List of Best, Cheap Travel Insurance Companies
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When it comes to a well-deserved holiday, you shouldn't have to worry about the financial repercussions of unfortunate events like cancellations, lost baggage and medical emergencies. Read our guides and product reviews to help you choose the best travel insurance for you and your holiday.
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.
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Comparing
Top 15 Best Travel Insurance Companies -
Travel Insurance Options Worth Considering
Cheap Deals and Good Value
Note: The travel insurance market is rapidly-changing. It is critical for consumers to read the full terms and conditions of a policy before buying to be sure you understand what you are—and aren't—covered for.
Best Travel Insurance Companies
The NimbleFins team has analysed more than 50 popular UK travel insurance providers to find which have the best products and service. To make our top 15 list, a travel insurance company must have achieved the following:
- Defaqto ratings. An indication of the quality of the features. We included companies that offer at least one 5-star rated product and whose lowest-tier product is rated at least 3 stars (e.g. no 1 or 2-star policies)
- Trustpilot ratings. A reflection of the customer experience (e.g. cost, value, ease of buying, claims experience, etc.). We included companies with at least a 3.2 Trustpilot customer rating, which was based on at least 300 customer reviews.
The following table includes 15 of the best travel insurance providers based on these metrics.
| Travel Insurance Company | Trustpilot Rating | Number of Trustpilot Reviews | Travel insurance specialist? | Compare or Buy Direct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allclear | 4.8 | 219479 | Yes | Buy Direct |
| CoverForYou | 4.6 | 19635 | Yes | Compare Deals |
| Cedar Tree | 4.5 | 7669 | Yes | Compare Deals |
| LV= | 4.5 | 83971 | No | Buy Direct |
| Coverwise | 4.7 | 93574 | Yes | Compare Deals |
| Saga | 3.9 | 42959 | No | Compare Deals |
| Switched On Insurance | 4.7 | 10417 | Yes | Compare Deals |
| Puffin | 4.5 | 22032 | Yes | Compare Deals |
| esure | 4.3 | 65765 | No | Buy Direct |
| Direct Line | 4.2 | 30031 | No | Buy Direct |
| Insure & Go | 4.8 | 121005 | Yes | Buy Direct |
| Sainsbury's | 4.2 | 17248 | No | Buy Direct |
| Tesco | 4.3 | 50576 | No | Buy Direct |
| ERGO | 4.1 | 3753 | Yes | Compare Deals |
| Admiral | 4.5 | 148495 | No | Compare Deals |
These companies stand out for various reasons, including prices that are attractive relative to the average cost of travel insurance or certain features. The "best" travel insurance policy for you will depend on your individual needs and financial situation. Use the information here to help you learn about product differences and narrow down your options. If your holiday involves a cruise you may want to look at our article on specialist cruise travel insurance companies.
For further information on travel insurance tailored to families, click here.
Travel Insurance Options Worth Considering
If you travel more than twice a year, it's generally cheaper to buy an Annual, Multi-Trip policy than buying a Single Trip policy for each trip you take. Regardless, finding a good deal can save your hard-earned money. Here is a quick overview of some popular options in the market, and how they stand out for certain features and travel needs.
Consider CoverForYou If: You Want High Cancellation or Gadget Cover
CoverForYou stands out in its price range for relatively high Cancellation and Baggage limits — up to £7,500 and £3,000 respectively — which may appeal to those booking higher-value trips. They also offer optional Gadget cover providing £1,000, £2,000 or £3,000 of protection for mobile phones, tablets and laptops, at varying price points depending on the tier you choose. Without this add-on, gadget cover is limited to £500 or £750. Approximate costs of the Gadget option are shown below, though prices may vary.
Cost of CoverForYou Extended Gadget Cover via Comparison Site
| Total Gadget Cover | Single Article Gadget Limit | Emerald | Ruby | Diamond | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual, Multi-trip | £1,000 | £1,000 | £22.25 | £31.75 | £36.75 |
| £2,000 | £1,500 | £33.75 | £47.75 | £55.50 | |
| £3,000 | £1,500 | £45.00 | £64.00 | £69.00 | |
| Single Trip Policies | £1,000 | £1,000 | £14.00 | £14.00 | £14.00 |
| £2,000 | £1,500 | £18.25 | £18.25 | £18.25 | |
| £3,000 | £1,500 | £22.25 | £22.25 | £22.25 |
All three tiers include £2,500 of Scheduled Airline Failure (SAFI) cover, and Platinum plans add £2,500 of End Supplier Failure (ESF)—features that aren't always included at this price point. You can read more about Covid cover in our full CoverForYou review.
