🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 158 (from laksa084)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa158.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/martin-lewis-travel-insurance/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/martin-lewis-travel-insurance/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/martin-lewis-travel-insurance\/","crawl_time":1774060290,"first_indexed_time":1731652467,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"uk,co,moneypeopleonline!\/travel-insurance\/guides\/martin-lewis-travel-insurance\/ s443","src_root_hash":"9220611926404511958","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Martin Lewis Family Travel Insurance Guide","meta_descriptions":["Read the latest Martin Lewis travel insurance advice to get your cover ASAB or As Soon As you Book for the very best cover for your holiday."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"What does Martin Lewis say about Family Travel Insurance 2026?\nMartin Lewis says more every year about travel insurance than any other general insurance product or policy. His annual warning to British travellers and holiday markers is to book your travel insurance policy ASAB, which stands for ‘As Soon As you Book’.\nAccording to Martin Lewis, he is contacted several times every year by one of his MoneySavingExpert community to ask for advice about how to recover travel costs. The typical example that he gives is someone who has been diagnosed with a serious illness which means that they can’t travel, but they don’t have travel insurance.\nFamily Money Experts: Martin Lewis Cheap Travel Insurance guide for Families 2026.\nGet your Travel Insurance ASAB (As Soon As you Book) to get the most value for money and cover.\nCheck with your Bank and Credit Cards to see if you’re already covered.\nUse cashback sites like Quidco and Topcashback to get money back on your travel insurance.\nMake sure that you disclose any pre-existing medical conditions and be honest about your lifestyle.\nRead your policy documents carefully and check for any exclusions (e.g. sports, alcohol, etc.).\nDon’t leave it to chance, especially if you’ve got children or if you’re travelling remote destinations.\nMake sure that your family cover is right and all of your family are properly protected (e.g. check age limits).\nMoneyPeopleOnline family travel insurance experts\nIn this guide, our team of family travel insurance experts looks at the latest\nMartin Lewis travel insurance advice\nand other consumer guidance for UK holidaymakers. We explain how travel insurance works and the extra value that you could get by taking cover ‘As Soon As you Book’ for your holiday.\nDISCLAIMER:\nMoneyPeopleOnline is an independent money saving website that has been created to help households and parents to make the right financial decisions. We are in no way connected to Martin Lewis and his Money Saving Expert website, our guides are simply to help explain some of the guidance provided by these services and to add more detail from our expertise in these areas.\nHolidaymakers consistently leave themselves exposed to the risks of booking a holiday early to save money and then leaving taking out travel insurance to the last minute. Most parents don’t think about the risks of serious illness, including cancers, heart attack or a serious injury, which would prevent them from being able to enjoy their holiday and result in significant financial loss.\n60 Second Summary – Martin Lewis travel insurance guide for Families 2026.\nOne of the best tips for travellers and holidaymakers in the UK is when we ask, ‘Does Martin Lewis recommend travel insurance?’.  The answer is very clearly yes Martin Lewis strongly recommends travel insurance and he also recommends getting it ‘ASAB – As Soon As you Book’.\nHolidaymakers seem to be making the same mistakes every year and leaving themselves exposed to potentially losing money on holiday bookings. In yet another warning issued in January, Martin Lewis recommended to take out travel insurance instantly to avoid losing money.\nEvery year, Martin Lewis makes the same recommendation that travellers should get their travel insurance sorted out as soon as possible or ‘ASAB – As Soon As you Book’ to avoid losing money.\nMartin Lewis said on ITV’s This Morning with Holly Willoughby, he gets a Tweet from a viewer every year asking, “what can I do if I’ve been diagnosed with cancer, and I can’t travel?”.\nTravel insurance is specifically for helping you when something goes wrong, and it covers the costs of flight or ferry cancellations, medical problems before and during your trip, and lost or stolen luggage.\nExclusions can be extremely costly and it’s extremely important to make sure that you check your policy wording carefully for medical, sports, and geographical exclusions.\nMartin Lewis also recommends checking with your credit cards or bank to see if you have any free travel insurance benefits included with them, which could potentially save you money.\nDoes Martin Lewis recommend travel insurance?\nMartin Lewis recommends several travel insurance providers and companies, including his two premier travel policies from\nABTA\nand\nLV=\n. Other travel insurance companies promoted on MSE include:\nCoverwise\nLeisure Guard\nCoverForYou\nUrban Jungle\nAdmiral\nMoneySavingExpert has also recently launched its exclusive new ‘Cheap Travel Insurance Finder tool’ for consumers to compare quotes instantly online from a panel of partners. This is a new direction for MSE which has historically not provided direct pricing for insurance policies which is ususual for Mr Lewis.\nTop Martin Lewis travel insurance guides:\nMartin Lewis travel insurance pre existing medical conditions\nCheap travel insurance Martin Lewis\nTravel insurance over 65’s Martin Lewis\nMartin Lewis UK travel insurance\nCoronavirus Travel Rights Martin Lewis – refunds, rights and more\nGetting the very best travel insurance can make a huge difference if you need to make a claim when\ntravelling overseas\n, especially for families, the elderly, and people with\npre-existing medical conditions\n. Martin Lewis travel insurance covers most of these topics and looks at how to save money in the process, which is also extremely important for parents and families.\nWhat is does ASAB mean and why is it important travel insurance?\nIf you watch Martin Lewis or follow any of his social channels, then you may be familiar with the travel insurance ‘ASAB’ (As Soon As you Book) warning. This piece of travel insurance advice means that travellers should buy cover as soon as they’ve booked their holiday or travel.\nMartin Lewis says that he is regularly contacted by consumers asking for advice about recovering travel expenses from being unable to travel due to sickness. In the scenario he usually mentions, someone asks for help after being diagnosed with a serious illness to recover travel costs but they don’t have protection from travel cover.\nASAB is also important for families because they’ve got the added complication of travelling with kids, which is more expensive to begin with and there are more people who may get ill or injured. You could lose a substantial amount of money if you can’t go on your family holiday because of an illness and you don’t have travel insurance.\nTop insurer,\nAllianz\nalso recommends that you should book your travel insurance as early as you can. They also point out in their article ‘\nDo I buy travel\ninsurance\nbefore or after I travel\n’, that you should take out cover at least 14 days before you leave to make sure that your policy is valid.\nFamily Travel Insurance\nMartin Lewis travel insurance TOP recommendation is “Get it ASAB or As Soon As you Book” taken from an interview on\nThis Morning\nwith Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield in July 2018 and again with\nThe Independent\nin February 2023. Martin Lewis repeats this advice every year, including in his most recent\nThis Morning interview\nin July 2024.\nMartin Lewis Travel Insurance 'ASAB' warning for families\nMartin Lewis TV talks to This Morning presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about booking your Travel Insurance As Soon As you Book\nHere’s a quote about Martin Lewis’s travel insurance advice in\nThe Independent\n:\nThe Independent – 22nd February 2023\n“Each spring without fail, someone asks me a heart breaking question, I’ve just been diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness and I need long-term treatment, so I can’t go on holiday. What can I do?”\nAs Martin Lewis strongly recommends on any of his travel insurance interviews, blogs or guides, get it ‘ASAB’.\nAs Mr Lewis also points out on MoneySavingExpert.com in his Martin Lewis travel insurance guides, around half of the value of your policy is before you actually travel. Taking out travel insurance before you actually travel won’t affect the cost but it will significantly increase the value and could save your family money if you need to cancel your trip.\nSome of the information on the Martin Lewis travel insurance sections still relate quite heavily towards\nCoronavirus related issues\n. This is slightly outdated now as these are fortunately no longer a major issue for many travellers.\nFamily | Friendly | Free\nWhat does travel insurance cover?\nA traditional or standard travel insurance policy is solely designed to protect you and your family against financial loss before, during and after your trip.\nThis simply means that most good travel insurance policies will provide you with financial protection for most of the usual risks relating to overseas and domestic holidays, such as:\nCancellation or curtailment\nMedical emergencies\nLoss or theft of possessions\nHoliday disruptions\nViruses and diseases (e.g. COVID-19)\nSports and activities\nMake The Most Of Your Money\nAre all travel insurance policies the same?\nSadly no, there is a significant difference between a good travel insurance policy and a lower level travel insurance policy. Also, it’s not always true to say that “you get what you pay for” either, because some policies offer great value for money whereas others can be overpriced.\nYou should always check your policy wording and terms & conditions very carefully before you accept any cover. It’s also worth noting that comparing several travel insurance quotes is the best way to make sure that you’ve got the right cover. You can do this through your own research, via comparison sites or by talking to a travel insurance expert.\nBelow is an example of what a ‘good travel insurance’ policy should protect you for.\nPolicy protection and cover type\nPotential reasons for claim\nCancellation and curtailment of travel plans\nThis is the bit that most people miss, and the bit that Martin Lewis travel insurance advice emphasises the most.\nIf you need to cancel your holiday due to illness or injury prior to travel which means that you are unable to travel (e.g. car accident, sports injury, diagnosis of a serious illness etc.), or even things like family bereavements and an emergency at home.\nHospital treatments and medical costs when overseas\nOne of the single biggest and potentially most scary situations, is requiring medical treatment and hospitalisation when travelling overseas.\nFirstly, the language barrier alone can be a very scary issue, compounded by the potential astronomical costs of any treatments and care. You should also check very carefully to make sure that your policy covers any pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, cancer, heart conditions, stroke etc.).\nPersonal belongings and luggage (e.g. Theft, loss and damage)\nMost of us travel with a significant amount of luggage and personal possessions when we go on holiday, especially if we’ve got children or for activity holidays.\nThe potential costs of loss, theft or damage to those possessions can be hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Most good travel insurance policies will give higher limits for these belongings and you can even increase limits if you have specific items to cover.\nExtreme sports, dangerous activities and holiday excursions\nA popular reason for holidaymakers visiting foreign locations is to take part in certain activities or sports (e.g. skiing, snowboarding, sailing, diving and mountaineering).\nThere are specific policies that cover these activities and some might exclude these unless stated in the policy terms and conditions.\nPersonal and public liability (including legal costs)\nYou are just as much at risk of hurting or injuring another person when you are on holiday, as when you’re at home (e.g. car accident, sports accident, property damage etc.).\nYour building and contents or car insurance will usually cover these at home, so you’ll nee to think about making sure that this is covered when you’re on holiday.\nNote:\nEvery travel insurance policy has its own limits of cover and will provide different levels of coverage, so check your policy documents very carefully.\nHelping Families Save Money\nWho is the best and cheapest travel insurance?\nMoneySavingExpert.com’s main travel insurance page is titled ‘Cheap travel insurance’, so you would assume that it contains information on the best and cheapest travel insurance in the UK.\nWhile the page does contain various helpful tips about saving money on your cover, there isn’t much information about specific insurance companies that are budget-friendly. The companies that are suggested are mentioned briefly, without much context about their customer service record or features of their policies.\nMSE does have a built-in ‘cheap travel insurance finder’ tool, which works similarly to a typical price comparison tool as seen in the image below.\nThis tool doesn’t offer exact prices but will give you a rough estimate of the prices you might expect to see. This list of prices will be based on:\nYour age (provides a general age bracket like 18-35 and you can’t input an exact age)\nIf you need individual, couples, or family cover\nIf you need a single trip or annual policy\nWhile this list can be a helpful starting point, it doesn’t account for things like your trip destination, exact age, or any medical conditions, which can all affect the price of your policy. MSE also states that they judge any policies included in this list solely on price, and don’t take customer feedback into account.\nWe would be wary of choosing any policies based solely on these lists, as it is always best to do some research and consider which insurance company will work best for your situation.\nWhere is the best place to get travel insurance?\nThe ‘best’ place to get your travel insurance will depend on the type of cover that you are after and your own situation. Some people find it useful to use a comparison site or to speak to a travel insurance broker for advice about their policy.\nOur partners\nMedical Travel Compared\nare specialists in travel insurance for pre-existing conditions and can quickly compare the best prices and policies from across the UK.\nWhat medical conditions do you have to declare on travel insurance?\nYou will need to declare any medical conditions that you have experienced in the recent past when you apply for travel insurance. Some companies will ask more detailed questions than others about your health and medical history.\nIt can be useful to apply via a specialist website if you’re worried that your health will affect the policies that are available to you.\nMartin Lewis’ website MoneySavingExpert.com has a full page dedicated to pre-existing conditions travel insurance, which contains more information on this topic. We explain these comments and advice in full detail in our guide ‘\nMartin Lewis Travel Insurance Pre-existing Medical Conditions\n’.\nCompare Our Best Travel Insurance Quotes\nMartin Lewis travel insurance need to knows\nThere are also 10 need to knows about travel insurance on the Martin Lewis guide to travel insurance that are very useful hints and tips. Travel insurance policies do vary significantly from one insurer to another, so it’s not just the price that you need to think about.\n1. Take your family travel insurance As Soon As you Book (ASAB)\nOne of the key tips and main points on all of the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides is to make sure that buy travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday or travel. Unfortunately, lots of us leave taking out travel insurance to the last minute or we buy it just before we travel which significantly reduces the value of your policy.\nOne of the biggest elements of travel insurance is the cover and protection that it provides before you travel. Some of those events can include cancellation due to medical problems, redundancy, injury through an accident and even death in the family.\nMost consumers don’t even consider these elements or events when booking their holidays and thinking about travel insurance. Roughly 50% of the value of a travel insurance policy is in the time leading up to when you are due to travel.\nMartin Lewis travel insurance recommends ASAB which means ‘as soon as you’ve booked’ and this is a great rule to follow.\nNote:\nThis also applies for people who are booking holidays in the UK, and it’s not just for overseas travel.\n2. Check your family travel insurance policy exclusions\nSimilar to most of the general insurance and personal insurance policies, travel insurance also comes with a standard set of exclusions that can vary from one insurer to another. You should check your policy documents and terms and conditions very carefully before you travel.\nHere’s a list of standard exclusions and explanations:\nAlcohol related accidents or injuries\nAlcohol related accidents or injuries are typical and standard exclusions on most travel insurance policies. This exclusion has applied for several years now since the increase of alcohol and drug related injuries from UK holidaymakers travelling abroad. If you are found to have alcohol or drugs in your system at the time of the accident or injury then your claim is likely to be refused.\nExtreme sports and hazardous activities\nExtreme sports and hazardous activities will also generally be excluded from most standard travel insurance policies, unless they offer specific activities (e.g. winter sports, sailing, diving, motorcycle riding etc.). You have a number of options if you intend to take part in extreme sports while you are on holiday, or for people who are travelling abroad specifically to take part in dangerous activities.\nThere are a number of organisations for certain activities to speak to if you intend to take part in sports overseas. These organisations will be able to provide useful information which may be of use when looking for the right travel insurance cover.\nYou can also get advice and quotes from an extreme sports travel insurance specialist to get the right cover. For more information and a list of specialists you can visit the\nBritish Insurance Brokers Association\nwebsite.\nBritish Insurance Broker’s Association Contact Details\nTelephone (Insurance Help)- 0370 950 1790\nTelephone (General Enquiries) – 0344 7700 266\nEmail –\nenquiries@biba.org.uk\nPre-existing medical conditions\nPre-existing medical conditions will usually need to be covered with a specialist policy or will often be excluded from a standard travel insurance policy. You will need to check your policy wording carefully and you can seek advice from a medical conditions specialist.\nNote: You must disclose your medical history when you take out a travel insurance policy, or your cover might be invalid. If you fail to tell your travel insurance provider about a specific pre-existing medical condition then your claims will usually be refused.\nWe are proud to partner with Medical Travel Compared to provide top quality travel insurance cover with great coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions.\nMedical Travel Compared is one of the UK’s leading pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance specialists. If you feel they’re the right fit for you, feel free to\nget a medical travel insurance quote online\n.\nInvalid travel documents\nInvalid travel documents is also an unfortunate possibility when you travel overseas, such as an out of date passport, invalid visa documents or other travel documents that are required. You are responsible to ensure that you have the appropriate travel documents and that they are all valid (e.g. not out of date).\nNote: You should always check the\nForeign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)\nwebsite to find out which documents are required and any rules for entry. Make sure that you allow sufficient time to be able to prepare yourself and any requirements for entry to your destination.\nPolicy excess\nPolicy excess is the amount that you would have to pay to your travel insurance provider in the event of a claim. Your excess should be explained to you on your policy documents and you might be able to select different excess levels, also there will be different excess levels for different claims.\nExample: if you require hospital treatment while you are overseas and the cost is £2,000 for the procedure and medication, you might have to pay £300 excess before you claim will be paid.\nExcesses can vary from as little as £100 up to as much as £500 or even £1,000 for bigger claims (e.g. repatriation back to the UK). You might also find that it’s not worth claiming small amounts because the excess will be more than the claim.\nPrivate medical treatment or private hospitals\nPrivate medical treatment or private hospitals may also be excluded as these are not typically included with standard travel insurance coverage. Some higher level travel insurance policies will include private hospital treatment, but you just need to check first.\nYou should always double check your documents to make sure that you are allowed to have treatment in your chosen hospital or facility. Some insurance companies will accept private hospital treatment as standard for certain procedures or medical emergencies, while others won’t.\nNote: If you’re unhappy with a claim being refused or you feel that you have been treated unfairly then you should refer your claim to the\nFinancial Ombudsman Service (FOS)\nfor further advice.\n3. Disclose all of your families medical history to be fully covered\nIt can be difficult to talk about your medical history and it’s not always something that you will want to disclose on a travel insurance application. It is important to be open and honest about your health to avoid any potential issues with claims.\nIf you fail to disclose a pre-existing medical condition on your application then your policy could be invalid and any claims might be refused. When you apply for travel insurance, you will be asked questions about your health, medical history and lifestyle.\nIf you want more information then you should visit our Martin Lewis pre existing travel insurance guide. Alternatively you can\nget a medical travel insurance quote online\n.\n4. Destinations: check to make sure that yours is included\nDangerous or hazardous locations are often excluded from most standard travel insurance policies. You should always check to see whether your chosen destination is currently listed on the unsafe travel locations. You can check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website to get the latest destinations on the list.\nThere are two standard types of travel insurance policies which are ‘European’ and ‘Worldwide’ cover. The slightly confusing thing is that European travel insurance generally covers you to travel to a number of other non-European locations.