Choosing travel insurance can feel overwhelming. With different policies, cover levels and optional extras available, it’s not always clear what you actually need.
The key is not to find the cheapest policy — it’s to find one that fits your trip, your destination and your personal circumstances.
This guide explains how to choose the right travel insurance for your holiday, step by step.
Why Choosing the Right Travel Insurance Matters
Travel insurance is designed to help cover unexpected costs such as medical emergencies, cancellations or lost belongings.
However, not all policies offer the same level of protection.
A policy that looks good on price alone may not provide the cover you need. In fact, guidance from organisations like Citizens Advice highlights that the cheapest policy may not offer the best value — it’s important to check what is included, not just the cost.
Step 1: Choose the Right Type of Policy
The first decision is whether you need single trip or annual multi-trip cover.
Single Trip Insurance
- Covers one specific holiday
- Typically suitable if you only travel once or twice a year
Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
- Covers multiple trips within a 12-month period
- Each trip must fall within a maximum duration
If you travel more than once a year, an annual policy may offer better value overall.
Step 2: Make Sure Your Destination Is Covered
- Europe
- Worldwide excluding USA/Canada
- Worldwide including USA/Canada
- All countries on your itinerary are included
- Any stopovers are covered
Step 3: Check the Level of Medical Cover
- At least £1 million for Europe
- At least £2 million for the USA
- Emergency repatriation is included
- 24/7 medical assistance is available
Step 4: Match Cancellation Cover to Your Trip Value
Cancellation cover should reflect the total cost of your holiday.
This includes:
- Flights
- Accommodation
- Pre-booked activities
If your policy limit is lower than your trip value, you may not recover all your costs if you need to cancel.
Step 5: Consider What You’ll Be Doing on Holiday
Not all activities are automatically covered.
You should check whether your policy includes everything you plan to do.
For example:
- Skiing or snowboarding usually requires winter sports cover
- Cruises often require specialist cover
- Some adventure activities may need additional cover
Many policies allow you to add optional extras if needed.
Step 6: Declare Any Medical Conditions
If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, these must be declared when buying your policy.
Failure to declare relevant conditions may result in:
- Claims being refused
- Reduced payouts
Being honest and accurate during the application process is essential.
Step 7: Check the Excess
The excess is the amount you pay towards a claim.
For example:
- If your excess is £75 and your claim is £500
- You would receive £425
Lower excess policies may cost more, so it’s important to choose a level you are comfortable with.
Step 8: Understand What Is Not Covered
Travel insurance does not cover everything.
Common exclusions include:
- Known events before you buy the policy
- Undeclared medical conditions
- Travelling against official advice
- Losses not specifically listed as covered
You should always read the policy wording carefully before buying.
Step 9: Don’t Choose Based on Price Alone
Price is important, but it should not be the only factor.
Lower-cost policies may include:
- Lower cover limits
- Higher excess
- Fewer included benefits
Guidance consistently highlights that the cheapest option may not provide the protection you need.
Step 10: Buy Your Policy at the Right Time
Travel insurance is typically arranged as soon as you book your trip.
This is because:
- Cancellation cover often starts immediately
- You are protected if something happens before you travel
Waiting until the last minute could mean you are not covered for events that occur before departure.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When choosing travel insurance, try to avoid:
- Choosing the cheapest policy without checking cover
- Not declaring medical conditions
- Selecting the wrong destination region
- Forgetting to add optional cover for activities
- Buying cover too late
Taking time to compare policies properly can help avoid problems later.
Key Takeaways
- Choose between single trip and annual cover based on how often you travel
- Make sure your destination is included in your policy
- Check medical and cancellation limits carefully
- Consider optional cover depending on your trip
- Declare any medical conditions honestly
- Do not choose a policy based on price alone
Get a Quote for Your Trip
Leisure Guard Travel Insurance offers a range of options for UK travellers, including single trip and annual multi-trip policies, with optional add-ons to suit different types of travel.
You can get a quote and select cover that matches your destination, activities and personal circumstances.
Not all destinations you might visit or activities you might do are included in a Leisure Guard travel insurance policy. Be sure to read the policy details carefully to see if your destination and planned activities are covered.
The thoughts and opinions expressed in the page are those of the authors, intended to be informative, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Leisure Guard Travel Insurance. This content is for general information purposes only and is not intended to provide advice or amend the terms of any policy.
