight passengers are all subject to the health requirements, medical transports are exempt. Thus, COVAC's insurance policy offers customers the guarantee of a private flight home on a medical transport aircraft, provided the traveler holds a positive PCR test result and shows at least one COVID-19 symptom.

COVAC's unique plan rates begin as low as $27 per person per day (on the 90-day membership), although travelers must purchase a minimum of 15 days of coverage at once. But customers can use the coverage days however they like. For example, a four-day trip this month would mean 11 days of coverage left over for future travel.

As with other forms of insurance, however, travelers can't purchase a COVAC plan when they test positive; plans require a 14-day delay between purchase and effective date.

Medjet is another popular evacuation company offering coverage that's different from typical travel insurance. Travelers who hold Medjet memberships can be transferred to their home hospital of choice, regardless of medical necessity. Even better: Your Medjet membership doesn't exclude adventure travel, has very few limitations and no preexisting condition exclusions for travelers under 75 — many of the disqualifications people face when shopping for travel insurance coverage.

What if I'm afraid to travel?

Unfortunately, risk aversion isn't a covered reason under trip cancellation or interruption protection. Even an alert from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for your destination won't be sufficient for most plans to offer financial relief.

Under what situations might I qualify for trip protection?

• If your doctor issues a note stating that you're too ill to fly, you may be able to file a claim under trip cancellation for reimbursement of your insured, prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs. That said, all details of the claim are reviewed once it has been filed, and every situation is different — so this is no guarantee of reimbursement. However, if you're immunocompromised and can prove you will suffer high risk from germ exposure, a travel insurance policy with the optional cancel for any reason benefit might help you recoup some of your lost travel costs.
• If you've been ordered to quarantine for safety precautions — even if you don't ultimately get sick — your insurance may cover your unexpected costs under the "trip cancellation and interruption" clause on your policy. However, this quarantine typically must be ordered by a doctor (or by a government, on some plans) to trigger coverage, and it typically requires strict isolation. In other words, a self-imposed quarantine will not be covered, so it's important to know exactly how your policy defines "quarantine" and what requirements go along with it.

Should I just stay at home?

Travel is on the rebound as we enter the latter half of 2021, but there are still hoops to jump through depending on where you plan to travel. Whether or not you should stay home is a personal decision, to be made with your doctors and with your community in mind. If you are in frequent contact with high-risk individuals, it might behoove you to postpone your trip for the time being.

But whether you stay or you go, travel insurance can be one powerful tool in protecting your trip.

Want to learn more about trip protection? Keep reading our guide to independent travel insurance below.

For more travel news and advice during COVID-19, make sure to check out our dedicated coronavirus hub page .

What is independent travel insurance, and when do I need it?

More than ever, travelers need to be prepared for times when travel plans go awry — like I experienced on a trip to Italy in the summer of 2018 (more on that below).

But the term travel insurance is often used interchangeably with trip protection and cancellation coverage, and it can be difficult to tell if your credit card benefits offer sufficient peace of mind for big or complex trips.

Related: The best credit cards with complimentary travel protection

So, what exactly is independent travel insurance, and how does it differ from credit card trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption protection or accident and evacuation insurance?

A travel insurance plan can offer valuable protection

In a nutshell, travel insurance can help to protect your financial investment in a trip. If your domestic flight is delayed, a service like Freebird previously could help you get on another flight, sometimes even through another airline. (Unfortunately, Freebird is not an option right now , but it isn't dead: Capital One now owns the company and technology.)

But you won't be reimbursed for other consequences of your flight delay ; for instance, you usually can't get your money back for a missed hotel stay resulting from your delayed flight.

Your premium credit card benefits usually offer plenty of protection for your average domestic weekend getaway. But while card benefits vary, many only cover transportation-related cancellation or interruption costs in the event of illness, injury or death.

Furthermore, most credit card-based benefits only cover expenses and activities paid with that particular credit card. Finally, credit card terms and conditions may limit you to a certain number of claims or maximum reimbursement amount within 12 months.

Related: When to buy travel insurance vs. when to rely on your credit card protections

However, many credit cards don't provide robust protection, and even those that do provide coverage have many exclusions and exceptions — and zero options for customization. While travel insurance plans also have exclusions, you may be a great candidate for third-party coverage if you're looking for more options.

You can purchase a third-party plan for pretty much any kind of trip, which will cover many aspects of your travel from the flights and hotel stays to the prepaid, nonrefundable tours and excursions. There's a wide variety of policies available, from comprehensive coverage to plans that offer coverage for specific travel-related concerns — like emergency medical evacuation or travel medical protection.

If you're looking for broad coverage, look for a comprehensive travel insurance plan that can cover your costs in the event of canceled, delayed or interrupted transportation; medical expenses and emergency evacuations; as well as any costs associated with lost or delayed luggage.

Where should I shop for travel insurance?

Independent travel insurance plans can be purchased from providers such as Allianz and WorldNomads , and typically offer coverage that's more comprehensive than the protection included with your credit card.

You can expect your insurance plan to cost between 4–12% of your total trip expenses, depending on the plan you purchase. So if you spent $1,000 on your next vacation, for example, expect to pay between $40–$120 for a standard, comprehensive travel insurance plan.

Related: Should I buy trip insurance from my airline during checkout?

But not all plans and protection are created equal. Third-party travel insurance plans also differ from the trip protection add-on you can buy through your airline. Airline trip protection typically costs more and covers less than a travel policy purchased through a dedicated underwriter.

Additionally, airline trip protection only covers the flight-related portion of your travel and specifically targets delays or cancellations relevant to natural disasters, or dire circumstances such as a death in the family. Finally, as we saw above, not all plans include COVID-19 coverage , so you'll need to keep that in mind when shopping your options.

Related: Comparing the best travel insurance policies and providers

One option for doing so is InsureMyTrip.com , which offers an easy, straightforward way to compare plans, prices, ratings and some other factors side by side. You can thus opt for the protection that works best for your unique needs — whether that's a comprehensive plan or a policy that addresses your specific, travel-related concerns.

Usually, the basic requirement is that all coverage kicks in only if you are located a certain distance away from your primary residence (the home address listed in your plan).

Whatever you do, don't buy the "travel insurance" offered on the airline checkout page when you're purchasing your next flight without shopping around — and reading the fine print. While the plan may be offered through a reputable provider , you'll pay about the same amount for a plan that isn't offered through the airline — thus maintaining a lot more flexibility to select terms that make sense for you.

What types of coverage do these plans offer?

Trip cancellation coverage targets nonrefundable portions of your trip, from flights to excursions and hotel stays.

Most hotels and tour groups have very strict rules regarding last-minute cancellations or missed travel, so you most likely will not be able to get a refund if a canceled or delayed flight prevents you from reaching your destination. If you've planned a full, expensive vacation with many moving parts, travel insurance is the best way to protect your investment.

That said, it's critical to carefully read your policy to understand what is (and is not) covered — especially for exclusions that may prevent you from getting reimbursed when something goes wrong during a trip. If you need complete peace of mind, you can opt for plans that offer optional " cancel for any reason " or "cancel for work reasons" coverage, which will offer the most flexibility.

Trip interruption coverage is very similar to cancellation coverage, though it offers post-departure coverage rather than pre-departure protection. The wording may differ slightly, and the coverage amount can be even higher to take into account emergency flights home in the event of a covered interruption. If you're already partially through your trip and need to change your itinerary, head home early or reroute your plans for a covered reason, the plan may reimburse you for the unused portion of your trip — and may cover additional costs for last-minute travel changes.

Medical expenses can encompass anything from a saline-drip IV for heat exhaustion to serious injuries treated in the emergency room or a hospital overseas. Most health insurance plans in the U.S. don't cover international incidents or needs that arise , and a travel insurance plan can provide coverage for accidents and illnesses while abroad.

Related: I got food poisoning right before my international flight from Africa

Emergency evacuation coverage can easily save you tens of thousands in out-of-pocket expenses if you need an unexpected helicopter airlift , medically equipped flights home or ambulance transportation to a local hospital. However, this is at the discretion of the attending physician and the company. Typically, evacuation occurs if it's determined that you can't be treated properly at the hospital to which you are initially taken.

Lost or delayed luggage and delayed flights can happen at any time, and they can create a number of headaches for travelers. Third-party travel insurance may provide reimbursement here. Baggage loss coverage provides reimbursement for luggage as well as covered items that are lost or stolen while you're traveling, while baggage delay coverage allows you to purchase essential items you need for your personal comfort while you're waiting for your bags to arrive . Meanwhile, trip delay protection may offer reimbursement for additional expenses incurred due to a late-arriving flight or missed connection — including unexpected, overnight hotel stays or nonrefundable tours you missed as a result of the delay.

However, these are typically secondary coverage — so they'll supplement any reimbursements offered by a common carrier (like an airline that loses your bag or delays your flight) or your homeowner's insurance. In addition, plan limits define the amount of coverage, which varies by plan.

It's also worth noting here that many credit cards also offer protection for things like trip delays and lost luggage. Once again, be sure to carefully compare the details of these offerings to those from a third-party insurance provider to select the one that best meets your needs.

Related: These cards offer luggage delay and loss insurance

Additional coverage options

If you need or want more robust insurance for peace of mind, providers also offer add-on options for:

• Accidental death and dismemberment
• Hazardous sports
• Rental car collision damage (though not liability)

Note that death/dismemberment insurance and rental car coverage are frequently offered with many credit cards, so check your card benefits before purchasing these add-ons to avoid redundant coverage.

When travel insurance plans are a great idea

Still unsure of whether independent travel insurance is something you should consider? Here are a few scenarios in which travel insurance might make sense for you:

You're traveling in a group, especially with small children

There are a variety of things that can go wrong when traveling with your family or in a large group — more travelers means greater potential for sickness, injury or other covered reasons that could offer reimbursement under travel insurance. And standard, comprehensive travel insurance plans typically cover up to 10 travelers. A few hundred dollars spent on a good policy can save you thousands in otherwise-sunk costs in the event of an emergency.

When traveling with her niece or nephews overseas, Shannon O'Donnell of A Little Adrift purchased insurance plans that, among other protections, covered travel costs for a back-up guardian in case she became ill or injured — a scenario that doesn't typically occur to most travelers.

You need medical protection overseas

If you plan to hike Machu Picchu , backpack your way through Southeast Asia or undertake any other equally adventurous trip, it can be a good idea to look into two different types of coverage:

• Emergency medical evacuation coverage : This provides transport assistance in the event that you become seriously ill or injured while traveling. Generally, these plans provide emergency medical evacuation to the nearest appropriate care facility if the assistance company and the physician feel you'd be better suited at a different facility.
• Travel medical coverage : These plans offer specific, defined coverage needed by some while traveling abroad. These are only available to travelers who are leaving their home country and who require medical insurance that will fill the gaps in their primary health insurance coverage while traveling internationally.

Most credit card benefits don't offer robust medical expense or evacuation coverage , so if you need one or both of these coverages, you may want to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance plan.

Bear in mind that Medicare doesn't offer any international assistance, and U.S.-based private health insurance plans offer little to no coverage for international travel. Countries with universal health care may offer some basic help, but they aren't obligated to do so, especially if you aren't a citizen.

You're planning a complex trip with many moving parts

There are a few ways you can purchase insurance, even if you're planning a long-term trip.

In 2015, Connie Wang quit her job to travel the world for 15 months by stringing together a series of shorter trips across 47 countries and six continents. Instead of purchasing one giant insurance plan for the full year, she purchased individual plans for each leg of her travels through World Nomads as she went . Purchasing insurance this way lessened her upfront travel expenses and simplified the stress of planning each activity months in advance.

However, many travel agents and full-time nomads prefer to purchase annual insurance coverage, such as the year-round plan offered by TravelGuard . With an annual policy, you can book a trip in the next 30 minutes without the additional stress of scrambling for last-minute coverage.

When purchasing travel insurance may be unnecessary

On the flip side, there are plenty of trips where a separate insurance plan would be overkill. Here are a few examples:

You're traveling on a domestic flight worth $300 or less, and staying with friends or family

Usually, a trip of this cost won't be worth the additional cost of a travel insurance plan. In this situation, your credit card trip delay protection will most likely prove more than sufficient to cover any expenses incurred as a result of travel delays.

Your trip is already refundable

If you book a flight through an airline like Southwest , a travel insurance claims adjuster may see that the airline issued travel credit for the value of a canceled ticket, and refuse to further reimburse you for your sunk travel costs. This is especially important to consider now that most U.S. airlines have committed to permanently removing change fees .

Related: What to do when an airline changes your flight

While many of us purchase nonrefundable flights these days, this would also be the case if you purchase a fully-refundable premium-cabin flight in cash. For example, an underwriter may ask why you didn't pursue a refund with the airline directly instead.

You're traveling on award bookings

Insurance companies will only reimburse your actual spend, not the value of your seat. A round-trip Singapore Suites ticket may be worth $13,000 but when your underwriter sees that you only paid $203 in fees, your financial return on insurance investment will be very low.

Instead, look into your airline's policies regarding canceled or missed award travel for help. In some cases, you may be eligible for a partial or full refund, although redeposit fees will often apply. Cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card are eligible for compensation on award redemptions.

You rarely plan big, complicated or dangerous trips

Many cards limit protection claims under a certain dollar amount within 12 months. So if you've already filed a large insurance claim with your credit card company within the past year, independent travel insurance might be a wise purchase to consider for your next trip.

But if you're only on the road once or twice a year, those limited protection claims might be sufficient for your needs.

How to find and purchase travel insurance

Katie Warner, CEO of Lucid Routes , recommends travelers price-shop for insurance as soon as they make their initial trip payment so they can take full advantage of the coverage options that must be purchased within a set time frame after booking. Many travel insurance plans offer additional coverages to travelers who protect their trip within the first 10 to 21 days after making their first trip payment

The most important first step is to figure out your coverage priorities and identify the most important criteria for your trip. For example, when Shannon O'Donnell purchased the previously-mentioned, comprehensive plan for her around-the-world trip, she sought out a policy that would cover the cost of an emergency guardian for her 11-year-old niece if anything happened to O'Donnell.

You can determine the key coverages you need by browsing a list and selecting the top two or three; use them as filtering criteria when comparing insurance quotes.

Once you've established what you need in an insurance plan, utilize a reputable comparison site such as InsureMyTrip , which includes reviews for every insurance company plan it recommends. You can select the travel details for which you need insurance, using drop-down menus on the website to receive an instant quote.

WorldNomads is one of the most popular providers among solo world travelers, endorsed by the likes of Lonely Planet and similar backpacker guides. However, you may find that AIG, Nationwide or Allianz offer more competitive prices for your bachelor cruise or family vacation to Disneyland .

How much will travel insurance cost?

Depending on the package you select, expect to pay between 4 to 8% of your total prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses. Basic plans for peace of mind can cost less than 4%, while premium vacation plans that cover just about any conceivable issue can cost more than 12% of your total trip expenses. Travel medical insurance is sold based on the duration of your travels, and can be as low as a few dollars per day.

All reputable insurance companies will offer a "free-look period" in most states during which you can cancel your policy for a full refund of the premium (on some plans, refunds may be subject to a small administration fee). This allows you to review the policy you've selected and return it for any reason within the period allotted.

Under normal circumstances, you don't need to purchase a " cancel for any reason " policy unless you really need the flexibility — you'll overpay when most accepted reasons are plenty sufficient.

You can receive a quote and purchase a policy online in minutes with any credit card . Note that although you may assume travel insurance should count as travel and be eligible for bonus rewards on cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, your earnings will depend on the individual provider's merchant code . When in doubt, expect that the purchase will fall under the insurance category for earnings.

Here's a sample insurance price comparison from InsureMyTrip that I generated for my dream vacation to Antarctica , valued at a total travel cost of $20,000 (dream big, right?).

There's a drastic difference between the top three quotes I received out of 20 recommendations. InsureMyTrip.com conveniently labeled each plan for me by quality: Superior, Strong Value and Economy.

But keep in mind that if I want coverage that specifically covers COVID-related setbacks, there's only one option available through InsureMyTrip. It will set me back $1,741 — a large number, but still just 8.7% of my $20,000 hypothetical trip total.

However, I could decide to only focus on the worst-case scenario instead by purchasing accidental death coverage. Unfortunately, the average funeral easily costs thousands of dollars, a sum that few families are equipped to pay on short notice.

If I opted to fly down to Antarctica, basic flight insurance for accidental death would cost me just $17 in the unlikely event that the unthinkable happened to me.

How do I make a claim?

Ideally, you'll never need to make good on your insurance investment. But if you do, here are some easy tips to keep in mind when filing a claim . Best-case scenario, you'll have your reimbursement back in hand in no time; worst-case scenario, you can avoid the disappointment of a rejected claim.

Here are a couple of the most common reasons why insurance companies might deny your claim — and how to avoid them.

You're trying to claim coverage on an activity or event that isn't covered on your plan

Make sure you read the fine print on your contract very carefully, both when you purchase your plan and when you begin filing your claim. Many plans will not offer medical coverage for injuries sustained during certain activities — like bungee jumping, for example.

You haven't filed a claim through your primary insurance yet

Third-party travel insurance may offer benefits on either a primary or secondary basis. If the coverage is primary, the travel insurance company will pay benefits for a covered claim first. If coverage is secondary, your claims adjuster will ask you to reach out to any primary source of reimbursement first before paying out any expenses — whether that's through homeowner's or medical insurance or from a travel provider that bears responsibility for a loss.

In other words, if your travel insurance policy offers secondary coverage and your luggage is stolen (for example), you'll have to file a claim with the airline or your homeowner's insurance provider first, and show proof of either denial or resolution before your travel insurance company will pay out your lost items.

Or if you get sick in the U.S. and your health insurance covers you for any domestic doctor visit, you'll have to file your insurance claim there rather than through your travel insurance company . If you incur additional expenses that aren't covered by your health insurance, such as an ambulance or medical evacuation, that's where your travel insurance may kick in.

Your documentation is incomplete or inaccurate

Hang on to your receipts ! Your insurance claims adjuster will require, at minimum, all paperwork related to your property loss or medical expenses, such as a police report or hospital discharge papers. The faster you can get written proof or documentation for an issue, the quicker your claim can be processed.

It's crucial to remember that travel cancellations due to illness must be recommended by a doctor, in writing; unless you purchased a "cancel for any reason" policy, it will not be sufficient to expect reimbursement just because, say, your child developed a cough that you believe is a precursor to bronchitis.

Purchasing travel insurance after an incident has already occurred

I hate to play Captain Obvious here, but travel insurance can't be purchased after a hurricane has already been named, or after your illness has already set in. Again, this is why it's important to purchase travel insurance as soon as you've made a payment on your trip bookings.

My own success story: How a $200 travel insurance plan paid for $1,300 of expenses in Italy

My faith in travel insurance paid off when I left for a three-week trip to Italy in July 2018. Thunderstorms in Chicago delayed my inbound flight , which meant I was rerouted onto another plane with just two hours to spare. I eventually made it to Venice — but my checked luggage did not for an additional five days.

Since I was attending a photography workshop, I had packed my suitcase full of fancy dresses for our models to wear, all of which had to be replaced on the spot during the height of peak tourist season. I also ended up having to pay out of pocket for additional basics like extra socks, rain gear and alternative transportation.

Fortunately, I knew I could float my unexpected expenses on my credit cards for a few weeks. And even better, I knew that my travel insurance plan would cover additional expenses associated with my flight delay — including coverage for my alternative transportation within Venice.

While my Chase Sapphire Reserve also includes trip protection, the $500 total coverage for delayed baggage expenses wouldn't have been sufficient to cover the cost of the clothing I had to purchase for the workshop. And since I wasn't delayed for more than six hours at any single point, I also wouldn't have been able to claim credit card insurance coverage for my rebooked transportation.

Related: Which credit cards cover baggage delays?

