cheap travel insurance

If you're travelling from the UK, we'll tell you where to find quality travel insurance at the lowest price.

We don't mean to lecture but, please make sure you buy good quality travel insurance. If you buy direct, it doesn't cost very much. There is no point in buying cheap cover if it won't cover you.

Page down for price comparison tables - telling you where to find the cheapest quality travel insurance, whether you're single, a couple or a family travelling to Europe or worldwide.

It's possible to buy good quality travel insurance (as recommended by Which?) for up to 80% less than you would pay if you were to buy it from your bank, a supermarket or one of the leading high street travel agents.

For example, an annual travel insurance policy for a family of four costs £236 from Thomas Cook. But you can get a comparable family policy from Essential Travel for £60.00 a year, saving you over 70%.

Cheap travel insurance for one adult

Single Trip 8 Days to Europe

	excluding winter sports	including winter sports
Insurefortravel	£4.04	£15.97
Direct Travel	£8.50	£20.00
Essential Travel	£9.49	£17.99
Insure & go	£10.97	£23.56
Primary Insurance	£12.00	£22.19
Go travel	£13.00	£28.40
Tesco	£14.99	£41.99

Single Trip 15 days to the USA

	excluding winter sports	including winter sports
Insurefortravel	£10.50	£41.30
Go travel	£27.75	£64.20
Essential Travel	£27.99	£41.99
Primary Insurance	£28.80	£53.28
Insure & go	£34.48	£62.06
Direct Travel	£36.00	£60.00
Tesco	£39.99	£83.98

An Annual Travel Insurance Policy for Europe only

	excluding winter sports	including winter sports
Insurefortravel	£24.56	£33.02
Essential Travel	£27.99	£34.99
Direct Travel	£29.00	£45.00
Insure & go	£29.84	£29.84
Primary Insurance	£31.50	£48.94
Go travel	£31.95	£42.99
Tesco	£74.99	£74.99

An Annual Travel Insurance Policy for Worldwide including the USA

	excluding winter sports	including winter sports
Insurefortravel	£31.68	£42.59
Essential Travel	£39.99	£43.99
Insure & go	£42.08	£42.08
Go travel	£43.95	£49.95
Direct Travel	£48.00	£70.00
Primary Insurance	£49.51	£76.03
Tesco	£74.99	£74.99

Cheap travel insurance for a couple

Single Trip 8 Days to Europe

	excluding winter sports	including winter sports
Insurefortravel	£8.08	£31.94
Essential Travel	£14.49	£29.99
Direct Travel	£17.00	£40.00
Primary Insurance	£21.60	£39.96
Insure & go	£21.93	£30.25
Go travel	£22.00	£45.90
Tesco	£27.99	£69.99

Single Trip 15 days to the USA

	excluding winter sports	including winter sports
Insurefortravel	£21.00	£82.60
Essential Travel	£45.99	£58.99
Primary Insurance	£51.83	£95.89
Go travel	£55.50	£128.40
Insure & go	£68.95	£68.95
Tesco	£69.99	£139.98
Direct Travel	£72.00	£120.00

An Annual Travel Insurance Policy for Europe only

	excluding winter sports	including winter sports
Essential Travel	£45.99	£85.55
Direct Travel	£46.00	£68.00
Insurefortravel	£49.12	£66.04
Insure & go	£52.79	£52.79
Primary Insurance	£55.03	£85.55
Go travel	£61.25	£79.50
Tesco	£114.99	£114.99

An Annual Travel Insurance Policy for Worldwide including the USA

	excluding winter sports	including winter sports
Insurefortravel	£49.12	£66.04
Essential Travel	£54.99	£60.00
Insure & go	£65.03	£65.03
Direct Travel	£72.00	£99.00
Primary Insurance	£79.01	£125.42
Go travel	£82.30	£92.25
Tesco	£114.99	£114.99