\nAnnual travel insurance cover for non-European travel\nIf you buy annual travel insurance cover then you should make sure that it covers your potential destinations for the whole year. Most annual travel insurance policies can’t be changed once you’ve paid for them and started your cover.\nIt does seem slightly strange to call it ‘European’ travel insurance when in reality they cover a number of non-European destinations. Some of the locations that are often included outside of Europe include:\nEgypt\nRussia\nIsrael\nTurkey\nMorocco\nTunisia\nYou should check to make sure that any potential destinations are covered under the travel insurance policy you are looking at.\nAnother slightly strange anomaly with European travel insurance is that not all policies include Spain (including Canaries and Balearic Islands) as standard. These can often be added at an extra cost but this may make the cover less cost-effective.\nSome of the best European travel insurance policies include:\nAllianz\nInsure and Go\nAIG\n5. Do I need travel cover if I have the free EHIC or GHIC?\nThe European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and the new version which is the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) are free for UK residents. The GHIC came in to operation from the 1st January 2021, and it gives you access to treatment from state-run medical facilities and hospitals in the European Union (EU).\nThe main feature of the GHIC is that it provides the holder with treatment at the same cost as what national residents would pay. Most other European countries don’t operate the same National Health Service (NHS) as in the UK, so there will often be a charge or fee for treatment.\nDoes an EHIC or GHIC replace the need for travel insurance?\nNO – You should always take out travel insurance as well as having the EHIC or GHIC. Martin Lewis travel insurance guides also recommend that you should always have travel insurance as well as either of these cards.\nTravel insurance covers over EHIC and GHIC:\nLost or stolen property\nCancellations and curtailment\nPersonal liability\nHoliday disruption and delays\nRepatriation back to the UK\nSports injuries and accident liability\nWhat does the EHIC or GHIC do if I’ve got travel insurance?\nYou might wonder whether it’s actually worth getting a card if you’ve travel insurance, and that’s a good question. The only benefit of the EHIC or GHIC if you’ve got travel insurance is that it might mean that you don’t have to pay any excess for medical claims.\nWhat does the EHIC or GHIC do if I’ve got travel insurance?\nThe older style EHIC is no longer available after the 1st January 2021 and you would automatically receive a GHIC in its place. The GHIC is free and can be obtained via the NHS website (see below).\nGHIC application\nGHIC guides\nNote: There are websites that claim to offer GHIC for a fee (usually £30-40) which should be avoided as recommended quite rightly on the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides.\n6. Is annual travel insurance worth it for families?\nAs a general rule of thumb from the advice in the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides, it is suggested that 2 or more trips in a 12 month period is worth considering annual cover. As most travel insurance providers will recommend, annual travel insurance is more cost-effective and easier than buying two or more individual policies.\nThere are many other considerations when buying annual travel insurance, such as:\nMake sure that it covers all of your destinations\nIf you’re taking part in sports or activities then make sure that they are included and covered\nLonger trips might not be covered so check limits on travel times\nShort holidays or weekend breaks might be cheaper to cover individually\nCruise holidays may not be covered on an annual policy (optional add-on usually)\nYou might also have a limit on your annual travel insurance policy for the maximum amount of time you are allowed to travel overseas in a year. Some limits might be as low as 2 weeks or can go up to as high as 3 months in some cases, depending on your insurance provider.\nPeople looking for specialist travel insurance policies such as working abroad, backpacking, travelling for long periods, or gap years. There are specific policies and providers that are ideal for these types of travel.\n7. Does my bank or credit card cover family travel insurance?\nIt’s fairly common in recent times for bank or credit card customers to get travel insurance with certain account types. If you’re not sure whether any of your accounts have this benefit then you should definitely check, because you might already have travel insurance.\nOne of the big points that isn’t really mentioned in the Martin Lewis travel insurance guide is that these policies can have exclusions, and might not be the level of cover that you are looking for, such as:\nPre-existing medical conditions\nExtreme Sports (e.g. winter sports, sailing, diving etc.)\nUSA and Canada\nDangerous destinations\nCruises\n Martin Lewis travel insurance guides also points out that there is another benefit that is offered on some credit cards, which is called ‘travel accident insurance’. This is another type of cover completely that covers accidents when travelling, but it isn’t offered much with more modern card facilities.\n8. Get winter sports cover for skiing and snowboarding holidays\nThis is a subject that we know a lot about being a lifelong skier and winter sports fanatic, so we’ve had lots of experience in this area. Lots of travel insurance policies offer winter sports cover either as a separate policy or can be added as a benefit.\nPeople who take part in winter sports will be aware of the risks involved as well as the other issues, such as loss or theft of equipment.\nMain risks for winter sports and activities:\nAccidents and injuries can be a common issue for people who take part in winter sports, and that can be for any level of experience. Some of the most common injuries can be things like broken bones and head injuries. If you need treatment in the mountains and especially if you need to be rescued off the mountain by helicopter.\nTheft, loss and damage of ski equipment is also common when in the mountains and especially in the past 10 years, where theft has unfortunately become part of winter holiday risks. Ski equipment can be extremely expensive to replace, even if it is rented from a local ski shop. Replacing ski equipment can more than double the cost of your already costly ski holiday.\nPublic liability insurance (e.g. injuring another person in an accident or damaging another person’s equipment) can also be vital cover because accidents can happen and it might not be your fault at all. The mountains can be a very dangerous place and especially in adverse weather conditions, so an unintentional or unavoidable accident might happen.\nAdverse weather conditions can also cause major disruptions or mean that your holiday might be significantly impacted. Some winter sports travel insurance policies will cover you for mountain closures due to severe weather problems.\nNote: As it has been pointed out by Martin Lewis, most winter sports travel insurance policies won’t cover you for skiing or snowboarding off-piste (unless you are accompanied by a qualified guide).\n9. Can I get family cruise travel insurance?\nThe number of people taking cruise holidays dramatically fell during COVID, the overall figure dropped to under the 5 million in 2021. Globally, these figures have partially recovered to around 20 million cruise holiday travellers in 2022.\nOne of the common mistakes that people make with cruise holidays, is assuming that their travel insurance covers them for this type of trip. Unfortunately, most traditional travel insurance policies don’t fully cover cruise holidays as standard. You might be lucky and get some cover on your standard travel insurance policy but some critical elements will usually be missing, such as:\nIllness (confined to cabin) e.g. virus or outbreak of diseases\nExcursions that were not used or unavailable\nChange to your cruise schedule\nMissing the ship departure\nAll of these can be covered with a standard travel insurance policy add on benefit, and this is usually not too expensive. There are also specialist travel insurance policies and providers that specifically tailor their cover for cruise holidays.\nHow does cancellation cover work and how do I make a claim if I’m having problems with my tour operator or airline?\nMost traditional and standard travel insurance policies will cover you for cancellation and curtailment of your holiday for a number of reasons. However, even if you have the highest level of cover from the very best travel insurance provider, you’ll still have to follow a certain procedure to make a claim for cancellations.\nOne of the biggest potential issues with climbing for cancellation on a travel insurance policy, is the clause about ‘recoverable costs’. This means that your travel insurance policy will only cover you for costs that cannot be recovered from your tour operator or airline first.\nAs it recommends on the Martin Lewis travel insurance guide, you’ll need to speak to your tour operator and airline first to see what compensation they would offer or what costs they would reimburse. This is a fairly normal procedure with any travel plans that are cancelled or changed, and simply means that you would need to provide proof or evidence that you followed the correct procedure.\nA standard ‘recoverable costs’ clause would usually look like this:\nIn the event of cancellation of your holiday or travel you should follow some simple steps before you make a claim.\nFirst you should contact your tour operator to find out what their refund policy is, and any potential compensation they will provide (including credit notes and vouchers)\nAny trips that have been booked by using a credit card or debit card, you should firstly contact the card provider to find out what cover they offer, and any compensation they might provide.\nWe are unable to process a claim without following these steps first and firstly finding out what compensation might be available. Once you’ve completed these steps please contact your claims department for us to process your claim.\nHow to make a complaint about travel insurance\nIf you have a complaint about your travel insurance policy or if you’re not happy with the outcome of a claim, then you can raise a complaint with the Financial Ombudsmen Service (FOS).\nAll travel insurance policies are covered by the same regulators and you will automatically have a level of protection built in. You should firstly raise your complaint with your travel insurance provider, and then you can escalate your complaint to the FOS if you’re unhappy with the outcome.\nCommon travel insurance complaints:\nUnclear terms and conditions (hidden small print)\nUnpaid or pay out shortfalls on claims\nUnfair fees or charges\nPoor service\nExclusions not explained properly\nFinancial Ombudsman Service Contact Details\nTelephone – 0800 023 4567 (or 0300 123 9123)\nTelephone (outside the UK) – 0207 964 0500\nEmail –\ncomplaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk\nYou can also visit ‘\nResolver\n’ which is a free to use website for people who wish to make complaints to financial services companies.\nHow to make a claim on a travel insurance policy\nTravel insurance is there to protect you and your family, so you shouldn’t feel bad if you need to claim on it. Often, people are put off claiming on their travel insurance because of unclear wording, complicated claims processes, high excesses, or just can’t be bothered with the hassle.\nThere are several simple steps that you should follow if you need to make a claim on your travel insurance policy.\n1. Submit your claim form and contact your insurance provider as soon as you can\nSubmit your claim form and contact your insurance provider as soon as you can to avoid any unnecessary questions or potential issues. If you fail to notify your insurance company of your claim in a certain timeframe (usually 1 or 2 weeks), then you might risk missing the claim window that is allowed under your policy terms and conditions, this includes any police reports and crime reference numbers.\n2. Get a crime reference number (CRN) from the local police\nGet a crime reference number (CRN) from the local police for any theft or damage to possessions. This can be a painful process and might seem like a waste of your time, especially if you’re on holiday and you want to make the most of your time abroad. Submitting an incident report to the police can be the difference between a valid and an invalid claim on your travel insurance policy. Often this needs to be done within 24 or 48 hours of the incident happening.\n3. Speak to your insurer and get them to authorise treatment before you have it\nSpeak to your insurer and get them to authorise treatment before you have it which can be extremely difficult, but can make a huge difference. Most travel insurance policies will require that you contact them before you receive treatment to make sure that it is in an approved facility or hospital and that the procedure is valid. This can be difficult as well, especially if you are in significant pain or discomfort.\n4. Keep a log of costs and receipts\nKeep a log of costs and receipts for any payments to make sure that you have a full audit trail of anything you have paid for. Most travel insurance policies will want proof or evidence for any costs that you have incurred that you are claiming for. These can include hotel costs, taxis, medications or medical treatments.\nYou also have the option to make a complaint to your insurance provider and escalate your complaint to the FOS (see above), if you feel that you are being treated unfairly.\nGet a cheap travel insurance quote online\nWe have a simple travel insurance quote tool online that gives you access to some of the best and cheapest travel insurance policies. Our trusted travel insurance partners are experts in travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, so your health shouldn’t stop you from getting the best travel insurance quotes.\nCompare Our Best Travel Insurance Quotes\nGet our best cover to protect you and your family. Compare quotes from the UK’s leading Travel Insurance brands.","attrs_markdown":"[![Money People Online](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/mpo-logo-no-padding.svg)](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/)\n\nMore ▾\n\nClose\n\n[About](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/about-us\/) [Contact](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/contact-us\/) [All News](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/martin-lewis-travel-insurance\/)\n\n[Get a Quick Quote \\>\\>\\>](https:\/\/quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk\/?source=MPO&id=mpo-martin-lewis-travel-insurance \"Get a Quick Quote  >>>\")\n\n- [Mortgages](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/)\n  - - - #### Mortgage Rates and Deals\n        - [Cost of moving home calculator UK](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/guides\/cost-of-moving-home-calculator-uk\/)\n        - [Exit Strategies for Bridging Loans](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/guides\/exit-strategies-for-bridging-loans\/)\n        - [Bridging Loan Calculator](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/guides\/bridging-loan-calculator\/)\n        - [Martin Lewis Bridging Loans Guide](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/guides\/martin-lewis-bridging-loans-guide\/)\n        - [Bridging Loans Guide](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/guides\/bridging-loans-guide-for-parents-and-families\/)\n        - [Equity Release and Lifetime Mortgage Guide for Parents](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/guides\/equity-release-and-lifetime-mortgage-guide-for-parents\/)\n        - [Standard Variable Rate mortgages (SVR)](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/guides\/standard-variable-rate-mortgages-svr\/)\n        - [Remortgaging Fees and Costs For Families](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/guides\/remortgaging-fees-and-costs-for-families-2025\/)\n        - [How To Get A UK Mortgage Under 4%](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/guides\/how-to-get-a-uk-mortgage-under-4\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/guides\/)\n    - - #### Mortgage Lender Reviews\n        - [Santander Buy to Let Mortgage Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/lenders\/santander-buy-to-let-mortgage-review\/)\n        - [Santander Mortgage Review For Families 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/lenders\/santander-mortgage-review\/)\n        - [NatWest mortgage review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/lenders\/natwest-mortgage-review\/)\n        - [Nationwide Mortgage Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/lenders\/nationwide-mortgage-review\/)\n        - [Halifax Mortgage Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/lenders\/halifax-mortgage-review\/)\n        - [HSBC Mortgage Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/lenders\/hsbc-mortgage-review\/)\n        - [Barclays Mortgage Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/lenders\/barclays-mortgage-review\/)\n        - [Accord Mortgages Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/lenders\/accord-mortgages-review\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/lenders\/)\n    - - #### Mortgage Reviews\n        - [Mortgageable Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/companies\/mortgageable-review\/)\n        - [Tembo Money Mortgage Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/companies\/tembo-money-mortgage-review\/)\n        - [Habito Mortgages Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/companies\/habito-mortgage-review\/)\n        - [London and Country Mortgage Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/companies\/are-l-and-c-mortgages-a-good-choice-for-parents\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/companies\/)\n    - - #### Latest Mortgage News\n        - [UK house prices in early 2026: what a flat February means for families](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/news\/uk-house-prices-in-early-2026-what-a-flat-february-means-for-families\/)\n        - [UK inflation at 3% in January 2026: what it means for parents’ finances](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/news\/uk-inflation-at-3-in-january-2026-what-it-means-for-parents-finances\/)\n        - [First Time Buyer Mortgage Approvals Hit Record Levels in the UK](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/news\/first-time-buyer-mortgage-approvals-hit-record-levels-in-the-uk\/)\n        - [Mortgage Rate News: Nationwide, Virgin Money and Principality Increase Rates](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/news\/mortgage-rate-news-nationwide-virgin-money-and-principality-increase-rates\/)\n        - [Mortgage Rate Options Hit 18 Year High](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/news\/mortgage-rate-options-hit-18-year-high\/)\n        - [Halifax Data Shows UK House Price Dip to Six Month Low](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/news\/halifax-data-shows-uk-house-price-dip-to-six-month-low\/)\n        - [Bank of England Rate Cut Expected as Inflation Falls 0.4%](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/news\/bank-of-england-rate-cut-expected-as-inflation-falls-0-4-percent\/)\n        - [GDP Falls 0.1% Leaving Door Wide Open for Interest Rate Cut](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/news\/gdp-falls-0-1-leaving-door-wide-open-for-interest-rate-cut\/)\n        - [More Options and Lowest Fixed Mortgage Rates Since 2022](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/news\/more-options-and-lowest-fixed-mortgage-rates-since-2022\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/news\/)\n- [Life Insurance](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/)\n  - - - #### Life Insurance Providers\n        - [Post Office Over 50s Life Insurance Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/providers\/post-office-over-50s-life-insurance-review\/)\n        - [Beagle Street Family Life Insurance Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/providers\/beagle-street-life-insurance\/)\n        - [The Exeter Life Insurance Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/providers\/the-exeter-life-insurance\/)\n        - [Budget life insurance – does it really save you money?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/providers\/budget-life-insurance\/)\n        - [HSBC Life Insurance Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/providers\/hsbc-life-insurance-review\/)\n        - [SunLife Over 50s Life Insurance Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/providers\/sunlife-life-insurance-review\/)\n        - [One Family Life Insurance Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/providers\/one-family-life-insurance-review\/)\n        - [Guardian 1821 life insurance review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/providers\/guardian-1821-life-insurance-review\/)\n        - [Zurich Life Insurance Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/providers\/zurich-life-insurance-review\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/providers\/)\n    - - #### Life Insurance Reviews\n        - [LifeSearch Family Life Insurance Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/companies\/lifesearch-reviews\/)\n        - [Polly Life Insurance Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/companies\/polly-life-insurance-review\/)\n        - [Tom Life Insurance Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/companies\/tom-life-insurance-review\/)\n        - [DeadHappy, is it really ‘life insurance to die for’?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/companies\/deadhappy-life-insurance-review\/)\n        - [Reassured Life Insurance](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/companies\/reassured-life-insurance-review\/)\n        - [NatWest Life Insurance Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/companies\/natwest-life-insurance-review\/)\n        - [Sainsbury’s Life Insurance Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/companies\/sainsburys-life-insurance-review\/)\n        - [Sainsburys Over 50s Life Insurance Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/companies\/sainsburys-over-50s-life-insurance-review\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/companies\/)\n    - - #### Life Insurance Guides\n        - [Government extends Cost of Living Support for families](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/government-extends-cost-of-living-support-for-families\/)\n        - [Will Labour scrap the two-child limit for Universal Credit?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/will-labour-scrap-the-two-child-limit-for-universal-credit\/)\n        - [Sunak and Tory government pledge an extra 120,000 NHS staff](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/sunak-and-tory-government-pledge-an-extra-120000-nhs-staff\/)\n        - [Top Tips for End of Tax Year 2024](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/top-tips-for-end-of-tax-year-2024\/)\n        - [Inflation-linked BT Broadband and mobile price rises scrapped](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/inflation-linked-bt-broadband-and-mobile-price-rises-scrapped\/)\n        - [Quidco Cashback Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/quidco-cashback-website-review-is-it-real-or-fake\/)\n        - [Rail strikes updates for December – How do you claim?