holiday travel insurance barclays

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Barclays Travel Insurance Review: Is This the Best for You?

• Older travellers (higher upper age limits)
• Pre-existing conditions
• Longer winter sports trips
• Cover for insolvency, baggage and catastrophe
• Cover for cruises

Editor's Rating

The guidance on this site is based on our own analysis and is meant to help you identify options and narrow down your choices. We do not advise or tell you which product to buy; undertake your own due diligence before entering into any agreement. Read our full disclosure here .

Note: Barclays Travel Insurance by Cigna Insurance Services (Europe) Limited is no longer offering new policies. Barclays Current Account holders can still purchase Travel Packs which include worldwide family travel insurance and RAC Breakdown cover in the UK and Europe for a monthly fee.

Barclays travel insurance, available to you whether or not you bank at Barclays, is a good option if you just want to buy comprehensive cover without having to worry about add-ons. They include as standard features like End Supplier Failure, Insolvency, Airspace Closure, Baggage, Cancellation/Delay/Curtailment and Catastrophe. Winter Sports, Golf and Business cover can be added for extra. You'll notice higher-than-average upper age limits, especially for annual, multi-trip policies.

In this review we attempt to explain the particulars of Barclays travel insurance. We are not recommending any policy in particular. Finding the best travel insurance for you will depend upon your individual needs and situation. Compare travel insurance quotes by clicking the blue " Get Quotes " button below.

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Protect your holiday today. Quick quotes from 20 insurers.

Barclays Travel Insurance Key Points

• No need to bank with Barclays
• Maximum trip limits: 31 days for annual, multi-trip (can extend), 185 days for single trips
• Those under 65 can extend annual cover to 45, 60 or 90 days for a fee
• Optional extras: Winter Sports, Golf and Business
• Higher Maximum Age limits: 85 years for annual multi-trip, unlimited for single trips, 65 for Winter Sports cover
• End Supplier Failure, Insolvency, Airspace Closure, Baggage, Cancellation/Delay/Curtailment, Catastrophe included
• Unlimited emergency medical expenses
• 20% discount for online applications
• Longer Winter Sports cover (up to 21 days)
• Most pre-existing conditions accepted if declared
• No cruise cover

In This Review

Barclays travel insurance customer reviews.

• Barclays Travel Insurance Price Comparison

Notable Features

• Policy Limits and Coverage Options

Barclays Travel Insurance Review: What You Need to Know

Barclays offers one Travel Insurance plan with the ability to increase Baggage and Cancellation cover (up to £5k and £10k, respectively) or add Winter Sports, Golf and Business cover. Barclays cover is comprehensive—included as standard on all policies are End Supplier Failure, Insolvency, Airspace Closure, Baggage, Cancellation/Delay/Curtailment, Catastrophe (e.g., fire, flood, earthquake or volcanic eruption), etc. Emergency medical cover is unlimited.

Does Barclays Travel Insurance Cover Trips in the UK? Holidays in the UK are covered with Barclays travel insurance, so long as you pre-booked at least 2 consecutive nights of accommodation.

Pre-Existing Conditions: Barclays may be able to offer cover for pre-existing medical conditions, for an added cost. If they are not able to offer cover for your pre-existing conditions, then claims arising as a result of those existing conditions would not be covered.

Over 65s: Single trip policies have NO upper age limit. The age limit for travellers on multi-trip policies is 84 (you can turn 85 during the period of insurance and still be covered). Winter Sports and extended annual cover (meaning cover for trips more than 31 days) are subject to a cap of 65 years of age.

Barclays travel insurance, underwritten by Aviva, has been awarded with 3.79 out of 5 stars by 14 customers on Smart Money People . Here is a sample of positive and negative reviews that you might find helpful:

"... We were told that there was the 55 Euro excess to pay but then all other medical bills were sorted directly by Barclays - unlike many other insurers that only let you try to claim back later..." "Excellent product. Easy to understand terms and conditions. No fuss claims process and good value for money." "... My claim took 7 months to process... I was even made to pay further costs to help facilitate my claim or else as I was told, my claim wouldn’t go further... My costs increasingly became more than the cost of my claim eventually I was worse off financially after I started claiming..."

Barclays Price Comparison

According to our data research, prices of Barclays Multi-Trip Travel Insurance are roughly 20% higher than the average cost of travel insurance . However, Barclays policies include more comprehensive cover than many of the policies that contributed to the market average calculations.

For example, Barclays travel insurance policies include standard features such as Baggage, Trip Delay and Cancellation, Airspace Closure, Insolvency, End Supplier Failure and Substitute Accommodation/Transportation in the case of natural disaster (e.g., fire, flood, earthquake or volcanic eruption).

These prices reflect a 20% discount for online applications. Insurance quotes can vary significantly from day to day and according to each individual's details, so please just use the following data for general informational purposes only; your quotes may reflect a large degree of variation.

Barclays Single trip policies appear to be around 20% cheaper than market averages.

Travel Insurance for a Family

If you're travelling in a group or as a family, you may be interested to see a rough idea of prices for both single and multi-trip policies across different geographical locations like Europe and America . We gathered quotes for Barclays plans for a family of four—they'll pay on average 80% more for Barclays travel insurance than an individual would pay.

How Expensive is Barclays Travel Insurance for a Family of 4?

Cost of Add-On Extras

Winter Sports, Golf and Business cover may be added for an extra cost to Barclays travel insurance plans. We've gathered quotes across geographies and types of policies to give you an idea of travel insurance add-on costs . Quotes were gathered for a 30-year-old individual traveller.

Added Cost of Winter Sports, Golf and Business Cover

Here are some highlights of features available on Barclays travel insurance policies. Standard features like Medical and Personal Liability are also included on Barclays policies, limits for which can be found below in Policy Limits and Coverage Options . For more complete details like inner limits (e.g., the £400/item Valuables limit within Personal Belongings) and exclusions, please see the policy documents.

Types of Barclays Travel Insurance Policies

Barclays travel insurance for the general public (not limited to those who bank with Barclays) is offered as one simple plan with the ability to change cover limits for Cancellation (range of £250 to £10k) and Baggage (£250 up to £5k), plus you can alter the excess between £0 and £250 to suit your needs.

Winter Sports, Golf and Business cover can be added for an additional cost.

Barclays Single Trip: Barclays Single Trip travel insurance covers trips up to 185 days abroad.

Barclays Annual Multi-Trip: Barclays annual, multi-trip policies cover any number of trips a policy year, up to 31 days each. Those under age 65 can change the maximum trip duration to 24, 45, 60 or 90 days with the premium increasing for longer trips.

Standard cover limits are listed in the following table, but be sure to read the policy documents for details of specific inner limits.

Cover Limits (Single & Annual Multi-Trip) per Insured Traveller

Cover limits for optional winter sports travel insurance, cover limits for optional golf travel insurance.

Please read some of our Travel Insurance Guides if you're trying to decide between Single Trip or Multi-Trip policies, learn about What May Not be Covered by Travel Insurance or decide if you Need Travel Insurance or Not .

Erin Yurday is the Founder and Editor of NimbleFins. Prior to NimbleFins, she worked as an investment professional and as the finance expert in Stanford University's Graduate School of Business case writing team. Read more on LinkedIn .

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• P&O Cruises ( UK )

Travel insurance with Barclays.

By JimJam39 , August 22, 2017 in P&O Cruises ( UK )

Recommended Posts

Does anyone else have travel insurance with Barclays Bank? Partner has been assured that the travel insurance pack he's added includes cruise cover for all the specific things that could go wrong on a cruise (cancelled cruise, late disembarkation, missed ports etc), but when I look online at their general information it only mentions; winter sport, golf and business cover as additional optional extras. Need to pay my final balance today so need to know for sure if the travel insurance we have covers us.

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If you need to know for sure, then I suggest you contact the insurer directly for confirmation. Hopefully it is included.

My partner spoke to them, they assured him it's all on there but I was just being cautious as although verbally they've stated it's included it's not listed on their generic online information. I'm presuming they will send out paperwork to confirm everything in writing but I need to pay my balance today.

I really would check that your insurance includes things like Medical repatriation - including removal by helicopter if necessary and that if you have to cancel you get the full amount of your holiday back. Many insurance companies have a limit of how much they pay out in the event of a cancellation. Many will have a limit of between £5,000 and £10,000 - this may be enough but for many cruises it won't be depending on the length of the cruise and the grade of cabin chosen.

On our forthcoming long cruise I had great difficulty in finding a company that would pay out in full the cost of the cruise if we had to cancel.