Cheap travel insurance for a family of four

Single Trip 8 days to Europe

	excluding winter sports	including winter sports
Insurefortravel	£8.28	£35.93
Essential Travel	£14.49	£35.99
Direct Travel	£17.00	£40.00
Insure & go	£21.93	£30.25
Go travel	£22.00	£45.90
Primary Insurance	£24.00	£44.41
Tesco	£39.99	£109.99

Single Trip 15 days to the USA

	excluding winter sports	including winter sports
Insurefortravel	£21.46	£92.91
Essential Travel	£48.99	£58.99
Go travel	£55.00	£128.40
Insure & go	£68.95	£124.12
Direct Travel	£72.00	£120.00
Tesco	£94.99	£219.98

An Annual Travel Insurance Policy for Europe only

	excluding winter sports	including winter sports
Essential Travel	£45.99	£52.99
Direct Travel	£46.00	£68.00
Insurefortravel	£49.09	£65.45
Insure & go	£52.79	£52.79
Primary Insurance	£55.03	£85.55
Go travel	£74.50	£95.60
Tesco	£129.99	£129.99

An Annual Travel Insurance Policy for Worldwide including the USA

	excluding winter sports	including winter sports
Essential Travel	£54.99	£60.00
Insure & go	£65.03	£65.03
Insurefortravel	£65.04	£84.45
Direct Travel	£72.00	£99.00
Primary Insurance	£79.01	£125.42
Go travel	£99.99	£112.99
Tesco	£129.99	£129.99

Cheap Travel Insurance

1. Remember that travel insurance companies offer different levels of cover. In the tables above we've tried to compare 'like with like' - which means, for example, that we're comparing the Essential Travel 'Standard' policy with the Direct Travel 'Standard' policy.
2. Also, as different travel insurance policies have different terms and conditions, make sure you choose the policy that's right for you. Read the checklist below the table for a list of things to look out for. (All prices are correct at 31.05.07)
3. Only buy good quality travel insurance.
4. Know what cover you want and check that the policy provides that cover. Some policies have non-standard exclusions - for example, the JourneyWise policy excludes cover for your glasses.
5. As a minimum, make sure the policy provides for:
   a. all medical bills
   b. an air ambulance in case you need to be flown home
   c. bringing your family home in the event of your illness or injury
   d. any potentially hazardous sporting activities you may be planning
   e. replacing and / or bringing your car home if you are taking it abroad
6. If you plan to rely on free travel insurance cover provided as a benefit on your credit card, get a copy of the cover and read it carefully. For example, it may not cover your return journey, or may only cover you if the full amount of the holiday was paid via the card.
7. Consider leaving valuables and jewellery at home. If you do take them make sure your insurance cover is sufficient and that you abide by the policy terms (such as storing them in a safe).
8. How often will you travel? As you can see from the tables above, if you plan to spend 15 days in the USA, and another 7 days in Europe, it is cheaper to buy an annual travel insurance policy.
9. Some annual travel insurance policies exclude trips within the UK, or only include them if you are staying at a hotel or other paid accommodation. If you take regular trips in the UK and want to be covered for these, check the policy terms before you buy.
10. If you are travelling within Western Europe, obtain a E111 from a Post Office, and take it with you. Not only does it give you access to free or reduced cost emergency medical treatment, many insurers insist that you carry one and / or waive their insurance excess if you have used it.
11. But don't rely on the E111 as a replacement for the medical section of your travel insurance - it is only for emergencies, it won't get you flown home, it doesn't cover emergency dental treatment (unless it's life threatening) and some European countries do not accept it.
12. Remember to declare all pre-existing medical conditions. This is one of the main reasons holiday insurance claims are refused. It is easy to forget things, so think carefully. Include asthmatic children, for example.
13. If you're travelling as a couple, it might make sense to buy a couples policy. They are normally much cheaper than buying two single policies, but the policy may only cover you if you travel together.
14. Check you're not paying for the same cover twice. Insurers will offer a discount of between 10 - 30% if your baggage is already covered on your home contents policy.