CoverForYou may suit you if:
- You're travelling on a higher-value trip and want strong cancellation cover
- You carry expensive gadgets and want dedicated protection
- You want SAFI included as standard across all plan tiers
It may be less suitable if:
- You're after the lowest possible premium with no gadget needs
- You want ESF cover without paying for the top-tier plan
Consider Coverwise If: You Want Strong All-Round Cover With AXA Backing and High Medical Limits
Coverwise was named Defaqto Travel Insurer of the Year for 2025/26 and carries 4.7 stars on Trustpilot from over 92,000 reviews. It's underwritten by Inter Partner Assistance S.A., part of the AXA Group, and offers five tiers of cover (Standard, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum), with Gold and Platinum rated five stars by Defaqto. All plans include up to £20 million in emergency medical cover, which is among the highest in the market. Cruise cover is also included as standard across all tiers—something only around half of policies offer, according to Defaqto.
The Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers add Trip Delay, Missed Departure, Abandonment and Catastrophe cover. Gadget cover, including mobile phones, is not included as standard on any tier and must be added as an optional extra—mobile phones are specifically excluded from the standard baggage section, so if device protection matters to you, factor in the add-on cost when comparing prices.
One significant limitation to be aware of: annual multi-trip policies are not available to anyone over the age of 65. Coverwise does offer a separate Over-65s single-trip policy, but those who travel frequently later in life will need to look elsewhere for annual cover.
Coverwise may suit you if:
- You want the reassurance of AXA underwriting with a strong Defaqto-rated policy
- You're under 65 and want annual multi-trip cover
- You want high medical limits (up to £20 million) as standard across all tiers
- You're going on a cruise and don't want to pay extra for cruise cover to be included
It may be less suitable if:
- You're over 65 and want annual cover
- You carry expensive gadgets and want them covered without a separate add-on
- You need SAFI—check the policy wording carefully for your tier, as inclusion
- varies
Also worth considering:
CedarTree is another AXA-backed specialist available via comparison sites as well as direct, with competitive pricing and a long-standing track record. It's worth knowing that CedarTree no longer includes financial failure cover (SAFI or ESF) on any of its plans, so if that protection matters to you, check the policy wording carefully before buying.
Post Office won Best Travel Insurance Provider at the Your Money Awards 2025 and holds a 5-star Defaqto rating on its Premier policy. It's a solid choice if you'd prefer a well-known high-street name with a strong claims record, and gadget cover is available as an optional add-on. Worth running a comparison against Coverwise on price for your specific trip profile.
Consider Puffin If: You Want Affordable Core Cover for Lower-Value Trips
In our latest price checks, Puffin came out among the more affordable options for covering core features like cancellation and baggage. Even their entry-level Silver plan includes £5,000 of SAFI, £1,000 of gadget cover, delayed baggage, missed departure and travel disruption—a solid base of features at the lower end of the market.
The trade-off is coverage limits. Cancellation cover tops out at £5,000 and baggage at £2,500, so Puffin is less well suited to higher-value trips or travellers with expensive belongings.
Puffin may suit you if:
- You're taking a lower-value trip and want to keep premium costs down
- You want SAFI, gadget and missed departure cover included as standard
- You want the option to add extra gadget cover via an add-on
It may be less suitable if:
- Your trip costs more than £5,000 per person
- You carry high-value baggage and want higher single-item limits
- Cancellation £1,500 - £5,000
- Baggage £1,500 - £2,500
- Travel Delay, Missed Departure, Gadget, SAFI on all plans
- Optional additional Gadget cover (extra £1k, bringing total to £2k)
Consider HolidaySafe If: You Want Cover for Sports or Activities, or a Long Trip
HolidaySafe offers a wide range of Annual and Single Trip plans with varying cover limits, and is particularly worth considering if your trip involves specific activities that standard policies may exclude. Plans can be customised to cover sailing, scuba, mountain biking, motorcycling, golf, running and triathlon, cycling, marathon and winter sports, among others. Single trip pricing can be competitive, as we cover in our full review.