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/national-rail-strike-updates-can-i-get-compensation-and-how-can-i-claim\/)\n        - [Consumer duty summary – what do the new rules mean?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/consumer-duty-summary\/)\n        - [Average UK energy bills to fall by up to £426](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/average-uk-energy-bills-fall-by-426\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/guides\/)\n    - - #### Life Insurance News\n        - [DeadHappy is Finally Gone for Good](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/news\/deadhappy-is-finally-gone-for-good-june-2024\/)\n        - [Aviva takeover of AIG Life UK investigation](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/news\/aviva-takeover-of-aig-life-uk-investigation\/)\n        - [Insurance complaints – FOS predicts 44,300 in 2024](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/news\/insurance-complaints-fos\/)\n        - [Urgent: Bereavement Support Payment Deadline (08\/02\/2024)](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/news\/bereavement-support-payment-deadline\/)\n        - [Bereavement support payments – could you claim up to £10,000?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/news\/bereavement-support-payments-could-you-claim-up-to-10000\/)\n        - [LV= claim that 1 in 4 adults are worried about mental health](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/news\/lv-claim-that-1-in-4-adults-are-worried-about-mental-health\/)\n        - [Aviva buys AIG Life for £460million](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/news\/aviva-buys-aig-life-for-460million\/)\n        - [Scottish Widows Claims Statistics (2022)](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/news\/scottish-widows-claims-statistics-2022\/)\n        - [Legal and General Claims Statistics (2022)](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/news\/legal-and-general-claims-statistics-2022\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/news\/)\n- [Health Insurance](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/)\n  - - - #### Health Insurance Providers\n        - [WPA Family Health Insurance Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/wpa-family-health-insurance-review\/)\n        - [Bupa Family Health Insurance Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/bupa-health-insurance-is-it-really-worth-the-money\/)\n        - [Vitality Health Insurance Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/vitality-health-insurance-is-it-right-for-you\/)\n        - [The Exeter health insurance – a good option for health cover?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/the-exeter-health-insurance\/)\n        - [AXA Health insurance – does it offer good value for money?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/axa-health-insurance\/)\n        - [National Friendly health insurance – is it the best choice?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/national-friendly-health-insurance-is-it-the-best-choice\/)\n        - [Freedom health insurance – is it a good choice?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/freedom-health-insurance-is-it-a-good-choice\/)\n        - [Aviva health insurance – is it any good?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/aviva-health-insurance-is-it-any-good\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/)\n    - - #### Health Insurance Reviews\n        - [WPA Family Health Insurance Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/wpa-family-health-insurance-review\/)\n        - [Bupa Family Health Insurance Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/bupa-health-insurance-is-it-really-worth-the-money\/)\n        - [Vitality Health Insurance Review](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/vitality-health-insurance-is-it-right-for-you\/)\n        - [The Exeter health insurance – a good option for health cover?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/the-exeter-health-insurance\/)\n        - [AXA Health insurance – does it offer good value for money?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/axa-health-insurance\/)\n        - [National Friendly health insurance – is it the best choice?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/national-friendly-health-insurance-is-it-the-best-choice\/)\n        - [Freedom health insurance – is it a good choice?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/freedom-health-insurance-is-it-a-good-choice\/)\n        - [Aviva health insurance – is it any good?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/providers\/aviva-health-insurance-is-it-any-good\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/companies\/)\n    - - #### Health Insurance Guides\n        - [Guide to Simplify Private Health Insurance for Parents and Families](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/guides\/guide-to-simplify-private-health-insurance-for-parents-and-families\/)\n        - [Health Insurance Underwriting Explained: Moratorium or Full Medical Underwriting](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/guides\/health-insurance-underwriting-explained-moratorium-or-full-medical-underwriting\/)\n        - [Fairer Finance launches Health Insurance product ratings](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/guides\/fairer-finance-launches-health-insurance-product-ratings\/)\n        - [Private health insurance vs NHS](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/guides\/private-health-insurance-vs-nhs-which-is-better\/)\n        - [How much do private medical treatments cost in the UK?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/guides\/how-much-do-private-medical-treatments-cost-in-the-uk\/)\n        - [MPO guide to health insurance renewals](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/guides\/mpo-guide-to-health-insurance-renewals\/)\n        - [Top tips for buying cheap health insurance](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/guides\/top-tips-for-buying-cheap-health-insurance\/)\n        - [What is family health insurance?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/guides\/what-is-family-health-insurance\/)\n        - [What is the Best Private Health Insurance 2025?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/guides\/what-is-the-best-private-health-insurance-2023\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/guides\/)\n    - - #### Latest Health Insurance News\n        - [Rachel Reeves Under Pressure To Charge VAT On Private Healthcare](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/news\/rachel-reeves-under-pressure-to-charge-vat-on-private-healthcare\/)\n        - [New The Exeter HealthWise App features – how do they help customers?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/news\/new-the-exeter-healthwise-app-features\/)\n        - [Almost 7 million UK adults have private medical insurance](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/news\/almost-7-million-uk-adults-now-have-private-medical-insurance\/)\n        - [Study shows employee wellbeing is top worry for UK businesses](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/news\/study-shows-employee-wellbeing-is-top-worry-for-uk-businesses\/)\n        - [UK health inequalities cause extra 33,000 cancer cases each year](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/news\/uk-health-inequalities-cause-extra-33000-cancer-cases-each-year\/)\n        - [AXA Health announce menopause support for all customers](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/news\/axa-health-announce-menopause-support-for-all-customers\/)\n        - [NHS waiting list rises by 100,000 in 1 month](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/news\/nhs-waiting-list-rises-by-100000-in-1-month\/)\n        - [Bupa announces new Bupa Family+ Health Insurance](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/news\/bupa-announce-new-family-life-insurance\/)\n        - [ABI urges chancellor to cut IPT on health insurance](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/news\/abi-urges-chancellor-to-cut-ipt-on-health-insurance\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/news\/)\n- [Travel](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/)\n  - - - #### Our Guides\n        - [Martin Lewis Family Travel Insurance Guide](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/martin-lewis-travel-insurance\/)\n        - [Does Travel Insurance cover Pregnancy?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/does-travel-insurance-cover-pregnancy\/)\n        - [Single Trip Travel Insurance for Families](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/single-trip-travel-insurance\/)\n        - [MPO Guide to Cheaper Cruise Travel Insurance](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/cruise-travel-insurance\/)\n        - [Martin Lewis travel insurance pre-existing medical conditions](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions\/)\n        - [Guide to travel insurance with cancer](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/guide-to-travel-insurance-with-cancer\/)\n        - [MPO Travel Insurance Excess Guide](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/travel-insurance-excess\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/)\n    - - #### More News\n        - ### [Does travel insurance cover strikes?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/does-travel-insurance-cover-strikes\/)\n        - ### [Guide to travel insurance for diabetics](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/travel-insurance-for-diabetics\/)\n        - ### [Travel insurance with medical conditions](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/travel-insurance-with-medical-conditions\/)\n        - ### [How do I know if my passport is valid?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/how-do-i-know-if-my-passport-is-valid\/)\n        - ### [Save on travel insurance with pre-existing conditions](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/save-on-travel-insurance-with-pre-existing-conditions\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/)\n    - - #### Travel Insurance Reviews\n        - [Medical Travel Compared Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/providers\/medical-travel-compared-review\/)\n        - [LV= Travel Insurance Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/providers\/lv-travel-insurance-review\/)\n        - [Admiral Travel Insurance Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/providers\/admiral-travel-insurance-review\/)\n        - [Staysure Travel Insurance Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/providers\/staysure-travel-insurance\/)\n        - [Asda Travel Insurance Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/providers\/asda-travel-insurance\/)\n        - [Saga Travel Insurance Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/providers\/saga-travel-insurance\/)\n        - [Tesco Travel Insurance Review 2025](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/providers\/tesco-travel-insurance\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/providers\/)\n- [Tax](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/)\n  - - - #### Tax Guides\n        - [Inheritance Tax Guide to Gifting and Pensions for Families](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/guides\/inheritance-tax-guide-to-gifting-and-pensions-for-families\/)\n        - [Tax Relief Guide For Parents with Buy-to-Let Mortgages and Properties](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/guides\/tax-relief-guide-for-parents-with-buy-to-let-mortgages-and-properties\/)\n        - [How to Claim Higher and Additional Rate Pension Tax Relief](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/guides\/how-to-claim-higher-and-additional-rate-pension-tax-relief\/)\n        - [Making Tax Digital (MTD) 2026 – Guide for Parents and Families](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/guides\/making-tax-digital-mtd-2026-guide-for-parents-and-families\/)\n        - [National Insurance Guide for Parents and Families](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/guides\/national-insurance-guide-for-parents-and-families\/)\n        - [MPO Complete Tax Codes Guide for Parents and Families](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/guides\/complete-tax-codes-guide-for-parents\/)\n        - [Income Tax Guide and Tips for Parents and Families](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/guides\/income-tax-guide-and-tips-for-parents-and-families\/)\n        - [Self Assessment Tax Return Guide for Parents](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/guides\/self-assessment-tax-return-guide-for-parents\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/guides\/)\n    - - #### Tax News\n        - [Martin Lewis Budget 2025 Review for Families and Parents](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/news\/martin-lewis-budget-2025-review-for-families-and-parents\/)\n        - [Autumn Budget 2025: Review For Families and Parents](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/news\/autumn-budget-2025-review-for-families-and-parents\/)\n        - [Rachel Reeves Says No Income Tax Increase in Autumn Budget](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/news\/rachel-reeves-says-no-income-tax-increase-in-autumn-budget\/)\n        - [Autumn Budget 2025: Summary of Possible Tax Increases for Parents](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/news\/autumn-budget-2025-summary-of-possible-tax-increases-for-parents\/)\n        - [Martin Lewis Pushes for End to “Stealth Tax Raid” on Families](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/news\/martin-lewis-pushes-for-end-to-stealth-tax-raid-on-families\/)\n        - [Rachel Reeves’s “fair” Budget: What it Could Mean for Families’ Taxes](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/news\/rachel-reevess-fair-budget-what-it-could-mean-for-families-taxes\/)\n        - [Paper Tax Return Deadline. 31st October](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/news\/paper-tax-return-deadline-31st-october\/)\n        - [Predicted Tax Rises in Autumn Budget – How to Protect Your Family](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/news\/predicted-tax-rises-in-autumn-budget-how-to-protect-your-family\/)\n      - [See all »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/news\/)\n    - - #### Property Tax Hub\n        - [UK Rental Property Business and Tax Rules for Landlords](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/property-tax-hub\/uk-rental-property-business-and-tax-rules-for-landlords\/)\n        - [Self Assessment Tax Returns for UK Landlords](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/property-tax-hub\/self-assessment-tax-returns-for-uk-landlords\/)\n        - [Allowable Rental Income Expenses to Reduce Tax](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/property-tax-hub\/allowable-rental-income-expenses-to-reduce-tax\/)\n        - [Types of UK Property Ownership and Rules for Tax and Inheritance](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/property-tax-hub\/types-of-uk-property-ownership-and-rules-for-tax-and-inheritance\/)\n        - [Restriction of tax relief on mortgage interest – section 24 explained](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/property-tax-hub\/restriction-of-tax-relief-on-mortgage-interest-section-24-explained\/)\n    - - [Other Services](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax-form\/)\n- [Family Deals](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/deals-and-discounts\/)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/)\n- [Travel Insurance](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/)\n- [Guides](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/)\n- Martin Lewis Family Travel Insurance Guide\n# What Does Martin Lewis Say About Travel Insurance 2026?\n![A photo of Daniel Sharpe-Szunko, the author](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ace61a3a4ddce61398b0c7fee72bfeccb91eb2d5ad02bd25d237b3fa93859123?s=96&d=mm&r=g)\n\nBy [Daniel Sharpe-Szunko](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/author\/danielsharpeszunko\/)\n\nLast updated: 22 December 2025\n\n21  min read\n\n## Our family finance experts look at the annual travel insurance warning by Martin Lewis, the UK's most well-known money saving expert. How can you get the best value from your family travel insurance policy by taking cover ASAB (As Soon As you Book).\n## What does Martin Lewis say about Family Travel Insurance 2026?\nMartin Lewis says more every year about travel insurance than any other general insurance product or policy. His annual warning to British travellers and holiday markers is to book your travel insurance policy ASAB, which stands for ‘As Soon As you Book’.\n\nAccording to Martin Lewis, he is contacted several times every year by one of his MoneySavingExpert community to ask for advice about how to recover travel costs. The typical example that he gives is someone who has been diagnosed with a serious illness which means that they can’t travel, but they don’t have travel insurance.\n\n### Family Money Experts: Martin Lewis Cheap Travel Insurance guide for Families 2026.\n- Get your Travel Insurance ASAB (As Soon As you Book) to get the most value for money and cover.\n- Check with your Bank and Credit Cards to see if you’re already covered.\n- Use cashback sites like Quidco and Topcashback to get money back on your travel insurance.\n- Make sure that you disclose any pre-existing medical conditions and be honest about your lifestyle.\n- Read your policy documents carefully and check for any exclusions (e.g. sports, alcohol, etc.).\n- Don’t leave it to chance, especially if you’ve got children or if you’re travelling remote destinations.\n- Make sure that your family cover is right and all of your family are properly protected (e.g. check age limits).\n### MoneyPeopleOnline family travel insurance experts\nIn this guide, our team of family travel insurance experts looks at the latest [Martin Lewis travel insurance advice](https:\/\/www.moneysavingexpert.com\/news\/2025\/03\/martin-lewis-holiday-warning\/) and other consumer guidance for UK holidaymakers. We explain how travel insurance works and the extra value that you could get by taking cover ‘As Soon As you Book’ for your holiday.\n\n**DISCLAIMER:** MoneyPeopleOnline is an independent money saving website that has been created to help households and parents to make the right financial decisions. We are in no way connected to Martin Lewis and his Money Saving Expert website, our guides are simply to help explain some of the guidance provided by these services and to add more detail from our expertise in these areas.\n\nHolidaymakers consistently leave themselves exposed to the risks of booking a holiday early to save money and then leaving taking out travel insurance to the last minute. Most parents don’t think about the risks of serious illness, including cancers, heart attack or a serious injury, which would prevent them from being able to enjoy their holiday and result in significant financial loss.\n\n![A picture of a stopwatch](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)\n\n## 60 Second Summary – Martin Lewis travel insurance guide for Families 2026.\n\nOne of the best tips for travellers and holidaymakers in the UK is when we ask, ‘Does Martin Lewis recommend travel insurance?’. The answer is very clearly yes Martin Lewis strongly recommends travel insurance and he also recommends getting it ‘ASAB – As Soon As you Book’.\n\nHolidaymakers seem to be making the same mistakes every year and leaving themselves exposed to potentially losing money on holiday bookings. In yet another warning issued in January, Martin Lewis recommended to take out travel insurance instantly to avoid losing money.\n\n- Every year, Martin Lewis makes the same recommendation that travellers should get their travel insurance sorted out as soon as possible or ‘ASAB – As Soon As you Book’ to avoid losing money.\n- Martin Lewis said on ITV’s This Morning with Holly Willoughby, he gets a Tweet from a viewer every year asking, “what can I do if I’ve been diagnosed with cancer, and I can’t travel?”.\n- Travel insurance is specifically for helping you when something goes wrong, and it covers the costs of flight or ferry cancellations, medical problems before and during your trip, and lost or stolen luggage.\n- Exclusions can be extremely costly and it’s extremely important to make sure that you check your policy wording carefully for medical, sports, and geographical exclusions.\n- Martin Lewis also recommends checking with your credit cards or bank to see if you have any free travel insurance benefits included with them, which could potentially save you money.\n\n[Compare Quotes Now](https:\/\/quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk\/?source=MPO&id=mpo-martin-lewis-travel-insurance \"Compare Quotes Now\")\n## Does Martin Lewis recommend travel insurance?\nMartin Lewis recommends several travel insurance providers and companies, including his two premier travel policies from [ABTA](https:\/\/abtatravelinsurance.onesolutiontravel.co.uk\/) and [LV=](https:\/\/www.lv.com\/travel-insurance). Other travel insurance companies promoted on MSE include:\n\n- [Coverwise](https:\/\/www.coverwise.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/Insurance-home.aspx)\n- [Leisure Guard](https:\/\/www.leisureguardflexitravelinsurance.com\/)\n- [CoverForYou](https:\/\/www.coverforyou.com\/)\n- [Urban Jungle](https:\/\/myurbanjungle.com\/v1t\/purchase\/policy-choice)\n- [Admiral](https:\/\/www.admiral.com\/travel-insurance)\n\nMoneySavingExpert has also recently launched its exclusive new ‘Cheap Travel Insurance Finder tool’ for consumers to compare quotes instantly online from a panel of partners. This is a new direction for MSE which has historically not provided direct pricing for insurance policies which is ususual for Mr Lewis.\n\n### Top Martin Lewis travel insurance guides:\n- [Martin Lewis travel insurance pre existing medical conditions](https:\/\/www.moneysavingexpert.com\/insurance\/pre-existing-travel-insurance\/)\n- [Cheap travel insurance Martin Lewis](https:\/\/www.moneysavingexpert.com\/insurance\/cheap-travel-insurance\/)\n- [Travel insurance over 65’s Martin Lewis](https:\/\/www.moneysavingexpert.com\/insurance\/over65s-travel-insurance\/)\n- [Martin Lewis UK travel insurance](https:\/\/www.moneysavingexpert.com\/insurance\/uk-travel-insurance\/)\n- [Coronavirus Travel Rights Martin Lewis – refunds, rights and more](https:\/\/www.moneysavingexpert.com\/news\/2020\/02\/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights\/)\n\nGetting the very best travel insurance can make a huge difference if you need to make a claim when [travelling overseas](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/browse\/abroad\/travel-abroad), especially for families, the elderly, and people with [pre-existing medical conditions](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions\/). Martin Lewis travel insurance covers most of these topics and looks at how to save money in the process, which is also extremely important for parents and families.