If you have to know all the details today, then I suggest you consider cancelling the Barclays one and find an online Insurance provider which will issue the full policy details electronically - either by email or by downloading a PDF. If Barclays are posting it out by snail mail and you have to know today, then I see no other alternative unless you contact Barclays yourself and get whatever level of re-assurance you are seeking.

Never, ever rely on what you are told over the phone in regard to insurance. You should be able to access the schedule on line.

As balf suggest, look for it on line, and whatever definitely get it in writing, and take a copy with you. Insurers are very good at not paying out on any excuse! It took me 3 months to get a refund from Sage, when we had to cancel a cruise when my wife had cancer.

Thank you for the advice

Any paperwork sent to you will be the same as that available to view before purchase. This is available online.

LV do specifically mention cancellation of excursions. I would compare Barclays with their policy as if it isn't in there you aren't covered.

My parents found out the hard way about what wasn't covered in a policy when their passports were stolen. Replacing them cost 4 figures.

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The three best bank accounts with travel insurance bolted on: We pick our favourites and whether they're worth paying for

• Some bank accounts include annual worldwide travel insurance
• They often also include car breakdown cover and mobile phone insurance 
• Although there is a monthly cost, having such an account may make sense

By Ed Magnus For Thisismoney.co.uk

Updated: 03:28 EDT, 9 August 2022

View comments

Many Britons will feel a bank account isn't something they're prepared to pay for - after all, most current accounts are 'free'.

However, some packaged bank accounts offer a host of benefits that added together could justify their monthly cost.

The typical perks include free annual worldwide travel insurance, car breakdown cover and mobile phone insurance, often with family members included. 

There is also the convenience factor of having three insurance policies taken care of saving both time and effort in having to organise it separately. 

Some bank accounts charge a monthly fee, but throw in perks such as annual worldwide travel insurance.

Michelle Stevens, banking expert at comparison site Finder, says: 'If you and your family are frequent travellers, then a current account with packaged travel insurance could be well worth the monthly fee, especially given the rising cost of travel insurance premiums in the last two years. 

'But before signing up to any premium current account, it’s important you check that the terms of the travel insurance policy - as well as the other account features and perks - suit your needs.' 

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She adds: 'Another benefit of getting free travel insurance with a current account is that a lot of people usually forgo it - up to 8.6million in 2019 - which is not an advisable move. 

'If you get seriously injured abroad then the bill can reach hundreds of thousands of pounds, so having travel insurance included with a current account may result in a lot of people getting covered who may not have done so otherwise.'

We pick our three favourite current account deals for travel insurance, taking into account the monthly cost and the additional perks on offer.

1.  Nationwide Flex Plus  

This account offers worldwide travel insurance as well as mobile phone and European breakdown cover.

It does come with a £13 monthly charge, which, compared to other packaged bank accounts looks relatively cheap.

Its worldwide family travel insurance, includes winter sports, golf, weddings and business cover.

Nationwide offers worldwide travel, mobile phone and European breakdown cover and charges £13 a month for maintaining the account.

Cover for travel essentials includes luggage, documents and cash as well as protecting against travel-specific problems like delays, cancellations and medical expenses.

Then cancellation cover is up to £5,000, the medical expenses cover up to £10 million, whilst cover for travel disruption will be eligible when caused by natural disasters, or airline or travel end supplier failure.

The policy doesn't cover medical conditions unless they have been declared to Nationwide and accepted. In some instances, you can pay for a medical upgrade to your insurance policy.

Two other clauses to be aware of is that the longest trip length allowed is 31 consecutive days. 

For any person to be insured who is aged 70 or over, they must buy an age upgrade to cover them.

Although the monthly cost will add up to £156 a year, it's possible to offset much of this during the the first year, thanks to Nationwide's current account switching incentive.

Non-Nationwide members can currently get £100 for switching, whilst members who switch to the Flex Plus account could get £125.  

Saves the extra admin: Nationwide's annual travel insurance policy is worldwide, and covers a whole family for multiple trips, not just the individual account holder.

On top of travel insurance, account holders get vehicle breakdown cover both in the UK and the rest of Europe and mobile phone insurance for the whole family.

The car insurance is valid whether someone is a driver or a passenger in a vehicle, and comes with no excess to pay and unlimited callouts.

The mobile insurance covers mobiles belonging to the account holder and those belonging to their partner and dependent children. It covers for loss, theft, damage and faults.

2.  Virgin Money's Club M Account

Virgin's Club M Account comes with a £14.50 monthly charge.

Similar to Nationwide, it offers 31 days' worldwide cover per trip. It will cover the account holder and a partner living with them if there're both under 75, so it's a little more generous on that front.

Virgin's worldwide family multi-trip travel insurance - includes winter sports, golf and weddings. Plus, 24 hour access to a doctor at home or abroad.

There's also cover for up to four dependents under 18 - either in full time education or living with the account holder.

Emergency medical treatment, includes falling ill with coronavirus while away, and cover for the journey home, if it's medically necessary.

It also covers lost, damaged or stolen items, and if the baggage is delayed, any essentials will be paid for in the interim period. It also includes cover for delays or missed departures and winter sports as standard.

Account holders are also covered when cancelling or cutting short a trip if they fall ill with coronavirus as long as they didn't know they had it and weren't being tested for it when they booked their trip. 

The cover includes emergency medical, surgical, hospital, treatment and ambulance costs, as well as any additional accommodation and travel expenses if someone cannot return to the United Kingdom.

There is a maximum allowance of 31 days of worldwide cover per trip.

It covers the account holder and their partner living with them if they're both under 75. There's also cover for up to four dependents under 18. 

A claim will be void if it relates to any medical treatment received because of a medical condition or an illness related to a medical condition which a person knew about at the time of opening the account. 

What else? 

On top of the travel insurance it also offers UK breakdown cover with no call out charges, whether as the driver or the passenger and offers help at the roadside and at home.

It also offers worldwide mobile phone and gadget insurance covering against loss theft, damage, and breakdown

Just make sure you've declared any pre-existing medical conditions and don't leave your valuables unattended to be fully covered.

Its Worldwide family multi-trip travel insurance - including winter sports, golf and weddings. Plus, 24 hour access to a doctor at home or abroad.

Virgin current account holders also benefit from various other perks.

It offers access to an easy-access linked savings account paying 1.71 per cent on balances up to £25,000. C ustomers can also benefit from 2.02 per cent on balances up to £1,000 in their bank account.

New customers switching to the Virgin Money Club M Account can also receive a bonus of 20,000 Virgin Points to spend with Virgin Red, thanks to Virgin Money's latest current account switching offer.

Virgin Red is a rewards club that turns everyday spending into points. Once you are a member, you can earn and spend Virgin Points across almost 200 different rewards.

The 20,000 Virgin Points boost means travellers could get a return flight to Barbados, the Bahamas or St Lucia, while bakery enthusiasts could turn their points into 100 sausage or vegan sausage rolls, 61 coffees or teas or 100 doughnuts or muffins.

3.  Halifax Ultimate Reward Current Account  

Halifax Ultimate Reward current account costs £17 per month, the equivalent of £204 per year. However, there are ways to dramatically reduce this via its cashback and switching offers.

The account includes a family travel insurance policy for the account holder, their spouse or partner and children aged 18 or under, or up to 24 if they're in full time education. 

It includes cover for personal belongings, certain sports and activities such as winter sports golf trips.

At £17 a month Halifax is the most expensive of our three top picks. However, its £150 cash incentive and £5 monthly cashback could help account holders to significantly reduce the cost.

Its cover includes, up to £10million for hospital fees, repatriation, medical confinement, funeral and dental costs incurred if taken ill or injured on your trip. 

Up to £5,000 in total for loss of pre-paid travel and accommodation expenses in the case of cancellation or curtailment. 

It covers personal baggage up to £2,500 if it is lost, damaged or stolen. This includes up to £500 for valuables, and up to £500 for a single item or pair or set of items.

It also covers personal money up to £750 for loss, or theft. This includes up to £300 cover for cash. This is limited to £50 for under 16s.

Watch out: 

Existing medical conditions are not covered, unless these are agreed with the insurer first, and an additional premium may be payable.

The longest trip length is 31 consecutive days. For winter sports, a maximum of 31 days cover in a calendar year.

Halifax's travel insurance covers personal Baggage up to £2,500 if it is lost, damaged or stolen.

It's also worth noting that a £75 excess per adult per incident may apply and to be covered trips must start and end in the UK.

All cover ends when the account holder turns 71. As long as the account holder is less than 71, their spouse or partner will also be covered until they reach 71. 

Eligible children can also be covered so long as they are travelling with the spouse, partner or civil partner of the policyholder. 