In contrast to my credit card trip protection, my travel insurance plan covered all of my costs — every, last cent.

As Murphy's Law would have it, Lufthansa finally delivered my lost luggage to me — but not until the morning after the workshop had ended.

In total, I claimed $1,296.55 in expenses for the five and a half days I spent without my luggage, between the cost of replacement clothing, the formal dresses, a replacement suitcase to carry everything back and forth on the cobblestones of Venice , a canceled Airbnb in Florence and the rebooked water taxi. And if I hadn't been sharing an Airbnb with friends, my housing costs very well could have added to that total, since I had to stay on in Venice for a couple of extra days to wait for my bag. But my AIG insurance plan covered every penny.

The claims process was complicated and involved, and I had to save all of my Italian receipts and convert euros to U.S. dollars for every line item. But once I finally buckled down and submitted all my paperwork, I received a check within seven business days of final confirmation.

And other than all the extra luggage I ended up having to haul all over the land of pasta, all's well that ends well, right?

Bottom line

Independent travel insurance isn't for everyone — or necessary for every trip. But if you constantly find yourself on the road, or frequently book complicated travel, independent travel insurance may be just what you need to bring your peace of mind with you, everywhere you go.

I've personally experienced the benefits of having travel insurance, and so have plenty of other TPG readers and staffers. Hopefully, this guide gave you some insight into when it makes sense to purchase travel insurance and how to find the best plan for you.

Additional reporting by Madison Blancaflor, Katie Genter, Jordi Lippe-McGraw, and Squaremouth .

Disclaimer : This information is provided by IMT Services, LLC ( InsureMyTrip.com ), a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 5119217) and a member of the Tokio Marine HCC group of companies. IMT's services are only available in states where it is licensed to do business and the products provided through InsureMyTrip.com may not be available in all states. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not create or modify any insurance policy terms in any way. For more information, please visit www.insuremytrip.com .

U.S. News takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

9 Best Travel Insurance Companies of April 2024

According to our analysis of more than 50 travel insurance companies and hundreds of different travel insurance plans, the best travel insurance company is Travelex Insurance Services. In our best travel insurance ratings, we take into account traveler reviews, credit ratings and industry awards. The best travel insurance companies offer robust coverage and excellent customer service, and many offer customizable add-ons.

Travelex Insurance Services »

Allianz Travel Insurance »

HTH Travel Insurance »

Tin Leg »

AIG Travel Guard »

Nationwide Insurance »

Seven Corners »

Generali Global Assistance »

Berkshire hathaway travel protection ».

Why Trust Us

U.S. News evaluates ratings, data and scores of more than 50 travel insurance companies from comparison websites like TravelInsurance.com, Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip, plus renowned credit rating agency AM Best, in addition to reviews and recommendations from top travel industry sources and consumers to determine the Best Travel Insurance Companies.

Table of Contents

• Travelex Insurance Services
• Allianz Travel Insurance

Travel insurance can help you protect the financial investment you made in your vacation when unexpected issues arise. Find the best travel insurance for the type of trip(s) you're taking and the coverages that matter most to you – from interruptions and misplaced belongings to illness and injury.

• Travelex Insurance Services: Best Overall
• Allianz Travel Insurance: Best for Trip Interruptions
• HTH Travel Insurance: Best for Groups
• Tin Leg: Best Cost
• AIG Travel Guard: Best for Families
• Nationwide Insurance: Best for Last-Minute Travel Insurance
• Seven Corners: Best for 24/7 Support When Traveling
• Generali Global Assistance: Best for Medical Emergencies
• Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection: Best for Specialized Coverage

Customizable upgrades are available, including car rental coverage, additional medical insurance and adventure sports coverage

Medical and trip cancellation maximum are not as high as some other companies

• 100% of the insured trip cost for trip cancellation; 150% for trip interruption
• Up to $1,000 in coverage for lost, damaged or stolen bags and personal items; $200 for luggage delays
• $750 in missed connection coverage
• $50,000 in emergency medical and dental coverage
• Up to $500,000 in emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage

SEE FULL REVIEW »

Annual and multitrip policies are available

Distinguishing between the company's 10 travel insurance plans can be challenging

• Up to $200,000 in trip cancellation coverage; $300,000 in trip interruption coverage
• $2,000 for lost, damaged or stolen luggage and personal effects; $600 for bag delays
• Up to $1,600 for travel delays
• Emergency medical coverage of up to $75,000
• Epidemic coverage

Generous coverage at the mid- and high-tier levels, and great group discounts

Preexisting conditions coverage is only available at mid- and high-tier plans

• 100% trip cancellation coverage (up to $50,000); 200% trip interruption coverage
• Up to $2,000 in coverage for baggage and personal effects; $400 in baggage delay coverage
• Up to $2,000 in coverage for trip delays; $1,000 for missed connections
• $500,000 in coverage per person for sickness and accidents

Variety of plans to choose from, including two budget-friendly policies and several more premium options

More limited coverage for baggage issues than other companies

• 100% trip cancellation protection; 150% trip interruption
• $500 per person for lost, stolen or damaged baggage and personal items
• Up to $2,000 per person in travel delay coverage ($150 per day); $100 per person for missed connections
• $100,000 per person in emergency medical coverage, including issues related to COVID-19

Travel insurance policy coverage is tailored to your specific trip

Information about policy coverage inclusions is not readily available without first obtaining a quote

• Trip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of your trip's cost; trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost
• Up to $2,500 in coverage for lost, stolen or damaged baggage; $500 related to luggage delays
• Up to $1,000 in missed connection and trip delay coverage
• $100,000 in emergency medical coverage

Variety of plans to choose from and coverage available up to a day before you leave on your trip

Limited trip cancellation coverage even at the highest tier

• Trip cancellation coverage up to $30,000; trip interruption coverage worth up to 200% of the trip cost (maximum of $60,000)
• $2,000 for lost, damaged or stolen baggage; $600 for baggage delays
• Up to $2,000 for trip delays; missed connection and itinerary change coverage of $500 each
• $150,000 for emergency medical and dental issues

Customer service available 24/7 via text, Whatsapp, email and phone

Cancel for any reason coverage costs extra

• 100% trip cancellation coverage (up to between $30,000 and $100,000 depending on your state of residence); interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost 
• Lost, stolen or damaged baggage coverage up to $2,500; up to $600 for luggage delays
• Trip delay and missed connection coverage worth up to $1,500
• Emergency medical coverage worth up to between $250,000 and $500,000 (depending on where you live)

Generous emergency medical and emergency evacuation coverage

Coverage for those with preexisting conditions is only available on the Premium plan

• 100% reimbursement for trip cancellation; 175% reimbursement for trip interruption
• $2,000 in coverage for loss of baggage per person
• $1,000 per person in travel delay and missed connection coverage
• $250,000 in medical and dental coverage per person

In addition to single-trip plans, company offers specific road trip, adventure travel, flight and cruise insurance coverage

Coverage for missed connections or accidental death and dismemberment is not part of the most basic plan

• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to 100% of the trip cost; interruption coverage worth up to 150% of the trip cost
• $500 in coverage for lost, stolen or damaged bags and personal items; bag delay coverage worth $200
• Trip delay coverage worth up to $1,000; missed connection coverage worth up to $100
• Medical coverage worth up to $50,000

To help you better understand the costs associated with travel insurance, we requested quotes for a weeklong June 2024 trip to Spain for a solo traveler, a couple and a family. These rates should help you get a rough estimate for about how much you can expect to spend on travel insurance. For additional details on specific coverage from each travel insurance plan and to input your trip information for a quote, see our comparison table below.

Travel Insurance Types: Which One Is Right for You?

There are several types of travel insurance you'll want to evaluate before choosing the policy that's right for you. A few of the most popular types of travel insurance include:

COVID travel insurance Select insurance plans offer some or a combination of the following COVID-19-related protections: coverage for rapid or PCR testing; accommodations if you're required to quarantine during your trip if you test positive for coronavirus; health care; and trip cancellations due to you or a family member testing positive for COVID-19. Read more about the best COVID-19 travel insurance options .

Cancel for any reason insurance Cancel for any reason travel insurance works exactly how it sounds. This type of travel insurance lets you cancel your trip for any reason you want – even if your reason is that you simply decide you no longer want to go. Cancel for any reason travel insurance is typically an add-on you can purchase to go along with other types of travel insurance. For that reason, you will pay more to have this kind of coverage added to your policy.

Also note that this type of coverage typically only reimburses 50% to 80% of your nonrefundable prepaid travel expenses. You'll want to make sure you know exactly how much reimbursement you could qualify for before you invest in this type of policy. Compare the best cancel for any reason travel insurance options here .

International travel insurance Travel insurance is especially useful when traveling internationally, as it can provide medical coverage for emergencies (in some cases for COVID-19) when you're far from home. Depending which international travel insurance plan you choose, this type of travel insurance can also cover lost or delayed luggage, rental cars, travel interruptions or cancellations, and more.

Cheap travel insurance If you want travel insurance but don't want to spend a lot of money, there are plenty of cheap travel insurance options that will offer at least some protections (and peace of mind). These are typically called a company's basic or standard plan; many travel insurance companies even allow you to customize your coverage, spending as little or as much as you want. Explore your options for the cheapest travel insurance here .

Trip cancellation, interruption and delay insurance Trip cancellation coverage can help you get reimbursement for prepaid travel expenses, such as your airfare and cruise fare, if your trip is ultimately canceled for a covered reason. Trip interruption insurance, on the other hand, kicks in to reimburse you if your trip is derailed after it starts. For instance, if you arrived at your destination and became gravely ill, it would cover the cost if you had to cut your trip short.

Trip delay insurance can help you qualify for reimbursement of any unexpected expenses you incur (think: lodging, transportation and food) in the event your trip is delayed for reasons beyond your control, such as your flight being canceled and rebooked for the next day. You will want to save your receipts to substantiate your claim if you have this coverage.

Lost, damaged, delayed or stolen bags or personal belongings Coverage for lost or stolen bags can come in handy if your checked luggage is lost by your airline or your luggage is delayed so long that you have to buy clothing and toiletries for your trip. This type of coverage can kick in to cover the cost to replace lost or stolen items you brought on your trip. It can also provide coverage for the baggage itself. It's even possible that your travel insurance policy will pay for your flight home if damages are caused to your residence and your belongings while you're away, forcing you to return home immediately.

Travel medical insurance If you find yourself sick or injured while you are on vacation, emergency medical coverage can pay for your medical expenses. With that in mind, however, you will need to find out whether the travel medical insurance you buy is primary or secondary. Where a primary policy can be used right away to cover medical bills incurred while you travel, secondary coverage only provides reimbursement after you have exhausted other medical policies you have.

You will also need to know how the travel medical coverage you purchase deals with any preexisting conditions you have, including whether you will have any coverage for preexisting conditions at all. Read more about the best travel medical insurance plans .

Evacuation insurance Imagine you break your leg while on the side of a mountain in some far-flung land without quality health care. Not only would you need travel medical insurance coverage in that case, but you would also need coverage for the exorbitant expense involved in getting you off the side of a mountain and flying you home where you can receive appropriate medical care.

Evacuation coverage can come in handy if you need it, but you will want to make sure any coverage you buy comes with incredibly high limits. According to Squaremouth, an emergency evacuation can easily cost $25,000 in North America and up to $50,000 in Europe, so the site typically suggests customers buy policies with $50,000 to $100,000 in emergency evacuation coverage.

Cruise insurance Travel delays; missed connections, tours or excursions; and cruise ship disablement (when a ship encounters a mechanical issue and is unable to continue on in the journey) are just a few examples why cruise insurance can be a useful protection if you've booked a cruise vacation. Learn more about the top cruise insurance plans here .

Credit card travel insurance It is not uncommon to find credit cards that include trip cancellation and interruption coverage , trip delay insurance, lost or delayed baggage coverage, travel accident insurance, and more. Cards that offer this coverage include popular options like the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card , the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card and The Platinum Card from American Express . 

Note that owning a credit card with travel insurance protection is not enough for your coverage to count: To take advantage of credit card travel insurance, you must pay for prepaid travel expenses like your airfare, hotel stay or cruise with that specific credit card. Also, note that credit cards with travel insurance have their own list of exclusions to watch out for. Many also require cardholders to pay an annual fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

The best time to buy travel insurance is normally within a few weeks of booking your trip since you may qualify for lower pricing if you book early. Keep in mind, some travel insurance providers allow you to purchase plans until the day before you depart.

Many times, you are given the option to purchase travel insurance when you book your airfare, accommodations or vacation package. Travel insurance and travel protection are frequently offered as add-ons for your trip, meaning you can pay for your vacation and some level of travel insurance at the same time.

However, many people choose to wait to buy travel insurance until after their entire vacation is booked and paid for. This helps travelers tally up all the underlying costs associated with a trip, and then choose their travel insurance provider and the level of coverage they want.

Figuring out where to buy travel insurance may be confusing but you can easily research and purchase travel insurance online these days. Some consumers prefer to shop around with a specific provider, such as Allianz or Travelex, but you can also shop and compare policies with a travel insurance platform. Popular options include:

• TravelInsurance.com: TravelInsurance.com offers travel insurance options from more than a dozen vetted insurance providers. Users can read reviews on the various travel insurance providers to find out more about previous travelers' experiences with them. Squaremouth: With Squaremouth, you can enter your trip details and compare more than 90 travel insurance plans from 20-plus providers.
• InsureMyTrip: InsureMyTrip works similarly, letting you shop around and compare plans from more than 20 travel insurance providers in one place. InsureMyTrip also offers several guarantees, including a Best Price Guarantee, a Best Plan Guarantee and a Money-Back Guarantee that promises a full refund if you decide you no longer need the plan you purchased.

Protect your trip: Search, compare and buy the best travel insurance plans for the lowest price. Get a quote .

When you need to file a travel insurance claim, you should plan on explaining to your provider what happened to your trip and why you think your policy applies. If you planned to go on a Caribbean cruise, but your husband fell gravely ill the night before you were set to depart, you would need to explain that situation to your travel insurance company. Information you should share with your provider includes the details of why you're making a claim, who was involved and the exact circumstances of your loss.

Documentation is important, and your travel insurance provider will ask for proof of what happened. Required documentation for travel insurance typically includes any proof of a delay, receipts, copies of medical bills and more.

Most travel insurance companies let you file a claim using an online form, but some also allow you to file a claim by phone or via fax. Some travel insurance providers, such as Allianz and Travel Insured International, offer their own mobile apps you can use to buy policies and upload information or documents that substantiate your claim. In any case, you will need to provide the company with proof of your claim and the circumstances that caused it.

If your claim is initially denied, you may also need to answer some questions or submit some additional information that can highlight why you do, in fact, qualify.

Whatever you do, be honest and forthcoming with all the information in your claim. Also, be willing to provide more information or answer any questions when asked.

Travel insurance claims typically take four to six weeks to process once you file with your insurance company. However, with various flight delays and cancellations due to things like extreme weather and pilot shortages, more travelers have begun purchasing travel insurance, encountering trip issues and having to submit claims. The higher volume of claims submitted has resulted in slower turnaround times at some insurance companies.

The longer you take to file your travel insurance claim after a loss, the longer you will be waiting for reimbursement. Also note that, with many travel insurance providers, there is a time limit on how long you can submit claims after a trip. For example, with Allianz Travel Insurance and Travelex Insurance Services, you have 90 days from the date of your loss to file a claim.

You may be able to expedite the claim if you provide all the required information upfront, whereas the process could drag on longer than it needs to if you delay filing a claim or the company has to follow up with you to get more information.

Travel insurance is never required, and only you can decide whether or not it's right for you. Check out Is Travel Insurance Worth It? to see some common situations where it does (and doesn't) make sense.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is an award-winning content creator who has been writing about travel insurance and travel for more than a decade. She has researched travel insurance options for her own vacations and family trips to more than 50 countries around the world, and has experience navigating the claims and reimbursement process. In fact, she has successfully filed several travel insurance claims for trip delays and trip cancellations over the years. Johnson also works alongside her husband, Greg, who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states, in their family media business.

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The Ultimate Guide to Buying the Best Travel Insurance [For You]

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Situations Where Travel Insurance Can Help

Covering your major concerns, when to buy travel insurance, credit cards, employer-sponsored health insurance, club memberships, medicare supplements and advantage plans, travel insurance comparison tools/websites, world nomads — best for comprehensive coverage and adventure activities (recommended), travelex /berkshire hathaway travel insurance — family protection for children at no extra cost, geoblue — affordable annual medical travel insurance, usaa — travel insurance for military and families, allianz — affordable annual travel insurance, expedia — an impulse buy you can prepare for, other travel insurance companies, single trip policies, multiple trip or multi-destination policies, annual policies, travel insurance for seniors, special needs and travel insurance for those with disabilities, group travel insurance, pet travel insurance, final thoughts.

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Whether you’re traveling with family or solo, on an epic adventure or a weekend getaway , travel insurance can go a long way toward providing peace of mind during your trip. And if things should go wrong, you’ll find consolation in being financially covered.

With all that’s at stake, you’ve probably given serious thought to purchasing travel insurance just like I have. There have certainly been times when I’ve needed it, including severe flight delays, a parasailing accident in Mexico, and when my luggage took a trip of its own!

Unfortunately, it’s also easy to become overwhelmed with the vast selection of travel insurance options available. We’ve created this guide to help you sort through the confusion and demystify the process.

In this article, we’ll cover all the information you need to:

• Determine the type of coverage you need
• Find out if you currently have any travel coverage
• Narrow your options to just a few policies that fit
• Select a reputable travel insurance company

Let’s get started with helping you find the best travel insurance policy for your situation.

Why You Need Travel Insurance

If you travel frequently, you’ve probably experienced an event where travel insurance would have helped.

Whether it was a severely delayed flight, illness abroad, stolen possessions, or a canceled trip due to an unforeseen event — travel insurance could have made the situation better.

Travel Insurance can cover a variety of situations. Here is just a sampling of those you can easily purchase coverage for:

• You have an accident and need medical evacuation to a nearby hospital: According to travel insurance company Allianz, the estimated cost of medical evacuation ranges from $15,000-$20,000 in Mexico to over $200,000 in Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.
• You miss your cruise because your flight is severely delayed or canceled: Catching up with your cruise once it has departed can be costly!
• You can’t take a planned trip due to illness: The entire cost of your trip and any pre-paid arrangements could be at risk if you become ill and unable to travel. Coverage is even available when travel companions become ill and you must forego your trip.
• You become ill while abroad: The cost of medical attention abroad can be expensive, and it can result in increased costs to rearrange your itinerary.
• Your baggage is lost or delayed: After your bags have been delayed a minimum amount of time, usually 12-24 hours, coverage kicks in and provides money for essentials.

Bottom Line: It’s prudent to buy travel insurance for expensive trips. You may go several years without using the coverage you’ve purchased, but one incident could cause you to incur thousands of dollars in expenses, far exceeding the cost of insuring multiple trips. 

If money is no object, you can purchase a lot of travel insurance to make sure you’re covered for nearly every situation you’ll encounter. In reality, you’ll probably want to balance cost with the coverages that are most important to you.

For some travelers, their greatest concern is the huge cost of an emergency medical evacuation. For others it can be the risk of getting ill and not being able to travel on a trip they’ve paid thousands of dollars for already.

But don’t fret: there’s a travel insurance plan for just about any travel concern that can cost you money if things go wrong.

Here are some of the plan types available:

• Emergency Medical Evacuation: Pays to get you to the nearest hospital, even in remote areas
• Travel Medical Insurance : Provides medical care if you get sick or injured while traveling
• Annual Travel Insurance: Covers you for multiple trips taken throughout the year
• Comprehensive Package Travel Insurance: Conveniently groups many travel insurance coverages together in one policy
• Cancel for Any Reason Rider ( CFAR ): When certain conditions are met, this coverage lets you cancel your trip for any reason and receive reimbursement
• Policies that Cover Families: Comprehensive travel policies that cover all family members/domestic partners before and during your trip.