\n\n## What is does ASAB mean and why is it important travel insurance?\nIf you watch Martin Lewis or follow any of his social channels, then you may be familiar with the travel insurance ‘ASAB’ (As Soon As you Book) warning. This piece of travel insurance advice means that travellers should buy cover as soon as they’ve booked their holiday or travel.\n\nMartin Lewis says that he is regularly contacted by consumers asking for advice about recovering travel expenses from being unable to travel due to sickness. In the scenario he usually mentions, someone asks for help after being diagnosed with a serious illness to recover travel costs but they don’t have protection from travel cover.\n\nASAB is also important for families because they’ve got the added complication of travelling with kids, which is more expensive to begin with and there are more people who may get ill or injured. You could lose a substantial amount of money if you can’t go on your family holiday because of an illness and you don’t have travel insurance.\n\nTop insurer, [Allianz](https:\/\/www.allianz.com\/en\/about-us.html) also recommends that you should book your travel insurance as early as you can. They also point out in their article ‘[Do I buy travel](https:\/\/www.allianz-assistance.com.sg\/blog\/Do-I-Buy-Travel-Insurance-Before-Or-After-Booking.html) [insurance](https:\/\/www.allianz-assistance.com.sg\/blog\/Do-I-Buy-Travel-Insurance-Before-Or-After-Booking.html) [before or after I travel](https:\/\/www.allianz-assistance.com.sg\/blog\/Do-I-Buy-Travel-Insurance-Before-Or-After-Booking.html)’, that you should take out cover at least 14 days before you leave to make sure that your policy is valid.\n\n![Family travel insurance image of family at the airport having fun](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)\n\n![Family travel insurance image of family at the airport having fun](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ML-Travel-Insurance-Review-image-1024x546.png)\n\n***\nFamily Travel Insurance\n\nMartin Lewis travel insurance TOP recommendation is “Get it ASAB or As Soon As you Book” taken from an interview on [This Morning](https:\/\/www.itv.com\/thismorning\/articles\/martin-lewis-do-these-five-things-now-and-save-you-money-on-your-2018-holidays) with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield in July 2018 and again with [The Independent](https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/travel\/news-and-advice\/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-b2287065.html) in February 2023. Martin Lewis repeats this advice every year, including in his most recent [This Morning interview](https:\/\/www.itv.com\/thismorning\/articles\/martin-lewis-vital-money-saving-guide-for-holidaymakers) in July 2024.\n\n### Martin Lewis Travel Insurance 'ASAB' warning for families\nMartin Lewis TV talks to This Morning presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about booking your Travel Insurance As Soon As you Book\n\nHere’s a quote about Martin Lewis’s travel insurance advice in [The Independent](https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/travel\/news-and-advice\/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-b2287065.html):\n\n### The Independent – 22nd February 2023\n*“Each spring without fail, someone asks me a heart breaking question, I’ve just been diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness and I need long-term treatment, so I can’t go on holiday. What can I do?”*\n\nAs Martin Lewis strongly recommends on any of his travel insurance interviews, blogs or guides, get it ‘ASAB’.\n\nAs Mr Lewis also points out on MoneySavingExpert.com in his Martin Lewis travel insurance guides, around half of the value of your policy is before you actually travel. Taking out travel insurance before you actually travel won’t affect the cost but it will significantly increase the value and could save your family money if you need to cancel your trip.\n\nSome of the information on the Martin Lewis travel insurance sections still relate quite heavily towards [Coronavirus related issues](https:\/\/www.moneysavingexpert.com\/news\/2020\/02\/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights\/). This is slightly outdated now as these are fortunately no longer a major issue for many travellers.\n\n***\nFamily \\| Friendly \\| Free\n## What does travel insurance cover?\nA traditional or standard travel insurance policy is solely designed to protect you and your family against financial loss before, during and after your trip.\n\nThis simply means that most good travel insurance policies will provide you with financial protection for most of the usual risks relating to overseas and domestic holidays, such as:\n\n- Cancellation or curtailment\n- Medical emergencies\n- Loss or theft of possessions\n- Holiday disruptions\n- Viruses and diseases (e.g. COVID-19)\n- Sports and activities\n\n***\nMake The Most Of Your Money\n## Are all travel insurance policies the same?\nSadly no, there is a significant difference between a good travel insurance policy and a lower level travel insurance policy. Also, it’s not always true to say that “you get what you pay for” either, because some policies offer great value for money whereas others can be overpriced.\n\nYou should always check your policy wording and terms & conditions very carefully before you accept any cover. It’s also worth noting that comparing several travel insurance quotes is the best way to make sure that you’ve got the right cover. You can do this through your own research, via comparison sites or by talking to a travel insurance expert.\n\nBelow is an example of what a ‘good travel insurance’ policy should protect you for.\n\n| **Policy protection and cover type** | **Potential reasons for claim** |\n|---|---|\n| Cancellation and curtailment of travel plans | This is the bit that most people miss, and the bit that Martin Lewis travel insurance advice emphasises the most.  If you need to cancel your holiday due to illness or injury prior to travel which means that you are unable to travel (e.g. car accident, sports injury, diagnosis of a serious illness etc.), or even things like family bereavements and an emergency at home. |\n| Hospital treatments and medical costs when overseas | One of the single biggest and potentially most scary situations, is requiring medical treatment and hospitalisation when travelling overseas.  Firstly, the language barrier alone can be a very scary issue, compounded by the potential astronomical costs of any treatments and care. You should also check very carefully to make sure that your policy covers any pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, cancer, heart conditions, stroke etc.). |\n| Personal belongings and luggage (e.g. Theft, loss and damage) | Most of us travel with a significant amount of luggage and personal possessions when we go on holiday, especially if we’ve got children or for activity holidays.  The potential costs of loss, theft or damage to those possessions can be hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Most good travel insurance policies will give higher limits for these belongings and you can even increase limits if you have specific items to cover. |\n| Extreme sports, dangerous activities and holiday excursions | A popular reason for holidaymakers visiting foreign locations is to take part in certain activities or sports (e.g. skiing, snowboarding, sailing, diving and mountaineering).  There are specific policies that cover these activities and some might exclude these unless stated in the policy terms and conditions. |\n| Personal and public liability (including legal costs) | You are just as much at risk of hurting or injuring another person when you are on holiday, as when you’re at home (e.g. car accident, sports accident, property damage etc.).  Your building and contents or car insurance will usually cover these at home, so you’ll nee to think about making sure that this is covered when you’re on holiday. |\n\n**Note:** Every travel insurance policy has its own limits of cover and will provide different levels of coverage, so check your policy documents very carefully.\n\n***\nHelping Families Save Money\n## Who is the best and cheapest travel insurance?\nMoneySavingExpert.com’s main travel insurance page is titled ‘Cheap travel insurance’, so you would assume that it contains information on the best and cheapest travel insurance in the UK.\n\nWhile the page does contain various helpful tips about saving money on your cover, there isn’t much information about specific insurance companies that are budget-friendly. The companies that are suggested are mentioned briefly, without much context about their customer service record or features of their policies.\n\nMSE does have a built-in ‘cheap travel insurance finder’ tool, which works similarly to a typical price comparison tool as seen in the image below.\n\nThis tool doesn’t offer exact prices but will give you a rough estimate of the prices you might expect to see. This list of prices will be based on:\n\n- Your age (provides a general age bracket like 18-35 and you can’t input an exact age)\n- If you need individual, couples, or family cover\n- If you need a single trip or annual policy\n\nWhile this list can be a helpful starting point, it doesn’t account for things like your trip destination, exact age, or any medical conditions, which can all affect the price of your policy. MSE also states that they judge any policies included in this list solely on price, and don’t take customer feedback into account.\n\nWe would be wary of choosing any policies based solely on these lists, as it is always best to do some research and consider which insurance company will work best for your situation.\n\n## Where is the best place to get travel insurance?\nThe ‘best’ place to get your travel insurance will depend on the type of cover that you are after and your own situation. Some people find it useful to use a comparison site or to speak to a travel insurance broker for advice about their policy.\n\nOur partners [Medical Travel Compared](https:\/\/quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk\/?source=MPO&id=moneypeopleonline-martin-lewis-travel-insurance-guide) are specialists in travel insurance for pre-existing conditions and can quickly compare the best prices and policies from across the UK.\n\n## What medical conditions do you have to declare on travel insurance?\nYou will need to declare any medical conditions that you have experienced in the recent past when you apply for travel insurance. Some companies will ask more detailed questions than others about your health and medical history.\n\nIt can be useful to apply via a specialist website if you’re worried that your health will affect the policies that are available to you.\n\nMartin Lewis’ website MoneySavingExpert.com has a full page dedicated to pre-existing conditions travel insurance, which contains more information on this topic. We explain these comments and advice in full detail in our guide ‘[Martin Lewis Travel Insurance Pre-existing Medical Conditions](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions\/)’.\n\n[Compare Our Best Travel Insurance Quotes ![A calculator and a clipboard](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/End-of-content-block-image.svg)](https:\/\/quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk\/?source=MPO)\n\n## Martin Lewis travel insurance need to knows\nThere are also 10 need to knows about travel insurance on the Martin Lewis guide to travel insurance that are very useful hints and tips. Travel insurance policies do vary significantly from one insurer to another, so it’s not just the price that you need to think about.\n\n### 1\\. Take your family travel insurance As Soon As you Book (ASAB)\nOne of the key tips and main points on all of the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides is to make sure that buy travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday or travel. Unfortunately, lots of us leave taking out travel insurance to the last minute or we buy it just before we travel which significantly reduces the value of your policy.\n\nOne of the biggest elements of travel insurance is the cover and protection that it provides before you travel. Some of those events can include cancellation due to medical problems, redundancy, injury through an accident and even death in the family.\n\nMost consumers don’t even consider these elements or events when booking their holidays and thinking about travel insurance. Roughly 50% of the value of a travel insurance policy is in the time leading up to when you are due to travel.\n\nMartin Lewis travel insurance recommends ASAB which means ‘as soon as you’ve booked’ and this is a great rule to follow.\n\n**Note:** This also applies for people who are booking holidays in the UK, and it’s not just for overseas travel.\n\n### 2\\. Check your family travel insurance policy exclusions\nSimilar to most of the general insurance and personal insurance policies, travel insurance also comes with a standard set of exclusions that can vary from one insurer to another. You should check your policy documents and terms and conditions very carefully before you travel.\n\nHere’s a list of standard exclusions and explanations:\n\n**Alcohol related accidents or injuries**\n\nAlcohol related accidents or injuries are typical and standard exclusions on most travel insurance policies. This exclusion has applied for several years now since the increase of alcohol and drug related injuries from UK holidaymakers travelling abroad. If you are found to have alcohol or drugs in your system at the time of the accident or injury then your claim is likely to be refused.\n\n**Extreme sports and hazardous activities**\n\nExtreme sports and hazardous activities will also generally be excluded from most standard travel insurance policies, unless they offer specific activities (e.g. winter sports, sailing, diving, motorcycle riding etc.). You have a number of options if you intend to take part in extreme sports while you are on holiday, or for people who are travelling abroad specifically to take part in dangerous activities.\n\nThere are a number of organisations for certain activities to speak to if you intend to take part in sports overseas. These organisations will be able to provide useful information which may be of use when looking for the right travel insurance cover.\n\nYou can also get advice and quotes from an extreme sports travel insurance specialist to get the right cover. For more information and a list of specialists you can visit the [British Insurance Brokers Association](https:\/\/www.biba.org.uk\/insurance-guides\/travel-insurance-guides\/) website.\n\n### British Insurance Broker’s Association Contact Details\nTelephone (Insurance Help)- 0370 950 1790  \nTelephone (General Enquiries) – 0344 7700 266  \nEmail – [enquiries@biba.org.uk](mailto:enquiries@biba.org.uk)\n\n**Pre-existing medical conditions**\n\nPre-existing medical conditions will usually need to be covered with a specialist policy or will often be excluded from a standard travel insurance policy. You will need to check your policy wording carefully and you can seek advice from a medical conditions specialist.\n\nNote: You must disclose your medical history when you take out a travel insurance policy, or your cover might be invalid. If you fail to tell your travel insurance provider about a specific pre-existing medical condition then your claims will usually be refused.\n\nWe are proud to partner with Medical Travel Compared to provide top quality travel insurance cover with great coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions.\n\nMedical Travel Compared is one of the UK’s leading pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance specialists. If you feel they’re the right fit for you, feel free to [get a medical travel insurance quote online](https:\/\/quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk\/?source=MPO&id=moneypeopleonline-martin-lewis-travel-insurance-guide).\n\n**Invalid travel documents**\n\nInvalid travel documents is also an unfortunate possibility when you travel overseas, such as an out of date passport, invalid visa documents or other travel documents that are required. You are responsible to ensure that you have the appropriate travel documents and that they are all valid (e.g. not out of date).\n\nNote: You should always check the [Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice) website to find out which documents are required and any rules for entry. Make sure that you allow sufficient time to be able to prepare yourself and any requirements for entry to your destination.\n\n**Policy excess**\n\nPolicy excess is the amount that you would have to pay to your travel insurance provider in the event of a claim. Your excess should be explained to you on your policy documents and you might be able to select different excess levels, also there will be different excess levels for different claims.\n\nExample: if you require hospital treatment while you are overseas and the cost is £2,000 for the procedure and medication, you might have to pay £300 excess before you claim will be paid.\n\nExcesses can vary from as little as £100 up to as much as £500 or even £1,000 for bigger claims (e.g. repatriation back to the UK). You might also find that it’s not worth claiming small amounts because the excess will be more than the claim.\n\n**Private medical treatment or private hospitals**\n\nPrivate medical treatment or private hospitals may also be excluded as these are not typically included with standard travel insurance coverage. Some higher level travel insurance policies will include private hospital treatment, but you just need to check first.\n\nYou should always double check your documents to make sure that you are allowed to have treatment in your chosen hospital or facility. Some insurance companies will accept private hospital treatment as standard for certain procedures or medical emergencies, while others won’t.\n\nNote: If you’re unhappy with a claim being refused or you feel that you have been treated unfairly then you should refer your claim to the [Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)](https:\/\/www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk\/consumers\/complaints-can-help\/insurance) for further advice.\n\n### 3\\. Disclose all of your families medical history to be fully covered\nIt can be difficult to talk about your medical history and it’s not always something that you will want to disclose on a travel insurance application. It is important to be open and honest about your health to avoid any potential issues with claims.\n\nIf you fail to disclose a pre-existing medical condition on your application then your policy could be invalid and any claims might be refused. When you apply for travel insurance, you will be asked questions about your health, medical history and lifestyle.\n\nIf you want more information then you should visit our Martin Lewis pre existing travel insurance guide. Alternatively you can [get a medical travel insurance quote online](https:\/\/quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk\/?source=MPO).\n\n### 4\\. Destinations: check to make sure that yours is included\nDangerous or hazardous locations are often excluded from most standard travel insurance policies. You should always check to see whether your chosen destination is currently listed on the unsafe travel locations. You can check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website to get the latest destinations on the list.\n\nThere are two standard types of travel insurance policies which are ‘European’ and ‘Worldwide’ cover. The slightly confusing thing is that European travel insurance generally covers you to travel to a number of other non-European locations.\n\n**Annual travel insurance cover for non-European travel**\n\nIf you buy annual travel insurance cover then you should make sure that it covers your potential destinations for the whole year. Most annual travel insurance policies can’t be changed once you’ve paid for them and started your cover.\n\nIt does seem slightly strange to call it ‘European’ travel insurance when in reality they cover a number of non-European destinations. Some of the locations that are often included outside of Europe include:\n\n- [Egypt](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/egypt)\n- [Russia](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/russia)\n- [Israel](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/israel)\n- [Turkey](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/turkey)\n- [Morocco](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/morocco)\n- [Tunisia](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/tunisia)\n\nYou should check to make sure that any potential destinations are covered under the travel insurance policy you are looking at.\n\nAnother slightly strange anomaly with European travel insurance is that not all policies include Spain (including Canaries and Balearic Islands) as standard. These can often be added at an extra cost but this may make the cover less cost-effective.\n\nSome of the best European travel insurance policies include:\n\n- [Allianz](https:\/\/www.allianz-assistance.co.uk\/content\/dam\/onemarketing\/awp\/allianz-assistance-co-uk\/policy-information-pdfs\/UK-ST-backpacker-B2C-Policy-080224.pdf)\n- [Insure and Go](https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/dttwa61aq\/image\/upload\/v1702462901\/igo\/policy-wording\/2024\/InsureandGo_Budget_Policy_Wording_1223.pdf)\n- [AIG](https:\/\/www.aig.co.uk\/content\/dam\/aig\/emea\/united-kingdom\/documents\/hosted-documents\/lifelineplus-key-facts-and-policy-wording.pdf.coredownload.pdf)\n### 5\\. Do I need travel cover if I have the free EHIC or GHIC?\nThe European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and the new version which is the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) are free for UK residents. The GHIC came in to operation from the 1st January 2021, and it gives you access to treatment from state-run medical facilities and hospitals in the European Union (EU).\n\nThe main feature of the GHIC is that it provides the holder with treatment at the same cost as what national residents would pay. Most other European countries don’t operate the same National Health Service (NHS) as in the UK, so there will often be a charge or fee for treatment.\n\n**Does an EHIC or GHIC replace the need for travel insurance?**\n\nNO – You should always take out travel insurance as well as having the EHIC or GHIC. Martin Lewis travel insurance guides also recommend that you should always have travel insurance as well as either of these cards.\n\nTravel insurance covers over EHIC and GHIC:\n\n- Lost or stolen property\n- Cancellations and curtailment\n- Personal liability\n- Holiday disruption and delays\n- Repatriation back to the UK\n- Sports injuries and accident liability\n\n**What does the EHIC or GHIC do if I’ve got travel insurance?**\n\nYou might wonder whether it’s actually worth getting a card if you’ve travel insurance, and that’s a good question. The only benefit of the EHIC or GHIC if you’ve got travel insurance is that it might mean that you don’t have to pay any excess for medical claims.\n\n**What does the EHIC or GHIC do if I’ve got travel insurance?**\n\nThe older style EHIC is no longer available after the 1st January 2021 and you would automatically receive a GHIC in its place. The GHIC is free and can be obtained via the NHS website (see below).