With so many travel insurance policies available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming, and the cheapest is not always the best value. The key is to match the cover to your trip and your circumstances. This guide explains how to choose the right travel insurance policy, so you get proper protection without overpaying. It is general information, not financial advice, so compare policies and read the terms before deciding which is right for you.
Work out what cover you need
Start by thinking about your trip and what you need cover for. Consider your destination, the length and number of trips, who is travelling, any activities you will do, and any medical conditions. A short European beach holiday has different needs from a long-haul adventure or a skiing trip. Understanding your requirements first means you can choose a policy that genuinely fits, rather than paying for cover you do not need or, worse, missing cover you do. This is the foundation of choosing well.
Check the medical cover level
Medical cover is the most important element, so check the level carefully. It should be high enough to cover serious treatment and repatriation abroad, which can be very expensive, so a substantial figure is important rather than a token amount. This matters especially for long-haul destinations where healthcare costs are high. Our guide on what travel insurance covers explains the core protections. Never choose a policy on price alone if it means skimping on the medical cover that is the main reason to have insurance.
Check the cancellation cover
Cancellation cover should be enough to reimburse the full non-refundable cost of your trip if you have to cancel for a covered reason. If your holiday is expensive, make sure the cancellation limit matches, as a policy with a low limit could leave you out of pocket. Our guide on whether travel insurance covers holiday cancellation explains this cover. Matching the cancellation limit to what you have actually spent, and buying early so the cover applies from booking, protects your investment in the trip.
Declare any medical conditions
If you or anyone on the policy has a pre-existing medical condition, you must declare it, or related claims may be refused. This can affect the premium and which policies are suitable, and some insurers specialise in cover for medical conditions. Our guide on declaring pre-existing medical conditions explains the process. Being upfront about medical conditions when choosing a policy is essential, both to ensure you are properly covered and to avoid the false economy of cheaper cover that would not pay out.
Single trip or annual?
Decide whether a single-trip or annual multi-trip policy suits you. A single-trip policy covers one journey, while an annual policy covers multiple trips over a year and can be cheaper if you travel more than once or twice. Our guide on single trip versus annual travel insurance compares them. Choosing the right type for how often you travel can save money, so it is worth working out how many trips you are likely to take before deciding which kind of policy to buy.
Check destinations and activities are covered
Make sure the policy covers your specific destination and any activities you plan to do. Some policies have regional pricing, so cover for Europe is cheaper than worldwide, and certain countries or activities may need to be specified or added. Skiing, cruises and adventure activities often require add-ons. Our guide on travel insurance for cruises, skiing and adventure holidays explains. Confirming your destination and activities are included avoids the nasty surprise of an uncovered claim because of where you went or what you did.
Understand the excess
The excess is the amount you pay towards a claim before the insurer pays the rest, and it affects both the premium and what you would receive. A policy with a low premium may have a high excess, which reduces the value of smaller claims. Weighing the excess against the premium helps you judge true value. Checking the excess on each policy, rather than focusing only on the headline price, ensures you understand what you would actually get back if you needed to claim.
Compare policies on cover, not just price
Comparison sites make it easy to compare policies, but compare on cover as well as price, not price alone. The cheapest policy may have low limits, high excesses or significant exclusions that make it poor value. Our guide on cheap travel insurance explains how to save without losing cover. Looking at the level of medical and cancellation cover, the excess and the exclusions alongside the price is the only way to identify a policy that is genuinely good value rather than just cheap.
Read the exclusions
Before buying, read the policy's exclusions so you know what is not covered. Common exclusions include undeclared conditions, certain activities and incidents involving alcohol. Our guide on travel insurance exclusions covers these. A policy that looks comprehensive may exclude something important for your trip, so checking the exclusions ensures it suits your needs. Understanding the limits of a policy before you buy avoids assuming you are protected for something that is, in fact, excluded.
Buy early and do not just pick the cheapest
Buy your policy as soon as you book your trip, so cancellation cover applies from the outset, and resist the temptation to simply choose the cheapest option. Our guide on when to buy travel insurance explains the timing. The right policy is the one that gives you the cover you need at a fair price, which is rarely the absolute cheapest. Balancing adequate cover against cost, and buying early, is the sensible approach to choosing travel insurance that will actually protect you.
Check the provider and reviews
It is worth considering the insurer as well as the policy. Buying from a reputable, established provider, and checking reviews of how it handles claims, gives you more confidence that you will be looked after if you need to claim. A cheap policy from an unknown provider that disputes claims is poor value. Our guide on how to make a travel insurance claim covers the claims process. Choosing a trustworthy insurer with a good reputation for paying out is part of choosing a policy that will genuinely protect you.
Family and group cover
If you are travelling as a family or group, consider a policy designed to cover everyone together, which can be more convenient and sometimes cheaper than separate policies. Make sure every traveller's needs, including any medical conditions and activities, are covered. Our guide on family travel insurance explains what to look for. Choosing the right family or group cover, with all members and their requirements properly included, ensures everyone is protected under one policy and avoids gaps that separate arrangements might leave.
In short
To choose the right travel insurance, work out what cover you need for your trip, then check the medical and cancellation cover levels are adequate, declare any medical conditions, and decide between single-trip and annual cover. Confirm your destination and activities are covered, understand the excess, and compare policies on cover as well as price. Read the exclusions and buy early. This is general information, not financial advice, so compare and read the terms before deciding.
Explore more in our Travel Insurance guides.