Most travel insurance policies can be purchased up until the day of your departure. However, some policies contain pre-departure benefits, so you’ll want to buy your policy as soon as possible.

For example, you may have coverage that covers you getting ill and not being able to take your trip.

The general advice is to buy your policy when you make your first payment on the trip.

Since policies can be priced according to how much your total trip costs, you can take out the insurance based on what you’ve already paid and call the company to raise the amount of the policy once you’ve made additional payments.

Read our guide to find out more on when to buy travel insurance .

Hot Tip:  Travel insurance policies include a free-look period, where you can review your policy once you’ve received it and decide if it’s right for you. This free-look period is usually 10-15 days depending on the company and type of policy. 

You May Already Have Coverage — Here’s Where to Look

Before you purchase a travel insurance policy, you should check these 4 places where you may have some current coverage.

You may find that you have a credit card with travel insurance , with your employer-sponsored health plan, with club/organization memberships, and on Medicare gap policies.

It is helpful to know which types of coverage you currently have so you can select a comprehensive travel insurance policy without paying extra for duplicate coverage.

Credit cards commonly carry travel insurance benefits, but whether they’re included and the level of coverage provided will vary depending on which card you carry.

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular credit card issuers and the types of travel insurance/protection they provide.

American Express offers several travel insurance benefits on their cards.

• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Secondary coverage is included on various American Express cards . Primary Car Rental Protection is available to purchase for one low fee that covers the entire rental period.
• Travel Accident Insurance: Limits of $250,000-$500,000 depending on the card.
• Baggage Insurance: Provides coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged checked or carry on baggage. Included on various American Express cards. 
• The Global Assist Hotline: Included on various American Express cards . Premium cards such as the Platinum Card ® from American Express and Business Platinum Card ®  from American Express  include premium versions of the Global Assist Hotline that provide support before, during, and after your trip.
• Roadside Assistance: While Amex has removed roadside assistance from many of its cards, there are still several Amex cards with the coverage. Coverage includes assistance with jump starts, gas, towing, and lockout.

Chase is another major card issuer that includes various travel insurance coverages on their credit cards.

Citi credit cards have recently had several travel benefits removed,  similar to other credit card issuers. Your exact coverage benefits will depend on which Citi card you have. To learn the details of Citi’s credit card travel protections, you can access Citi’s credit card guide to benefits  here .

Hot Tip: To receive coverage from any credit card, you must meet the purchase requirements. Some credit cards require you to charge the entire purchase, while some grant coverage if you pay for just a portion of the purchase with your card. You may also be able to receive coverage by using points for your purchase.

Requirements vary, but you can call the number on the back of your credit card for questions on coverage specific to the card you’re using.

See our article for information on additional credit card travel insurance coverage .

Bottom Line: Credit cards may offer incidental travel protections and benefits, but they should not be considered a replacement for a comprehensive travel insurance policy. 

You’ll first want to check your current health insurance policy to see if it might cover you while traveling. Many do not extend health insurance benefits while traveling, but there may be ancillary travel insurance coverages included in your policy.

For example, some employer-sponsored health insurance plans contain travel insurance coverage that can be quite significant. Unum is one of the most common group insurance companies offering employers travel insurance for their employees through Assist America .

The employee is provided a 24/7 phone number that can be called for immediate assistance when traveling more than 100 miles from home.

Here is a sample of coverage provided:

• Hospital admission assistance
• Emergency medical evacuation
• Prescription replacement assistance
• Transportation for a friend or family member to join a hospitalized patient
• Care and transport of unattended minor children
• Referrals to Western-trained, English-speaking medical providers
• Legal and interpreter referrals
• Passport replacement assistance

There is no charge for any of these services when the coverage is included on an employer-sponsored healthcare plan, so you’ll want to check your current employer-sponsored health plan to see if you have this coverage.

If you’re a member of any club or organization, you’ll want to ask about travel insurance benefits.

Here are just a few clubs where membership includes various types of travel insurance benefits.

Divers Alert Network — Membership is $35/year for singles, $55/year for families

• DAN members receive $100,000 of emergency medical evacuation assistance coverage . Evacuation is covered for diving and non-diving medical emergencies when you are more than 50 miles from home.
• Membership also includes TravelAssist , a 24/7 access to prescription assistance, medical monitoring, emergency messaging, and much more.

American Alpine Club — Membership is $80 per year and includes search and rescue insurance. The insurance applies to any land-based activity.

• Up to $7,500 of Global Rescue Trailhead Rescue Services (available worldwide)
• Up to $5,000 of Domestic Rescue Benefits (available in the U.S. only)

Gold Wing Road Riders Association  ($55/year) and the American Motorcycle Association ($49/year)

• Members receive FREE emergency roadside assistance and 24/7 towing up to 35 miles per disablement for their motorcycle or any motorcycle they are riding, even as a passenger.
• Gold Wing Coverage is limited to motorcycles; American Motorcycle Association members receive coverage for motorcycles, cars, trucks, trailers and RVs.

Family Motor Coach Association — Membership costs $60/year and includes discounted worldwide travel assistance insurance plus several other travel benefits.

Hot Tip: Club memberships can include travel insurance coverage at no additional cost or at a discounted price. Checking your current memberships and seeking out organizations you can join for cost-effective coverage may result in travel insurance coverage you can use.

With rare exceptions, Medicare does not extend coverage to another country outside the United States. However, some supplement and advantage insurance plans do include coverage when traveling.

These supplemental policies, called Medigap plans, pay 80% of medical emergency care outside the U.S. after a $250 deductible. The expense must not be covered by Medicare, and it must be incurred within the first 60 days of your travel. There is also a lifetime limit of $50,000.

Medigap plans C, D, F, G, H, I, J, M, and N contain this coverage. Visit Medicare.gov for a complete explanation of the coverage and information on out-of-country coverage for Medicare Advantage plans.

Remember, these are plans that you purchase in addition to your base Medicare Plans A and B. Medicare does not cover you out of the country except in rare circumstances detailed here .

Bottom Line:  It’s important to know the travel insurance coverages you have currently, as you may save money not duplicating those coverages when purchasing a travel insurance policy. You’ll also want to be able to take advantage of and use these existing coverages if you experience a covered event. 

Where to Buy Travel Insurance

All insurance companies are rated based on their financial stability; A.M. Best is the oldest, most recognized provider of ratings in the global insurance industry. We’ll include only those companies with excellent or above ratings.

Before we discuss specific travel insurance companies, however, we’ll cover a few great travel insurance comparison sites that can help narrow your choices before selecting a specific company and travel insurance policy.

Purchasing travel insurance is a balancing act between getting the coverage you need without spending above your budget . That’s why comparison sites can ease the pain of searching hundreds of policies and dozens of companies individually.

Another benefit of using these sites is that your information is entered just once, and their search engines will quickly find the best fit for your budget and coverage requirements.

Here are 3 comparison sites to help you get started:

1. Travelinsurance.com (recommended)

• Easy-to-use online comparison tool
• Instant coverage
• Best price guarantee; this means you won’t find a lower price anywhere else for a plan that’s found on TravelInsurance.com.

2. Squaremouth

• Award-winning customer service team
• 20 travel insurance companies and 116 different policies
• Over 60,000 customer reviews

3. InsureMyTrip

• Licensed agents to help you with questions and claims
• 21 providers; both large and boutique highly-rated companies
• Glossary and articles explaining coverage and plans

Once you’ve completed a few easy comparisons, you’ll have an idea of the type of policy you want, a range of costs, and what options are available.

You’ll find most of the major travel insurance providers on these comparison sites, but not all carriers participate.

Hot Tip:  Don’t miss our dedicated article on the Best Travel Insurance Companies For All Travelers !

Let’s take a look at some specific travel insurance providers you’ll want to consider:

Included in the top 10 travel insurance companies by  Consumer Advocate , World Nomads offers a comprehensive portfolio of travel insurance products including medical/evacuation insurance, 24-hour emergency assistance, trip delay/cancellation, and coverage for a long list of adventure activities.

There are several reasons to purchase travel insurance with World Nomads.

• Backed by established, reputable, highly-rated companies such as AIG Insurance Company , Lloyds, and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
• Understand world travel and the associated risks
• Single-trip, multiple-trip, and annual policies are available
• Good for active travelers, as most activities/sports are covered
• Plans include standard to comprehensive coverages
• Ability to purchase or extend coverage while traveling
• Available for travelers through age 69

Sample Pricing

Click to get a quote with World Nomads >>

Hot Tip: If you participate in sports and adventure activities when traveling (even dangerous ones), World Nomad’s travel insurance is a perfect fit with over 150 travel activities covered.

The family Travel Select plan covers children 17 and under for no additional cost. This comprehensive plan includes protection for trip interruption/cancellation/delay, medical and evacuation, baggage and personal effects, and travel assistance. For more information check out our Travelex review.

If you currently have health insurance that does not cover you outside of the United States, you’ll find GeoBlue an affordable option for medical coverage while you’re traveling.

Their Trekker Choice policy covers unlimited international trips up to 70 days in length for a 12-month policy period. The cost for an annual plan for a 40-year-old was $175 for the Trekker Choice policy, but even less expensive plans are available!

Active military, their families, and post-military USAA members receive exclusive rates for travel insurance that includes these coverages. Children are included on most plans at no additional cost.

• Lost/delayed baggage
• Trip delays
• Trip interruption/cancellation
• Trip interruption/cancellation due to accident or illness
• Medical expenses
• Interruptions due to weather
• Emergency assistance and evacuation

With nearly a dozen awards so far in 2018, highly-rated Allianz is a trusted company in the travel insurance arena.

I was particularly impressed with their annual travel insurance policy offerings that are surprisingly affordable. The prices listed above are for an annual policy for travelers ages 30-80, and it covers unlimited trips of 45 days or less during the 12-month period.

It’s not just a medical policy either. In the top 2 plans above you’ll find trip cancellation/interruption, change fee coverage, collision damage waiver, and even business equipment coverage.

For coverage details and a specific quote, visit their website .

Expedia is the world’s leading travel provider, so a mention of their  Expedia ® Package Protection plan seems appropriate.

Pricing varies from $49 per person for travel within the continental U.S. to $89 per person for multiple international destinations.

The trip insurance includes trip cancellation/interruption coverage even for bad weather, mechanical failure, or strike. Medical emergencies/transportation and lost/stolen baggage coverage are also included. You can review details and additional coverages here . You may only purchase the package at the time of booking.

Before purchasing the Expedia Package Protection plan, you should price and compare a policy from one of the major providers. You may be able to find more coverage for a lower cost.

The U.S. Department of State publishes a list of travel insurance companies that provide coverage overseas; you can access it here .

Hot Tip:  Some travel insurance policies require you to be outside the United States for coverage, but others will cover you as few as 50 miles from home. Since travel insurance is widely available (and in many cases affordable), it may make sense to purchase a policy for medical and other valuable coverage even if you’re traveling domestically. 

Single/Multiple Trip Policies vs. Annual Policy: Which Is Better?

• If you take 1 major trip annually, purchasing a single trip policy is the way to go. If it’s a trip you put together yourself, utilizing one of the providers mentioned in this article to purchase an individual travel insurance policy can be a simple solution and cover your trip appropriately.
• If your trip is a packaged tour, there’s nothing wrong with selecting insurance offered by the tour provider, but arm yourself first by doing some research. You’ll want to be sure you’re not overpaying, and that you’re purchasing travel insurance coverages that take care of  your  personal concerns, not just those of the tour provider.
• If you’re taking 2 trips a year, you can purchase a separate policy for each trip. If you’re taking 3 or more trips, you should consider an annual policy.
• If you’re going on an extended trip and visiting several countries (say 3 months in length), companies such as World Nomads can issue a policy that covers your entire trip.
• Taking a year off and traveling the world or just taking frequent international trips? You may want to consider a comprehensive annual travel insurance policy that covers multiple trips.
• Pricing can vary widely, so it’s important to compare prices and select the coverage that’s most important to you.

Hot Tip: The best way to determine if a multiple-trip or annual travel policy is better is to simply price each option, compare coverage, and review any terms/conditions. You may find that insuring 2 or 3 trips could cost as much as an annual trip insurance policy. 

Travel Insurance for Special Situations

In your late 60s, your options for purchasing travel insurance start to diminish (but they don’t disappear!). There are still several travel insurance companies where you can purchase great coverage.

• Allianz and Berkshire Hathaway each allowed me to quote a policy up to age 99
• GeoBlue medical travel insurance covers through age 84
• “Silver Nomads” age 70 and above can purchase coverage with World Nomad partner TripAssure

If a person is healthy enough to travel, they’re usually able to purchase travel insurance from many providers.

Allianz Global Assistance comes highly recommended by Wheelchair Travel.org for travelers with disabilities. Their policy for a 45-year-old traveling on a 2-week trip costing $2,200 quoted between $76-$143 depending on the coverages I selected.

When you have 10 or more travelers in a group, you might consider group travel insurance as an affordable option.

For a group of 10 traveling to Mexico for a 2-week trip that cost $2,200 per person, the lowest quote according to a search on Squaremouth.com was $838, or $83.80 per person.

Coverage per person included:

• Trip cancellation ($2,200)
• Trip interruption ($2,200)
• Good medical coverage ($20,000)
• Good medical evacuation coverage ($100,000)
• Trip delay ($150/day $500 max)
• Baggage delay/personal effects ($700)

If you’re a traveling pet owner, you’ve probably considered insuring your pet during your travels .

While some travel insurance policies include coverage for pets, separate policies for medical/veterinarian care for your pet can also be purchased.

Here are a couple of options for purchasing pet insurance that cover your pet while traveling.

• PetPlan – PetPlan insurance covers your pet in the United States and Canada and costs as little $8/month for $20,000 in annual coverage.
• Travelex Travel Max  – The policy provides $1,000 in emergency medical treatment for your pet. If you are hospitalized while traveling and cannot take care of your pet, the policy will also pay to return your pet back home (up to $10,000).

Insurance is an intangible; we can’t see it or hold it in our hands. Unless you have a claim, you’re simply buying the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re covered if things go wrong.

Travel insurance is a bit different than home or auto insurance, however — if you travel frequently, you know it’s common to experience delays, illness, lost baggage, and other travel disruptions where travel insurance could be useful.

Insurance is meant to protect you from disaster and major financial setbacks. Insuring yourself against losing money on an expensive trip or having a major medical event when traveling makes sense, especially since travel insurance is widely available and affordable.

Whether you should purchase travel insurance will depend on your risk tolerance level for what you could lose personally if things go wrong during your travels.

All information and content provided by Upgraded Points is intended as general information and for educational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as medical advice or legal advice. For more information, see our  Medical & Legal Disclaimers .

Frequently Asked Questions

How does travel insurance work.

When you plan a trip, you have to pay upfront for expenses such as airfare, hotels, cruises, and other related travel expenses. Travel insurance pays you money if there is a covered event that disrupts your trip.

For example, if you paid for a packaged tour but you became sick and unable to travel, travel insurance could reimburse you the cost of the tour and other covered expenses.

Travel insurance can also cover unexpected expenses you incur when your trip is interrupted due to cancellations, weather delays, or illness.

You can purchases policies that cover a variety of events such as lost/stolen baggage, medical emergencies, trip cancellation, trip delays and medical evacuation.

Can I insure my trip if I used frequent flier miles to purchase it?

Yes, you can. Most trips have extra associated costs even if you’re using frequent flier miles. You may incur taxes, seating upgrades, change fees, non-refundable lodging, and other associated costs.

When you insure your trip, you do not include the value of the frequent flier miles you used to purchase the trip, but any other non-refundable costs can be used to value and insure the trip.

Is travel insurance worth it?

There are several situations where you may not need travel insurance. If you are traveling domestically, purchased a cheap ticket, and have health insurance that will cover you, you probably do not need travel insurance.

Additionally, if you used frequent flier miles for your flight, points for your hotel, and are traveling domestically, you may not need travel insurance.

If you’re traveling internationally and you’ve paid for a lot of non-refundable travel expenses up front, you would want to purchase travel insurance.

This is because your health insurance may not cover you abroad, and you’d want to be protected. You also have significant funds at risk should you become ill and not be able to travel.

How much does travel insurance cost?

You can purchase travel insurance for as little as $25 for just basic coverage. The more coverage you want and the longer the length of coverage, the more it will cost.

Several factors go into determining the premium you will pay: your age, where you’re traveling, where you live, how long you’ll be traveling, which coverage you select, the amount of coverage you want, and which company you purchase the policy from.

Does travel insurance cover terrorism?

Yes, terrorism is covered under trip interruption/cancellation on many travel insurance policies. There can be stipulations for coverage, including that the event must be declared terrorism by local government or by the U.S. Department of State.

Additionally, there may be requirements that there has been no terrorism in the area for a specific period of time (7-30 days prior, for example).  Basically, if there has been ongoing terrorism and you travel there, coverage may be excluded.

Does AAA sell travel insurance?

Yes, AAA sells travel insurance for trips booked through AAA. When you book a trip with their travel agency, you will be offered travel insurance to cover your trip.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

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How to Buy the Best Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is one of the most important things you need when you travel — yet it’s often overlooked by travelers planning their trip.

You wouldn’t drive a car without car insurance or own a home without home insurance. Why would you risk traveling the world without travel insurance?

While it may seem like an unnecessary expense, travel insurance provides a vital safety net when you’re abroad.

Unexpected costs due to illness and injury, canceled flights, damaged electronics, lost luggage, the death of a family member back home — these are all covered by travel insurance.

In a nutshell, travel insurance is an all-purpose emergency coverage plan. It’s the single most important thing you should get for your trip and something I strongly, strongly advise travelers to never leave home without. I’ve seen it help so many people over the years – people who would have been out thousands of dollars otherwise.

Myself included.

I used it for a doctor in Argentina , when my camera broke in Italy , when my eardrum popped in Thailand , and when my luggage was stolen in South Africa .

Each time I was reimbursed for my expenses and was made whole again.

Travel insurance was there when my friend had to be helicoptered out of the Amazon after he fell off a boat, when another friend’s father died and she had to fly home, and when another friend got her bag stolen.

Travel insurance is designed to make sure you don’t lose a ton of money if an emergency happens abroad. Since most domestic health insurance programs don’t cover you overseas and travel credit cards offer limited protection, buying travel insurance is something you definitely need to protect you against the unknown.

Since travel insurance is one of the most complex, important, and confusing aspects of trip planning, I want to break it down for you, help you understand what it is about, and show you how to pick the best travel insurance plans in just a few steps!

Quick Overview: The Best Insurance Companies

Table of Contents

What to Look For in a Great Travel Insurance Plan

What’s not covered by your travel insurance, travel insurance loopholes: what to look for, the 4 best travel insurance companies, buy your travel insurance as soon as possible, a note on covid-19 (and other pandemics), final thoughts: why buying travel insurance is a must.

Insurance is a billion-dollar business and everyone wants their hand in the cookie jar. Consequently, you face a mind-numbing number of companies, policies, and terminology that can be confusing and overwhelming.

And, in the fine print, you’ll often discover that plans aren’t as good as they initially appear.

So, what should you do?

First, make sure your travel insurance offers a high coverage limit on your medical expenses. A good company will provide up to $100,000 USD in coverage care, though more expensive policies will cover you for higher amounts. The maximum coverage limit you can find is around $2,000,000 USD, though I’m not sure why you would ever need a limit that large.

High coverage limits are important because if you get sick, injured, or need serious attention and have to seek professional care, you want to make sure your high hospital bills are covered. The worst thing you can do is go cheap and get a policy with a $20,000 USD coverage limit, break a leg, and reach that limit before they are done taking care of you. Don’t be cheap with your health. Ensure you have coverage for at least $100,000 USD.