\n\n- [GHIC application](https:\/\/overseas-healthcare.nhsbsa.nhs.uk\/get-healthcare-cover-travelling-abroad\/start)\n- [GHIC guides](https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/using-the-nhs\/healthcare-abroad\/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic\/)\n\nNote: There are websites that claim to offer GHIC for a fee (usually £30-40) which should be avoided as recommended quite rightly on the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides.\n\n### 6\\. Is annual travel insurance worth it for families?\nAs a general rule of thumb from the advice in the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides, it is suggested that 2 or more trips in a 12 month period is worth considering annual cover. As most travel insurance providers will recommend, annual travel insurance is more cost-effective and easier than buying two or more individual policies.\n\nThere are many other considerations when buying annual travel insurance, such as:\n\n- Make sure that it covers all of your destinations\n- If you’re taking part in sports or activities then make sure that they are included and covered\n- Longer trips might not be covered so check limits on travel times\n- Short holidays or weekend breaks might be cheaper to cover individually\n- Cruise holidays may not be covered on an annual policy (optional add-on usually)\n\nYou might also have a limit on your annual travel insurance policy for the maximum amount of time you are allowed to travel overseas in a year. Some limits might be as low as 2 weeks or can go up to as high as 3 months in some cases, depending on your insurance provider.\n\nPeople looking for specialist travel insurance policies such as working abroad, backpacking, travelling for long periods, or gap years. There are specific policies and providers that are ideal for these types of travel.\n\n### 7\\. Does my bank or credit card cover family travel insurance?\nIt’s fairly common in recent times for bank or credit card customers to get travel insurance with certain account types. If you’re not sure whether any of your accounts have this benefit then you should definitely check, because you might already have travel insurance.\n\nOne of the big points that isn’t really mentioned in the Martin Lewis travel insurance guide is that these policies can have exclusions, and might not be the level of cover that you are looking for, such as:\n\n- Pre-existing medical conditions\n- Extreme Sports (e.g. winter sports, sailing, diving etc.)\n- USA and Canada\n- Dangerous destinations\n- Cruises\n\nMartin Lewis travel insurance guides also points out that there is another benefit that is offered on some credit cards, which is called ‘travel accident insurance’. This is another type of cover completely that covers accidents when travelling, but it isn’t offered much with more modern card facilities.\n\n### 8\\. Get winter sports cover for skiing and snowboarding holidays\nThis is a subject that we know a lot about being a lifelong skier and winter sports fanatic, so we’ve had lots of experience in this area. Lots of travel insurance policies offer winter sports cover either as a separate policy or can be added as a benefit.\n\nPeople who take part in winter sports will be aware of the risks involved as well as the other issues, such as loss or theft of equipment.\n\nMain risks for winter sports and activities:\n\n- Accidents and injuries can be a common issue for people who take part in winter sports, and that can be for any level of experience. Some of the most common injuries can be things like broken bones and head injuries. If you need treatment in the mountains and especially if you need to be rescued off the mountain by helicopter.\n- Theft, loss and damage of ski equipment is also common when in the mountains and especially in the past 10 years, where theft has unfortunately become part of winter holiday risks. Ski equipment can be extremely expensive to replace, even if it is rented from a local ski shop. Replacing ski equipment can more than double the cost of your already costly ski holiday.\n- Public liability insurance (e.g. injuring another person in an accident or damaging another person’s equipment) can also be vital cover because accidents can happen and it might not be your fault at all. The mountains can be a very dangerous place and especially in adverse weather conditions, so an unintentional or unavoidable accident might happen.\n- Adverse weather conditions can also cause major disruptions or mean that your holiday might be significantly impacted. Some winter sports travel insurance policies will cover you for mountain closures due to severe weather problems.\n\nNote: As it has been pointed out by Martin Lewis, most winter sports travel insurance policies won’t cover you for skiing or snowboarding off-piste (unless you are accompanied by a qualified guide).\n\n### 9\\. Can I get family cruise travel insurance?\nThe number of people taking cruise holidays dramatically fell during COVID, the overall figure dropped to under the 5 million in 2021. Globally, these figures have partially recovered to around 20 million cruise holiday travellers in 2022.\n\nOne of the common mistakes that people make with cruise holidays, is assuming that their travel insurance covers them for this type of trip. Unfortunately, most traditional travel insurance policies don’t fully cover cruise holidays as standard. You might be lucky and get some cover on your standard travel insurance policy but some critical elements will usually be missing, such as:\n\n- Illness (confined to cabin) e.g. virus or outbreak of diseases\n- Excursions that were not used or unavailable\n- Change to your cruise schedule\n- Missing the ship departure\n\nAll of these can be covered with a standard travel insurance policy add on benefit, and this is usually not too expensive. There are also specialist travel insurance policies and providers that specifically tailor their cover for cruise holidays.\n\n## How does cancellation cover work and how do I make a claim if I’m having problems with my tour operator or airline?\nMost traditional and standard travel insurance policies will cover you for cancellation and curtailment of your holiday for a number of reasons. However, even if you have the highest level of cover from the very best travel insurance provider, you’ll still have to follow a certain procedure to make a claim for cancellations.\n\nOne of the biggest potential issues with climbing for cancellation on a travel insurance policy, is the clause about ‘recoverable costs’. This means that your travel insurance policy will only cover you for costs that cannot be recovered from your tour operator or airline first.\n\nAs it recommends on the Martin Lewis travel insurance guide, you’ll need to speak to your tour operator and airline first to see what compensation they would offer or what costs they would reimburse. This is a fairly normal procedure with any travel plans that are cancelled or changed, and simply means that you would need to provide proof or evidence that you followed the correct procedure.\n\nA standard ‘recoverable costs’ clause would usually look like this:\n\n- In the event of cancellation of your holiday or travel you should follow some simple steps before you make a claim.\n- First you should contact your tour operator to find out what their refund policy is, and any potential compensation they will provide (including credit notes and vouchers)\n- Any trips that have been booked by using a credit card or debit card, you should firstly contact the card provider to find out what cover they offer, and any compensation they might provide.\n- We are unable to process a claim without following these steps first and firstly finding out what compensation might be available. Once you’ve completed these steps please contact your claims department for us to process your claim.\n## How to make a complaint about travel insurance\nIf you have a complaint about your travel insurance policy or if you’re not happy with the outcome of a claim, then you can raise a complaint with the Financial Ombudsmen Service (FOS).\n\nAll travel insurance policies are covered by the same regulators and you will automatically have a level of protection built in. You should firstly raise your complaint with your travel insurance provider, and then you can escalate your complaint to the FOS if you’re unhappy with the outcome.\n\nCommon travel insurance complaints:\n\n- Unclear terms and conditions (hidden small print)\n- Unpaid or pay out shortfalls on claims\n- Unfair fees or charges\n- Poor service\n- Exclusions not explained properly\n### Financial Ombudsman Service Contact Details\nTelephone – 0800 023 4567 (or 0300 123 9123)  \nTelephone (outside the UK) – 0207 964 0500  \nEmail – [complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk](mailto:complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk)\n\nYou can also visit ‘[Resolver](https:\/\/www.resolver.co.uk\/about)’ which is a free to use website for people who wish to make complaints to financial services companies.\n\n## How to make a claim on a travel insurance policy\nTravel insurance is there to protect you and your family, so you shouldn’t feel bad if you need to claim on it. Often, people are put off claiming on their travel insurance because of unclear wording, complicated claims processes, high excesses, or just can’t be bothered with the hassle.\n\nThere are several simple steps that you should follow if you need to make a claim on your travel insurance policy.\n\n### 1\\. Submit your claim form and contact your insurance provider as soon as you can\nSubmit your claim form and contact your insurance provider as soon as you can to avoid any unnecessary questions or potential issues. If you fail to notify your insurance company of your claim in a certain timeframe (usually 1 or 2 weeks), then you might risk missing the claim window that is allowed under your policy terms and conditions, this includes any police reports and crime reference numbers.\n\n### 2\\. Get a crime reference number (CRN) from the local police\nGet a crime reference number (CRN) from the local police for any theft or damage to possessions. This can be a painful process and might seem like a waste of your time, especially if you’re on holiday and you want to make the most of your time abroad. Submitting an incident report to the police can be the difference between a valid and an invalid claim on your travel insurance policy. Often this needs to be done within 24 or 48 hours of the incident happening.\n\n### 3\\. Speak to your insurer and get them to authorise treatment before you have it\nSpeak to your insurer and get them to authorise treatment before you have it which can be extremely difficult, but can make a huge difference. Most travel insurance policies will require that you contact them before you receive treatment to make sure that it is in an approved facility or hospital and that the procedure is valid. This can be difficult as well, especially if you are in significant pain or discomfort.\n\n### 4\\. Keep a log of costs and receipts\nKeep a log of costs and receipts for any payments to make sure that you have a full audit trail of anything you have paid for. Most travel insurance policies will want proof or evidence for any costs that you have incurred that you are claiming for. These can include hotel costs, taxis, medications or medical treatments.\n\nYou also have the option to make a complaint to your insurance provider and escalate your complaint to the FOS (see above), if you feel that you are being treated unfairly.\n\n## Get a cheap travel insurance quote online\nWe have a simple travel insurance quote tool online that gives you access to some of the best and cheapest travel insurance policies. Our trusted travel insurance partners are experts in travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, so your health shouldn’t stop you from getting the best travel insurance quotes.\n\n[Compare Our Best Travel Insurance Quotes Get our best cover to protect you and your family. Compare quotes from the UK’s leading Travel Insurance brands. ![A calculator and a clipboard](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/End-of-content-block-image.svg)](https:\/\/quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk\/?source=MPO)\n\n### Quick links\n[Mortgage Guides](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/guides\/)\n\n[Life Insurance Guides](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/guides\/)\n\n[Travel Insurance Guides](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/)\n\n[Health Insurance Guides](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/guides\/)\n\n[Home Insurance Guides](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/home-insurance\/guides\/)\n\n[Tax Guides](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/guides\/)\n\nSearch\n\nMore Pages\n\n- [![Does Travel Insurance cover Pregnancy?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Travel-Insurance-Pregnancy-MPO-50x50.png)](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/does-travel-insurance-cover-pregnancy\/)\n  ### [Does Travel Insurance cover Pregnancy?](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/does-travel-insurance-cover-pregnancy\/)\n- [![Single Trip Travel Insurance for Families](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Single-trip-travel-insurance-MPO-50x50.png)](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/single-trip-travel-insurance\/)\n  ### [Single Trip Travel Insurance for Families](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/single-trip-travel-insurance\/)\n- [![MPO Guide to Cheaper Cruise Travel Insurance](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Cruise-travel-insurance-MPO-50x50.png)](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/cruise-travel-insurance\/)\n  ### [MPO Guide to Cheaper Cruise Travel Insurance](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/cruise-travel-insurance\/)\n- [![Martin Lewis travel insurance pre-existing medical conditions](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Martin-Lewis-New-Image-MPO-50x50.png)](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions\/)\n  ### [Martin Lewis travel insurance pre-existing medical conditions](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions\/)\n- [![Guide to travel insurance with cancer](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/travel-insurance-with-cancer-MPO-50x50.png)](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/guide-to-travel-insurance-with-cancer\/)\n  ### [Guide to travel insurance with cancer](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/guide-to-travel-insurance-with-cancer\/)\n\n### Follow MoneyPeople\n[![Facebook](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Facebook-Logo-blue.png)](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Money-People-Online\/61582329914998\/) [![TikTok](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/tiktok-logo-round-no-text-original.svg)](https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@moneyparentofficial) [![Instagram](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Instagram-Logo-gradient.png)](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/moneyparentofficial\/) [![YouTube](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Youtube-Logo-Red.png)](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@moneypeopleonline)\n\nMoney Tools\n\n[Mortgage Repayment Calculator](https:\/\/essential-mortgages.co.uk\/mortgages\/mortgage-calculator\/) [Life Insurance Calculator](https:\/\/iaminsured.co.uk\/life-insurance\/guides\/life-insurance-calculator\/) [Stamp Duty Calculator](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/guides\/stamp-duty-calculator\/) [Travel Insurance Comparison](https:\/\/quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk\/?source=MPO) [Home Insurance Comparison](https:\/\/lemonadeeurope.pxf.io\/c\/6720962\/1984145\/24305)\n\n### Sign up for our newsletter\nSign up today for all the best deals and helpful guides. Take control of your finances the MoneyPeople way\\!\n\n![A laptop sits atop a desk while displaying an email on its screen](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/sidebar-newsletter-img-mpo.png)\n\n[Get signed up today](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/newsletter-sign-up\/)\n\n### About MPO\nMoneyPeopleOnline.co.uk is an independent family finance service for parents in the United Kingdom. Our content is written by our team of personal finance experts with over 30 years of finance industry expertise. Our mission is to help parents to make the best financial decisions and save them money. The most important thing about MPO is that we're parents ourselves and so we live with the same challenges that you have.\n\nOur Experts are rated 'Excellent'\n\n![Five Stars](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Five-Stars-Yellow-with-White-BG.svg)\n\non\n\n![Google](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Google-Official.webp)\n\n### In this article\n### Compare Travel Insurance Deals...\nCompare travel insurance instantly with our cheap travel cover comparison tool.\n\n![A calculator, a house, and a young family](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/sidebar-quote-mpoblue-travel-img.png)\n\n[Compare Travel Cover](https:\/\/quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk\/?source=MPO)\n\nPeople Also Ask\n\nDoes Martin Lewis recommend Avanti travel insurance?\n\nMartin Lewis does not recommend any travel insurance providers himself, but several insurers are mentioned on MoneySavingExpert.com. This includes travel insurance companies like Avanti, as well as AllClear and Staysure. Money Saving Expert also recommends using price comparison tools to find the cheapest policies for your trip. Their team also recommends our partner Medical Travel Compared as the top specialist to approach if you have serious pre-existing medical conditions.\n\nWhat medical conditions need declaring for travel insurance?\n\nIt's important to declare all medical conditions that you are asked about when applying for travel insurance. You should also mention any medication or treatments you have been prescribed, as well as any surgeries or tests where you are awaiting appointments or results. Common conditions declared on travel insurance applications include cancer, stroke, heart attack, heart conditions, and diabetes.\n\nHow much should travel insurance cost?\n\nBased on our latest research, the average cost of travel insurance in the UK is currently £12.60 for a single trip policy, and £21.58 for an annual policy. Various factors will affect the cost of your travel insurance policy, including your trip destination, duration of trip, and level of cover needed. You should choose the policy that is most affordable for you, while still providing a decent level of cover and additional benefits (if needed).\n\nIs travel insurance free for pensioners?\n\nNO - Travel insurance is not free for pensioners in the UK, but there are various travel insurance options for older customers. Many insurers offer specific travel insurance policies that have been designed for over 50s. It's a good idea to compare multiple quotes to find the cheapest quotes and best value for money before choosing your travel insurance policy.\n\nIs it worth buying travel insurance at the moment?\n\nIt is always beneficial to buy a travel insurance policy when booking a holiday or a work trip. This is because your policy will protect you financially in case anything goes wrong before or during your trip. You are protected from the moment that you buy your policy, and can claim for a range of reasons including flight delays or cancellations, loss or theft of personal belongings, and emergency medical care.\n\nGuides and News\n\n[View All ❯](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/)\n\nOur Mission\n\n### Our Mission\n\n### More on this topic\n- [Does Travel Insurance cover Pregnancy?Travel insurance provides financial and medical protection for parents and pregnant women when travelling abroad. There are certain other medical...6 min 18 December 2024Read now »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/does-travel-insurance-cover-pregnancy\/)\n- [Single Trip Travel Insurance for FamiliesSingle trip travel insurance is an affordable and simple way for families to protect themselves financially during a one-off holiday...7 min 21 November 2024Read now »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/single-trip-travel-insurance\/)\n- [MPO Guide to Cheaper Cruise Travel InsuranceCruise travel insurance is a specialist type of holiday insurance that can either be bought separately or it is sold...7 min 5 January 2026Read now »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/cruise-travel-insurance\/)\n- [Martin Lewis travel insurance pre-existing medical conditionsMost people will only buy travel insurance once or twice a year at most and it’s easy to get confused...15 min 20 February 2025Read now »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions\/)\n- [Guide to travel insurance with cancerIt can be more complicated to get travel insurance with cancer compared to standard travel insurance. Your premiums will usually...6 min 17 May 2023Read now »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/guide-to-travel-insurance-with-cancer\/)\n- [MPO Travel Insurance Excess GuideMost of us will be familiar with the term ‘excess’ when talking about general insurance policies, including car insurance, home...4 min 1 November 2024Read now »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/travel-insurance-excess\/)\n- [When should I buy travel insurance?Travel insurance is extremely valuable and can make a huge difference if something was to happen on or before your...4 min 4 November 2024Read now »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/when-should-i-buy-travel-insurance\/)\n- [Does travel insurance cover strikes?After years of cancelled holidays and restricted travel due to Covid-19, the travel industry has now started to bounce back....4 min 28 April 2023Read now »](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/does-travel-insurance-cover-strikes\/)\n\nHow this site works...\n\n### How this site works...\nMoneyPeopleOnline.co.uk is an information based website - All of our contents provided by MoneyPeopleOnline is written by a team of qualified and experienced Financial Services Experts therefore it is reliable and accurate information. Our website is solely to provide FREE expert opinion about things that can affect our users to help them make better financial decisions.\n\nYou shouldn't use this information alone to make financial decisions and should always speak to a qualified expert to get proper advice. We cannot provide information that is specifically for each persons individual circumstances, but it is there to help you to make the right financial decisions. Our staff cannot accept any liability for any financial losses that you might have suffered. See our website's [TERMS & CONDITIONS](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/terms-and-conditions\/), [PRIVACY POLICY](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/privacy-policy\/) and [DISCLAIMER](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/disclaimer-policy\/) for further information.