Single-trip travel insurance
Compare travel insurance cover for a single-trip
Is a single-trip travel insurance policy the right choice for your next holiday? Find out more about single-trip policies
Is a single-trip travel insurance policy the right choice for your next holiday? Find out more about single-trip policies
If you’re going on holiday, it’s very wise to take out travel insurance in case something goes wrong. It’ll cover the costly medical bills you’ll face if you fall sick or get injured, or if you have to re-book because part of your trip is cancelled. Without travel insurance, you have to pay for these eventualities out of your own pocket – and the costs can be extortionate.
Single-trip travel insurance protects you for one trip over a set period of time. Depending on the level of insurance you choose, you can be covered for various outcomes including unforeseen medical expenses, cancellation costs and lost luggage.
Travel insurance is essential for any holiday, and single-trip cover is the most affordable. But although prices start very low, you shouldn’t be tempted to buy the cheapest policy without first checking that it offers enough cover for your trip and your belongings.
Frequent holidaymakers who go away three or more times a year could save money with an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy, rather than buying a single-trip policy every time they book a holiday.
A single-trip travel insurance policy will usually cover you and anyone else named on the policy for a various eventualities, including:
When searching for single-trip travel insurance, make sure you find a policy with the features and cover levels you want. Choosing a cheaper policy based on price alone may cause you to miss out on valuable categories of cover.
When you’re looking for holiday insurance, make sure you include these minimum levels of single-trip cover:
The cost of single-trip travel insurance varies greatly depending on personal circumstances and details of the holiday.
Keep in mind that these average premiums only apply to policies for people who don’t have pre-existing medical conditions. If you need this level of cover, the price of your policy will likely increase in order to pay for any potential medical treatment you may need. Learn more about this with our pre-existing medical conditions page.
If you travel three or more times a year, a single-trip policy is unlikely to be the most cost-effective solution to your insurance needs, and you should consider an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy.
But if you are travelling with your family, a single-trip policy for each family member may not be the best option. You should look for family holiday insurance, and include extras such as additional baggage cover.
Likewise, if you plan to travel with a group, a group travel insurance policy may present better value for money, and you can usually add extras such as water sports and skiing cover.
You need to pay close attention to the things that single-trip travel insurance policies don’t cover. For example, if you’re over 65 you may need a specialist policy, while an insurer might not pay more than £200 for each item you take on holiday unless you take out special gadget cover for your phone or expensive camera.
While there are lots of potential exclusions, they vary by insurer. Common exclusions include:
When you’re looking for single-trip travel insurance, it can be helpful to keep the following in mind:
It’s best to buy travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your holiday – in case your holiday is cancelled, or if you need to cancel because you fall too ill to travel or the government decides it’s no longer safe to travel to your destination.
Comparing single-trip travel insurance quotes is easy: enter your personal details, where you’re travelling to, and what level of cover you’d like, and you’ll be shown a range of travel insurance options.
You can compare various factors, ranging from maximum medical cover, baggage cover and personal money cover, to optional features such as winter sports or legal cover, amongst others.
When you click on a policy, you’ll be able to then select the level of cover you want, whether that’s a basic travel insurance policy or the most premium option. The details page will show you where you’ll be covered, which activities you would be covered for and key facts.
Make sure you read the policy documents and check that you won’t fall foul of any of the exclusions, and check the cover summary table for detail on the specifics of how much you can claim for particular items or events.