What else: 

It also offers car breakdown cover with the AA. This covers any vehicle the account holder is travelling in, at the roadside or at home. But only in the UK. 

For mobile insurance, it covers breakdown, accidental damage, loss and theft up to £2,000. 

However, it only Covers one phone per account holder or two in the case of a joint account. An excess of £100 is payable on all successful claims.

The £17 fee makes it a little more expensive than a few others but there are ways to reduce the cost.

Halifax is currently offering a £150 switching incentive for those who switch from another current account.

On top of the £150 bribe there are other perks to take advantage of. There is a choice of £5 a month paid into the account, two film rentals or three magazine rentals, or a free cinema ticket each month.

In order to benefit from this account holders must choose to either Spend £500 on their debit card each month or Keep at least £5,000 in the account at all times.

They must also pay in £1,500 or more into your account each month and stay in credit - keeping your balance at £0 or above.

THIS IS MONEY'S FIVE OF THE BEST CURRENT ACCOUNTS

Chase Bank will pay £1% cashback on spending for the first 12 months . Customers also get access to an easy-access linked savings account paying 3.8% on balances up to £250,000. The account is completely free to set up and is entirely app based. Also no charges when using the card abroad.

Nationwide's FlexDirect Account offers 5% in-credit interest to new joiners when they switch on balances up to £1,500. This rate only lasts for one year. The account is fee free.

Halifax Reward Account pays £150 when you switch. Also earn up to an extra £75 cashback when you spend £750 each month for 3 months. There is a £3 monthly account fee, but that’s stopped by paying in at least £1,500 each month.

First Direct will give newcomers £175 when they switch their account . It also offers a £250 interest-free overdraft. Customers must pay in at least £1,000 within three months of opening the account.

NatWest's Select Account account pays £200 when you switch. The account has no monthly charges, but to be elligible for the £200, you'll need to deposit £1,250 into the account and log into mobile banking app within 60 days.

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STORY: :: July 6, 2024::Stranded tourists flock to Cancun airportafter Hurricane Beryl causes flight cancellations::Fabiana, Tourist from Florida"It was a little hard. We had to change our flights two times, but it was okay, it wasn't that bad."::Lynn Hayes, Tourist from Kansas"Friday was obviously scary. Thursday night, scary. But the hotel did an amazing job of preparing the hotel and the guests for whatever was to come and kept us fed and kept us safe. And it was great. We commend them."::Cancun, MexicoTravelers crowded in front of airline check-in counters to try and get flights after more than 300 flights were canceled, waiting in long lines as the airport slowly returned to operational mode on Saturday.Beryl weakened to a tropical storm as it passed over Mexico's top beach destinations on Friday (July 5), bringing strong winds and heavy rain but without doing major damage, after forging a deadly trail of destruction across the Caribbean.Mexico's civil protection agency said on Friday, there were zero reports of casualties as a result of the storm.

Why ‘low-cost’ flights to the US aren’t always what they seem

Low-cost flights from London to Las Vegas have arrived, thanks to Norse Atlantic Airlines – which advertises return fares from Gatwick from £399. It sounds good but what about when you add luggage or pay for seat selection? How do Norse and the other new low-cost, no-frills transatlantic airlines, such as Play and JetBlue, compare with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and American Airlines?

My mother wanted to spend her twilight years travelling but left it too late – I won’t do the same

There’s a 108-year-old shaman living in a tiny village in the deep dark Amazonian forests of Peru. He’s tired. He feels his journey here on planet Earth is coming to an end. He wants to die.

Paris Hilton fulfils 'dream' by bringing daughter to London

Hotel heiress Paris Hilton has revealed she has fulfilled a "dream" by bringing her daughter London to her namesake city in the UK to stay at the same hotel where her mother spent every summer as a child.

'Charming little valley' in North Yorkshire among Britain's best summer walks

Why Sutton Bank in North York Moors and the 'charming little valley' of Upper Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales are among Britain's best summer walks.

The 5 US airports with the longest walks to the gate — and the 5 airports with the shortest

Most airports are designed to get passengers to spend money rather than for efficiency.

One half of holidaymakers factor in a ‘holiday eve’ before jetting off abroad

More than a half of holidaymakers factor in a ‘holiday eve’ stay away before jetting off abroad. A poll, of 2,000 adults, found seven in 10 think staying somewhere the night before leads to a smoother, less stressful start to a trip, by minimising the chance of missing their selected mode of transport. While 38 per cent admit to sleeping better knowing they’re somewhere close to where they need to be in the morning. And 56 per cent of all respondents thought a comfortable night’s sleep was the main selling point of a ‘holiday eve’, alongside a relaxing dinner (49 per cent) and a few drinks (32 per cent). The research was commissioned by Premier Inn, which has launched a guide [www.premierinn.com/holiday-eve] with expert Victoria Philpott, on how to enjoy the perfect ‘holiday eve’.

Massive drought in Italy threatens to destroy Sicilian tourism

A severe drought in Sicily, Italy is prompting hotel owners to turn away guests, threatening the region's tourism-driven economy.

Vrbo’s luxury property bore no relation to the listing

It cost £1,009, had one bedroom instead of three, and no heating. It was so miserable that we left

Pontins booted to bottom of UK holiday park table again

Top places go to smaller and independent parks, with Potters Resorts taking the no. 1 spot

Seven of the best walks in the Lake District: Lakeside routes and places to stay

Some of the best routes in one of the UK’s most popular holiday destinations

The 10 best things to do in Krakow

Poland’s geographical position has meant a history where the country’s borders have changed and changed again, leading to cities which blend a variety of influences in their architecture and food. Kraków though is resolutely Polish and seen by many as their spiritual capital. Walk the cobbled streets, observe from a café on the vast Market Square, dip into the many museums and churches and you will understand the soul of this country. Its centre is compact making its various attractions there ea

Five of the best beer gardens across County Durham to enjoy a drink in the sun

With the suggestion that the sunny weather might be returning - we have pieced together five beer gardens in County Durham to visit.

Money blog: Pubs want 'disgraceful' Co-op TV advert taken off air

Welcome to the Money blog, your place for personal finance and consumer news and tips. Leave a question for business presenter Ian King on what the election result means for your money in the box below.

Monday 8 July 2024 11:13, UK

• Publicans hit out at Co-op for 'disgraceful' TV advert
• UK's best holiday parks named - with Pontins and Butlins named as two of worst
• Britvic agrees to takeover by Danish brewer
• What does election result mean for your pocket? Submit question for Q&A with Ian King later this afternoon

Essential reads

• Money Problem: 'I booked holiday but might not renew my current travel insurance before I go - will it still cover this holiday?'
• Savings Guide: Savers have a rare opportunity - but it might be the last hurrah
• Cheap Eats : Two Michelin-starred chef reveals his favourites in Birmingham
• Women in Business : 'We don't get invited to golf' - The women who coordinated pregnancies to start virtual cancer care business and raised £5m
• Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

Later today, business presenter Ian King will answer a selection of your questions on what Labour's emphatic election victory means for your personal finances.

Submit a question using the box at the top of this page and King will choose his favourites from 5pm.

Potters Resorts has been named the best holiday park in the UK, according to a Which? survey. 

The all-inclusive destination beat household names to the top of the table with a customer score of 87%. 

Pontins came in last place, with the popular Butlin's also placing in the bottom five. 

More than 1,700 people were asked about their experiences at holiday parks in the last two years, with each ranking their stays on 11 criteria including cleanliness, value for money and quality of facilities. 

Which? then calculated an customer score based on overall satisfaction and value for money.

Visitors awarded Potters the full five stars for the variety of free facilities on offer, the quality of facilities, and the quality of the entertainment and communication. 

It was awarded four stars for overall customer service, food and drink, value for money and quality of accommodation.

Pontins, founded in 1946, took last place with a customer score of 56%.

It scored a run of two-star ratings for customer service, quality of accommodation, cleanliness, variety of free facilities, quality of facilities and activities, food and drink and value for money.

Its highest score of three stars was for communication and the quality of entertainment.

Sky News has contacted Pontins for comment. 

You can see how the holiday parks were rated in the table below: 

Longstanding rival Butlin's also found itself in the bottom five, with a customer score of 67%. 

Guests at Butlin's rated customer service two stars, it received three stars in key categories including quality of accommodation and cleanliness, and four for the quality and variety of children's activities and entertainment.

"As the home of entertainment, it's brilliant to see that we're scoring highly when it comes to activities and entertainment," a Butlins spokesperson said.

"It is disappointing to see that some scores are lower but would like to reassure guests that we're investing in these areas to offer a better holiday experience."