\n\nWe cannot guarantee the accuracy of any prices that are quoted by MoneyPeopleOnline.co.uk as prices will change from time to time. Any figures provided by MoneyPeopleOnline.co.uk are purely an illustration and to be used as a guide. You should get up to date figures that are specific to your individual needs and circumstances.\n\n### Our Mission\nMoneyPeopleOnline and the Money Mum & Dad mission is to simplify the confusing personal finance problems we face daily. Our family lives are busy and we need to get the most out of our money without sacrificing quality... we're here to help\\!\n\nOn our website, we provide free and impartial advice on all of the everyday finance topics that many UK consumers need some help with including:\n\n- [Life Insurance](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/life-insurance\/)\n- Income Protection Insurance\n- Critical Illness Insurance\n- [Health Insurance](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/health-insurance\/)\n- [Travel Insurance](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/)\n- [Mortgages](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/mortgages\/)\n- [Tax](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/tax\/) and Finance\n\nMoneyPeopleOnline is the official home of the Money Mum & Dad Podcast, where our Money Dad Dan and Money Mum Caz discuss the UK's biggest finance and insurance questions.\n### Pricing Information\n�From £10 per month for up to £300,000 is an example based on the following pricing illustrations. £10 per month Life Insurance quoted rates are based on level term life cover for non-smokers with no pre-existing medical conditions or other high risk factors. Individual factors and medical underwriting will be assessed which may vary the premium and sum assured you are eligible for or may result in you being declined. Correct as on 7th February 2025.  \n £322,952 over 20 years - 30 year old born in 1995 (Aviva)  \n £197,619 over 20 years - 35 years old born in 1990 (Aviva)  \n £159,606 over 15 years - 40 year old born in 1985 (Aviva)  \n £92,280 over 15 years - 45 year old born in 1980 (Aviva)  \n £67,652 over 10 years - 50 year old born in 1975 (Aviva)  \n £37,971 over 10 years - 55 year old born in 1970 (Aviva)  \n £20,242 over 10 years - 60 year old born in 1965 (Aviva)  \n £12,368 over 10 years - 65 year old born in 1960 (Aviva)  \n £7,497 over 10 years – 70 year old born in 1955 (Aviva)\n\n†From £5 per month for up to £100,000 is an example based on the following pricing illustrations. £5 per month Life Insurance quoted rates are based on level term life cover for non-smokers with no pre-existing medical conditions or other high risk factors. Individual factors and medical underwriting will be assessed which may vary the premium and sum assured you are eligible for or may result in you being declined. Correct as on 7th February 2025.  \n £117,810 over 20 years - 30 year old born in 1995 (Aviva)  \n £75,745 over 20 years - 35 years old born in 1990 (Aviva)  \n £56,577 over 15 years - 40 year old born in 1985 (Aviva)  \n £35,960 over 15 years - 45 year old born in 1980 (Aviva)  \n £26,787 over 10 years - 50 year old born in 1975 (Aviva)  \n £17,018 over 10 years - 55 year old born in 1970 (Aviva)  \n £10,115 over 10 years - 60 year old born in 1965 (Aviva)  \n £6,181 over 10 years - 65 year old born in 1960 (Aviva)  \n £3,746 over 10 years - 70 year old born in 1955 (Aviva)\n\n\\*Not all of our insurance partners offer an advised service and so you should check to make sure that you are happy with the service levels being offered to you.\n\n◊Please note that we do not work with discount brokers.\n\nSome of the brokers we work with may not provide quotes from all of the insurers featured on our website.\n\n[![Facebook Logo](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Facebook-Logo.svg)](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Money-People-Online\/61582329914998\/)   [![TikTok Logo](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/tiktok-logo-round-no-text-purple.svg)](https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@moneyparentofficial)   [![Instagram Logo](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Instagram-Logo.svg)](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/moneyparentofficial\/)   [![YouTube Logo](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Youtube-Logo.svg)](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@moneypeopleonline)\n\nCopyright MPO Media Ltd 2026. All rights reserved.  [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/privacy-policy\/) [Terms & Conditions](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/terms-and-conditions\/) [Complaints](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/complaints-policy\/) [Disclaimer](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/disclaimer-policy\/)","attrs_readable_markdown":"## What does Martin Lewis say about Family Travel Insurance 2026?\nMartin Lewis says more every year about travel insurance than any other general insurance product or policy. His annual warning to British travellers and holiday markers is to book your travel insurance policy ASAB, which stands for ‘As Soon As you Book’.\n\nAccording to Martin Lewis, he is contacted several times every year by one of his MoneySavingExpert community to ask for advice about how to recover travel costs. The typical example that he gives is someone who has been diagnosed with a serious illness which means that they can’t travel, but they don’t have travel insurance.\n\nFamily Money Experts: Martin Lewis Cheap Travel Insurance guide for Families 2026.\n\n- Get your Travel Insurance ASAB (As Soon As you Book) to get the most value for money and cover.\n- Check with your Bank and Credit Cards to see if you’re already covered.\n- Use cashback sites like Quidco and Topcashback to get money back on your travel insurance.\n- Make sure that you disclose any pre-existing medical conditions and be honest about your lifestyle.\n- Read your policy documents carefully and check for any exclusions (e.g. sports, alcohol, etc.).\n- Don’t leave it to chance, especially if you’ve got children or if you’re travelling remote destinations.\n- Make sure that your family cover is right and all of your family are properly protected (e.g. check age limits).\n### MoneyPeopleOnline family travel insurance experts\nIn this guide, our team of family travel insurance experts looks at the latest [Martin Lewis travel insurance advice](https:\/\/www.moneysavingexpert.com\/news\/2025\/03\/martin-lewis-holiday-warning\/) and other consumer guidance for UK holidaymakers. We explain how travel insurance works and the extra value that you could get by taking cover ‘As Soon As you Book’ for your holiday.\n\n**DISCLAIMER:** MoneyPeopleOnline is an independent money saving website that has been created to help households and parents to make the right financial decisions. We are in no way connected to Martin Lewis and his Money Saving Expert website, our guides are simply to help explain some of the guidance provided by these services and to add more detail from our expertise in these areas.\n\nHolidaymakers consistently leave themselves exposed to the risks of booking a holiday early to save money and then leaving taking out travel insurance to the last minute. Most parents don’t think about the risks of serious illness, including cancers, heart attack or a serious injury, which would prevent them from being able to enjoy their holiday and result in significant financial loss.\n\n![A picture of a stopwatch](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)\n\n## 60 Second Summary – Martin Lewis travel insurance guide for Families 2026.\n\nOne of the best tips for travellers and holidaymakers in the UK is when we ask, ‘Does Martin Lewis recommend travel insurance?’. The answer is very clearly yes Martin Lewis strongly recommends travel insurance and he also recommends getting it ‘ASAB – As Soon As you Book’.\n\nHolidaymakers seem to be making the same mistakes every year and leaving themselves exposed to potentially losing money on holiday bookings. In yet another warning issued in January, Martin Lewis recommended to take out travel insurance instantly to avoid losing money.\n\n- Every year, Martin Lewis makes the same recommendation that travellers should get their travel insurance sorted out as soon as possible or ‘ASAB – As Soon As you Book’ to avoid losing money.\n- Martin Lewis said on ITV’s This Morning with Holly Willoughby, he gets a Tweet from a viewer every year asking, “what can I do if I’ve been diagnosed with cancer, and I can’t travel?”.\n- Travel insurance is specifically for helping you when something goes wrong, and it covers the costs of flight or ferry cancellations, medical problems before and during your trip, and lost or stolen luggage.\n- Exclusions can be extremely costly and it’s extremely important to make sure that you check your policy wording carefully for medical, sports, and geographical exclusions.\n- Martin Lewis also recommends checking with your credit cards or bank to see if you have any free travel insurance benefits included with them, which could potentially save you money.\n## Does Martin Lewis recommend travel insurance?\nMartin Lewis recommends several travel insurance providers and companies, including his two premier travel policies from [ABTA](https:\/\/abtatravelinsurance.onesolutiontravel.co.uk\/) and [LV=](https:\/\/www.lv.com\/travel-insurance). Other travel insurance companies promoted on MSE include:\n\n- [Coverwise](https:\/\/www.coverwise.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/Insurance-home.aspx)\n- [Leisure Guard](https:\/\/www.leisureguardflexitravelinsurance.com\/)\n- [CoverForYou](https:\/\/www.coverforyou.com\/)\n- [Urban Jungle](https:\/\/myurbanjungle.com\/v1t\/purchase\/policy-choice)\n- [Admiral](https:\/\/www.admiral.com\/travel-insurance)\n\nMoneySavingExpert has also recently launched its exclusive new ‘Cheap Travel Insurance Finder tool’ for consumers to compare quotes instantly online from a panel of partners. This is a new direction for MSE which has historically not provided direct pricing for insurance policies which is ususual for Mr Lewis.\n\n### Top Martin Lewis travel insurance guides:\n- [Martin Lewis travel insurance pre existing medical conditions](https:\/\/www.moneysavingexpert.com\/insurance\/pre-existing-travel-insurance\/)\n- [Cheap travel insurance Martin Lewis](https:\/\/www.moneysavingexpert.com\/insurance\/cheap-travel-insurance\/)\n- [Travel insurance over 65’s Martin Lewis](https:\/\/www.moneysavingexpert.com\/insurance\/over65s-travel-insurance\/)\n- [Martin Lewis UK travel insurance](https:\/\/www.moneysavingexpert.com\/insurance\/uk-travel-insurance\/)\n- [Coronavirus Travel Rights Martin Lewis – refunds, rights and more](https:\/\/www.moneysavingexpert.com\/news\/2020\/02\/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights\/)\n\nGetting the very best travel insurance can make a huge difference if you need to make a claim when [travelling overseas](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/browse\/abroad\/travel-abroad), especially for families, the elderly, and people with [pre-existing medical conditions](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions\/). Martin Lewis travel insurance covers most of these topics and looks at how to save money in the process, which is also extremely important for parents and families.\n\n## What is does ASAB mean and why is it important travel insurance?\nIf you watch Martin Lewis or follow any of his social channels, then you may be familiar with the travel insurance ‘ASAB’ (As Soon As you Book) warning. This piece of travel insurance advice means that travellers should buy cover as soon as they’ve booked their holiday or travel.\n\nMartin Lewis says that he is regularly contacted by consumers asking for advice about recovering travel expenses from being unable to travel due to sickness. In the scenario he usually mentions, someone asks for help after being diagnosed with a serious illness to recover travel costs but they don’t have protection from travel cover.\n\nASAB is also important for families because they’ve got the added complication of travelling with kids, which is more expensive to begin with and there are more people who may get ill or injured. You could lose a substantial amount of money if you can’t go on your family holiday because of an illness and you don’t have travel insurance.\n\nTop insurer, [Allianz](https:\/\/www.allianz.com\/en\/about-us.html) also recommends that you should book your travel insurance as early as you can. They also point out in their article ‘[Do I buy travel](https:\/\/www.allianz-assistance.com.sg\/blog\/Do-I-Buy-Travel-Insurance-Before-Or-After-Booking.html) [insurance](https:\/\/www.allianz-assistance.com.sg\/blog\/Do-I-Buy-Travel-Insurance-Before-Or-After-Booking.html) [before or after I travel](https:\/\/www.allianz-assistance.com.sg\/blog\/Do-I-Buy-Travel-Insurance-Before-Or-After-Booking.html)’, that you should take out cover at least 14 days before you leave to make sure that your policy is valid.\n\n![Family travel insurance image of family at the airport having fun](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ML-Travel-Insurance-Review-image-1024x546.png)\n\n***\nFamily Travel Insurance\n\nMartin Lewis travel insurance TOP recommendation is “Get it ASAB or As Soon As you Book” taken from an interview on [This Morning](https:\/\/www.itv.com\/thismorning\/articles\/martin-lewis-do-these-five-things-now-and-save-you-money-on-your-2018-holidays) with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield in July 2018 and again with [The Independent](https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/travel\/news-and-advice\/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-b2287065.html) in February 2023. Martin Lewis repeats this advice every year, including in his most recent [This Morning interview](https:\/\/www.itv.com\/thismorning\/articles\/martin-lewis-vital-money-saving-guide-for-holidaymakers) in July 2024.\n\n### Martin Lewis Travel Insurance 'ASAB' warning for families\nMartin Lewis TV talks to This Morning presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about booking your Travel Insurance As Soon As you Book\n\nHere’s a quote about Martin Lewis’s travel insurance advice in [The Independent](https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/travel\/news-and-advice\/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-b2287065.html):\n\n### The Independent – 22nd February 2023\n*“Each spring without fail, someone asks me a heart breaking question, I’ve just been diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness and I need long-term treatment, so I can’t go on holiday. What can I do?”*\n\nAs Martin Lewis strongly recommends on any of his travel insurance interviews, blogs or guides, get it ‘ASAB’.\n\nAs Mr Lewis also points out on MoneySavingExpert.com in his Martin Lewis travel insurance guides, around half of the value of your policy is before you actually travel. Taking out travel insurance before you actually travel won’t affect the cost but it will significantly increase the value and could save your family money if you need to cancel your trip.\n\nSome of the information on the Martin Lewis travel insurance sections still relate quite heavily towards [Coronavirus related issues](https:\/\/www.moneysavingexpert.com\/news\/2020\/02\/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights\/). This is slightly outdated now as these are fortunately no longer a major issue for many travellers.\n\n***\nFamily \\| Friendly \\| Free\n## What does travel insurance cover?\nA traditional or standard travel insurance policy is solely designed to protect you and your family against financial loss before, during and after your trip.\n\nThis simply means that most good travel insurance policies will provide you with financial protection for most of the usual risks relating to overseas and domestic holidays, such as:\n\n- Cancellation or curtailment\n- Medical emergencies\n- Loss or theft of possessions\n- Holiday disruptions\n- Viruses and diseases (e.g. COVID-19)\n- Sports and activities\n\n***\nMake The Most Of Your Money\n## Are all travel insurance policies the same?\nSadly no, there is a significant difference between a good travel insurance policy and a lower level travel insurance policy. Also, it’s not always true to say that “you get what you pay for” either, because some policies offer great value for money whereas others can be overpriced.\n\nYou should always check your policy wording and terms & conditions very carefully before you accept any cover. It’s also worth noting that comparing several travel insurance quotes is the best way to make sure that you’ve got the right cover. You can do this through your own research, via comparison sites or by talking to a travel insurance expert.\n\nBelow is an example of what a ‘good travel insurance’ policy should protect you for.\n\n| **Policy protection and cover type** | **Potential reasons for claim** |\n|---|---|\n| Cancellation and curtailment of travel plans | This is the bit that most people miss, and the bit that Martin Lewis travel insurance advice emphasises the most.If you need to cancel your holiday due to illness or injury prior to travel which means that you are unable to travel (e.g. car accident, sports injury, diagnosis of a serious illness etc.), or even things like family bereavements and an emergency at home. |\n| Hospital treatments and medical costs when overseas | One of the single biggest and potentially most scary situations, is requiring medical treatment and hospitalisation when travelling overseas.Firstly, the language barrier alone can be a very scary issue, compounded by the potential astronomical costs of any treatments and care. You should also check very carefully to make sure that your policy covers any pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, cancer, heart conditions, stroke etc.). |\n| Personal belongings and luggage (e.g. Theft, loss and damage) | Most of us travel with a significant amount of luggage and personal possessions when we go on holiday, especially if we’ve got children or for activity holidays.The potential costs of loss, theft or damage to those possessions can be hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Most good travel insurance policies will give higher limits for these belongings and you can even increase limits if you have specific items to cover. |\n| Extreme sports, dangerous activities and holiday excursions | A popular reason for holidaymakers visiting foreign locations is to take part in certain activities or sports (e.g. skiing, snowboarding, sailing, diving and mountaineering).There are specific policies that cover these activities and some might exclude these unless stated in the policy terms and conditions. |\n| Personal and public liability (including legal costs) | You are just as much at risk of hurting or injuring another person when you are on holiday, as when you’re at home (e.g. car accident, sports accident, property damage etc.).Your building and contents or car insurance will usually cover these at home, so you’ll nee to think about making sure that this is covered when you’re on holiday. |\n\n**Note:** Every travel insurance policy has its own limits of cover and will provide different levels of coverage, so check your policy documents very carefully.\n\n***\nHelping Families Save Money\n## Who is the best and cheapest travel insurance?\nMoneySavingExpert.com’s main travel insurance page is titled ‘Cheap travel insurance’, so you would assume that it contains information on the best and cheapest travel insurance in the UK.\n\nWhile the page does contain various helpful tips about saving money on your cover, there isn’t much information about specific insurance companies that are budget-friendly. The companies that are suggested are mentioned briefly, without much context about their customer service record or features of their policies.\n\nMSE does have a built-in ‘cheap travel insurance finder’ tool, which works similarly to a typical price comparison tool as seen in the image below.\n\nThis tool doesn’t offer exact prices but will give you a rough estimate of the prices you might expect to see. This list of prices will be based on:\n\n- Your age (provides a general age bracket like 18-35 and you can’t input an exact age)\n- If you need individual, couples, or family cover\n- If you need a single trip or annual policy\n\nWhile this list can be a helpful starting point, it doesn’t account for things like your trip destination, exact age, or any medical conditions, which can all affect the price of your policy. MSE also states that they judge any policies included in this list solely on price, and don’t take customer feedback into account.\n\nWe would be wary of choosing any policies based solely on these lists, as it is always best to do some research and consider which insurance company will work best for your situation.\n\n## Where is the best place to get travel insurance?\nThe ‘best’ place to get your travel insurance will depend on the type of cover that you are after and your own situation. Some people find it useful to use a comparison site or to speak to a travel insurance broker for advice about their policy.\n\nOur partners [Medical Travel Compared](https:\/\/quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk\/?source=MPO&id=moneypeopleonline-martin-lewis-travel-insurance-guide) are specialists in travel insurance for pre-existing conditions and can quickly compare the best prices and policies from across the UK.\n\n## What medical conditions do you have to declare on travel insurance?\nYou will need to declare any medical conditions that you have experienced in the recent past when you apply for travel insurance. Some companies will ask more detailed questions than others about your health and medical history.\n\nIt can be useful to apply via a specialist website if you’re worried that your health will affect the policies that are available to you.\n\nMartin Lewis’ website MoneySavingExpert.com has a full page dedicated to pre-existing conditions travel insurance, which contains more information on this topic. We explain these comments and advice in full detail in our guide ‘[Martin Lewis Travel Insurance Pre-existing Medical Conditions](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/travel-insurance\/guides\/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions\/)’.\n\n[Compare Our Best Travel Insurance Quotes ![A calculator and a clipboard](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/End-of-content-block-image.svg)](https:\/\/quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk\/?source=MPO)\n\n## Martin Lewis travel insurance need to knows\nThere are also 10 need to knows about travel insurance on the Martin Lewis guide to travel insurance that are very useful hints and tips. Travel insurance policies do vary significantly from one insurer to another, so it’s not just the price that you need to think about.\n\n### 1\\. Take your family travel insurance As Soon As you Book (ASAB)\nOne of the key tips and main points on all of the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides is to make sure that buy travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday or travel. Unfortunately, lots of us leave taking out travel insurance to the last minute or we buy it just before we travel which significantly reduces the value of your policy.\n\nOne of the biggest elements of travel insurance is the cover and protection that it provides before you travel. Some of those events can include cancellation due to medical problems, redundancy, injury through an accident and even death in the family.