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Travel extras

Get travel essentials for your trip

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Travel essentials for your trip

Compare or arrange useful extras that could make your trip easier, better protected or more affordable.

  • Plane

    Flights

    Compare flights for your trip with Skyscanner.

    • Search flights from hundreds of airlines and travel providers

    • Compare options for your destination and dates

    • Choose a flight and continue to the airline or travel provider to book

    Compare flights
  • Picture of a dog

    Airport lounges

    Make the wait for your flight more comfortable with airport lounge access.

    • Get lounge access for only £30 with our partner LoungeKey Pass

    • Exclusive discount for MoneySuperMarket customers

    • Find 1,800 participating lounges at airports around the world

    • Cheaper than paying at the airport

    Get airport lounge pass
  • Car hire abroad

    Car hire excess insurance

    Protect yourself against potentially expensive excess charges when hiring a car.

    • Cover your car hire excess before you travel

    • Get up to £10,000 of excess protection with Gigasure

    • Choose single-trip or annual cover to suit your plans

    Get excess cover

Not got travel insurance yet?

Select your cover

When should I book my travel essentials?

In general, book earlier if that will give you more protection, more choice or a better price. Leave things until later if there’s no advantage to booking ahead, your plans could change, or you need the latest information.

  • Calendar icon

    Planning trip

    ✔ Flights

    ✔ Accommodation

    ✔ Travel insurance

  • Calendar icon

    1 month before

    ✔ Car hire

    ✔ Car excess cover

    ✔ Airport parking

    ✔ Travel credit / debit cards

  • Calendar icon

    1 week before

    ✔ Airport lounge access

    ✔ Airport transfers

    ✔ Travel money

  • Calendar icon

    1 day before

    ✔ Travel e-sim

    ✔ Check FCDO advice

    ✔ Pack

⚠️ Don't pay twice

Before you buy a travel extra, check if it's already included elsewhere.

For example, you might already have:

  • Travel insurance through a packaged bank account

  • Airport lounge access through a bank account or credit card

  • Overseas mobile data included with your phone plan

  • Car hire excess protection through your car hire booking or car insurance

  • Airport transfers included with your package holiday

  • Gadget, activity or winter sports cover included with your travel insurance

img-travel-2

Find travel advice, entry requirements & visa information for a destination

Planning a trip? Select a country from the drop down to view AI-generated summaries based on official FCDO travel advice.

⚠️ Current travel disruption: NATS air traffic control failure

A NATS air traffic control system failure has caused hundreds of flight cancellations and continued delays at UK airports, with knock-on disruption expected as airlines clear the backlog.

If your flight is cancelled or significantly delayed, your airline should generally offer you a refund or rerouting, as well as care and assistance where necessary. However, compensation may not be payable if the disruption was directly caused by the NATS systems failure.

Travel insurance could cover certain additional costs caused by delays or cancellations, depending on your policy. Check your cover before making alternative arrangements or cancelling your trip yourself.

Read our guide to find out more about what travel insurance could cover if your flight is delayed or cancelled.

⚠️ Current travel disruptions: Wildfires in France and Spain

Wildfires burning in areas of France and Spain have caused widespread disruption and the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people. Some local officials have asked tourists not to travel to affected areas.

However, it is not guaranteed that travel insurance will cover the cost of cancelling or changing your holiday. You should check if your policy includes travel disruption cover and whether it specifically includes disruption caused by natural disasters.

Check for updates posted on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) website. If the FCDO issue new guidance advising against travel to your holiday destination many travel insurance policies will cover your cancellation costs.

If parts of your trip are non-refundable, it is usually better to wait and see if the airline/hotel/provider cancels it rather than cancelling it yourself. Doing it yourself can be treated as 'disinclination to travel', which is not covered by insurance. You're also unlikely to be eligible for a refund from your holiday providers should they subsequently cancel.

Read our guide to find out more about whether travel insurance covers travel disruptions caused by natural disasters like wildfires.

⚠️ Current travel disruptions: Middle East conflict & jet fuel pressures

Ongoing tensions involving Iran alongside global jet fuel supply pressures are causing disruption to travel plans across multiple regions. Travellers should:

  • Follow travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO): Travelling against this guidance may invalidate your travel insurance

  • Check policy exclusions: Most standard policies don’t cover claims linked to war, conflict, or political unrest

  • Expect disruptions: Flight cancellations and delays are possible, so monitor airline updates and government guidance before travelling

  • Plan ahead: Airlines may adjust schedules at short notice - stay updated before you travel

You may be able to get a refund if you've booked an ABTA protected package holiday.

Read our guide to find out more about travel disruptions in Iran and your travel insurance cover.

Things to check before you travel

  • Passport

    Check it’s valid for your destination and isn’t damaged. Many countries require 3-6 month left before expiry.

  • Visa and entry requirements

    Check whether you need a visa, and if you do whether you must apply in advance or can get one on entry.