Centre Parcs, the most visited holiday park, came in slightly higher at 69%. 

Survey respondents reported spending an average of £76 per person per night, making it the most expensive option not to include food or drinks in the price.

A spokesperson for Center Parcs said: "We are proud of our consistently high guest satisfaction scores and over 60% of guests will go on to make another booking with us. 

"Our guests demand a high-quality experience and each year we invest tens of millions of pounds improving our villages to ensure we meet their expectations."

By James Sillars , business news reporter

We'll kick off this morning with a deal that will probably see Britvic changing hands.

The soft drinks maker has agreed to a takeover by Danish brewer Carlsberg. 

The firm, based in Hemel Hempstead, had rejected a bid last month that valued Britvic at £3.1bn.

The agreement - subject to regulatory and shareholder approval - now values Britvic at £3.3bn through 1,315p per share and a special dividend.

Carlsberg also announced that it was to buy UK pub group Marston's out from a joint venture.

It explained that the deals were part of a strategy to create an integrated beer and soft drinks operation in the UK.

Marston's shares were up 12% while those of Britvic were 4% higher.

The FTSE 100 started the week down 0.3%.

There is plenty of focus across the Channel where France is in political turmoil.

The euro was weaker by a tenth of a cent against both the dollar and the pound after the final round of voting in the snap parliamentary election.

It saw the left-wing block claim the most seats with the far-right National Rally, which had been tipped to lead, coming third.

The result leaves a hung parliament in a country with no history of coalition government.

The country's prime minister is set to officially resign today.

The CAC 40, whose banking constituents have suffered particularly badly during the election, fell 0.6% at the open in Paris.

Iceland is searching for up to 250 new sites  for its Food Warehouse stores as part of its nationwide expansion plan.

Crawley, Brighton, Salisbury and Dundee are among the locations already named by the frozen foods specialists as places they'd like to open new stores.

First launched in 2014, Food Warehouse stores are often located in retail parks and are around three times the size of traditional Iceland shops.

Fortnum & Mason has launched a subscription service to deliver refills for tea, biscuits and jams to your front door every month.

The department store is offering three subscriptions, starting with the Tea Post which costs £100 annually and offers customers a year's supply of monthly refills of a choice of tea blends.

It also comes with a customisable initialled china mug, tin and strainer.

The Biscuit Post costs £20 a month and offers refills of the popular Toffolossus, Chocolossus or Gingerlossus biscuits, available on either three-month, six-month or 12-month subscriptions.

The third subscription, called the Teatime Dispatch, offers a selection of both tea and biscuits, as well as a choice of marmalades or jams.

It costs £25 a month, available on either three-month, six-month or 12-month subscriptions.

Cineworld is drawing up plans to axe dozens of British cinemas as part of a radical restructuring that would also include extensive rent cuts.

Sky News has learned the company, which until last year was listed on the London Stock Exchange, is considering closing about a quarter of its roughly-100 British multiplexes.

Cineworld also wants to renegotiate rent agreements at a further 50 sites, with the remaining 25 untouched by the restructuring.

Sources said the proposals were expected to be formally outlined to creditors including landlords in the coming weeks.

Read Mark Kleinman's full exclusive here...

Publicans have expressed their outrage at Co-op for a "disgraceful" television advert encouraging people to stay at home to watch the football rather than go to the pub.

The 10-second advert suggests people "stay in with two pizzas and four beers" purchased as part of a deal during EURO 2024 rather than go to the pub where, the advert says, it is "hard to see the screen".

In a letter to Co-op's chief executive Shirine Khoury-Haq, the Campaign for Pubs accused the supermarket of "openly and deliberately undermining pubs and publicans' livelihoods".

It added it was "disgusted, as well as deeply angry" that the advert was targeting pubs at a difficult time for the industry.

Nearly 800 pubs entered insolvency in 2023, the highest number in over a decade.

The letter read: "You and your management team must surely be aware of what a challenging time it is for pubs and publicans, yet here you are, a supposedly ethical business, openly and deliberately undermining pubs and publicans' livelihoods at this difficult time. It frankly beggars' belief.

"At the time when businesses in England should be uniting in support of the national football team, the Co-op has instead cynically and shamelessly sought to attack another important business sector to try to boost your own profits from the tournament."

The Campaign for Pubs has called on the Co-op to pull the advert and apologise for the campaign immediately.

But a Co-op spokesperson told the Money blog: "The 10-second advert is a light-hearted way of highlighting to our members and customers that, if they have made the choice to stay in to watch the football, we have a cracking pizza and beer deal they can purchase to enjoy in their homes, with the sole intention of providing great value on relevant products which customers tell us they want, especially at a time when the cost of living is high."

Every Monday we get an expert to answer your money problems or consumer disputes. Find out how to submit yours at the bottom of this post. Today's question is...

"I have booked a holiday for 2026 and paid a small deposit. I have an expiring annual travel insurance policy which would cover the booking if I needed to cancel. Is the travel insurance still valid for the booking, if I choose not to reinsure with them?" Mrs B

Daniel Scognamiglio, partner and travel law team lead at Blake Morgan, said it's the policy in place at the time of the cancellation that is relevant...

"If one policy lapses and you then need to cancel a trip without buying other insurance, you will have no cover for the cancellation.

"There are also other factors to consider, such as the specific policy wording, when the policies were bought, and the reasons behind it.

"It is always advisable to have travel insurance as soon as possible after buying a holiday. Often it is better to have an annual policy that provides cover from the date the holiday is bought and while you are away."

Daniel says most travel policies will pay something towards the cost of the holiday if it must be cancelled for a reason that is not your fault. 

He adds: "For example, if you unexpectedly fall ill and are unable to travel. However, it is common for policies not to provide much cover in the event of cancellation. So, it is worth making sure that any cover is for more than the cost of the holiday, in case you do need to cancel.

"It's also important to remember that travel insurance will only cover unexpected events. 

"You must have been unaware of any illness (or other reason to cancel the holiday) before buying the travel insurance policy or booking the holiday."

If you knew you had an illness or were about to go through testing when booking your holiday or taking our insurance, you'd have to declare this when buying the policy, as well as any pre-existing medical conditions, Daniel says.

"If you are aware of a medical condition after buying the insurance but before travel, you must also tell your insurers," he explains.

This feature is not intended as financial advice - the aim is to give an overview of the things you should think about.  Submit your dilemma or consumer dispute via:

• The form above - you need to leave a phone number or email address so we can contact you for further details
• Email [email protected] with the subject line "Money blog"
• WhatsApp us  here

After a small break from the election results, we're back for another week of consumer news, personal finance tips and all the latest on the economy.

This is how the week in the Money blog is shaping up...

Monday: This week's Money Problem  focuses on a query about travel insurance.

Tuesday : We're continuing our eight-part  Women in Business  feature - interviewing women who are bossing their industry. And this week's  Basically...  explains everything you need to know about car finance.

Wednesday : We are back in London for this week's  Cheap Eats , where Michelin chefs reveal their favourite spots to get a meal for two for less than £40.

Thursday : Savings Champion  founder Anna Bowes will be back with her weekly insight into the savings market.

Friday : We'll have everything you need to know about the mortgage market this week with the guys from Moneyfacts.

Running every weekday, Money features a morning markets round-up from the  Sky News business team  and regular updates and analysis from our business, City and economic correspondents, editors and presenters -  Ed Conway ,  Mark Kleinman ,  Ian King ,  Paul Kelso  and  Adele Robinson .

You'll also be able to stream  Business Live with Ian King on weekdays at 11.30am and 4.30pm.

Bookmark  news.sky.com/money  and check back from 8am, and through the day, each weekday.

The Money team is Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young, Ollie Cooper and Mark Wyatt, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

The Money blog will return on Monday - meantime, why not scroll through some of our best and most popular features below...

John Lewis is keeping its school uniform prices frozen for the fourth year running.

The department store chain also offers parents an online school uniform checklist to help prepare for the start of the new year.

It also offers a free shoe-fitting service, while some of its newer school uniform products released in the last three years have not seen a price rise.

John Lewis school uniform buyer Cydney Ball said: "Our customers trust us as the one-stop-shop for all things back to school."

Sky News has learned that the company, which until last year was listed on the London Stock Exchange, is considering closing about a quarter of its roughly-100 British multiplexes.

Read the full story here...

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Install the Sky News app for free

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Don’t let this one mistake ruin your summer holiday

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Look, you may not be able to control the weather, or whether or not your flight is cancelled, but there is one simple thing travellers can do to *try* and make their summer holiday go as swimmingly as possible.