Second, you want to make sure your travel insurance policy also covers emergency evacuation and care that is separate from your medical coverage. If you are hiking in the woods and you break your leg, your policy should cover your evacuation to the nearest acceptable medical facility.

If a natural disaster occurs and you need to be evacuated to somewhere else, your plan should cover that as well. This protection should cover an expense of up to $300,000 USD.

Additionally, make sure you understand if your evacuation coverage will pay for you to get home or if it will just send you to the nearest acceptable facility.

For example, if you break your leg abroad, most insurance policies will pay for your hospital bills. However, they won’t pay for you to get home since it’s not a life-threatening injury requiring advanced care.

Standard emergency evacuation coverage frequently only moves you if your current facility is inadequate or if it’s “medically necessary.” Only then will they pay for a flight home.

In short, double-check if your company will cover the cost of your flight back home if you need it.

If you’d prefer not to stay in a foreign hospital for treatment and recovery, you should look into a medical transport membership program like Medjet . They ensure that, should you be hospitalized abroad, you’ll be able to be repatriated — something many travel insurance policies can’t guarantee.

Third, great travel insurance plans always include the following provisions:

• Coverage for most countries in the world (including the places you plan on visiting).
• Some coverage for your electronics (and have the option for a higher coverage limit).
• Coverage for injury and sudden illnesses.
• Offer 24/7 assistance (you don’t want to call to be told to call back later).
• Coverage for lost, damaged, or stolen possessions like jewelry, baggage, documents, etc.
• Coverage for cancellations for hotels, flights, and other transportation bookings if you have a sudden illness, death in the family, or some other emergency.
• Coverage for political emergencies, natural disasters, or strife in the country that causes you to head home early.
• Financial protection if any company you are using goes bankrupt and you are stuck in another country.

A quick note on electronics: Most companies only have a small limit ( usually up to $500 USD per item), as part of their basic coverage. You can often buy supplemental insurance to get a higher amount of coverage.

Moreover, many regular and home insurance companies offer insurance plans that can help you cover your electronics.

If you’re traveling with a camera, laptop, phone, and other electronics, make sure you have suitable coverage. They’re usually the things most likely to be lost, get stolen, or break.  

Just as important as knowing what your plan covers is knowing what it doesn’t cover. Generally speaking, most plans don’t cover:

• Accidents sustained while participating in extreme adventure activities such as hang gliding, paragliding, or bungee jumping (unless you pay for extra coverage).
• Alcohol- or drug-related incidents.
• Carelessness in handling your possessions and baggage.
• Recklessness (how “reckless” is defined is a matter up to each company).
• Pre-existing conditions or general check-ups. For example, if you have diabetes and need to buy more insulin, you won’t be covered. If you want to go see a doctor for a general check-up, you aren’t covered either.
• Lost or stolen cash.
• Your theft coverage won’t cover you if you left something in plain sight or unattended.
• If civil unrest makes your destination unsafe but your government hasn’t called for an evacuation, you’re probably out of luck too.

Even the best travel insurance have their limits. Often, in the fine print, you’ll find that plans aren’t as good as you thought.

The medical portion of travel insurance is more about emergency care than being a replacement for your normal healthcare. A lot of people purchase travel insurance get disappointed when they find out they can’t go get an annual physical with it.

Remember, you get what you pay for. Maybe you see two companies offer similar plans but one is really cheap?

Usually, it’s because the devil is in the details and they have smaller payouts, take longer to process claims, deny more people, or have so many rules in the fine print that it turns out you aren’t going to get paid when you think you are!

Travel insurance is accident insurance. It is there to protect you in case of emergency and, if need be, get you home in a hurry. If you want a global health plan (because you’re now an expat or digital nomad living abroad), you need a completely different type of plan from regular traveler insurance ( Insured Nomads has plans like this, for example).

Here’s a helpful chart that summarizes common concerns and the corresponding coverage you’ll need. Use it to help you find a suitable travel insurance plan:

The world is FILLED with insurance companies. You’re going to come across hundreds of them in your search for a reliable and affordable provider. To help you separate the wheat from the chaff, I’m going to list my favorites.

Below are the companies I would be OK with my mother using. If you’ve found a company and it’s not listed here, it’s because I probably wouldn’t use them. I’ve researched hundreds of policies over the last ten years and have found the following companies to be reliable:

The #1 Travel Insurance Company for Travelers!

I use them because I can purchase and renew my insurance policy online in a matter of minutes, they have a very friendly and responsive staff who answer questions and help solve problems via social media, they have great customer feedback, and most importantly, they provide a lot of coverage at a super affordable price. You can read my full Safety Wing review here.   Other good travel insurance companies to consider:

• Best for digital nomads and expats
• The closest thing to normal health insurance
• Covers non-emergencies
• Telehealth & mental health coverage

• Short-term and annual plans
• Extensive medical transport coverage
• Available for residents of USA, Canada, and Mexico
• Coverage for COVID-19
• Limited time spent in foreign medical facilities

• Compare plans from 23 providers
• Best option for travelers over 65
• “Anytime Advocates” ask insurer to give your claim a second look if you think it was unfairly denied
• Guaranteed low prices

• Comprehensive medical and cancelation coverage
• Coverage for adventure sports/activities
• Easy online claims process
• 24/7 customer support

You can buy travel insurance up until the day you leave for a trip (since it usually takes 24-48 hours to kick). Some companies, like Safety Wing , allow you to buy plans abroad. You can buy travel insurance even after you’ve booked your flight, so long as the policy is activated before you depart.

Even though you can wait until you leave, it’s best to get your travel insurance as soon as possible. Every day you wait, there’s a chance that something could happen, and you can’t get travel insurance after something goes wrong.

If a hurricane ruins your trip, your travel insurance would only cover you if you bought it before  the hurricane formed. Buy a plan the day after you go to the doctor but before he tells you you’re sick? Your plan won’t cover you since your original visit happened BEFORE the plan.

Don’t wait to get insurance. I’ve seen it happen too often. The second you know you are going somewhere and have the dates, buy travel insurance!

You don’t want to end up like my friend in Peru , who decided against coverage, only to break her arm and have to spend lots of money to get it fixed in Lima. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.  

As many travelers learned the hard way, most travel insurance policies do not cover pandemics. Until now, that really hasn’t been a concern for most travelers, including me. Prior to 2020, I never really gave the “pandemic clause” much thought when reading my insurance policies.

However, these days pandemic coverage is at the forefront of every traveler’s mind (and rightly so).

Fortunately, insurance companies have adapted and most companies now provide limited coverage for COVID-19 (or other pandemics). This limited coverage usually includes trip cancelation or delay, though some also have medical coverage for COVID or transportation home (as is the case with Medjet ). SafetyWing , and Insured Nomads also provide coverage for COVID-19.

Before you buy a plan anywhere, be sure to read the fine print regarding pandemics and COVID-19. Make sure you fully understand what is and is not included so you can take appropriate action should a situation arise. When in doubt, call them and speak to a representative. Don’t risk your health on assumptions!  

I know you’re thinking right now, “Ok, I know what travel insurance is now…but do I really need it?”

The answer is yes.

For one simple reason: you aren’t Superman or Wonder Woman. Over a decade of traveling the world has taught me that accidents happen. You may be in perfect health right now but can you say 100% you won’t get sick in the jungle of Asia or hurt climbing a mountain in Africa?

Can you say no one will steal your stuff in Spain or Italy or that you won’t pop an eardrum diving in Tahiti ?

Can you say your flights won’t ever get delayed or canceled?

No, you can’t.

And that’s why smart travelers get insurance. Because, for just a couple of dollars a day, you’re going to get all those things covered — and more.

I hope nothing bad happens to you on the road but, if it does, insurance will cover it all. It’s more than just health coverage. It’s “something bad happened to me” coverage. It’s all-inclusive and there for you.

So be smart and get travel insurance. You can use the widget below to get a quote today:

  STILL CONFUSED? Here are 10 common questions (and answers) about your travel insurance .

P.S. –  If you’ve found this article helpful, please consider booking via the links here as it helps keep the website community supported and advertiser free. All the companies are ones I use myself in my own travels. If you have any questions, email me!  

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip. Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission or fee if you make a purchase or get a quote from some parties using these links. I do not represent any of the companies above and I only work with products and companies I personally use.

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The Beginner’s Guide to Travel Insurance

This ‘Travel Insurance 101’ tutorial is a good starting point for most travelers.

Travel insurance can be confusing…this guide will walk you through the steps of understanding and buying the best travel insurance .

Over 124 million travelers in the US are covered by travel insurance or emergency services every year. 

Travelers list 3 top reasons for buying travel insurance: 

• Peace of mind
• Protection against the unexpected
• Protecting their trip investment

Let’s get started!

1. Examples of “Real Life” Travel Risks

“What can really happen, right?”

Did you ask yourself this question when you started considering  travel insurance coverage ?

You face several risks when you travel. Some are small, like having a rainy beach day or leaving an umbrella in a cab.

Others are big, like a costly cancelled trip or getting sick abroad.

Planning a trip means pre-paid expenses like plane tickets, cruise fare, or tour packages.

These expenses are at risk if you need to cancel, but you also risk additional expenses from medical emergencies while traveling.

Here are common “Real Life” examples of the risks you face when you travel:

Someone gets sick and you need to cancel your trip… losing your entire vacation investment

The family cruise on Disney departs in a few days.

Getting sick within 2 weeks of departure will cost you 100%

Disney offers no refund for cruise cancellations less than 14 days before the trip.

You lose the full cost of the trip, totalling almost $8,000 in pre-paid cash.

A hurricane damages your resort and you need to cancel

You’ve planned the perfect trip to Cancun.

Plane tickets, all-inclusive resort, a charter boat for fishing. You have invested over $4,000.

The day before you are supposed to leave a hurricane hits the island and renders your resort uninhabitable… the hotel has serious damage and the whole area is in shambles.

You lose your $4,000. How will you afford to re-book your vacation?

A family emergency cuts your vacation short and you lose the remaining travel arrangements

Your family just started a two week tour of Italy.

Two days into the trip, your father suffers a heart attack and is in critical condition.

You want to get home as soon as possible to see him, so you call off the rest of the trip and buy tickets on the first plane back home. Your father pulls through after two weeks in the hospital which is excellent news.

What happens to the Italy trip? You would have losses such as:

• Pre-paid expenses you didn’t get to use for rest of the trip
• Cost of the last-minute plane tickets to get home
• The expense of re-joining the trip if you are able to

You lose almost $11,000… and it could be a while before you can afford to go again.

A visit to a foreign hospital leaves you with a big bill

Your family trip to Switzerland is finally underway.

Your husband is struck by a taxi while crossing the street. He needs immediate care and is taken to the closest hospital where he is treated for internal bleeding and spends 2 nights.

Upon checking out, you are given a bill for the hospital expenses.

Your health insurance from home doesn’t travel with you, so you are stuck with paying the bill.

A medical airlift leaves you with a crippling debt

A hiking trip to Chile has quickly turned for the worse.

You slip on a rock and suffer fractures in both legs and a punctured lung. The nearest hospital is completely inadequate to treat you properly so you need to be airlifted 200 miles.

Your injuries are not life threatening and you receive a week of treatment. You are ready to check out of the hospital and get back home.

The bill for the emergency helicopter airlift totals over $45,000, which you need to pay somehow.

Plus, you are in double casts and need a nurse to accompany you home on a special medical flight, which will cost another $12,000.

An emergency abroad leaves you looking for a ‘lifeline’

Who do you call if there’s an accident abroad?

How do you locate a hospital? How do you arrange an ambulance, medical payments, or transportation home after receiving care?

What if you don’t speak the language…how do you know you are getting the best care?

How do you replace a missing passport or lost credit cards?

Stolen luggage leaves you without your prescription medications

Airlines lose bags, bags get stolen, and bags get damaged.

What if you lose your baggage and all the contents? How much would it cost to replace it?

And what if your prescription medications were inside…how do you get a replacement?

The list above only mentioned the common risks travelers face, but there are many more that we will discuss in this tutorial.

Summary: Travel exposes you to the risk of losing money due to cancellation, losing personal possessions, and expensive emergency medical bills.

2. What is the coverage?

There are five basic types of coverage provided with trip insurance.

Cancelled or interrupted trips

This is the #1 concern with most travelers.

Plane tickets, cruise fare, tour packages, hotel rooms, charter fishing boats, golf greens fees — these get expensive.

If the trip expenses are pre-paid and non-refundable, you risk losing the money you invested if something goes wrong.

Travel insurance covers expenses if you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason.

Need to cancel your trip before you depart? Trip Cancellation Coverage reimburses you for pre-paid, non-refundable expenses covered by the plan.

Insurance companies must provide a list of covered reasons for trip cancellation , and here’s an overview of typical covered reasons.

These are the covered reasons for canceling your trip:

• Sickness, injury, or death of you, a family member, or a traveling companion
• Hurricane damage to your destination or flights canceled due to hurricane
• Laid off from work or required to work
• Terrorist incident at your destination city
• Bankruptcy of your travel supplier
• Called for jury duty

This is only a partial list, but you can see it covers very common situations for cancelling.

The most common reason is the first one…someone gets sick or a family member passes away.

Tip : Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage will allow you to call off your trip for any reason, as long as you meet the plan criteria.

Need to cancel your trip after you depart? Trip Interruption Coverage is similar to cancellation coverage, and it covers you while you are traveling for the same list of covered reasons.

If something happens and you are required to return home, insurance will reimburse you for the lost portion of your trip…as well as any additional expenses for the last-minute changes in your travel plans (like flight change fees).

Medical emergencies abroad

This is crucial, and often overlooked.

Travelers often think they are covered for medical emergencies abroad if they already have health care insurance. Within the United States, that will be true.

Outside the US, however, cover for medical mishaps is a big IF. Most domestic health insurance plans do not provide coverage. And Medicare never covers a traveler abroad.

Would you feel comfortable having a family member risk inadequate medical care in a foreign country? What if they don’t have enough money on hand to pay for the care they need?

For cruises, your health insurance from home may not cover you if you’re traveling on a foreign-flagged ship (which is true of most cruise ships).

Travel insurance covers emergency medical expenses when a traveler is outside their health insurance coverage.

Medical Expense Coverage will cover you for accidents, illnesses, injuries, and emergency medical and dental care when you travel abroad.

Even if you are covered for basic emergency care overseas (again, a big IF), your current health insurance provider will almost certainly NOT pay for evacuation or to repatriate your body back to the US.

• Emergency evacuations

Medical emergencies can be scary, and the travel medical coverage explained above helps you get care.

But how do you get to a hospital that can treat you? And how do you get home?

Emergency Evacuation Coverage will pay for emergency evacuation expenses such as airlifts and medically equipped flights back home, and oftentimes will transport you to the hospital of your choice for care.

Evacuation expenses can be devastating.

An ambulance to the hospital, an airlift to an adequately equipped hospital, getting you back home on board a medically-staffed flight afterwards…evacuation expenses can easily cost $50,000 for starters.

Lost bags, delayed bags, delayed flights

These coverage are the “smaller things” that are nice to have. Again, this list is not complete but it will give you an idea of some additional coverages found in trip insurance.

Baggage Coverage can reimburse you for your personal belongings if your luggage is lost, stolen or damaged.

Baggage Delay Coverage provides money to buy essential items until your delayed bags arrive, such as a toiletry kit, a swimsuit, or a change of clothes.

Travel Delay Coverage provides reimbursement for unexpected expenses, like an extra night in a hotel or a meal for your family, if your flight is delayed.

Phone assistance 24/7 worldwide

This is about having someone to call when things happen.

Medical emergencies, stolen baggage, lost passports, cancelled flights. Every travel insurance company provides 24/7 support for those needs.

And it’s most important when you have a medical issue.

24/7 Travel Assistance Services can help you:

• Locate the nearest adequate hospital
• Coordinate medical transportation
• Arrange for treatment and overcome any language barriers
• Organize transportation home
• Replace prescriptions in an emergency

In addition, non-medical assistance may include:

• Lost baggage search; stolen luggage replacement assistance
• Lost passport/travel documents assistance
• Travel information including visa/passport requirements
• Emergency telephone interpretation assistance

Additional coverage with travel insurance

Trip insurance can also provide:

Life Insurance coverage for accidental death or dismemberment.

Hazardous Sports medical coverage for activities like SCUBA.

Rental Car Collision to replace your personal insurance or rental company policy.

Identity Theft services to help if your identity is stolen while traveling.

Summary : Travel insurance covers cancellations, medical expenses, evacuations, losses or delays, and 24/7 assistance plus a few additional benefits.

3. The 2 Most Popular Types of Travel Insurance

There are only two types of travel insurance that most travelers buy.

(In fact, one type of plan is so common…it represents over 94% of travel insurance sales)

Even though there are specialty plans designed for unique needs, they are too specialized for the majority of travelers taking a vacation. The vast majority of travel insurance customers fit into these two areas.

The two basic types of travel insurance are:

Trip insurance

Provides the most coverage (including trip cancellation)

When people think of ‘travel insurance’, they are thinking of a Trip Insurance.

Trip Insurance is also called a Package Plan, Travel Insurance, Trip Cancellation Insurance, or Vacation Insurance…but they are all referring to a Trip Insurance.

This type of plan provides the most coverage in a single package, including cancellations, medical emergencies, evacuations, loss or delays, luggage,  assistance, and more.

Vacation plans are very popular with travelers because they provide a simple solution to their needs.

Over 94% of travel insurance sales is Trip Insurance

These plans are the top seller because they provide all the coverages that travelers tend to look for.

Trip insurance includes coverage for:

• Canceled trips
• Interrupted trips
• Medical emergencies
• Emergency evacuation
• Delayed baggage or trips
• Lost baggage
• 24/7 Assistance
• and several other coverages

If you are looking for ‘travel insurance’ for your next vacation, you need trip insurance.

Travel medical insurance

Medical coverage while traveling abroad

Regular health insurance plans provide partial or no coverage while you are traveling outside your home country. Travel Medical Insurance plans provide coverage above and beyond your regular health provider.

Travel medical plans are for travelers leaving their home country who are not concerned with cancellation

This type of plan focuses on medical emergencies, evacuation, and sometimes life insurance. A travel medical insurance plan are perfect if you are traveling outside your home country and are not concerned with cancellation, interruption, delays, and baggage.

Travel medical plans focus on coverage for:

• Medical expenses

Some types of travel medical plans provide benefits such as medical coverage for pre-existing conditions, multi-trip and renewable protection, emergency medical evacuation, and coverage for long-term travel abroad.

Specialty plans (evacuation-only, travel accident, rental car)

Beyond the two basic types, there are specialized plans to meet unique needs, and we want to at least mention them here.

Evacuation plans focus on emergency evacuations, and are often sold on an annual basis as a membership. With an evacuation plan, the company arranges transport, and you won’t lose your savings to a costly emergency medical evacuation

Accident plans provide life insurance style coverage for travelers. It pays benefits if you should have a serious injury that results in dismemberment or loss of life. Benefits paid by these accident plans are in addition to any benefits paid by separate life insurance plans.

Trip insurance plans are best because they combine the most coverage in a single plan

The vast majority of travelers choose a vacation plan because they provide the most coverage in a single plan.

4. How to select a plan based on your needs

We have discussed how the right travel insurance coverage can protect your vacation and give you peace of mind.

You’ve also learned about the 2 most popular types of travel insurance, and how trip insurance plans are by far the most popular choice for travelers.

The next step is to pick a plan, but first we need to get back to the topic of coverage.

Each travel insurance company has a variety of plans to choose from. These plans will each have varying coverage, which makes some plans more affordable and other plans higher priced.

Start by identifying your most important coverages

When you start comparing plans, you will need some criteria to help you prioritize and narrow down your choices.