\n\nMost consumers don’t even consider these elements or events when booking their holidays and thinking about travel insurance. Roughly 50% of the value of a travel insurance policy is in the time leading up to when you are due to travel.\n\nMartin Lewis travel insurance recommends ASAB which means ‘as soon as you’ve booked’ and this is a great rule to follow.\n\n**Note:** This also applies for people who are booking holidays in the UK, and it’s not just for overseas travel.\n\n### 2\\. Check your family travel insurance policy exclusions\nSimilar to most of the general insurance and personal insurance policies, travel insurance also comes with a standard set of exclusions that can vary from one insurer to another. You should check your policy documents and terms and conditions very carefully before you travel.\n\nHere’s a list of standard exclusions and explanations:\n\n**Alcohol related accidents or injuries**\n\nAlcohol related accidents or injuries are typical and standard exclusions on most travel insurance policies. This exclusion has applied for several years now since the increase of alcohol and drug related injuries from UK holidaymakers travelling abroad. If you are found to have alcohol or drugs in your system at the time of the accident or injury then your claim is likely to be refused.\n\n**Extreme sports and hazardous activities**\n\nExtreme sports and hazardous activities will also generally be excluded from most standard travel insurance policies, unless they offer specific activities (e.g. winter sports, sailing, diving, motorcycle riding etc.). You have a number of options if you intend to take part in extreme sports while you are on holiday, or for people who are travelling abroad specifically to take part in dangerous activities.\n\nThere are a number of organisations for certain activities to speak to if you intend to take part in sports overseas. These organisations will be able to provide useful information which may be of use when looking for the right travel insurance cover.\n\nYou can also get advice and quotes from an extreme sports travel insurance specialist to get the right cover. For more information and a list of specialists you can visit the [British Insurance Brokers Association](https:\/\/www.biba.org.uk\/insurance-guides\/travel-insurance-guides\/) website.\n\n### British Insurance Broker’s Association Contact Details\nTelephone (Insurance Help)- 0370 950 1790  \nTelephone (General Enquiries) – 0344 7700 266  \nEmail – [enquiries@biba.org.uk](mailto:enquiries@biba.org.uk)\n\n**Pre-existing medical conditions**\n\nPre-existing medical conditions will usually need to be covered with a specialist policy or will often be excluded from a standard travel insurance policy. You will need to check your policy wording carefully and you can seek advice from a medical conditions specialist.\n\nNote: You must disclose your medical history when you take out a travel insurance policy, or your cover might be invalid. If you fail to tell your travel insurance provider about a specific pre-existing medical condition then your claims will usually be refused.\n\nWe are proud to partner with Medical Travel Compared to provide top quality travel insurance cover with great coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions.\n\nMedical Travel Compared is one of the UK’s leading pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance specialists. If you feel they’re the right fit for you, feel free to [get a medical travel insurance quote online](https:\/\/quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk\/?source=MPO&id=moneypeopleonline-martin-lewis-travel-insurance-guide).\n\n**Invalid travel documents**\n\nInvalid travel documents is also an unfortunate possibility when you travel overseas, such as an out of date passport, invalid visa documents or other travel documents that are required. You are responsible to ensure that you have the appropriate travel documents and that they are all valid (e.g. not out of date).\n\nNote: You should always check the [Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice) website to find out which documents are required and any rules for entry. Make sure that you allow sufficient time to be able to prepare yourself and any requirements for entry to your destination.\n\n**Policy excess**\n\nPolicy excess is the amount that you would have to pay to your travel insurance provider in the event of a claim. Your excess should be explained to you on your policy documents and you might be able to select different excess levels, also there will be different excess levels for different claims.\n\nExample: if you require hospital treatment while you are overseas and the cost is £2,000 for the procedure and medication, you might have to pay £300 excess before you claim will be paid.\n\nExcesses can vary from as little as £100 up to as much as £500 or even £1,000 for bigger claims (e.g. repatriation back to the UK). You might also find that it’s not worth claiming small amounts because the excess will be more than the claim.\n\n**Private medical treatment or private hospitals**\n\nPrivate medical treatment or private hospitals may also be excluded as these are not typically included with standard travel insurance coverage. Some higher level travel insurance policies will include private hospital treatment, but you just need to check first.\n\nYou should always double check your documents to make sure that you are allowed to have treatment in your chosen hospital or facility. Some insurance companies will accept private hospital treatment as standard for certain procedures or medical emergencies, while others won’t.\n\nNote: If you’re unhappy with a claim being refused or you feel that you have been treated unfairly then you should refer your claim to the [Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)](https:\/\/www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk\/consumers\/complaints-can-help\/insurance) for further advice.\n\n### 3\\. Disclose all of your families medical history to be fully covered\nIt can be difficult to talk about your medical history and it’s not always something that you will want to disclose on a travel insurance application. It is important to be open and honest about your health to avoid any potential issues with claims.\n\nIf you fail to disclose a pre-existing medical condition on your application then your policy could be invalid and any claims might be refused. When you apply for travel insurance, you will be asked questions about your health, medical history and lifestyle.\n\nIf you want more information then you should visit our Martin Lewis pre existing travel insurance guide. Alternatively you can [get a medical travel insurance quote online](https:\/\/quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk\/?source=MPO).\n\n### 4\\. Destinations: check to make sure that yours is included\nDangerous or hazardous locations are often excluded from most standard travel insurance policies. You should always check to see whether your chosen destination is currently listed on the unsafe travel locations. You can check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website to get the latest destinations on the list.\n\nThere are two standard types of travel insurance policies which are ‘European’ and ‘Worldwide’ cover. The slightly confusing thing is that European travel insurance generally covers you to travel to a number of other non-European locations.\n\n**Annual travel insurance cover for non-European travel**\n\nIf you buy annual travel insurance cover then you should make sure that it covers your potential destinations for the whole year. Most annual travel insurance policies can’t be changed once you’ve paid for them and started your cover.\n\nIt does seem slightly strange to call it ‘European’ travel insurance when in reality they cover a number of non-European destinations. Some of the locations that are often included outside of Europe include:\n\n- [Egypt](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/egypt)\n- [Russia](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/russia)\n- [Israel](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/israel)\n- [Turkey](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/turkey)\n- [Morocco](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/morocco)\n- [Tunisia](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/tunisia)\n\nYou should check to make sure that any potential destinations are covered under the travel insurance policy you are looking at.\n\nAnother slightly strange anomaly with European travel insurance is that not all policies include Spain (including Canaries and Balearic Islands) as standard. These can often be added at an extra cost but this may make the cover less cost-effective.\n\nSome of the best European travel insurance policies include:\n\n- [Allianz](https:\/\/www.allianz-assistance.co.uk\/content\/dam\/onemarketing\/awp\/allianz-assistance-co-uk\/policy-information-pdfs\/UK-ST-backpacker-B2C-Policy-080224.pdf)\n- [Insure and Go](https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/dttwa61aq\/image\/upload\/v1702462901\/igo\/policy-wording\/2024\/InsureandGo_Budget_Policy_Wording_1223.pdf)\n- [AIG](https:\/\/www.aig.co.uk\/content\/dam\/aig\/emea\/united-kingdom\/documents\/hosted-documents\/lifelineplus-key-facts-and-policy-wording.pdf.coredownload.pdf)\n### 5\\. Do I need travel cover if I have the free EHIC or GHIC?\nThe European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and the new version which is the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) are free for UK residents. The GHIC came in to operation from the 1st January 2021, and it gives you access to treatment from state-run medical facilities and hospitals in the European Union (EU).\n\nThe main feature of the GHIC is that it provides the holder with treatment at the same cost as what national residents would pay. Most other European countries don’t operate the same National Health Service (NHS) as in the UK, so there will often be a charge or fee for treatment.\n\n**Does an EHIC or GHIC replace the need for travel insurance?**\n\nNO – You should always take out travel insurance as well as having the EHIC or GHIC. Martin Lewis travel insurance guides also recommend that you should always have travel insurance as well as either of these cards.\n\nTravel insurance covers over EHIC and GHIC:\n\n- Lost or stolen property\n- Cancellations and curtailment\n- Personal liability\n- Holiday disruption and delays\n- Repatriation back to the UK\n- Sports injuries and accident liability\n\n**What does the EHIC or GHIC do if I’ve got travel insurance?**\n\nYou might wonder whether it’s actually worth getting a card if you’ve travel insurance, and that’s a good question. The only benefit of the EHIC or GHIC if you’ve got travel insurance is that it might mean that you don’t have to pay any excess for medical claims.\n\n**What does the EHIC or GHIC do if I’ve got travel insurance?**\n\nThe older style EHIC is no longer available after the 1st January 2021 and you would automatically receive a GHIC in its place. The GHIC is free and can be obtained via the NHS website (see below).\n\n- [GHIC application](https:\/\/overseas-healthcare.nhsbsa.nhs.uk\/get-healthcare-cover-travelling-abroad\/start)\n- [GHIC guides](https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/using-the-nhs\/healthcare-abroad\/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic\/)\n\nNote: There are websites that claim to offer GHIC for a fee (usually £30-40) which should be avoided as recommended quite rightly on the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides.\n\n### 6\\. Is annual travel insurance worth it for families?\nAs a general rule of thumb from the advice in the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides, it is suggested that 2 or more trips in a 12 month period is worth considering annual cover. As most travel insurance providers will recommend, annual travel insurance is more cost-effective and easier than buying two or more individual policies.\n\nThere are many other considerations when buying annual travel insurance, such as:\n\n- Make sure that it covers all of your destinations\n- If you’re taking part in sports or activities then make sure that they are included and covered\n- Longer trips might not be covered so check limits on travel times\n- Short holidays or weekend breaks might be cheaper to cover individually\n- Cruise holidays may not be covered on an annual policy (optional add-on usually)\n\nYou might also have a limit on your annual travel insurance policy for the maximum amount of time you are allowed to travel overseas in a year. Some limits might be as low as 2 weeks or can go up to as high as 3 months in some cases, depending on your insurance provider.\n\nPeople looking for specialist travel insurance policies such as working abroad, backpacking, travelling for long periods, or gap years. There are specific policies and providers that are ideal for these types of travel.\n\n### 7\\. Does my bank or credit card cover family travel insurance?\nIt’s fairly common in recent times for bank or credit card customers to get travel insurance with certain account types. If you’re not sure whether any of your accounts have this benefit then you should definitely check, because you might already have travel insurance.\n\nOne of the big points that isn’t really mentioned in the Martin Lewis travel insurance guide is that these policies can have exclusions, and might not be the level of cover that you are looking for, such as:\n\n- Pre-existing medical conditions\n- Extreme Sports (e.g. winter sports, sailing, diving etc.)\n- USA and Canada\n- Dangerous destinations\n- Cruises\n\nMartin Lewis travel insurance guides also points out that there is another benefit that is offered on some credit cards, which is called ‘travel accident insurance’. This is another type of cover completely that covers accidents when travelling, but it isn’t offered much with more modern card facilities.\n\n### 8\\. Get winter sports cover for skiing and snowboarding holidays\nThis is a subject that we know a lot about being a lifelong skier and winter sports fanatic, so we’ve had lots of experience in this area. Lots of travel insurance policies offer winter sports cover either as a separate policy or can be added as a benefit.\n\nPeople who take part in winter sports will be aware of the risks involved as well as the other issues, such as loss or theft of equipment.\n\nMain risks for winter sports and activities:\n\n- Accidents and injuries can be a common issue for people who take part in winter sports, and that can be for any level of experience. Some of the most common injuries can be things like broken bones and head injuries. If you need treatment in the mountains and especially if you need to be rescued off the mountain by helicopter.\n- Theft, loss and damage of ski equipment is also common when in the mountains and especially in the past 10 years, where theft has unfortunately become part of winter holiday risks. Ski equipment can be extremely expensive to replace, even if it is rented from a local ski shop. Replacing ski equipment can more than double the cost of your already costly ski holiday.\n- Public liability insurance (e.g. injuring another person in an accident or damaging another person’s equipment) can also be vital cover because accidents can happen and it might not be your fault at all. The mountains can be a very dangerous place and especially in adverse weather conditions, so an unintentional or unavoidable accident might happen.\n- Adverse weather conditions can also cause major disruptions or mean that your holiday might be significantly impacted. Some winter sports travel insurance policies will cover you for mountain closures due to severe weather problems.\n\nNote: As it has been pointed out by Martin Lewis, most winter sports travel insurance policies won’t cover you for skiing or snowboarding off-piste (unless you are accompanied by a qualified guide).\n\n### 9\\. Can I get family cruise travel insurance?\nThe number of people taking cruise holidays dramatically fell during COVID, the overall figure dropped to under the 5 million in 2021. Globally, these figures have partially recovered to around 20 million cruise holiday travellers in 2022.\n\nOne of the common mistakes that people make with cruise holidays, is assuming that their travel insurance covers them for this type of trip. Unfortunately, most traditional travel insurance policies don’t fully cover cruise holidays as standard. You might be lucky and get some cover on your standard travel insurance policy but some critical elements will usually be missing, such as:\n\n- Illness (confined to cabin) e.g. virus or outbreak of diseases\n- Excursions that were not used or unavailable\n- Change to your cruise schedule\n- Missing the ship departure\n\nAll of these can be covered with a standard travel insurance policy add on benefit, and this is usually not too expensive. There are also specialist travel insurance policies and providers that specifically tailor their cover for cruise holidays.\n\n## How does cancellation cover work and how do I make a claim if I’m having problems with my tour operator or airline?\nMost traditional and standard travel insurance policies will cover you for cancellation and curtailment of your holiday for a number of reasons. However, even if you have the highest level of cover from the very best travel insurance provider, you’ll still have to follow a certain procedure to make a claim for cancellations.\n\nOne of the biggest potential issues with climbing for cancellation on a travel insurance policy, is the clause about ‘recoverable costs’. This means that your travel insurance policy will only cover you for costs that cannot be recovered from your tour operator or airline first.\n\nAs it recommends on the Martin Lewis travel insurance guide, you’ll need to speak to your tour operator and airline first to see what compensation they would offer or what costs they would reimburse. This is a fairly normal procedure with any travel plans that are cancelled or changed, and simply means that you would need to provide proof or evidence that you followed the correct procedure.\n\nA standard ‘recoverable costs’ clause would usually look like this:\n\n- In the event of cancellation of your holiday or travel you should follow some simple steps before you make a claim.\n- First you should contact your tour operator to find out what their refund policy is, and any potential compensation they will provide (including credit notes and vouchers)\n- Any trips that have been booked by using a credit card or debit card, you should firstly contact the card provider to find out what cover they offer, and any compensation they might provide.\n- We are unable to process a claim without following these steps first and firstly finding out what compensation might be available. Once you’ve completed these steps please contact your claims department for us to process your claim.\n## How to make a complaint about travel insurance\nIf you have a complaint about your travel insurance policy or if you’re not happy with the outcome of a claim, then you can raise a complaint with the Financial Ombudsmen Service (FOS).\n\nAll travel insurance policies are covered by the same regulators and you will automatically have a level of protection built in. You should firstly raise your complaint with your travel insurance provider, and then you can escalate your complaint to the FOS if you’re unhappy with the outcome.\n\nCommon travel insurance complaints:\n\n- Unclear terms and conditions (hidden small print)\n- Unpaid or pay out shortfalls on claims\n- Unfair fees or charges\n- Poor service\n- Exclusions not explained properly\n### Financial Ombudsman Service Contact Details\nTelephone – 0800 023 4567 (or 0300 123 9123)  \nTelephone (outside the UK) – 0207 964 0500  \nEmail – [complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk](mailto:complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk)\n\nYou can also visit ‘[Resolver](https:\/\/www.resolver.co.uk\/about)’ which is a free to use website for people who wish to make complaints to financial services companies.\n\n## How to make a claim on a travel insurance policy\nTravel insurance is there to protect you and your family, so you shouldn’t feel bad if you need to claim on it. Often, people are put off claiming on their travel insurance because of unclear wording, complicated claims processes, high excesses, or just can’t be bothered with the hassle.\n\nThere are several simple steps that you should follow if you need to make a claim on your travel insurance policy.\n\n### 1\\. Submit your claim form and contact your insurance provider as soon as you can\nSubmit your claim form and contact your insurance provider as soon as you can to avoid any unnecessary questions or potential issues. If you fail to notify your insurance company of your claim in a certain timeframe (usually 1 or 2 weeks), then you might risk missing the claim window that is allowed under your policy terms and conditions, this includes any police reports and crime reference numbers.\n\n### 2\\. Get a crime reference number (CRN) from the local police\nGet a crime reference number (CRN) from the local police for any theft or damage to possessions. This can be a painful process and might seem like a waste of your time, especially if you’re on holiday and you want to make the most of your time abroad. Submitting an incident report to the police can be the difference between a valid and an invalid claim on your travel insurance policy. Often this needs to be done within 24 or 48 hours of the incident happening.\n\n### 3\\. Speak to your insurer and get them to authorise treatment before you have it\nSpeak to your insurer and get them to authorise treatment before you have it which can be extremely difficult, but can make a huge difference. Most travel insurance policies will require that you contact them before you receive treatment to make sure that it is in an approved facility or hospital and that the procedure is valid. This can be difficult as well, especially if you are in significant pain or discomfort.\n\n### 4\\. Keep a log of costs and receipts\nKeep a log of costs and receipts for any payments to make sure that you have a full audit trail of anything you have paid for. Most travel insurance policies will want proof or evidence for any costs that you have incurred that you are claiming for. These can include hotel costs, taxis, medications or medical treatments.\n\nYou also have the option to make a complaint to your insurance provider and escalate your complaint to the FOS (see above), if you feel that you are being treated unfairly.\n\n## Get a cheap travel insurance quote online\nWe have a simple travel insurance quote tool online that gives you access to some of the best and cheapest travel insurance policies. Our trusted travel insurance partners are experts in travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, so your health shouldn’t stop you from getting the best travel insurance quotes.\n\n[Compare Our Best Travel Insurance Quotes Get our best cover to protect you and your family. Compare quotes from the UK’s leading Travel Insurance brands. ![A calculator and a clipboard](https:\/\/moneypeopleonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/End-of-content-block-image.svg)](https:\/\/quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk\/?source=MPO)","meta_canonical":null}