As Europe’s largest tour operator goes bust just as the holiday season kicks off, it’s perhaps no better time for holidaymakers to protect their hard-earned summer plans in advance.

To take the grunt work out of such an endeavour, the travel insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk have taken a look at travel delays, cancellations and even provider collapses to help London holidaymakers get the upper hand on travel hiccups.

The short of it is, financial and legal protections for travellers differ greatly depending on what has been booked and where the purchase was made – so Quotezone has compiled reminders on the protections offered by Air Travel Organisers’ Licence (ATOL) and other relevant regulations.

Nine airlines filed for bankruptcy last year, as the travel industry still tries to find its feet (or, rather, wings) in the Covid aftermath – one of which was London favourite Flybe.

ATOL is a financial protection scheme managed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK and is designed to protect consumers who’ve purchased package holidays or flights from UK-based travel companies in the event that the company ceases trading, or goes ‘bust’.

However, holidaymakers’ level of protection varies depending on whether they’ve booked a package holiday or made their own arrangements.

Flight delays and cancellations also play a major part in ruining holidays and, especially seeing as most travellers can probably relate, is something London holidaymakers must make sure they have protection for.

Of the London airports, 1,080 flight cancellations were reported in the latest data from the Civil Aviation Authority – the sample was taken during the month of April 2024 – with 434 flights reporting significant delays between 2-3 hours or more. At Heathrow alone, 643 flights were cancelled.

If the flight is cancelled, passengers legally have the right to request a full refund from the airline, or a replacement flight which will allow travellers to get to their final destination.

How to save on travel insurance

Metro Finance has teamed up with Quotezone to help readers save money on their travel insurance.

Quotezone.co.uk compare up to 35 providers and 97% of reviewers recommend them.

Get your quotes here .

For delays of three hours or more, travellers can also request compensation directly from the airline. However, the airline will rarely give out compensation if a delay was caused due to reasons beyond their control – such as adverse weather conditions.

Most standard travel insurance policies cover compensation for cancellation or curtailment if the traveller has to cancel or cut short the holiday for reasons out of their control.

It will also normally cover them for missed or delayed departure, covering any expenses they may face if the flight is postponed or if they miss it through no fault of their own.

CEO and travel insurance expert at Quotezone, Greg Wilson said: ‘As holiday season approaches and holiday itineraries are finalised, we wanted to remind Londoners of their rights in case of travel delays, cancellations or even bankrupt holiday partners.

‘With the current financial struggles in the UK, 15% of holidaymakers are searching for cheaper deals online and booking with sites and tour operators that aren’t as well-known to help find savings.*’

Wilson added: ‘This makes it crucial that travellers do additional research before booking, ensuring they are protected by recognised travelling bodies and have a travel insurance policy in place as soon as they make the booking.

‘Holidaymakers need to make sure they look for the ATOL logo and check the specifics of the travel insurance, for example, if the flights are booked directly with the airline, it’s sensible to add airline failure or end supplier failure insurance, for protection in case they go bust.’

How can London travellers protect themselves before holiday mayhem hits?

Find out if your booking is atol protected.

ATOL protection applies to most air trips abroad that are booked with UK travel companies. If you are covered by ATOL, your travel company should have given you an ATOL certificate when you booked. Under the ATOL scheme, if a firm goes out of business and you can no longer take your trip, your booking will be refunded. If it happens when you are abroad, don’t panic. You will be able to finish your holiday and fly home as you originally planned.

Look at package holidays

A package holiday is when you book more than one part of your holiday through the same travel agent or website – for example, your hotel and plane tickets. Fortunately, package holidays have both financial and legal protection, and the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 require organisers of package holidays to provide protection for your money and to bring you home if necessary. This means that all companies selling package holidays must offer the same level of protection. This protection will prevent you from losing money and will also help you sort out any practical problems should they or the airline you’re flying with go bust.

Consider linked travel arrangements

A linked travel arrangement is when you buy one part of your holiday and then are prompted to buy another part via a click-through within 24 hours. For example, if you buy a flight and then are prompted to purchase car hire through the same website. Linked travel arrangements aren’t covered by ATOL but they do benefit from other insolvency protections. A linked travel arrangement only has financial protection – and this is at a lower level than if you bought a package holiday. The financial protection provides some cover if the company that arranged your linked travel arrangement goes out of business. As there is no legal protection covering the whole linked travel arrangement, any complaints about the provision of the services must be directed to the service providers themselves.

Think about independent travel

The Civil Aviation Regulations 2012 (Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing) are overseen by the CAA and require tour operators who sell flight-only arrangements to provide protection for your money and to bring you home if necessary. However, this protection does not apply to flights that are bought directly from an airline. If you book a flight directly with an airline, unfortunately you will not be covered by ATOL. This means that if the airline you booked with goes bust while you’re abroad, you will need to book a return flight with another airline. However, if you’ve scheduled airline failure or end supplier failure insurance added to your travel insurance policy, you should be able to get any additional flight or hotel expenses refunded.

Get travel insurance – but check the fine print

Not all travel insurance policies include insolvency protection either, so it’s crucial to check the specifics of your policy. Insolvency protection ensures that if your travel provider goes bust, your policy will cover things like refunds for paid expenses, repatriation costs, and alternative travel arrangements. Travel insurance comparison can help holidaymakers find real savings, by comparing travel insurance quotes for annual versus single trip policies, there could be savings to be found. Also review worldwide versus travel insurance for Europe to ensure all your destinations booked throughout the year are accounted for on the cheapest possible policy.

Take advantage of credit card bookings

If you have paid for your holiday with a credit card, you may have additional protections under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. This legislation makes your credit card issuer jointly liable if something goes wrong, offering another avenue for refunds.

For other helpful holiday preparation, read European holiday tax increases before jetting off.

Your Daily Horoscope

Daily horoscope today: July 8, 2024 astrological predictions for your star sign

* Quotezone.co.uk’s findings are based on a randomised survey of 1,000 respondents across the UK during June 2024, which represents a margin of error of approximately 5% at a 95% confidence level.

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American Red Cross Prepares for Hurricane Beryl as Aid Rushes to Caribbean Islands

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The Grenada Red Cross Society (GRCS) mobilizes resources to help the people of Carriacou and Petite Martinique following the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl on Monday. Relief supplies are being delivered to Carriacou by boat. Preliminary reports show significant damage to buildings there.

American Red Cross disaster teams are preparing for a Hurricane Beryl landfall in Texas next week as Red Cross societies across the Caribbean rush to provide aid in the wake of Beryl’s devastation.

Current projections show the storm going into Texas early next week where thousands of people may need emergency shelter. The risk is growing for strong winds, heavy rain and storm surge in southern Texas this weekend. Rip currents could cause life-threatening conditions all along the Gulf Coast.

In the Caribbean, Beryl's life-threatening rains and winds have severely impacted the most vulnerable populations [1] in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica and Barbados, and is the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica in more than a decade. Today the storm is hitting the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

AMERICAN RED CROSS GETS READY We are rushing final preparations to help tens of thousands of people in the path of Hurricane Beryl as the storm takes aim at the Gulf Coast of the United States. Hundreds of trained disaster workers and truckloads of relief supplies, along with numerous emergency response vehicles (ERVs) are being deployed over the holiday weekend to potential impact areas.

We are also coordinating with local community partners and emergency responders to support evacuation centers for people who may need to seek shelter.

People should pay attention to Beryl and monitor their local weather. Find out how to get ready for the storm here.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE In the Caribbean, Beryl's life-threatening rains and winds have severely impacted the most vulnerable populations [2] in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica and Barbados, and is the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica in more than a decade. Today the storm is hitting the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

There is a critical need for safe shelter and basic services.   Local Red Cross teams face significant challenges getting into the affected areas to provide life-saving assistance. More volunteers are enroute to help.

Other priorities include distributing relief items, getting communication systems back up and running, and re-establishing power and telecommunication services. Hygiene kits, cleaning kits, tool kits, kitchen sets, tarpaulins, blankets and mosquito nets have already been dispatched to the hardest hit islands to meet the immediate needs of the affected population.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is playing a critical role in coordinating the response with local Red Cross societies. There is an urgent need for a combined humanitarian response effort across the islands. The American Red Cross remains in close contact with Red Cross and Red Crescent network partners and is ready to assist as requested for areas outside of the U.S.

FINDING LOVED ONES

If you are concerned about a United States citizen who is traveling or living abroad, contact the US State Department Office of Overseas Citizens Services and Crisis Management at 1-888-407-4747 or online at:  https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/emergencies.html .