Use a list of coverages that you think are the most important for your trip. You might also factor in minimum coverage amounts on certain coverages like medical expenses.

For example:  A family taking a Disney cruise in September might have the following coverage criteria:

• Hurricane & Weather coverage for cancellations is a must
• Medical Evacuation coverage of at least $100,000 is necessary as well
• Missed Connection coverage would be nice since there is a connecting flight

This list of coverage criteria will help the family choose a plan that meets their needs. They will be able to filter out plans that do not have these minimum criteria, making the choice easier.

This is not a complete list of coverage, but simply a prioritized list of the most important coverages for their trip.

How to determine the key coverages for your trip:

• Browse the list below to find the most important coverages for your trip
• Start with the 2 or 3 key coverages to get started
• When you’re ready to compare plans use our comparison tool 

Most Popular Coverage Criteria

• Emergency Medical (at least $50,000)
• Medical Evacuation (at least $100,000)
• Pre-existing Medical Conditions
• Cancel For Any Reason
• Hazardous Sports
• Hurricanes & Weather
• Employment Layoffs
• Missed Connections
• Rental Car Coverage

Cancellations

• Trip Interruption
• Hurricane & Weather
• Financial Default
• Employment Layoff
• Cancel For Work Reasons

Medical Related

• Primary Medical
• Emergency Medical
• Pre-existing Medical
• Medical Deductible

Evacuations

• Medical Evacuation
• Non-Medical Evacuation

Loss or Delays

• Travel Delay
• Baggage Delay
• Baggage Loss
• Missed Connection

Life Insurance

• Accidental Death
• Air Flight Accident
• Common Carrier

Other Benefits

• Money Back Guarantee
• 24 Hour Assistance Service
• Identity Theft
• Renewable Policy
• All Events Upgrade

5. Five “Loopholes” and How to Avoid Them

Loopholes and ‘small print’ drive people crazy.

An insurance policy is a legal contract. The coverage, exclusions, and ‘small print’ of the insurance plan are available to read in something called the policy, certificate, or description of coverage.

Many travelers buy insurance and assume ‘everything’ is covered, but as with all insurance plans that’s not the case.

Travelers get frustrated if a claim is delayed or denied, and assume that they have been cheated because of a ‘loophole’.

These frustrations could be avoided by understanding the policy, knowing what is covered, and what is not covered.

Here are the most common ‘loopholes’, and how to avoid them:

1. Not a Covered Reason for Cancellation

No insurance plan can cover ‘everything’.

When we discussed travel insurance coverage earlier, we mentioned a list of covered reasons for trip cancellation.

This list includes reasons like someone getting sick, a hurricane, being laid off, a terrorist incident, and more.

Companies list the covered reasons in the plan’s policy, certificate, or description of coverage. If it is not on the list, it will not be covered. If insurance companies covered ‘everything’, some people would take advantage by buying insurance for a trip they already know they need to cancel, and then make up a reason.

Want to be covered no matter what the reason?

Get the optional “Cancel for any reason” rider available with many plans, which costs more money but will let you cancel a trip for any reason including simply not wanting to go. Some plans include this coverage if the plan is purchased within a certain time frame.

The bottom line: Read and understand the list of covered reasons in the policy, and if in doubt select the optional “Cancel for any reason” rider or a plan that includes that coverage.

2. Pre-Existing Conditions

This one is complicated, but there is a simple solution.

A pre-existing condition is something that happened (or started to happen) before you were insured. Insurance is meant to cover sudden and unexpected events, which excludes any event that has already taken place.

Insurance companies need to exclude pre-existing conditions from coverage; otherwise you could buy insurance coverage after you know you cannot travel. That would be like a casino taking a bet after the cards are turned over.

Companies do provide a way to get coverage for pre-existing conditions.

The solution?

A waiver to the pre-existing condition exclusion can be included with many plans.

The conditions are typically 1) you need to buy insurance soon after your first trip payment, 2) you need to be healthy when you buy insurance, and 3) you need to insure the full amount of your trip.

The bottom line: Only buy a plan that offers a waiver to the pre-existing condition exclusion, and make sure you meet the requirements for it to apply.

3. Coverage Exclusions

Every insurance plan has exclusions.

The plan’s policy, certificate, or description of coverage has a section entitled General Policy Exclusions (or something similar).

This section gives you a list of the situation in which they will not cover you, and they are very specific.

For example: You will not be covered for loss caused by ‘self-inflicted injury’, ‘driving in a motor competition’, ‘’bungee cord jumping’, ‘any criminal acts committed by you’…you get the idea.

Some exclusions are more common than others, for instance, pregnancy-related issues or loss resulting from intoxication.

The bottom line: Read and understand the list of exclusions in the policy, certificate, or description of coverage.

4. Incomplete Documentation

When a claim is filed, there is paperwork that needs to be submitted.

If a claim is delayed it is often because the company does not have the required paperwork from the insured, or from a doctor, a hospital, etc. The faster they get the required paperwork, the faster your claim can be reviewed.

Also, it’s vital to remember that cancellations must be recommended by a doctor in writing. Coverage for cancellation does not include a parent thinking their child’s cold will make the trip unpleasant for them.

The injury or sickness needs to result in a doctor recommending the trip be canceled. The policy certificate outlines the various documents that will be needed for coverage.

The bottom line: Contact the insurance company as soon as you have any issue, and start saving all receipts and documentation

5. Enrolling Too Late

If you are already sick, it’s too late to buy insurance.

If the hurricane is already named, it’s too late as well.

Insurance cannot be purchased after something has happened. Otherwise it couldn’t work for the company. Again, it’s like a casino taking a bet after the cards are turned over.

Also, certain coverage depends on you enrolling sooner rather than later.

Not only will you will have the longest period of coverage for cancellations, but you could also be eligible for benefits like a waiver for pre-existing conditions, ‘cancel for any reason’ coverage, hurricane coverage, and more.

The bottom line: Get your travel insurance as soon as you make a trip payment

6. Top 10 Travel Insurance FAQs

These are the travel insurance questions that every traveler asks.

Travelers make assumptions about their coverage, or they completely misunderstand their coverage.

We have compiled a list of the questions most commonly asked by travelers looking for travel insurance.

Here they are:

1. Doesn’t my credit card have travel insurance?

No, not in the way most travelers want it to.

Credit cards that have ‘travel insurance’ provide little coverage, but nothing in comparison to a separate policy from a travel insurance company.

Some cards provide cancellation coverage, but with an annual limit ($1,500-$2,500 per 12 month period), and the list of covered reasons is limited. Interruption coverage is limited as well, as is travel delay coverage.

Most importantly though, is that almost no credit cards provide medical expense or evacuation coverage.

2. Won’t my regular health insurance cover me abroad?

Not completely. Most regular health insurance plans provide partial or no coverage while you are traveling in another country. For Medicare, there is never coverage abroad.

Countries with ‘universal health care’ might assist with minor needs, but they are under no obligation to do so. In the event of major or ongoing medical expenses, they would cease to help, and they would never pay to evacuate you or help you return home.

3. Will my cruise line refund me?

A little. It depends on when you cancel, but generally you won’t get much back.

Most cruise companies have a declining refund schedule where they refund less and less the closer to the departure date, until they refund nothing at all. Generally within 2 weeks there is zero refund, and even canceling a month before will usually only get you a 25% refund.

We have a list of the best cruise travel insurance plans that compare all of the different coverage and pricing.

4. Are hurricanes covered?

Yes, many plans cover hurricanes and weather under trip cancellation coverage.

To be covered you need to 1) make sure it is listed as a covered reason, 2) buy before the storm is named, 3) insure for the full trip cost, and 4) some plans require that you buy soon after your trip payment to avoid the waiting period.

5. Are pre-existing conditions covered?

Yes, many plans offer a waiver that removes the pre-existing condition exclusion.

To be covered you need to 1) buy your plan soon after your first trip payment, 2) insure for the full trip cost, 3) be medically cleared for travel at the time of purchase.

6. What does travel insurance cost?

Insurance costs 4-8% of the trip cost (pre-paid, non-refundable expenses).

Basic plans can be very budget-minded at less than 4%, and premium vacation plans can be over 12%. Travel medical insurance is sold on a trip=length basis, and can be as little as dollars per day.

7. When should I purchase my plan?

Within days of making your initial trip deposit.

There are many benefits to purchasing the plan sooner, including maximizing the period of cancellation coverage, and being eligible for pre-existing condition coverage and hurricane coverage.

8. How do I know I can trust the company?

The companies featured here are companies that have years of experience with solid AM Best ratings of financial stability, and they comply with a Zero Complaint Policy.

9. What is the refund policy?

A 100% refund of premium within the Free Look Period is guaranteed by all companies. This allows travelers to review their policy and return it for any reason with the allowed time period (sometimes less a small administration fee $5-$8) as long as the traveler has not filed a claim or left on their trip.

10. How do I buy travel insurance?

Travel insurance can be quoted and purchased instantly online using a credit card.

Since travel insurance is a temporary insurance product, there is generally no underwriting period or medical examination required. You can get a quote online, buy with a credit card, print your email confirmation, and you’re all done.

7. Four Steps After You Purchase Travel Insurance

What happens after you purchase travel insurance?

You have seen how to pick the right plan based on your needs, and discovered the common ‘loopholes’ of travel insurance and how to avoid them.

This is a continuation on that theme…making sure you have the coverage you need for your trip.

Here’s what to do after you purchase a plan:

1. Print your confirmation email

You will receive an email confirmation after your purchase your travel insurance plan.

This is your confirmation of coverage, and will include general information about your plan including the policy number and effective dates.

Most importantly, it includes emergency contact numbers so you can call the insurance company with any issues during your trip.

Print it out and carry it with you, and it is a good idea to carry an extra copy in a different bag.

Keep another copy in the ‘cloud’ on your email server or Google Docs so you can access it from anywhere in the world.

2. Review your policy, certificate, or description of coverage to verify the coverage

All travel insurance companies provides a Free Look period, which is a set number of days after purchase where you can review your plan and return it for a full refund if you are not satisfied as long as you have not filed a claim or left on your trip.

Take advantage of this time to read the policy, certificate, or description of coverage and make sure you fully understand the coverage in the plan.

3. Read the Exclusions section

This is another part of using your Free Look period wisely. The policy, certificate, or description of coverage will have a section of Exclusions that lists cases in which coverage is not provided.

Read this section and make sure you understand the coverage fully.

4. Contact your insurance company immediately with any claims questions

This is very important.

If you have any situations where you think you will have a claim, contact the insurance company immediately.

Think you need to cancel? Call the company. Hurricane heading for your resort? Call the company. Get sick abroad and need a doctor? Call the company.

The insurer will be able to advise on your situation, answer coverage questions, and arrange support if necessary.

24/7 phone support is one of the best coverages provided with travel insurance…you should use it.

8. How to Get Quotes and Compare Plans

We have discussed how to select a plan based on your needs using your coverage criteria, and gone over some of the most commonly asked questions about travel insurance.

Now it is time to get travel insurance quotes and compare plans.

Here are 4 steps to get quotes, narrow your choices, compare plans, and buy:

1. Use a comparison site to get quotes from all companies

The first step is to get quotes from all companies using a comparison tool.

You’ll enter a few trip details and get a list of quotes from all major companies at the same time.

2. Filter plans based on coverages

The next step is to narrow your choices.

On the left side of the results screen, you will see a section for ‘Filters’. Using your coverage criteria, select the filters for coverages that are most important for your trip. There is a list of the most popular filters, as well as a complete list below.

Some selections will allow you to enter a minimum coverage amount (see Emergency Medical to the right for an example).

Checking these boxes will ‘filter out’ plans that do not meet your criteria. You can select as many as you like, but 2-3 is a good start.

You can also remove filters in the Filters Selected section at the top.

3. Sort the plans

Now that we’re looking at plans with the right coverage, we can organize them.

On the top-right of the results screen, you will see a a ‘Sort’ drop-down box.

Click this drop-down to sort by price, company, or coverage. Many travelers like to sort by ‘Price Low to High’, but if you are looking for a particular coverage or company you can select that as well.

4. Compare plans side-by-side

Finally, we’ll compare our final choices side-by-side.

Next to each plan company logo, you will see a ‘Compare’ check-box.

As you look through plans, check these boxes for plans you want to compare side-by-side. You can check as many boxes as you like, but 4-5 fit on a screen nicely.

Once you have selected more than one, a ‘Compare Now’ button will appear next to the check-box.

Click this when you are ready to compare plans. This will display the selected plans side-by-side .

You can compare prices, coverage, coverage amounts, and plan ratings.

See how the plans compare to each other. Look at coverage amounts, paying close attention to your coverage criteria.

At the top is a ‘Remove’ button. Click this as you eliminate plans based on your needs.

The plans will be removed from the comparison, leaving the remaining plans for comparison.

You can also click to see the plan Certificate, Email it, Print it, or add to your Favorites.

Finally, the ‘Buy Now’ button will take you to the product purchase screen.

Damian Tysdal is the founder of CoverTrip, and is a licensed agent for travel insurance (MA 1883287). He believes travel insurance should be easier to understand, and started the first travel insurance blog in 2006.

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Is travel insurance worth it?

The right policy can protect your wallet, your belongings and your peace of mind..

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

You might have planned your next vacation, but consider travel insurance before you start packing. A comprehensive policy can protect you if the unexpected happens before or during your trip.

"Travel insurance is often an overlooked investment until the unforeseen happens," says Beth Godlin, president of Aon Affinity Travel Practice . "It's designed to give travelers peace of mind and financial protection against travel risks."

A policy doesn't have to be expensive, according to Godlin, and it can add a layer of protection and security.

Getting travel insurance

How do i get travel insurance, what does travel insurance cover, how much does travel insurance cost.

• Bottom line

There are many options in the travel insurance marketplace: Aggregator site Squaremouth lets you get price quotes from different carriers and, because it receives a commission from the insurance companies on its site, users aren't charged any additional fees.

Allianz has both single-trip and annual plans, with a Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) policy that reimburses up to 80% of prepaid, non-refundable expenses — more than most similar plans on the market.

In addition to trip cancellation, Allianz's popular OneTrip Prime plan includes travel interruption, emergency medical care and emergency transportation. Children 17 and under are covered for free when traveling with a parent or grandparent.

AIG's Travel Guard® plans are great if you need to customize your coverage: The mid-range Travel Guard Preferred plan pays out 100% for trip cancellation and 150% for trip interruption, with up to $50,000 in coverage for medical expenses and up to $500,000 for emergency evacuation. There's even a payout of up to $1,000 if you miss your connection.

Travel Guard® Travel Insurance

The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

Policy highlights

Travel Guard offers a variety of plans to suit travel ranging from road trips to long cruises. For air travelers, Travel Guard can help assist with tracking baggage or covering lost or delayed baggage.

24/7 assistance available

If you're booking a trip with an aggregator site like Expedia , review the details of any travel policy that's offered. Plans are usually based on the elements of the trip (hotel, flight, rental car, etc.) and can differ every time you book.

Travel insurance typically costs between 4 and 10% of the overall price tag for your trip. The cost can vary:

• Plans with higher limits and more optional coverage cost more.
• A plan with a CFAR benefit can cost up to 40% more.
• Older travelers typically pay more because there's more of a likelihood of a claim being filed. 

Whichever plan you choose, read the fine print so you understand what you're paying for.

Travel insurance generally covers your expenses, your belongings and your well-being. When shopping for a policy, look for these benefits:

Trip cancellation

If your trip is canceled for a covered reason, a policy will often reimburse airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, tours, cruises and other prepaid, non-refundable expenses. Covered situations can include illness or injury, the death of a family member or traveling companion, job loss, military deployment and even unplanned jury duty, according to Allianz's Daniel Durazo.

Cancellations can also be covered if a natural disaster, severe weather or airline strike prevents your carrier from getting you to your destination for at least 24 hours.

Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) plans provide a lot more flexibility and typically reimburse 50% to 75% of your expenses. But they can bump up the cost by about 40%, said Durazo, and policyholders are still usually required to cancel no later than 48 hours before their scheduled departure. 

Trip delay 

Should you experience a hiccup in your plans, your policy can provide some relief: Food, lodging and local transportation are usually covered if a delay is due to severe weather, airline maintenance or civil unrest.

"For a traveler to be eligible, they must be delayed for the minimum amount of time listed on their policy," Squaremouth spokesperson Megan Moncrief said. "Some policies are very lenient and provide benefits for any length delay, while others list a length requirement — usually somewhere between three to 12 hours."

Daily payout limits range from $150 to $250 per traveler, Moncrief said, while the total policy limit can be anywhere from $500 to $2,000. Save any receipts to submit with your reimbursement claim.

Don't miss: The best credit cards with trip delay insurance

Trip interruption

Should you need to cut your trip short due to illness or injury, or if there's a family emergency back home, your policy may reimburse non-refundable expenses you forfeited.

It may also cover the cost of a one-way economy airline ticket home.

Baggage loss

Airlines are required to compensate passengers luggage lost in transit, but a travel insurance policy may have a higher benefit limit, and cover you if your bags, passport or other possessions are lost, damaged or stolen once you've gotten to your destination., The Platinum plan from AXA Assistance USA has a $3,000 benefit limit for lost luggage, well beyond the $1,700 that airlines are required to cover on international flights. AXA has offices in more than 50 countries, with multilingual operators available 24 hours a day to help reschedule flights, book hotels and make other arrangements.

AXA Assistance USA Travel Insurance

AXA Assistance USA offers several travel insurance policies that include travel interruption, trip cancellation, and the option of cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage.

Travel insurance doesn't cover every loss: Cash is not reimbursable and many policies won't reimburse for expensive jewelry or heirloom items. Read your policy carefully to see what is included.

Medical expenses and emergency evacuation

If you travel within the U.S., your health insurance should cover any illness or injury you sustain. If you're traveling abroad, though, your plan may provide little or no coverage. The right travel insurance should cover doctors' fees and hospital bills, Durazo said. 

The provider can also help coordinate care and ensure you're at a medical facility that's up to U.S. standards.

An emergency medical evacuation can be a major expense, costing anywhere from $15,000 to over $200,000, Durazo added.

If you've spent money on nonrefundable airline tickets, tours and hotels, you could be at a loss if something goes awry. Travel insurance covers numerous scenarios, from a medical emergency to a tropical storm. It could be particularly useful if:

• You've spent a lot on prepaid, non-refundable expenses
• You're traveling internationally where your health insurance won't apply
• You're traveling to a remote area
• Your flight involves multiple connections or destinations

"When deciding if travel insurance is right for you, ask yourself how much you could stand to lose if you had to cancel at the last minute," said Godlin.

If you're not as concerned about risk, your credit card may offer built-in travel protection if you book with that card: Chase Sapphire Preferred® , Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card and the  *American Express® Gold Card all come with trip cancellation and interruption coverage, among other benefits.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.

Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

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Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Regular APR

22.49% - 29.49% variable

Balance transfer fee

5%, minimum $5

Foreign transaction fee

Credit needed.

Terms apply.

Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on internet, cable and phone services; select streaming. 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

21.49% - 28.49% variable

Foreign transaction fees

Excellent/Good

American Express® Gold Card

4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Not applicable

See Pay Over Time APR

See rates and fees , terms apply.

Read our American Express® Gold Card review .

Research your card's travel benefits before making any purchases related to your trip.

Policies vary, but most comprehensive travel insurance plans cover travel cancellation and interruption, baggage loss, medical care and emergency transportation.

While the price for coverage varies, most policies cost between 4% and 10% of the trip's prepaid, non-refundable expenses.

When should I get travel insurance?

It's best to take out a policy within days of making your reservations.

Does travel insurance cover COVID-19?

If you contract COVID-19 before or on your trip, it may be covered by your policy's trip cancellation/interruption benefit . You'll likely have to confirm your test results with a diagnosis from a healthcare provider.