  • GHIC

    You can get this free European healthcare from the NHS website.

  • Vaccinations

    Check whether you need any vaccinations or health certificates for your destination.

  • Driving documents

    Check whether you need an International Driving Permit and if your insurance will cover you.

  • Baggage allowance

    Check your airline’s cabin and checked baggage limits.

  • Bank cards

    Check if your cards will be accepted abroad and whether overseas fees apply.

  • Important documents

    Keep copies of these with you in case the originals are lost or stolen.

Holiday guides and expert tips

Which travel extras do I actually need?

It depends on your trip and what you already have. Think about what could save you money, give you extra protection or make your journey easier, and check your existing policies, accounts and bookings before paying for anything extra.

Are travel extras included in a package holiday?

Some may be. For example, your package could include airport transfers or checked baggage, while other extras may cost more. Check exactly what your booking includes before paying for anything separately.

Does travel insurance cover a hire car?

Usually not for damage to the hire car itself or the excess you're charged if it's damaged or stolen. You may need separate car hire excess insurance, but check your travel insurance and hire agreement first.

Can I use an eSIM alongside my normal SIM?

Yes, many compatible phones let you use an eSIM alongside your usual physical SIM or another eSIM. This can let you use a travel eSIM for data while keeping your normal number, although exactly how this works depends on your phone and mobile provider.

Is airport lounge access included with my credit card or bank account?

It can be. Some packaged bank accounts and premium credit cards include airport lounge access or offer it at a reduced price. Check your account benefits and any restrictions before buying lounge access separately.

Is it cheaper to book airport extras in advance?

It can be, particularly for extras such as airport parking. Booking ahead can also give you more choice when availability is limited, but prices and availability vary, so don't assume booking earlier will always be cheaper.

When should I buy car hire excess cover?

Buy it before your car hire agreement begins. Give yourself enough time to compare your options and check the policy's territory, excess limits and exclusions before choosing cover.

Can FCDO advice affect my travel insurance?

Yes. Travelling against Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice can affect whether your travel insurance is valid or whether you're covered for certain claims. Check the latest FCDO advice and your policy terms before travelling.

How does MoneySuperMarket create and review the content on its website?

At MoneySuperMarket, we want to give you clear, accurate and trustworthy information so you can make confident financial decisions for your circumstances.

Every page on our website goes through a careful editorial process before it is published. It’s written or reviewed by one of our experienced experts, checked for accuracy, and updated regularly to reflect the latest information.

We do use AI tools to support our research and drafting, but a human editor is always in the loop to review, fact-check and approve everything before it’s published, so you can trust that what you’re reading is both reliable and up to date.

You can read more in our editorial guidelines.

How does MoneySuperMarket make money?

We get paid by the companies we work with, but the payment we get doesn’t have any bearing on the information we provide. We get paid in different ways, depending on the type of product or service you buy through us. Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible, but we only show results from our partner providers.

Our comparison service is, and will always be, free to use.

You can find out more about how we make money here.

Why should I use a price comparison website?

One of the best ways to get the lowest prices and best deals is to compare quotes from different companies. We do the work for you, comparing quotes side-by-side and giving you all the information you need so you can choose the right deal for your needs and your wallet.

We don’t give recommendations or financial advice, but we give you clear information so you can choose financial products that suit your circumstances.

Does MoneySuperMarket work with all the providers on the market?

No, not every company can be included in our service. This is because some companies don’t want their products included on comparison sites, and some decide that they would rather not pay a fee. There are also a few smaller providers who can struggle to cope with the volume of customers that can find their products if they appear on MoneySuperMarket.

Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible so that you can choose the deal that suits you.

Is travel insurance eligible for SuperSaveClub and rewards?

Yes, you can earn SuperSaveClub rewards when you buy travel insurance through MoneySuperMarket.

This includes:

  • Up to £5[2], which you can withdraw as a pre-paid Mastercard or a gift card for brands like Sainsbury's and Amazon.co.uk

  • Free Days Out pass (worth £180), which gives free entry to a range of UK attractions (you must download our app to get this)

  • Cashback of up to 10% when you spend at brands including eBay, Just Eat and Argos

To earn SuperSaveClub rewards on purchases you must:

  1. Sign up to SuperSaveClub (it's free)

  2. Be signed in to your account when you make the purchase

More information can be found on our SuperSaveClub homepage.

Is travel insurance eligible for Price Promise?

Yes, travel insurance is included in our Super Save Price Promise.

If you buy through us then find the same deal for less we will:

  • refund the difference

  • give you a gift card worth up to £5

Terms and conditions apply. More information can be found on our Price Promise page.

Reviewed on 18 Sep 2026

Sources and supporting information

  1. [1]

    YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).

  2. [2]

    SuperSaveClub restrictions and T&Cs apply. Click here for details.