If you are searching for a loved one who is not a United States citizen , submit an inquiry form on our website: https://www.redcross.org/contact-us/international-reconnecting-families-inquiry-form.html

If you live in a country other than United States, visit  the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) online  for information about what services the ICRC and your local Red Cross or Red Crescent Society can provide.

If you live in the United States and are seeking information about someone you’ve been unable to contact due to a recent disaster, visit the American Red Cross  Contact and Locate Loved Ones  page to search for your loved one. This information is  also available in Spanish . 

Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP )  Through the generosity of our American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) and Disaster Responder members, the American Red Cross is prepared before disaster strikes. ADGP and Disaster Responder members help secure a reliable funding base for disaster relief services that enables the Red Cross to respond immediately, meeting the needs of individuals and families affected by disaster, regardless of cost.

ADGP $1M Members: Amazon; American Airlines; Anheuser-Busch Foundation; Bank of America; Caterpillar Foundation; CMA CGM Foundation; Costco Wholesale; Delta Air Lines; Elevance Health Foundation; Enterprise Mobility Foundation; FedEx; Lilly Endowment Inc.; Lowe's Companies, Inc.; McDonald’s Corporation; Merck; Microsoft; Nationwide Foundation; The Pfizer Foundation; The Starbucks Foundation; State Farm; Takeda; Truist Foundation; VSP Vision; Walmart and the Walmart Foundation; Wells Fargo

ADGP $500k Members: Altria Group; American Express; Aon; Bread Financial; Capital One; Chick-fil-A; Citi Foundation; The Clorox Company; Danaher Foundation; Darden Foundation; Delta Dental; DHL Supply Chain; DraftKings; Edison International; Energy Transfer/Sunoco Foundation; Ford Motor Company Fund; Fox Corporation; General Motors; Google.org; HCA Healthcare; The Home Depot Foundation; The J.M. Smucker Company; Johnson Controls Foundation; Kaiser Permanente; The Kraft Heinz Company Foundation; The Kroger Co. Foundation; Liberty Mutual Insurance; Mastercard; Mondelēz International Foundation; New Balance Foundation; Paul Davis Restoration; PayPal; PepsiCo Foundation; PetSmart Charities; Salesforce; Southeastern Grocers Gives Foundation & Southeastern Grocers, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie; Stryker; Target; The TJX Companies, Inc.; Toyota; United Airlines; UPS; USAA; U.S. Bank Foundation; Visa Foundation; The Walt Disney Company; The Wawa Foundation; Wesco

Disaster Responder Members: The 7-Eleven Cares Foundation; Adobe; The AES Corporation; ALDI; American Tire Distributors; American Water Charitable Foundation; Ameriprise Financial; Assurant; AvalonBay Communities, Inc.; Avangrid Foundation; Barclays; Bath & Body Works; Big 5 Sporting Goods; Build-A-Bear Foundation; CarMax; CDW; Charles Schwab Foundation; Choice Hotels International; Cisco Foundation; CNA Insurance; The Coca-Cola Foundation; The Deluxe Foundation; The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation; Discover; Dollar General; Dollar Tree and Family Dollar; Duke Energy; Equitable; FirstEnergy Corporation; Harbor Freight Tools Foundation, LLC; Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundation; HP Foundation; International Paper; Invitation Homes; Keurig Dr Pepper; Kimberly-Clark Corporation; L’Oréal; The Labcorp Charitable Foundation; Lenovo Foundation; LHC Group; LKQ; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Macy’s, Inc.; Major League Baseball; Marathon Petroleum Corporation; Martin Marietta; Masco; Mattress Firm; McKesson Foundation; MetLife Foundation; The Middleby Corporation; Neiman Marcus Group; NextEra Energy, Inc.; Norfolk Southern; Northrop Grumman Foundation; Northwestern Mutual; Novartis; Old Dominion Freight Line; Pacific Life Foundation; Phillips 66; Prudential; Raymond James; RBC Foundation USA; Reckitt; Reliance, Inc.; Reynolds American Inc.; RTX; Ryder System, Inc.; Santander; Security Finance’s Lending Hand Foundation; ServiceNow; Southwest Airlines; Stanley Black & Decker; Tata Consultancy Services; U-Haul International; Ulta Beauty; U.S. Foods; Yum! Brands; Zurich.

[1] Among the vulnerable populations, UNICEF estimates that winds, torrential rains, and flash flooding could put at least 3 million children in the Caribbean at risk: https://www.unicef.org/lac/en/press-releases/at-least-3-million-children-at-risk-as-hurricane-beryl-hits-caribbean

[2] Among the vulnerable populations, UNICEF estimates that winds, torrential rains, and flash flooding could put at least 3 million children in the Caribbean at risk: https://www.unicef.org/lac/en/press-releases/at-least-3-million-children-at-risk-as-hurricane-beryl-hits-caribbean

About the American Red Cross:

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Today’s best CD rates

What affects cd rates , how long will cd rates stay high, why you should open a cd today, factors to consider when comparing cd accounts, methodology, apys top 5% ahead of the holiday weekend. best cd rates for today, july 1, 2024.

CD rates have peaked, experts say. Here's where to lock in a high APY before they start falling.

Kelly Ernst

Kelly is an editor for CNET Money focusing on banking. She has over 10 years of experience in personal finance and previously wrote for CBS MoneyWatch covering banking, investing, insurance and home equity products. She is passionate about arming consumers with the tools they need to take control of their financial lives. In her free time, she enjoys binging podcasts, scouring thrift stores for unique home décor and spoiling the heck out of her dogs.

Courtney Johnston

Senior Editor

Courtney Johnston is a senior editor leading the CNET Money team. Passionate about financial literacy and inclusion, she has a decade of experience as a freelance journalist covering policy, financial news, real estate and investing. A New Jersey native, she graduated with an M.A. in English Literature and Professional Writing from the University of Indianapolis, where she also worked as a graduate writing instructor.

CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review the products and services we cover. If you buy through our links, we may get paid.

Key takeaways

• You can earn up to 5.35% APY with today’s top CDs.
• While APYs have held steady in recent weeks, experts anticipate rates will fall in the coming months.
• By opening a CD now, you can guarantee your returns and protect your earnings from future rate drops.

There’s still time to snag a great rate on a certificate of deposit. Annual percentage yields, or APYs, for the best CDs continue to top 5% -- on par with many high-yield savings accounts . And unlike savings accounts, CD rates are fixed, so you’ll continue to earn the same amount even if overall rates drop.

Today’s top CDs boast APYs as high as 5.35% -- more than three times the national average for some terms. And with experts predicting the Federal Reserve will cut rates in the coming months, the sooner you open a CD and lock in a high APY, the more interest you could earn.

Experts recommend comparing rates before opening a CD account to get the best APY possible. Enter your information below to get CNET’s partners’ best rate for your area.

Here are some of the top CD rates available right now and how much you could earn by depositing $5,000 right now:

CD rates are significantly impacted by where the Fed sets the federal funds rate, which determines how much it costs banks to borrow and lend money to each other. When the Fed raises this rate, banks tend to raise APYs on consumer products like savings accounts and CDs to boost their cash reserves and stay competitive. When the Fed cuts this rate, APYs on these products drop too.

Beginning in March 2022, the Fed raised the federal funds rate 11 times to combat record-high inflation, and CD rates skyrocketed, with some accounts offering APYs over 5.5% heading into fall 2023. But as inflation began to show signs of cooling, the Fed paused rates at its September 2023 meeting and every meeting since then. As a result, CD rates plateaued and then began dropping as experts predicted rate cuts in the second half of 2024.

Over the past several weeks, CD rates held relatively steady as banks awaited and then responded to the Fed’s June decision to pause rates for the seventh consecutive time.

After months of regular APY cuts across a variety of banks and CD terms, rates seem to have leveled off. And if experts are correct about the future of Fed rate cuts, they should remain elevated for at least a while longer.

Here’s where CD rates stand compared to last week:

Experts anticipate at least one rate cut later this year, which means CD rates are likely to begin falling again.

“The Fed is starting to get the economic data they feel is needed to justify one rate cut for this year,” said Faron Daugs, CFP, founder and CEO at Harrison Wallace Financial Group. “I believe it will be after the election. However, if new data continues to indicate that inflation is easing, we could see a cut at the September meeting. There is a risk of looking too political by doing this in September, but it could just hinge on upcoming data as to the timing of a cut.”

Opening a CD today allows you to lock in a high APY and protect your earnings from rate drops.

Smart Money Advice on the Topics That Matter to You

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Here’s all of the excitement headed to your inbox.