Bottom line 

Travel can be a wonderful experience, but it involves a lot of time, planning and money. Missing a single connection can have a cascade effect that impacts your flight, hotel room, dinner reservations and more. A good travel insurance policy can provide peace of mind so you can focus on your vacation.

Compare and find the best life insurance

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

Meet our experts

At CNBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority. For this story, we interviewed Beth Godlin, president of Aon, which provides custom travel insurance for tour operators, cruise lines, travel websites and others. We also spoke with former Squaremouth Megan Moncrief and Allianz communications director Daniel Durazo.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every insurance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors . While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

For rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card , click here .

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A Practical Guide to Buying Travel Insurance

Travel insurance could be the difference between a huge medical bill or a modest copay. use these tips to find the best policy for your trip..

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It’s far better to buy travel insurance and never use it than to not be covered in an emergency.

Courtesy of Shutterstock

For many, travel insurance can seem like an unnecessary, additional expense. But if you get stuck in a costly situation—a medical emergency, a canceled trip due to a pandemic , a stolen camera—it suddenly feels like a totally worthwhile investment that saves, not costs, you money.

This was the case for writer Chris Ciolli. After years of traveling without a safety net, she invested in travel insurance on a recent trip during which she was rushed to the hospital at 3 a.m. for a slew of just-in-case tests. She ended up with an underwhelming diagnosis of gastritis, but also a slow trickle of medical bills—a few hundred dollars here, a thousand there—that totaled nearly $6,000. Fortunately, her month-long $185 World Nomads policy covered everything after an initial $80 copay.

But even if you understand the benefits and you’re committed to buying travel insurance, choosing the right policy for your needs—and even knowing what those needs are—can be tricky. To help you choose the best travel insurance for your trip, we’ve consulted a number of travel agents, insurance industry professionals, and lifelong travelers for advice. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know, from travel insurance reviews and comparisons to common questions answered, to pick the best policy for your next trip.

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance is a plan, similar to health or auto insurance, that protects you from expenses incurred during unforeseen mishaps while traveling, such as lost luggage, trip cancellations, or medical emergencies.

Although your current homeowner’s, renter’s, auto, or health insurance may cover you for certain things while traveling, it usually doesn’t cover everything—especially on international trips. A good travel insurance plan will cover the gaps.

Where do you get travel insurance?

Some very basic forms of travel insurance are included if you booked your trip with a credit card such as World MasterCard, Capital One Venture Rewards, and Chase Ink and Sapphire cards. With these plans, you may be covered for some delay, luggage, and travel accident expenses, but it’s usually pretty basic.

You can also purchase it as an add-on while booking flights, cruises, or hotels. These plans are also limited and will only cover you in the event of an unavoidable cancellation due to events such as a natural disaster or a death in your family. “While it may seem less expensive, it may not cover all of the components of your trip,” says Andrew David Harris, vice president and COO of Harris Travel Service .

While both of these are better than nothing, the most comprehensive and best travel insurance policies are sold by providers such as World Nomads, Allianz Global Assistance, Seven Corners, or TravelEx. You can purchase these plans through your travel agent, but it’s often less expensive to book directly with the travel insurance provider or through a comparison website, like Squaremouth .

What does travel insurance cover?

Every traveler and trip is different, which is reflected by the variety of travel insurance plans on the market. No matter what plan or provider you choose, below are some common things travel insurance covers. Experts agree that before you buy, you should absolutely look for specific exclusions in the fine print on potential policies. If you’re unsure about something, reach out. A good insurance company will be responsive and willing to clarify your questions.

Trip cancellation and interruption

Most travel insurance policies will include some form of trip cancellation and interruption coverage to reimburse you for nonrefundable expenses, like a prepaid hotel or plane ticket. Unless you add cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance to your plan, there will be a limited set of acceptable reasons to claim this. Illness, death of an immediate family member, and weather are commonly accepted reasons.

Trip delays and missed connections

Also common is reimbursement for additional expenses incurred if a trip is delayed and meets criteria set out by the provider. With World Nomads, your flight must be delayed by at least six hours to qualify.

Baggage and personal effects

Most plans will cover the cost of lost or damaged luggage and personal belongings, as well as the cost of purchasing additional items if your luggage is delayed.

Emergency medical and dental care

This covers the cost of medical care when you get sick or have an accident in another country and usually includes medical evacuation. However, travel insurance isn’t a substitute for regular health insurance so nonemergency medical expenses (physicals, anything cosmetic, eye exams) aren’t covered. Childbirth isn’t covered either, even for pregnant travelers who go into labor prematurely.

Shannon O’Donnell, 2013 National Geographic Traveler of the Year and blogger at A Little Adrift , mentions another coverage gap travelers miss: “You’re only covered for what you’re licensed to do back home—if you don’t have a permit for a motorbike and you drive one in Southeast Asia, you might not be covered in an accident.”

Emergency medical evacuation

This covers the cost of an emergency transfer (in an ambulance or helicopter, for example) from an area with inadequate medical care to the nearest medical center with the services you need. It’s costlier but essential in isolated and politically unstable parts of the world.

Accidental death and dismemberment and repatriation

Phil Sylvester, head of PR and Media Communications for World Nomads, says that “truckloads of coverage for hospital costs and medical repatriation home” are the most important things to look for. “The rest is just window dressing.” A lot of basic plans won’t include this in their coverage, but you can easily add this on with an upgrade to a more premium tier.

Concierge and 24/7 service

Daniel Durazo, director of Marketing and Communications for Allianz Global Assistance , says that “a good policy includes a 24/7 contact line for both medical and travel emergencies.”

Common travel insurance add-ons to consider

A basic plan is usually enough for most travelers, but it may not cover everything you need if you’re older, have pre-existing medical conditions, participate in sports while traveling, book an expensive trip, or travel with expensive gear (such as a high-end camera). If you fall into any of these categories, consider an add-on or upgrade.

Upgrade lost luggage, trip delay, and cancellation amounts

“Standard travel insurance levels cover more modest belongings and lodging,” advises Annette Stellhorn, president and Group Luxury Travel designer at Accent on Travel . If you’re traveling with expensive gear or spending a lot on your trip, consider upgrading to a tier that covers your costs adequately.

Additional coverage for adventure and high-risk travel

Stellhorn also notes that adventure and high-risk travel “require higher benefit amounts for medical evacuation, which can run more than $250,000.” And Judy Perl at Judy Perl Worldwide Travel says that “most insurance companies will not insure high-risk travel at all, with the exception of big companies like First Allied and Travelex .” Even less risky activities and sports may only be covered to a limit—that is, climbing to certain heights and diving to certain depths.

Most sports are only covered up to a certain level of intensity—any higher and you may have to purchase a different tier of insurance. World Nomads, for example, will cover a slew of adventure travel activities and sports, but at an additional cost on top of its basic insurance.

Cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance

It’s important to read the fine print of any insurance plan because, even if it includes trip cancellation coverage, this often only kicks in under certain circumstances. As many travelers found out recently, trips canceled due to the recent coronavirus pandemic were not covered unless they had a CFAR add-on .

Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg, co-owner and copresident at Valerie Wilson Travel , explains that these plans “only cover 75 percent of trip expenses [and only] if travelers cancel their trips at least 48 hours in advance.”

Does travel insurance cover pandemics?

No. “Once actual events have unfolded, such as the current coronavirus outbreak, they are considered known or foreseeable events and are no longer covered by most travel insurance policies,” says Michelle Baran . The exception is if you chose to upgrade your plan to include a CFAR add-on. During the current coronavirus outbreak, getting the CFAR add-on is definitely a good idea.

What are the best travel insurance policies?

The best travel insurance policy will depend on you and your trip. You’ll want to make sure you have a plan that covers the cost of your entire trip and the activities you want to do and won’t leave you in the dark if you have pre-existing conditions. The following are some of the best travel insurance partners to consider:

Best for: Older travelers and those with pre-existing conditions.

While Allianz provides great travel insurance for any traveler, it’s especially appropriate for those with pre-existing conditions, since those are covered in every one of its plans. However, its basic coverage only covers up to $500 in lost or damaged baggage, so consider an upgrade if you’re traveling with more expensive equipment.

Get a quote: allianztravelinsurance.com

Seven Corners

Best for: Traveling during the COVID-19 outbreak

Although most travel insurance plans don’t cover travelers in the current coronavirus pandemic without a CFAR add-on, Seven Corners has designed a plan specifically for travelers planning a domestic road trip in the United States, Canada, or Mexico, called Armor . Its Liaison Travel Plus and Wander Frequent Traveler Plus plans also include medical coverage should you need medical attention due to COVID-19. Seven Corners has been providing high-quality travel insurance coverage since 1993 and, pandemic or no, is one of our top choices.

Get a quote: sevencorners.com

Best for: Medical coverage only

GeoBlue’s Voyager basic medical coverage is not a comprehensive travel insurance plan that covers a slew of scenarios, but rather just provides travelers with basic medical travel insurance. The deductible is a high $500 but at $19 to $35 per trip, it’s an inexpensive way to protect yourself in case something catastrophic happens. If you feel like you’re adequately covered for travel mishaps like lost luggage or stolen goods by other insurance (like your credit card or homeowner’s insurance), this might be the insurance for you.

Get a quote: geobluetravelinsurance.com

Best for: Traveling with kids

With TravelEx, travelers can choose between a basic or select travel insurance package with options to customize it according to their needs. Both plans cover standard things like trip cancellation and emergency medical services and are an all-around comprehensive option. However, its Travel Select plan also includes free coverage for any children under 17 traveling with you. For families, TravelEx Select is a great money-saving option.

Get a quote: travelexinsurance.com

How much does travel insurance cost?

Complete travel insurance packages can cost as little as $8 per day, but vary depending on the length of the trip, destination(s), and the tier of travel insurance you choose. Some, but not all, travel insurance may also cost more for travelers with pre-existing conditions or older adults.

As a comparison, here are some examples of travel insurance costs for a 45-year-old traveler on a $5,000, one-week trip to Mexico:

• $98 for an explorer plan with World Nomads
• $188 for a basic plan with Allianz
• $214 for a basic plan with AIG
• $226 for a basic plan with Travelex

While some of these plans may seem expensive, keep in mind that if they provide you the coverage you need, they can be a huge money saver. Insurer World Nomads says that its average claim amount for 2017 was $1,634, and its most expensive claim—a medical evacuation of a child from Sitka, Alaska, to Seattle—was nearly $200,000. Suddenly, that $8 per day makes travel insurance worth it . But, as Michael Holtz, founder and CEO of the travel agency Smart Flyer , says, “People don’t think they need it until they need it.”

How do I buy travel insurance?

You should always buy travel insurance from an official, reputable provider or website, such as purchasing directly through the insurance provider, a travel agent, or a comparison website; these “offer a way to search, compare, and purchase from a wide array of plans,” says Stan Sandberg, cofounder of TravelInsurance.com .

Comparison sites to buy travel insurance include:

• Travelinsurance.com
• Squaremouth
• Insuremytrip

Sandberg strongly recommends consumers speak with a licensed agent when they are unsure about benefits. The website elliot.org is another good resource and features a list of reputable travel insurance companies compiled by consumer advocate Christopher Elliott.

When to buy travel insurance

Generally, you should book your travel insurance as soon as you can after booking your flights and hotels. If you’re traveling to a destination affected by hurricanes , book sooner than later, because you can’t buy insurance to cover delays or cancellations related to a storm that already has a name.

People with pre-existing conditions need to take other factors into consideration. Most insurers will only cover expenses related to prior illnesses in very specific circumstances; travelers with pre-existing conditions must book coverage within a specific time frame—usually between 14 and 21 days—following their initial trip reservation, and they must be medically able to travel on the date they purchase the insurance.

Your travel insurance policy period should be for the duration of your trip from door to door (no gaps or shortcuts, please), and cover you for every place you plan to visit, whether it’s in-state, out of state, or international. Some destinations are higher risk than others so insurers don’t offer the same coverage for the same price everywhere.

What does your existing insurance cover while traveling?

While your existing health, auto, renter’s, or homeowner’s insurance may cover a few things while you’re traveling, it likely doesn’t cover everything.

• Health insurance: Many U.S. healthcare policies, including Medicare, don’t cover travelers on international trips. Some plans will cover you abroad, so check with your provider. If your health insurance only covers you domestically, both the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. State Department recommend purchasing medical travel insurance.
• Travel insurance: Credit cards can provide limited coverage of some delay, luggage, and travel accident expenses, as well as part of your rental car insurance.
• Homeowner’s and renter’s insurance: Home contents or rental insurance may cover some lost, stolen, or damaged valuables or even offer a reasonably priced floater policy (an add-on to your regular policy that covers easily moveable property) if you travel with expensive equipment.
• Auto insurance: Within the United States, your primary auto insurance will almost always cover rental vehicles. There are a few exceptions for domestic rentals, like if your current auto insurance has low coverage limits. International car rentals are a different story. In Mexico, for example, rental car insurance is mandatory , even if you have insurance at home. Always be sure to check local rules before you reserve a rental car.

Tips for filing claims and getting reimbursed

Unlike most domestic health insurance policies, travel insurance doesn’t typically have a deductible. Some inexpensive policies will require you to pay a small, nonrefundable, initial policy excess amount before further costs up to the benefit limit are covered. Many policies work on a reimbursement plan: You pay upfront, save your receipts, and file a claim, then after processing, your insurance company pays you back for covered expenses.

Most policies require you pay nonemergency expenses out of pocket and submit your claim for reimbursement afterward. In a non-life-threatening emergency, call your insurer for instruction if you’re able—it will make the claims process easier, and the insurer may be able to direct you to a hospital or medical center where your care can be billed directly to it.

Hannah Logan, of the blog Eat Sleep Breathe Travel , says this step is especially important because the small print on many policies “reads that calling the contact number [may be] a requirement for coverage.”

No matter what, document everything. Whether it’s lost baggage, a medical expense, or damage to your rental car, gather and keep anything that can help your claims case: your original rental car agreement, receipts, photos, medical paperwork, a copy of your boarding pass.

Buying travel insurance is a little like packing a suitcase—it can seem overwhelming at first, but eventually it becomes a routine and necessary part of every trip. And once it does, you can travel worry-free, calm in the knowledge that you’ve saved yourself from a possible $6,000 mistake.

This article originally appeared online in 2018; it was updated on June 19, 2020, to include current information.

World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

>>Next: Everything You Need to Know About Getting a New U.S. Passport

• Best overall
• Best for cruises
• Best for reputation
• Best for preexisting conditions
• Best for digital nomads
• Best low-cost
• Best for road trips

How we reviewed travel insurance companies

Ultimate guide to choosing the best travel insurance.

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

Traveling is an adventure, a leap into the unknown, a story waiting to unfold. But every story needs a safety net, and that's where travel insurance comes in. In this guide to the best travel insurance, we'll embark on a journey to help you better understand travel insurance and uncover the benefits that make it an indispensable companion for any traveler.

Best overall: Nationwide

• Trip cancellation coverage of up to 100% of trip costs (for cruises) or up to $30,000 (for single-trip plans)
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Three cruise-specific plans to choose from
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual travel insurance plans available
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong trip cancellation coverage
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Cancel for any reason coverage available
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. CFAR insurance not available with every single plan
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Medical coverage is lower than what some competitors offer

Nationwide Travel Insurance offers many of the standard benefits you might see with a travel insurance policy. This can include things like trip cancellation coverage, so you can recover pre-paid costs or trip interruption in the event your vacation is interrupted by an unexpected event. There's also baggage delay coverage and medical coverage.

• Cancel for any reason coverage available

Nationwide Travel Insurance is of the largest players in the travel insurance space, offering nearly endless options for any customer on the travel spectrum, including annual travel insurance plans which can offer frequent travelers the flexibility to "set it and forget it" on their travel insurance coverage.

Nationwide Essential also offers some of the most affordable policies in the market compared to similar plans from competitors, which makes it a great pick for just about anyone. Buyers can discuss bundling options as Nationwide also sells homeowners, auto, pet, and other insurance products. Its travel insurance quoting is just as easy as it has been with other Nationwide insurance products.

Read our Nationwide Travel Insurance review here.

Runner-up: AXA Assistance USA 

• Trip cancellation coverage of up to 100% of the trip cost
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous medical evacuation coverage
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Up to $1,500 per person coverage for missed connections on cruises and tours
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Covers loss of ski, sports and golf equipment
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous baggage delay, loss and trip delay coverage ceilings per person
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage only available for most expensive Platinum plan
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. CFAR coverage ceiling only reaches $50,000 maximum despite going up to 75%

AXA Assistance USA keeps travel insurance simple with gold, silver, and platinum plans. Emergency medical and CFAR are a couple of the options you can expect. Read on to learn more about AXA.

• Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans available
• Trip interruption coverage of up to 150% of the trip cost
• Emergency medical coverage of up to $250,000

AXA Assistance USA  offers consumers a great option for no-stress travel insurance: low-priced plans, generous coverage limits on key categories including primary insurance on lost luggage, and up to 150% reimbursement for qualifying trip cancellations.

While add-ons are limited and rental car coverage is not included by default on cheaper plans, AXA is a perfect fit for travelers who don't plan to drive (or who already hold a travel credit card with rental car coverage), and don't need any additional bells and whistles.

Read our AXA Assistance USA Travel Insurance review here.

Best for cruises: AIG Travel Guard

Trip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of the trip cost and trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Trip cancellation coverage of up to 100% of the cost, for all three plan levels
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. CFAR covers up to 75% of total trip costs (maximum of $112,500 on some plans) 
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Medical coverage of up to $500,000 and evacuation of up to $1,000,000 per person
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Includes COVID coverage 
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Above average baggage loss and delay benefits
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High medical evacuation coverage
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Premiums may run slightly higher than competitors

Travel Guard is a well-established and highly rated name in the travel insurance industry. It offers three main coverage options to choose from, and in general its policies have above-average coverage for baggage loss and baggage delays, plus high medical evaluation coverage limits.

• Trip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of the trip cost
• Trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost
• Preexisting medical conditions exclusions waiver must be purchased within 15 days of initial trip payment
• Annual travel insurance plan and Pack N' Go plan (for last-minute trips) available

Travel Guard is well-known insurance provider, and a great fit for travelers who want to ensure that they can get their money back in the event of canceled or interrupted travel plans.

While the company's policies can be pricey compared to its competitors, the high medical and evacuation limits make AIG a solid choice for older travelers who value peace of mind and simplicity over highly customizable plans that may be bolstered with medical upgrades.

Read our AIG Travel Guard review here.

Best for reputation: Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

Covers up to 100% of trip cancellation costs, a minimum of up to $750 in luggage losses, and 24/7 worldwide travel insurance

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers up to 100% trip cancellation refund for eligible travel
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Plans are customizable with relevant add-ons
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Good customer service and easy sign up according to traveler reviews
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. More affordable plans offer low caps on medical and emergency coverage
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Premiums are on the expensive side relative to comparable competitor plans
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Claims may take longer during peak travel seasons

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection is one of the leading insurance brands on the market. It offers several plans with key add-ons for travelers.

• This provider underwrites travel insurance policies for a number of other companies in addition to offering its own plans
• Travelers can file claims directly from a smartphone by using the BHTP app

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection  helps travelers make the best of bad situations by simplifying the process of filing a claim down to a simple photo snap and some basic paperwork submitted directly through a dedicated app.

Approved claims are also paid out very rapidly, making it easier to carry through with a trip when luggage has been lost or alternative travel plans need to be made on the fly.

Read our Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance review here.

Best for preexisting conditions: Tin Leg Travel Insurance

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Policy coverage includes most pre-existing health conditions
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous medical and evacuation amounts for peace of mind
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. COVID coverage included by default on all insurance plans
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers a wide range of plans for various budgets and travel needs
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Some plans offer CFAR, “cancel for work reasons,” financial default, and unemployment coverage
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited add-on coverage options
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Baggage loss and delay coverage is low compared to competitors

Tin Leg travel insurance offers eight travel insurance plans to meet the unique needs of travelers.