- Your trip involves sports or activities not covered by standard policies
- You're planning a longer trip and need extended cover
- You want to include personal belongings on all plan tiers
- You've booked with frequent flier miles (unused miles aren't covered)
- You want a simple, off-the-shelf policy with no configuration needed
Consider Staysure If: You're an Older Traveller, Have Pre-Existing Conditions, or Want Cruise Cover
Staysure has built its reputation on two things: covering older travellers with no upper age limit, and handling pre-existing medical conditions that other providers won't touch. Its Comprehensive policy is rated 5 stars by Defaqto, and the company paid over £100 million in claims in 2024—a figure that reflects both the volume of older policyholders and the seriousness with which it approaches complex claims. Customers give it twice as many 5-star reviews as any other travel insurer on Trustpilot, according to Staysure.
Three tiers are available: Basic, Comprehensive and Signature. The Comprehensive tier includes up to £10,000 cancellation per person and up to £5,000 for lost baggage. Signature is the highest level of cover, with no policy excess to pay. For regular travellers, cruise cover (Cruise Plus) is included as standard on annual Comprehensive and Signature policies—a meaningful benefit given that cruise-specific risks like cabin confinement, missed ports and itinerary changes aren't covered by standard travel insurance. For single trips, cruise cover must be added as an optional extra.
Gadget cover is available as an optional add-on on Comprehensive policies (covering unlimited devices up to £2,000 each), and is included as standard on Signature. Long-stay policies are also available, which suits travellers planning extended trips.
Staysure may suit you if:
- You're an older traveller (any age) or have pre-existing medical conditions
- You cruise regularly and want cruise cover included on your annual policy
- You want no upper age limit on both single trip and annual policies
- You want a zero-excess option (Signature tier)
- You want a specialist with a strong track record on complex medical claims
It may be less suitable if:
- You're a younger, healthy traveller who doesn't need the medical specialism and can find cheaper cover elsewhere
- You need SAFI—Staysure policies do not include scheduled airline failure cover; check the policy wording and consider alternative protection via credit card (Section 75) or ATOL if relevant
- You only need single-trip cover and want cruise protection included without an add-on
Also worth considering:
Saga is available to those aged 50 and over (no upper age limit), and its Plus tier is currently rated the top travel insurance policy in the Which? comparison table. Cancellation cover goes up to £20,000 per person on Plus—higher than Staysure's Comprehensive tier—and medical cover reaches up to £20 million. Customers who buy direct (not via a comparison site) also benefit from lounge access if their flight is delayed by two hours or more (Standard) or one hour or more (Plus). The trade-off is that cruise cover is an add-on rather than included, and there's no longer any End Supplier Failure cover on Saga policies. If you're primarily motivated by the very highest cancellation limits or want a Which?-endorsed policy, Saga Plus is worth a direct quote.
Here's How Travel Insurance Works
Travel insurance can lesson the financial burden of your holiday going wrong, whether due to an accident, a health emergency, your trip being cancelled or a myriad of other reasons. For this financial protection you'll pay an annual or monthly premium, which can range from £6 up to £600 a year or more, depending on the features of your policy. In return, the insurance company will reimburse you (in full or in part) for losses incurred as the result of travel mishaps.
If you'd like more detailed information, you can read more in our Travel Insurance Guide.
Choosing the Best Travel Insurance Plan for You
Before choosing a travel insurance plan, you'll need to decide which features are most important to you. First, think about the level of cover you need—this entails the amount you usually pay for a holiday (e.g., the cost of your flights and accommodation), the value of your personal belongings and baggage, etc. Then decide if you should buy an Annual, Multitrip Plan or a Single Trip Plan—typically, if you travel at least 2 times per year then you'll save money buying an Annual Plan rather than individual Single Trip Plans each time you travel.
In addition, you'll need to think about your travel plans for the upcoming year so you don't overpay for insurance you don't need—worldwide cover including America is more expensive than, say, cover only for Europe. Finally, there are a few features that vary from insurer to insurer, such as insolvency/end supplier failure, catastrophe cover (e.g., ash clouds or storms), valuables, etc.
Methodology
By collecting dozens of data points from various travel insurance plans in the UK, we were able to gain insight on trip insurance plans offered by more than a dozen insurers. The data we collected span all types of variables such as trip cancellation, catastrophe cover insolvency/SAFI cover, winter sports, golf, destination, age, etc.