With rates still attractive, now’s the time to open a CD and lock in a high APY. But a fixed rate isn’t the only perk you’ll enjoy by opening a CD today.

CDs are insured up to $250,000 per person, per bank, as long as the bank is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Credit unions offer the same protection through the National Credit Union Administration. That means your money is safe up to the deposit limits if the bank fails .

Plus, unlike investments such as stocks, CDs are low-risk . You won’t lose your principal deposit or the interest you’ve earned unless you run into early withdrawal penalties -- which you can easily avoid by choosing the right term for your needs.

A competitive APY is important, but there are other things you should consider when comparing CD accounts:

• When you’ll need your money: Early withdrawal penalties can reduce your interest earnings. So, be sure to choose a term that fits your savings timeline. “I recommend whatever term you are comfortable with having locked up as long as you don’t need that money to be liquid for the duration of the term,” said Dana Menard, CFP, founder and lead financial planner at Twin Cities Wealth Strategies. Alternatively, you can select a no-penalty CD , although the APY may not be as high as you’d get with a traditional CD of the same term.
• Minimum deposit requirement: Some CDs require a minimum amount to open an account -- typically, $500 to $1,000. Others do not. How much money you have to set aside can help you narrow down your options.
• Fees: Maintenance and other fees can eat into your earnings. Many online banks don’t charge fees because they have lower overhead costs than banks with physical branches. Still, read the fine print for any account you’re evaluating.
• Federal deposit insurance: Make sure any institution you’re considering is an FDIC or NCUA member so your money is protected if the bank fails.
• Customer ratings and reviews: Visit sites like Trustpilot to see what customers are saying about any bank you’re considering. You want a bank that’s responsive, professional and easy to work with.

CNET reviews CD rates based on the latest APY information from issuer websites. We evaluated CD rates from more than 50 banks, credit unions and financial companies. We evaluate CDs based on APYs, product offerings, accessibility and customer service.

The current banks included in CNET’s weekly CD averages are: Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, American Express National Bank, Barclays, Bask Bank, Bread Savings, Capital One, CFG Bank, CIT, Fulbright, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, MYSB Direct, Quontic, Rising Bank, Synchrony, EverBank, Popular Bank, First Internet Bank of Indiana, America First Federal Credit Union, CommunityWide Federal Credit Union, Discover, Bethpage, BMO Alto, Limelight Bank, First National Bank of America, Connexus Credit Union.

Recommended Articles

Best cd rates for july 2024, if you deposit $2,000 into this cd right now, you’d earn about $100 in a year, best no-penalty cd rates for july 2024, the magic of compound interest is helping double my savings in one year, savers can benefit from the fed’s rate pause. here’s how, when will the fed cut rates three experts answer the burning question.

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Impacts may be 'catastrophic' as Hurricane Beryl pounds Jamaica: Live updates

Editor's note: This page reflects news on Hurricane Beryl from Wednesday, July 3. For the latest news on Hurricane Beryl please follow USA TODAY's live updates on the storm for Thursday, July 4 .

Hurricane Beryl was retreating from Jamaica late Wednesday and is expected to pass just south of the Cayman Islands overnight as a major hurricane, bringing intense winds and heavy rain, the National Hurricane Center said.

As of 2 a.m. ET Thursday, Beryl was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 125 mph and was about 110 miles southeast of Grand Cayman — the largest of the Cayman Islands. After roaring by Jamaica's southern coast, the hurricane was expected to unload "devastating hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves" across the Cayman Islands, according to the hurricane center.

The Cayman Islands could get up to half a foot of rain through Thursday. Weather officials are also warning about life-threatening surf and rip currents along parts of western Cuba, the Yucatan Peninsula, and the coast of Belize.

Beryl was on track to approach the Cayman Islands on Wednesday night and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula about 24 hours later, still as a hurricane but weakened by expected wind shear.

In Jamaica, emergency crews evacuated people living in flood-prone communities and nearly 500 people were in shelters by Wednesday afternoon, according to Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

“We’re concerned about widespread damage and potentially catastrophic impacts in Jamaica,” said Bernie Rayno, AccuWeather's chief on-air meteorologist. "Flooding may last days to even weeks. Widespread power outages are expected. Beryl will likely damage many homes and businesses and cause severe coastal inundation."

The chances of Beryl impacting part of the Texas Gulf Coast have increased with the projected path veering northwest, AccuWeather reported , although it would not bring anywhere near the ferocity of its devastating assault on the southern Windward Islands earlier this week. The current track calls for Beryl to weaken to a tropical storm as it crosses the Yucatan and then becomes a hurricane again before making landfall along the coast near the border of Mexico and Texas.

The storm is projected to drench Jamaica with 4 to 8 inches of rain, and 12 inches are forecast in some places, which could cause "life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides," the NHC said. Holness declared all of Jamaica a "disaster area" and imposed an islandwide curfew Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On Monday, Beryl made landfall in Grenada's Carriacou island as a Category 4 hurricane, ravaging the southern Caribbean Islands, flattening hundreds of buildings and causing the deaths of at least seven people. On Monday night, Beryl became the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record. Driven by record-hot ocean temperatures, Beryl's rapid strengthening has stunned experts.

Amazing drone footage: As Hurricane Beryl tears through Caribbean, a drone sends back stunning footage

Developments:

∎ The death toll from the powerful hurricane rose to at least 10, according to Reuters. But that figure is expected to increase as communications come back online across islands damaged by flooding and intense winds.

∎ The Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica posted on X that a small section of the roof of its passenger boarding pier was damaged by Beryl. "Once the storm has completely passed, a full assessment of damage will be done," the airport stated on X.

∎ The Meteorological Service of Mexico issued a hurricane warning for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, a popular tourist destination, according to the NHC. Tropical storm warnings were also issued for other parts of the Yucatan Peninsula.

∎ Venezuela's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, and senior officials in her traveling party were injured by a falling tree Tuesday night while surveying an area near the country's Caribbean coast where the Manzanares River overran its banks after heavy rainfall caused by Beryl.

Hurricane Beryl tracker: See projected path of storm

Will Hurricane Beryl hit Texas?

Portions of South Texas are now within the forecast cone of Hurricane Beryl , which meteorologists say could arrive in the state over the weekend or early Monday.

However, forecasters remain unsure of what Beryl will do and how strong it will be as it approaches the Gulf Coast after hitting Mexico: "High uncertainty remains with both the track and intensity of Beryl," the  National Weather Service said Wednesday.

"From Panama City, Florida to New Orleans, there is a low risk of direct impacts from Beryl, but from about Corpus Christi to Brownsville, Texas, the risk increases significantly due to the potential for Beryl to have more direct impacts,"  AccuWeather  meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. "That southern portion of the Texas coast is the zone we have to really watch."

Coastal threats could begin this weekend, Weather.com warned: "Well ahead of Beryl, onshore winds could lead to increasing surf, rip currents and coastal flooding along parts of the Gulf Coast from eastern Mexico to Texas and western Louisiana beginning as soon as Saturday, and continuing until just after Beryl's final landfall, Weather.com  said. The rip current threat could also even extend farther east along the northern Gulf Coast.

Brennan said Tuesday that "folks in the Texas coast, as we go into the holiday weekend, you're going to want to make sure you check back on the forecast and make sure you're ready for any potential impact. If we were to see tropical storm conditions affect those areas in the far western Gulf of Mexico, it could be during the day Saturday."

– Doyle Rice

More than 90% of the homes, buildings destroyed

More than 90% of homes and buildings across at least three islands were destroyed or severely damaged after Beryl tore through the southeast Caribbean, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency reported Wednesday. The agency was assisting with the disaster response in Grenada, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines.

Beryl struck the islands with winds of 150 mph and higher gusts on Monday, causing significant impacts to the islands, according to Elizabeth Riley, the disaster management agency's executive director. In addition to infrastructure damages, some islands have also faced power outages and disruptions to communications.

In a briefing late Tuesday, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell described "total destruction" on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

"There's really nothing that can prepare you to see this level of destruction," Mitchell said. "It is almost Armageddon-like, almost total damage and destruction of all buildings. Complete devastation and destruction of agriculture. Complete and total destruction of the natural environment."

— Dinah Voyles Pulver

Airlines waive fees for some in Hurricane Beryl's path

Six major U.S. airlines said they're waiving various fees for travelers who have flights booked in Beryl's path. In most cases, flights booked before July 1 are eligible for the changes. The listed flights include departures from or arrivals in airports in Mexico, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Belize.

American , JetBlue , United , Delta , Southwest , and Spirit Airlines are offering a variety of fee waivers because of the hurricane. Passengers are encouraged to check directly with the airlines on what amended policies apply to them.