• Tin Leg was founded in 2014 by the travel insurance industry experts at Squaremouth. Designed to meet the most common needs of travelers, these policies offer comprehensive Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption benefits, and a range of Emergency Medical and Medical Evacuation limits.

Tin Leg Travel Insurance is a great fit for travelers with medical issues in particular. Thanks to coverage for preexisting medical conditions as well as for potential COVID-19 infection while traveling, this company offers some of the best financial investment options for travelers who are or will be exposed to higher health risks and issues.

Read our Tin Leg Travel Insurance review here.

Best for digital nomads: WorldTrips Travel Insurance

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Affordable base plans that can be customized with add-ons including rental car, pet care, hunting and fishing, and vacation rental coverage
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Insurance plans available for international student travelers
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Trip delay coverage benefit that kicks in after just five hours
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Pre-existing conditions waiver can be purchased within 21 days of initial trip payment
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Lower medical, evacuation and accidental death limits
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited, secondary baggage loss coverage although baggage protection can be upgraded at a low cost
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No special coverages for pets, sports equipment, etc.

WorldTrips has been a reputable travel insurance provider for more than 20 years. Unsurprisingly, it boasts an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and positive reviews from thousands of customers.

• Travel medical insurance (Premium, Group, Annual, and International Student options)
• Trip cancellation insurance
• Trip protection insurance

WorldTrips Travel Insurance has affordable premiums, highly customizable add-ons, and generous coverage for core categories of travel insurance. All this makes it a great option for digital nomads, students studying abroad and backpackers.

However, travelers should keep in mind that plans are not particularly flexible, and coverage amounts are limited unless you plan ahead to pay for the areas and amounts that you need.

Read our WorldTrips Travel Insurance review here.

Best low-cost option: Trawick International

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Useful for adventurous travelers headed to higher-risk destinations
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Affordable plans with varying levels of coverage
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. 10-day free look option
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous baggage loss replacement policy
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Trip delay coverage kicks in after just six hours
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Some policies allow a CFAR add-on
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Up to $1 million medical evacuation coverage limit
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Baggage and trip delay coverages don’t kick in until after the 12-hour mark
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. International student policies available for temporary stints abroad
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Complaints about claims not being paid or involving an intermediary to resolve claims

Trawick International travel insurance offers plans customized to diverse travelers' needs. We look at coverage options, claims processing, pricing, and other important factors for savvy travelers.

• Travel medical insurance
• Trip protection and cancellation
• International student insurance
• Visitor medical insurance (for traveling to the US)

Trawick International Travel Insurance is another insurance provider with robust medical travel insurance  that can help higher-risk and anxious travelers find peace of mind while on the road. This company offers one of the most generous medical evacuation policies in the market, although travelers will need to remember to add on rental car coverage if they need it.

Read our Trawick Travel Insurance review here.

Best for road trips: Travelex

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Options to cover sports equipment
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Option to increase medical coverage
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Can cancel up to 48 hours before travel when CFAR option is purchased
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Affordable coverage for budget-conscious travelers
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Includes generous baggage delay, loss and trip delay coverage
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Optional "adventure sports" bundle available for riskier activities
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Only two insurance plans to choose from
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Medical coverage maximum is low at up to $50,000 per person
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Pricier than some competitors with lower coverage ceilings
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Some competitors offer higher medical emergency coverage

Travelex travel insurance is one of the largest travel insurance providers in the US providing domestic and international coverage options. It offers a basic, select, and America option. Read on to learn more.

• Optional CFAR insurance available with the Travel Select plan
• Trip delay insurance starting at $500 with the Travel Basic plan
• Emergency medical and dental coverage starting at $15,000

Travelex Travel Insurance  offers three plans:

• Travel Basic
• Travel Select
• Travel America

The Travelex America plan is meant for trips limited to the US, but it has the highest coverage limits in many areas compared to its other programs. If you're flying somewhere, the lost baggage limits are higher. Its natural strengths shine for road trippers, though. Travelex America adds coverage for roadside service and rental car coverage for unexpected accidents. It also covers pets should you be involved in an accident while on the road.

While your standard auto insurance does extend to car rentals within the US for a limited time, any accident would affect future rates. Travelex would eliminate the risk of reporting to your auto insurance provider for minor incidents within its purview.

Read our Travelex Travel Insurance review here.

Introduction to Travel Insurance

Why travel insurance is a must-have.

The unpredictable nature of traveling – from flight cancellations to medical emergencies – can turn your dream vacation into a nightmare. Travel insurance acts as a personal safeguard, ensuring that unexpected events don't drain your wallet or ruin your trip.

Understanding Different Types of Travel Insurance

Not all travel insurance policies are created equal. From single-trip travel insurance policies to annual travel insurance plans , from minimal coverage to comprehensive protection, understanding the spectrum of options is your first step in finding the right fit for your journey.

Key Features to Look for in Travel Insurance Coverage

Travel insurance for medical emergencies.

Imagine falling ill in a foreign country; daunting, right? A robust travel insurance plan ensures you don't have to worry about the financial aspect of receiving medical care while traveling , even in the most remote corners of the globe.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Benefits

Life is full of surprises, some less pleasant than others. Trip cancellation and interruption coverage ensures that you're not left out of pocket if unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel or cut your trip short.

Coverage for Personal Belongings and Baggage Loss

Losing your belongings is more than an inconvenience; it's losing a piece of your world. Insurance that covers personal belongings and baggage loss ensures that you're compensated for your loss, helping you to rebound and continue your adventure.

Support and Assistance Services

In times of trouble, having a lifeline can make all the difference. Look for insurance that offers 24/7 support and assistance services, giving you peace of mind that help is just a phone call away.

Choosing Travel Insurance

Reputation and reliability of the travel insurance provider.

A provider's reputation is not just about being well-known; it's about reliability, customer satisfaction, and the ability to deliver on promises. Researching and choosing a reputable provider is a cornerstone in ensuring your safety and satisfaction.

Understanding the Policy's Fine Print

The devil is in the details, and understanding the fine print of what your travel insurance policy covers is crucial. Be aware of coverage limits, exclusions, and the process for filing a claim to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Customer Reviews and Feedback

In the age of information, customer reviews and feedback are goldmines of insight. Learn from the experiences of others to gauge the reliability and customer service of the insurance provider you're considering.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Travel Insurance

Knowing your policy inside out.

Familiarize yourself with every aspect of your policy – what it covers, what it doesn't, how to file a claim, and who to contact in an emergency. Being informed means being prepared. 

Steps to Take When a Problem Arises

If you face an issue during your travels, knowing the immediate steps to take can make all the difference. Keep important contacts and your policy details handy, and remember, your insurance provider is there to assist you.

How to Pick the Best Travel Insurance Company for You

There isn't a one-size-fits-all policy that works perfectly for every traveler. Young, healthy solo travelers can opt for much cheaper plans that offer bare-bones coverage, while families juggling complex itineraries will do best by investing in a robust policy that can help defray any costs associated with lost baggage, delayed transportation or other trip-impeding obstacles.

That being said, you can't go wrong with a travel insurance provider that boasts a reputable history and offers a wide range of customizable plans. In some cases, you may be comparing plans that are only a few dollars' apart from each other. In such situations, you should generally opt for the insurance company that offers the strongest customer service. It's also worth considering whether or not the travel insurance provider has been reviewed by other travelers with similar itineraries to your own. 

An insurance aggregator like InsureMyTrip or Squaremouth is one of the best tools for searching travel insurance policies. Once you input the specifics of your travel itinerary, you'll be able to see hundreds of search results to compare the ones that catch your eye. If the options are too overwhelming, use the filters to the left of your search page to eliminate as many irrelevant plans as possible.

To come up with our list of the best travel insurance companies, we evaluated each insurer based on the following factors:

Guide Methodology: What We Considered

Policy Types

Travel insurance is essential, but often underused partly because people aren't getting what they want. Business Insider's 2023 travel study showed 10.65% of travelers surveyed bought cancel for any reason insurance. Cost may be a factor, but in many cases, the coverage is more affordable than you might think. Regardless, companies must offer a diverse range of coverage options. We award five stars to companies offering all standard coverages and additional options like pet and sports equipment protection.

Our 2023 travel study indicated the majority of purchases were made through the travel provider (ex: flight protection insurance when you're purchasing your airline tickets). While these may be sufficient for some customers, we look for companies offering a more comprehensive range of services.

According to the US Travel Insurance Association, the average cost of travel insurance will be between 4% and 8% of total travel expenses. Anything beyond that price point should include additional benefits beyond the standard inclusions, such as CFAR protection or upgraded medical coverage. Anything below that 4% threshold may leave you lacking important or sufficient coverage in an emergency.

Convenience and Flexibility

Whether you're an infrequent traveler or a suitcase warrior, a good travel insurance company should have you covered. In many cases, you might not even have to talk to a person in order to purchase your policy.

Many people think of travel insurance in context with specific trips, but most of these top contenders sell both single-trip and multi-trip policies, also known as annual travel insurance. Some companies also offer plans specifically designed for cruisers, students abroad, and business travelers. (Read our guide to the best cruise travel insurance companies for more details.) Finally, all of these providers offer multiple options for getting the specific areas and amounts of coverage that you want.

Claims Handling

Most travelers never have a large claim. Premiums are low, and it provides peace of mind for the just in case situations. So they leave reviews based on their reduced stress levels. But what happens if you lose your luggage or have to stay a few extra days due to an unexpected accident? Will your insurance carrier cover your claim without all the hassle? We check real customer reviews to sort this out for you.

Ease of Use and Support

When purchasing, during your trip, and throughout the claims process, you may need extra support. Does the company have a 24/7 help line? Does it have an online or mobile system allowing you to self-manage? Essentially, what are the options when you need help? We look at the big picture to evaluate the average customer experience with each company.

You can read our full insurance rating methodology for even more details.

Yes, travel insurance typically offers some coverage of canceled flights, but if this benefit is important to you, make sure you read the fine print of your policy to make sure it offers adequate reimbursement. If you think you may need to cancel your travel plans, you should consider purchasing cancel for any reason (CFAR) travel insurance .

There isn't one best travel insurance company; there are many great providers on the travel insurance market today. Our overall winner was Nationwide for its breadth of coverage options. AIG Travel Guard, AXA, Berkshire Hathaway, Tin Leg, WorldTrips and Trawick also made the cut. The best pick for you will depend on what features you value the most, like a low premium or high coverage limits.

The average cost of travel insurance is 5% to 10% of your total trip cost, so it could vary widely depending on where you're traveling and the length of your trip. Your age, the number of people in your group, and other factors can also influence how much you'll pay.

Most comprehensive travel insurance policies include medical coverage that can come in handy if an emergency occurs and you need medical evacuation. Some travel insurance plans offer more specialized coverage for travelers with preexisting conditions , so shop around if medical coverage is a top priority for you. 

$100,000 should be a sufficient medical coverage limit for travel insurance. If you're planning on doing extreme sports or anything particularly risky on your trip, you may want to increase your coverage level. A high medical coverage limit is especially useful when you're purchasing cruise travel insurance, since medical evacuations are more involved at sea.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

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Find The Best Travel Insurance Policy For Your Needs & Avoid Costly Surprises!

Compare 2024's Best Travel Insurance Companies. Get Yourself Peace Of Mind.

Compare and Buy Travel Insurance

Standard single trip policies.

• The most popular and comprehensive travel insurance plan
• Covers cancellations, medical emergencies, delays, and luggage
• Protection from the time you purchase to the date you return

Annual / Multi Trip Policies

• Cost-effective option for travelers taking multiple trips a year
• Includes common medical, delay, and luggage benefits
• May require add-ons from trip cancellation or interruption

Cruise Insurance Policies

• Offers comprehensive trip protection on land and at sea
• Includes high travel medical insurance coverage limits
• Protects against hurricanes, inclement weather, and more

Adventure & Sports Policies

• Essential for travelers partaking in high-risk activities
• Provides protection for lost or delayed sports equipment
• Strong coverage for cancellations and medical emergencies

Compare and Save in Minutes

Whether you’re heading abroad or staying local, we make it easy to find the best travel insurance plan for your next adventure. No bias. No hidden fees. Just the best trip protection quotes from the country’s leading providers.

Tell us some basic information about your next trip. We’ll use these details to help narrow your search and show the plans that best fit your needs.

Easily see how plans from the best travel insurance providers compete on cost and coverage. Use filters and sort results to uncover the right plan for you.

Get peace of mind at the lowest possible price. We partner with leading providers to offer you the best policies at the best value, guaranteed.

Why Trust Squaremouth?

When selecting a travel insurance provider, it's crucial to compare options. Obtain quotes from three to five insurers to ensure the best coverage and value. While it may seem time-consuming, this process can result in significant savings.

That's why we're here – over the past two decades, our industry-leading comparison engine has helped millions of travelers find highly-rated insurance plans and protect their trip expenses.

Our industry-leading comparison platform , enriched by customer reviews, displays unbiased results based on your specific trip details. If you run into any trouble, our multi-award-winning customer service team is just a phone call away.

• Helped more than 3 million travelers
• 20+ years serving the travel community
• Intuitive & user-friendly comparison engine
• More plans and top-rated providers than the competition
• Prices are regulated by law; you won't find a lower price anywhere else
• Multi award-winning customer service team
• 140,000+ customer reviews

Save With Squaremouth

Squaremouth has helped more than 3 million travelers find the best policy for their trip.

Key Travel Insurance Benefits

Most trip insurance policies are comprehensive, including coverage for cancellations, medical emergencies, travel delays, and lost luggage, among other benefits.

What Coverage is the Most Important?

Squaremouth customer reviews.

More than 99% of customers would recommend Squaremouth to others. Read what a few of them had to say about their recent experience buying travel insurance.

Great Experience!

"The Squaremouth website is fantastic! It was very easy to select coverage and find and compare policies. Will recommend it to others."

Savannah from NC 03/26/2024

Great Coverage and Price

"Getting a travel insurance quote online was easy. We have used Squaremouth before and have been pleased each time. It's peace of mind for our travel needs."

Rhonda from IN 03/20/2024

Easy to Use!

"I always use Squaremouth simply because it is so easy to use and offers plans that are affordable to me."

Emily from AZ 03/08/2024

Very pleased!

"They give great service, and the website is so easy to navigate to find just the right insurance plan. I always appreciate working with them."

Don from UT 03/07/2024

The Squaremouth website is fantastic! It was very easy to select coverage and find and compare policies. Will recommend it to others.

Featured Articles

Our topic experts keep a constant pulse on the travel industry so we can provide the most current information and recommendations based on today's traveler needs.

What Type of Insurance Do I Need?

Plans can range in terms of cost and coverage, so it’s important to identify your specific needs before comparing options. Discover the different types of travel insurance policies you should consider for your upcoming trip.

How to Buy Travel Insurance on Squaremouth

If you’re new to Squaremouth, this quick guide can help you identify your needs, start your first quote, and compare your results. If you need additional help, our customer service team is just a phone call away.

Travel Insurance FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions from travelers like you.

Is Travel Insurance Mandatory for International Travel?

While rare, some countries or organized tours may require proof of travel insurance that lasts for the duration of your trip. Our Destination Center is a good starting point to learn about entry requirements and travel insurance recommendations.

While it is typically not mandatory, travelers should consider buying insurance if they want to protect themselves financially from unforeseen events that may impact their travel plans. Many Americans and U.S. residents purchase travel insurance when planning international or high cost trips. View our list of the top international travel insurance providers .

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

Comprehensive travel insurance is designed to cover common disruptions that may impact a trip. Most policies will provide coverage for trip cancellations , medical emergencies , travel delays , missed connections , accidental death and dismemberment , and lost luggage . Travelers that experience financial loss as a result of a covered disruption may be eligible for reimbursement through their insurance policy.

How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?

In general, a comprehensive policy with Trip Cancellation typically costs between 5% and 10% of the total trip cost. The cost of a policy depends on four primary factors: trip cost, traveler age, trip length, and coverage amounts. A policy without an insured trip cost will be significantly less expensive. We recommend comparing plans from multiple providers to find the best priced plan for your trip.

What Should I Look for When Comparing Travel Insurance?

There’s no one-size-fits-all policy when it comes to travel insurance. When comparing plans, you should consider the following:

• Benefits: Travel insurance benefits outline what situations are covered under each plan. Make sure each plan you’re considering includes coverage for what’s important to you.
• Coverage Limits: Plans will set limits to how much reimbursement you’re eligible for, and can vary significantly. Higher coverage limits can result in less out of pocket expenses in the event of a claim.
• Exclusions: Travel insurance companies will list specific activities, equipment, and scenarios that are not covered by their plans in the event of a claim.
• Premium: Higher priced insurance products do not always equate to better coverage. We recommend choosing the most affordable plan that offers the travel protection you need.
• Provider Reputation: All providers on Squaremouth have been carefully vetted and offer 24-Hour Assistance services. Customers are also encouraged to share honest reviews about their experience before, during, and after their trips.

Does Travel Medical Insurance Cover International Trips?

In many cases, primary health care plans, such as Medicare or a policy you have through your employer, are not accepted overseas. If you’re not covered, you may be responsible for unforeseen medical expenses if you get sick or injured while traveling.

To avoid out-of-pocket expenses if you need medical care in the event of an emergency, many travelers opt for travel medical insurance. These plans can cover the cost of treating unexpected medical conditions incurred during your international trip.

Are Pre-Existing Conditions Covered by Travel Insurance?

Coverage for pre-existing conditions varies among travel insurance policies. While many plans won’t offer coverage for existing injuries or illnesses, some plans may offer Pre-Existing Condition waivers if certain conditions are met, such as purchasing the policy within a specified time frame from booking the trip.

Will My Policy Cover Trip Cancellations?

Yes, many comprehensive travel insurance policies cover trip cancellations under specified circumstances, such as sudden illness, injury, or death of the insured or a family member, natural disasters, or unexpected work obligations. Most policies that include the Trip Cancellation benefit offer 100% reimbursement for all prepaid, non-refundable trip costs.

What’s the Difference Between Single-Trip and Annual Travel Insurance?

Single-trip travel insurance covers a specific journey for a set duration, offering protection for that trip only. This is the most popular type of travel insurance among Squaremouth users. In contrast, Annual Travel Insurance provides coverage for multiple trips within a year. Annual plans can be cost-effective for frequent travelers and less of a hassle than purchasing multiple single-trip plans.

What's the Process for Filing a Travel Insurance Claim?

To file a trip insurance claim, follow these steps:

• Contact your insurer: Notify them as soon as possible about the incident.
• Gather documentation: Collect relevant documents, such as police reports, medical records, or receipts for expenses incurred.
• Complete the claim form: Fill out the insurer's claim form with accurate details.
• Submit supporting documents: Attach all required documents to substantiate your claim.
• Keep records: Maintain copies of all submissions and correspondence for your records.
• Follow up: Stay in touch with the insurer for updates on your claim status.
• Be honest and thorough: Provide clear and truthful information to expedite the process.

Remember, the process may vary by insurer, so review your policy or contact your insurance provider for specific instructions. Learn more about what can be covered and how to file a travel insurance claim .

Where Can I Buy Travel Insurance?

Travelers can purchase travel insurance directly from providers, through a comparison site like Squaremouth, or directly through a travel supplier when booking. Credit cards and travel agents are other sources to consider. Travel insurance prices are regulated by law, meaning the price of one specific policy must be the same regardless of where it is sold, whether it’s purchased from Squaremouth or directly from the provider.

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7 Best Cheap Travel Insurance Companies in April 2024

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Finding the cheapest travel insurance is often a priority for travelers hoping to protect themselves and their finances while away from home.

But is it better to err on the side of affordable travel insurance or opt for a more comprehensive plan? That depends on your needs .

On average, a comprehensive plan that covers some combination of trip cancellation and interruption costs, medical coverage and baggage protection (and perhaps a number of other things) will cost you 5%-10% of what you paid for the trip, according to NerdWallet partner Squaremouth, a travel insurance marketplace.

That means a comprehensive policy for a trip that costs you $3,000 could run you anywhere between $150 and $300. Factors like the cost and length of your trip, the age of the travelers and how much protection you want can significantly influence what you pay for your plan.

Ultimately, Squaremouth recommends “the least expensive policy that offers the coverage [travelers] need.”

» Learn more: The best travel insurance companies right now

Factors we considered when picking cheap travel insurance plans

We considered a few factors as we looked for the most affordable travel insurance plans.

Price: If your goal is to find cheaper travel insurance, you want the price to be affordable.

Breadth of coverage: The best budget travel insurance is typically going to be a plan that offers a wide range of protections at an affordable cost, ensuring you’re protected with at least some coverage for a wide range of scenarios.

Uniqueness or customizability : While many travel insurance plans have similar protections, some stand out for particular coverage that can be helpful to certain travelers, like those needing to Cancel For Any Reason , those going on a cruise, or travelers with preexisting health conditions. We didn’t spring for the priciest plans with broad, deep coverage; instead, we picked those that meet a sort of budget "sweet spot" when it comes to cost efficiency.

» Learn more: Is travel insurance worth getting?

An overview of the best cheap travel insurance plans

We looked at travel insurance quotes for a hypothetical 10-day trip to Italy in October 2023. The traveler is a 40-year-old man living in North Carolina who spent $2,000 on the trip, including airfare.

Reliable but cheap travel insurance providers

1. axa assistance usa (silver plan: $70).

Why we picked it:

The $500 missed connection benefit is great for cruise and tour participants. It covers additional transportation, accommodations and meal costs when you miss a cruise or tour departure.

Full trip cancellation and interruption coverage, along with up to $25,000 for out-of-pocket medical costs and baggage coverage.

Among the lowest prices we found.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more than AXA's $70 Silver plan, a Gold plan only costs $19 more and gets you deeper coverage amounts and up to $35,000 in collision rental car insurance.

2. Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (ExactCare Value plan: $56)

Cheapest plan we found while still offering a wide array of protections.

Includes a preexisting medical condition waiver.

Add-on rental car collision coverage optional for $10 per day. You can pick how many days you want the additional coverage — it’s not all or nothing.

At $56, this plan comes in at less than 3% of the $2,000 trip cost.

3. IMG (iTravelInsured Lite plan: $77)

Treats COVID-19 like any other illness, which is to say, if your claim accepts flu, strep throat or appendicitis as an acceptable, covered condition, the coronavirus is, too.

Covers costs related to trip interruption up to 125% 

Higher than normal limits on dental expenses, at $1,000. If your teeth are your Achilles heel (or your biggest fear), this plan might be for you.

The iTravelInsured Lite plan doesn’t offer some of the bells and whistles that other plans do, like rental car coverage , Cancel For Any Reason coverage or waivers for pre-existing conditions. But you’ll have relatively solid across-the-board trip protections.

4. John Hancock (Silver plan: $93 for a mid-tier plan)

Mid-level plan (as opposed to a basic plan) at an affordable price for travelers who want more coverage without paying too much.

Includes an optional Cancel For Any Reason add-on for travelers wanting flexibility. It is a bit pricey, at half the cost of the insurance ($46.50 extra for a $93 plan).

Reimburses up to $1,000 for lost baggage , far more than many basic plans.

Add-on rental car coverage for $9 per day.

At $88, John Hancock’s basic (Bronze) plan isn’t particularly affordable. But for just $4 extra, you can tap into the benefits of a mid-tier plan at still less than 5% of the total trip cost.

5. Nationwide (Essential plan: $76)

Includes a preexisting conditions waiver.

Add-on rental car coverage for $90. 

Covers trip interruption at 125% of the trip cost while providing comprehensive emergency medical and baggage coverage.

6. Seven Corners (Basic plan: $75)

On top of standard trip protections, it includes a relatively affordable Cancel For Any Reason option for $31.50 extra.

If you plan to rent expensive sporting equipment, you might consider paying $10 extra to cover lost, damaged, stolen or destroyed gear.

COVID-19 coverage reimburses you for costs incurred if you have to quarantine .

Rental car coverage comes in at an affordable $7 per day.

Seven Corners’ Basic plan stands out because it offers a little bit of everything, appealing to athletic travelers, those who need affordable trip protections, those who want the flexibility to cancel for any reason and those still concerned about getting quarantined due to COVID-19.

7. Travelex Insurance Services (Basic plan: $71)

Straightforward: What you see is what you get. This plan’s coverage has fewer rules and caveats than many. 

While not sporting the highest coverage amounts, it offers a solid range of protections to ensure you get at least something back when your travel is disrupted or you have a medical emergency.

Offers add-on rental car coverage for $10 per day.

At $71, the Travelex Basic plan’s cost is just over 3% of the $2,000 trip’s cost.

If you want to get travel insurance at the cheapest possible rate, here’s a trick. Put $0 as your trip cost, Stan Stanberg, co-founder of comparison site Travelinsurance.com said in an email.

“When excluding trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage the cost of a travel insurance plan goes down significantly,” Stanberg said.

That means you won’t get reimbursed if you need to cancel your trip or if it gets interrupted. But you may still have access to the plan’s medical, trip delay , missed connection, baggage and other protections.

You’ll often find comprehensive travel insurance plans cost 5%-10% of your total trip cost, according to Squaremouth. This will often get you full trip cancellation and trip protection, baggage protection, emergency medical coverage and often other benefits.

Typically, the more you pay, the broader and deeper the coverage.

For many plans, you can purchase travel insurance up until you depart. However, to get access to the most protections possible, booking two days to two weeks after making your initial deposit is the best rule of thumb.

That means you won’t get reimbursed if you need to cancel your trip or if it gets interrupted. But you may still have access to the plan’s medical,

, missed connection, baggage and other protections.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

June 1, 2020

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after

Ukraine; Belarus; Moldova, Republic of; North Korea, Democratic People's Rep; Russia; Israel

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Use this tool to calculate all purchases like ski-lift passes, show tickets, or even rental equipment.

Safer travel starts with travel protection

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At Allianz, we continue to show our commitment to sports through our sponsorship with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee. Read More >>

Entry Requirements & COVID-19 Travel Resources 

Confused about entry requirements for your destination? Our  interactive map shows current travel rules and restrictions for each destination, including info on COVID-19 testing, necessary travel documents and quarantine periods.

Find out how our  Epidemic Coverage Endorsement can protect your next trip from certain losses related to COVID-19.

Why do I need travel insurance?

Because sometimes..., you have to cancel a trip last-minute..

Travel insurance can reimburse you for your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs — including vacation rentals, car rentals, hotels and flights — if you have to cancel for a covered reason.

Travel delays leave you stranded.

Travel insurance can reimburse you for eligible meals, accommodation and transportation expenses during a covered delay.

You get sick or hurt when you're far from home.

Travel insurance can reimburse you for care following a covered medical emergency while traveling. We can even arrange and pay for a medical evacuation if needed.

Fender-benders are unavoidable.

Renting a car means taking on a big financial risk; even a tiny scrape can cost you hundreds. Low-priced rental car insurance lets you drive worry-free.

You need help in a hurry.

Whether you're planning a week-long road trip or a weekend getaway, you never know what might happen. Travel insurance gives you access to our 24-Hour Assistance hotline for expert, personalized support in a crisis.

Why go with Allianz Travel Insurance?

As a world leader in travel protection, we help more than 70 million people answer the call of adventure with confidence every year.

We're Protecting You

From protection for trip cancellation to medical bills abroad, our benefits are designed to help you explore reassured.

We're There For You

We've got your back with award-winning 24/7 assistance and a worldwide network of prescreened hospitals to help you get the right care.

We're Built For You

From our Allyz ® TravelSmart app to proactive SmartBenefits, we innovate for the way you travel today - and tomorrow.

TRAVEL RESOURCES

How Travel Insurance Works

How the Cancel Anytime Upgrade Works

What Does Rental Car Insurance Cover?

Is It Too Late to Buy Travel Insurance?

The Comprehensive Guide to Annual Travel Insurance

5 Ways the Allyz ®  TravelSmart App Can Help During Winter Travels

Travel Insurance with Emergency Medical Benefits

Destination Guide: Croatia

Travel Insurance & COVID-19: The Epidemic Coverage Endorsement Explained

More Travel Resources »

LATEST COVERAGE ALERTS

The events listed below are considered "known and foreseeable" for travel insurance purposes on the date listed next to the event. Please consult your policy for more information.

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How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?

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• The average travel insurance premium this week is $284.68, about the same compared to last week.
• For travel in the United States, the average premium is $92 to $400.
• Travel insurance protects against delayed baggage, trip cancellation, and more.

The average cost of travel insurance fluctuates throughout the year, based on demand and whether or not school's in session. Also keep in mind that where you're traveling and how many people are taking the trip will affect your exact premium.

The average travel insurance premium this week is about the same compared to last week.

Travel insurance rates this week:

• Average premium: $284.68
• Average trip cost: $6,819.26
• Average trip length: 16 Days

Understanding Travel Insurance

Travel insurance plans can cover both domestic and international travel. It could protect against something as familiar as delayed baggage (experts estimate 85% of lost luggage is returned to its owner within 48 hours) or as complicated as trip cancellation.

The benefits and limitations of travel insurance vary based on the company and plan. Above all else, this insurance coverage offers peace of mind.

Some credit cards offer a limited amount of travel insurance annually. If you need clarification on what your credit card offers, contact your provider to verify. These plans are great for cancellations and interruptions but may not cover more costly losses associated with unexpected medical expenses or emergency evacuations.

Individual travel insurance plans include this and much more. Travel insurance protects travelers from the unexpected when away from home.

Average Cost of Travel Insurance by Destination

Some countries are naturally more expensive travel destinations due to higher flight and lodging costs, which could increase travel insurance costs. Travel insurance will generally cost 5% to 10% of your total trip price, according to SquareMouth.

Here's how the prices stack up:

Source: SquareMouth

How Far in Advance to Purchase Travel Insurance

According to an AAA travel survey , 88% of travelers say that reimbursement after a trip cancellation is the most valuable benefit of trip insurance.

According to data gathered by SquareMouth in the last six months, travelers tend to purchase trip cancellation travel insurance 53 days before their trip. Meanwhile, travelers without trip cancellation insurance will buy a policy approximately 16 days before their trip. Regardless of when you buy, cancellation protection can kick in to protect you against the unexpected.

Average Cost of Travel Insurance by Age

A traveler's age is a significant factor in determining the cost of travel insurance. The older a traveler is, the higher travel insurance premiums are. For instance, a senior traveler may need more insurance for health-related emergencies than a millennial.

When calculating your travel insurance premium, travel insurance providers consider the likelihood of a medical emergency.

Get your free travel insurance quote with SquareMouth »

Travel Insurance Rate Tips

How much does travel insurance typically cost.

Travel insurance rates through most providers fall between 4% and 8% of the total trip cost. Like the cost of flights, cruises, etc., rates may vary substantially based on the season, your original location, your destination, and other factors. This week, the average cost of a policy was close to $300.

How can I save money on travel insurance?

To save money on travel insurance, tailor your policy to your specific needs and avoid unnecessary extras. You should also shop around to compare quotes from multiple insurers. Opting for an annual plan if you're a frequent traveler, checking existing coverages from other insurance policies or credit card benefits, and choosing a policy with a higher deductible can significantly lower your premiums. Always read the fine print to understand your coverage fully, ensuring you don't pay for redundant or irrelevant features.

Where are the cheapest places to buy travel insurance?

To find affordable travel insurance, consider using online comparison websites like SquareMouth or InsureMyTrip to see rates from various providers. Other ways to save include purchasing directly from insurance companies, exploring package deals from travel agencies or airlines, utilizing included coverage from credit card benefits, and checking for discounts through membership organizations such as AAA or AARP.

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Travel Tips

How much to budget for a trip to Spain?

By Madeline Schuerz

Travel addict, daydreamer, and storyteller living and working on the roads of Europe as a Trip Manager for Contiki.

Published on Apr 24, 2024 | 8 min

Table of Contents

Accommodations in spain, how to get around spain, tapas, paella, churros, and the spanish nightlife, experiencing spain through their sights and activities, shopping and souvenirs, travel insurance, final budgeting and travel advice, travelling in spain with contiki.

Budgeting for a trip can make or break a dream trip. For many travellers the first step of planning their next adventure is the managing and mapping out of their travel budget, this can be exciting and ignite the travel bug or be absolutely overwhelming. Since budgeting for your trip shouldn’t take away from the excitement before it even started, we have put together a guide on what to expect when traveling to Spain .

In general Spain is easier on the wallet than many other European countries, aside from the bigger cities like Barcelona or Madrid prices for accommodation, transportation and even different activities and tours can vary greatly depending on the season you are traveling in.

Best of Spain

Accommodation will be a large chunk of your travel budget. Depending on the area of Spain you are in and the time of year you are travelling prices can be quite different, but in the last few years prices for hotels, AirBnBs and even hostels have gone up a lot.

During the summer months a single bed in a hostel in the centre of Barcelona, Madrid or Valencia can be anywhere from €25 up to €70, with Barcelona being the most expensive city on the Spanish mainland. Hostels in smaller and less touristy towns can be slightly cheaper.

If you are looking for hotels, the range becomes even bigger. A double room in a small local BnB can already start at around €60 and go up to €150.

Boutique hotels and more famous hotel chains typically start at around €100 in less touristy places and off-season, and can be as expensive as €200-300 in high season. They do tend to offer a little bit more luxury and comfort though. AirBnBs are an option in a lot of Spanish cities as well, but it’s important to understand the rules in Spain surrounding short-term rentals. Prices of AirBnBs in major cities and good locations can start at around €80 but quickly get up to €100-150 per night including cleaning and service fees as they have to be registered to the government. They will also most likely ask for your passport details in order to register you as a guest in their home and charge you a tourist tax.

If you are looking for a way cheaper or almost free ways to stay in Spain, couchsurfing, housesitting and volunteering in hostels would be additional options.

Image source: Contiki

Public transport in Spain is not only extensive but also very affordable. Most major cities are connected by a high quality train and bus network that makes inter-city traveling relatively easy. In order to get these cheap train and bus tickets you will have to book at least a few weeks in advance or be super flexible. Buses between the major cities usually cost between €10-20 but often take several hours due to the many stops along the way. A faster way of traveling are high-speed trains that connect cities around most of the country, but they will cost you somewhere between €30 and €80 depending on the distance and how long in advance you have booked.

Inner-city transport works fantastic as well. While the bigger cities of Madrid and Barcelona have extensive metro systems, many other Spanish cities have at least one or two metro lines, trams or buses. Most sights are very well connected and a single ride ranges between €1,5-2,5, while day passes cost around €5-15.

Spain vs. Portugal: which Iberian nation should you visit first?

When it comes to food and drinks, Spain is still incredibly affordable. Eating Spanish meals in small local restaurants doesn’t have to be expensive at all. Spanish breakfast is super simple and either consists of churros con chocolate (fried dough with chocolate), pan con tomate (toast with tomato) or bocadillos (sandwiches), all of which usually cost around €5.

A corto (single shot of Espresso) only costs €1-3, while other types of coffee (with milk, water, double shot, etc.) would range between €2-5.

The best-known foods in Spain are probably tapas, which are small plates of different kind of snacks. In most cities you would be able to find a good restaurant where a tapa costs somewhere between €3-10 and if you order a few to share between a group of you it usually comes out super cheap.

Spanish restaurants usually also offer a “Menu del dia” which is the dish/menu of the day that can cost as little as €12-20 and typically includes two to three courses and a drink. When going to a proper restaurant, the Spanish love paella, fresh seafood and Iberian pork.

If you like to enjoy a nice drink with your dinner, you are looking at spending around €20-40 for a nice dinner out. In some restaurants around the country you can still get free tapas with your drinks, a custom that is slowly dying in the more touristy areas.

A glass of wine, beer or Sangria would cost €2-5 in a lot of local restaurants and then they may bring you a free dish with it, or sometimes just some nuts or olives. In clubs or bars the drinks tend to be a little bit more expensive and your typical long drinks often cost €5-15. Be careful though as they free-pour their drinks.

This trip won’t be the trip of a lifetime without the abundance of sights and activities the country has to offer. While you can get a great feel for the city and the Spanish life by strolling through the streets, admiring the old neighborhoods, strikingly beautiful buildings and happy vibe that is life in Spain, a lot of the culture can only be experienced by entering sights and watching shows.

The cities can be explored on your own or on one of the many free walking tours on offer, but don’t forget to tip your guides at the end of the tour. Spain also has amazing fresh markets in most cities that you can visit for free.

But many of the most famous sights and experiences do cost a fee. The Sagrada Familia (€26) and Alhambra (€20) are the two most visited places in Spain, but you shouldn’t forget about other popular sights such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (€16), the Alcazar (€14) and Cathedral (€12) in Sevilla, the Mozquita-Catedral (€13) in Cordoba, the Prado (€15) in Madrid or Casa Battlo (€35,-) in Barcelona.

In addition to the most popular sights, Spain has great shows and tours to offer for an even more in-depth experience like Flamenco shows (€20-40) or food tours (€70-120).

Spain and Portugal Highlights

If you enjoy a good little shopping spree, you are in luck. Spain is arguably one of the best countries to go shopping in. The streets of small beach towns and big metropolises are lined with souvenir shops if you want to bring back some magnets, tiles or Flamenco fans for your friends and family. But these exact streets are also filled with local fashion boutiques, as well as Spanish and international brands.

One last, but super important part you shouldn’t forget about when budgeting for your trip is travel insurance. Enjoying your Spanish adventures is a lot easier with the peace of mind that if something were to go wrong, valuables get stolen or lost or you need to get medical attention throughout your trip, your travel insurance will kick in.

Make sure your insurance covers extreme activities like rafting, paragliding, surfing etc. if you are planning on doing those on your trip. When booking a Contiki you can easily add travel insurance during the booking process, which will safe you lots of time looking for other companies and comparing their policies. If you are wanting to look at others as well, here are some reputable companies: CoverMore , WorldNomad , Allianz , SafetyWing , etc.

10 best beaches in Spain to add to your bucket list

Also, don’t forget about the small expenses throughout the day, like ice cream, a bottle of water, coffee or Sangria and tips for the waiters in your restaurants and bars, taxi drivers, guides, etc. Tipping is common in Spain but usually relatively little. In a proper restaurant they would tip 5-10%, at a Café or Bar its more like rounding up to the next full Euro. Tipping is not expected, but highly appreciated in the country.

Ultimately the budget you will need for a trip to Spain depends highly on what kind of trip you want it to be and what you want to experience but by taking all the above factors into account most people tend to need around €150-200 per day when staying at hotels. Ferry rides, big nights out or an extensive shopping spree can absolutely increase that needed budget though.

As you have probably noticed reading through this article, there is a whole lot that goes into budgeting a trip and especially sticking to said budget. What if I told you, you don’t really have to worry about most of these things at all though and only worry about you, having the best time.

On Contiki, a whole lot of these expenses are already taken care off and you don’t even have to spend your days reading through reviews, trying to get from point A to point B or figuring out what places to see. Contiki has accommodations and transport, some meals and even some tours and sights already covered for you and can guarantee nice hotels and amazing experiences for your stays. Our beloved drivers take you on our coaches into the cities, past famous sights and back to the hotel. Booking that Contiki, doesn’t just save you money, but also time that you can spend making this trip into YOUR dream trip.

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Best of Spain and Portugal

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