The U.S. Department of Transportation said on its website travelers on international flights may be able to recover expenses from a delayed or canceled flight by filing a claim with the airline.

"If the claim is denied, you may pursue the matter in court if you believe that the carrier did not take all measures that could reasonably be required to avoid the damages caused by the delay," the agency said. 

− Krystal Nurse

Resort manager in Jamaica maintains composure as Hurricane Beryl approaches

The coming hurricane doesn't scare Tamar Atkinson, the manager of a small resort in Hanover, a community on Jamaica's northwest coast.

"The way I look at it, I can't stop it," she told USA TODAY. "If the hurricane is going to blow your house down, it's going to blow the house down."

Atkinson, 42, who moved back to Hanover a year ago after she lived in the U.S. for 20 years, already has her sea legs in weathering Jamaica's hurricanes. She remembers facing Hurricane Gilbert, a Category 5, as a little girl – the storm blew the roof off her aunt's house, where she sheltered, but left her mother's house in "perfect condition."

When Hurricane Ivan hit two decades ago, Atkinson sheltered at a nearby school. Once again, the storm blew out the school's windows but left Atkinson's house untouched. "I'm not leaving my house, and I'm not going to go crazy like the rest of the people," she said, adding that she's told her guests to "relax their nerves."

Jamaica closes all international airports as Hurricane Beryl nears island

The Jamaica Tourist Board announced Wednesday that the Sangster, Norman Manley, and Ian Fleming international airports were closed as Hurricane Beryl approached the island.

Jamaica's travel website, VisitJamaica.com, doesn't list a reopening time for the airports and encourages travelers to contact their travel agents and/or airlines for flight updates. The website also encourages travelers to heed any instructions from their hotel or private accommodation on sheltering.

"We also encourage you to register with your Embassy for country-specific guidance and support," the board said on the website.

The U.S. Embassy in Jamaica is open on a limited basis and encourages Americans to not visit the embassy for shelter and instead seek a government-run shelter. Citizens in Jamaica are encouraged to call the embassy at (876) 702-6486 if they need assistance. 

– Krystal Nurse

Ahead of Hurricane Beryl, Jamaicans prepare their homes

Donae Maye stocked up on water, candles, and food earlier this week, before supermarkets across her hometown of Montego Bay, a city on Jamaica's northern Coast, emptied.

"There was no bread, no essentials that you actually need, no candles, very few tin products," she said on Wednesday, after a recent visit to some local grocery stores.

Maye, 27, also prepped her home, where she will shelter with her fiance, her son and his father. "We cleared away any trees that might be blocking any electrical wires and stuff like that that might fall and break the window," she said.

She's confident that her house, which is made of concrete, will stand up to the storm better than many buildings did to Hurricane Ivan 20 years ago. Back then, more structures were made of board, which didn't fare well in the storm, she said. Today, "most structures are built to withstand the winds and the hurricane," she said.

Humanitarian groups rally relief for impacted countries

Global Giving and Americares are among the humanitarian organizations collecting money for those affected by Hurricane Beryl. Both promise donations to support various impacted communities, focusing on those who are disadvantaged and on decimated medical facilities.

Cora Nally, international emergency response director of Americares, said the organization focuses on restoring damaged medical facilities and expects to deploy its workers to Jamaica soon after Beryl leaves.

"That is really going to serve as a home base for them, and we are asking them to do an assessment of all the impacted islands in the Caribbean, and we are going to be keeping an eye on the storm as it moves towards Mexico and the United States," she said.

Is Cancun in the path of Hurricane Beryl?

Among the parts of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and surrounding areas under hurricane warnings were Cancun and the island of Cozumel, two popular tourist destinations packed with luxury resorts and cruise ship ports.

The hurricane warnings were issued by the Meteorological Service of Mexico as forecasters warned residents and tourists of the projected impact of Hurricane Beryl.

Brennan, the director of the NHC, said in a YouTube livestream on Wednesday that the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, including Cancun, faces 3 to 5 feet of storm surge as well as up to 8 inches of rain.

The record-breaking hurricane is expected to make landfall along the Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday night or early Friday, NHC said.

In Jamaica, tourists shelter in hotel ballroom from Hurricane Beryl

Cecilia Garcia and her family initially planned to weather the beginning of the hurricane in the bathroom of their hotel room in Ocho Rios, on Jamaica's northern coastline. "We do have windows in our room, so I think the safest option would probably be to go in our restroom," she said.

Moon Palace Jamaica, where Garcia, 25, is staying with her parents, brother, sister and two kids, told hotel guests to evacuate to a ballroom. When Garcia and her family first visited the shelter, they found it too chaotic. "We ended up back in our room because it was very crowded," she said. "It was very hot in there."

But later on Wednesday morning, as the winds picked up, the family returned to the packed ballroom, where thin cots were arranged in rows, according to a video Garcia shared with USA TODAY.

Garcia and her family's flight back to their home of Houston, Texas, isn't until Saturday – the hurricane will strike at the midpoint of their week-long vacation. Garcia said if they chose to end their stay earlier, they wouldn't get a refund. 

Looking out at skies still partially clear on Wednesday morning, Garcia said the family was keeping calm ahead of the storm. "We're kind of used to bad weather and floods like that in Houston," she said. "But again, it's different when you're not at home, so that's the only scary part."

Hurricane Beryl spoiling graduation trip

Mona Parhar, 23, and Arezoo Rafkhani, 24, didn't start searching for early return flights from their vacation to Jamaica until Tuesday night, less than 24 hours before Hurricane Beryl was expected to sweep across the island. By then, they learned airports had closed.

"We really have no choice but to stick it out," Parhar said Wednesday from their hotel room at the Hotel Riu in Montego Bay on the island's northern side.

The two Toronto natives booked their trip to celebrate their recent graduations – Rafkhani from Toronto Metropolitan University and Parhar from York University. "We've never experienced something like this as Canadians," Rafkhani said. "It's kind of nerve-wracking."

The pair were comforted by the hotel staff, who kept guests informed and safe. "Since last night, they've been sending us messages about how to get prepared, what they're doing and will be doing this morning," Rafkhani said. "They've been keeping us calm," Parhar said.

Jamaica braces for Hurricane Beryl

Jamaican officials warned residents to stock up on food, batteries, candles, and drinking water. Residents in flood-prone areas were also advised to prepare for evacuation.

"Secure your critical documents and remove any trees or items that could endanger your property," the Office of the Prime Minister in Jamaica said on X on Tuesday. "Everyone, including those living alone, should take these necessary steps now."

As a precaution, Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Tuesday night that electricity and water services will likely be shut off "if the storm reaches a serious threshold" to prevent fires and protect equipment.

"Only one hurricane has ever affected Jamaica during July," according to AccuWeather meteorologist Jesse Ferrell. "Category 4 Hurricane Dennis in 2005 did not make landfall but killed one person and caused a lot of damage."

Record-breaking path: Hurricane Beryl tears through the Caribbean

Hurricane Beryl breaks records

Forecasters have projected 2024 to be one of the busiest hurricane seasons on record. Beryl has already surprised forecasters and broken records since it formed, including becoming the earliest Category 4 or 5 storm on record.

Beryl broke the previous record set by Hurricane Emily on July 17, 2005, for the strongest Category 5 hurricane. Beryl rapidly strengthened from a tropical storm to a major hurricane in about 48 hours.

The storm is also the earliest Category 4 or larger storm by more than a week, breaking the record set by Hurricane Dennis, a Category 4 storm on July 8, 2005.

It was fueled by  much warmer than normal  ocean temperatures in the Atlantic and aided in that development by light winds that allowed it to build a strong inner core.

— Jennifer Borresen, Dinah Voyles Pulver and Ramon Padilla

Hurricane Beryl tracker: See projected path of Category 5 storm

Smaller islands hit hard by Beryl

Beryl hit St. Vincent and the Grenadines especially hard, according to Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.

"The hurricane has come and gone, and it has left in its wake immense destruction," he said, adding that Union Island had 90% of homes "severely damaged or destroyed."

After making landfall in Grenada's Carriacou Island on Monday, strong winds and high water levels smashed fishing boats in Barbados, downed power lines in Grenada and St. Vincent, and knocked out drinking water in St. Lucia, according to officials.

Grenada's Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell noted on Tuesday that the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique were significantly impacted by the hurricane. In addition to downed power lines, roads remained impassable and fuel stations were destroyed.

"The situation is grim. There is no power. There is almost complete destruction of homes and buildings," Mitchell said.

Contributing: Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network-Florida ; Reuters

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