3. Robots.txt Check

Query:

Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

Query:

Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

📄

INDEXABLE

✅

CRAWLED

16 days ago

🤖

ROBOTS ALLOWED

Page Info Filters

Filter	Status	Condition	Details
HTTP status	PASS	`download_http_code = 200`	HTTP 200
Age cutoff	PASS	`download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH`	0.5 months ago
History drop	PASS	`isNull(history_drop_reason)`	No drop reason
Spam/ban	PASS	`fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0`	ml_spam_score=0
Canonical	PASS	`meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed`	Not set

Page Details

Property	Value
URL	https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/martin-lewis-travel-insurance/
Last Crawled	2026-03-21 02:31:30 (16 days ago)
First Indexed	2024-11-15 06:34:27 (1 year ago)
HTTP Status Code	200
Meta Title	Martin Lewis Family Travel Insurance Guide
Meta Description	Read the latest Martin Lewis travel insurance advice to get your cover ASAB or As Soon As you Book for the very best cover for your holiday.
Meta Canonical	null
Boilerpipe Text	What does Martin Lewis say about Family Travel Insurance 2026? Martin Lewis says more every year about travel insurance than any other general insurance product or policy. His annual warning to British travellers and holiday markers is to book your travel insurance policy ASAB, which stands for ‘As Soon As you Book’. According to Martin Lewis, he is contacted several times every year by one of his MoneySavingExpert community to ask for advice about how to recover travel costs. The typical example that he gives is someone who has been diagnosed with a serious illness which means that they can’t travel, but they don’t have travel insurance. Family Money Experts: Martin Lewis Cheap Travel Insurance guide for Families 2026. Get your Travel Insurance ASAB (As Soon As you Book) to get the most value for money and cover. Check with your Bank and Credit Cards to see if you’re already covered. Use cashback sites like Quidco and Topcashback to get money back on your travel insurance. Make sure that you disclose any pre-existing medical conditions and be honest about your lifestyle. Read your policy documents carefully and check for any exclusions (e.g. sports, alcohol, etc.). Don’t leave it to chance, especially if you’ve got children or if you’re travelling remote destinations. Make sure that your family cover is right and all of your family are properly protected (e.g. check age limits). MoneyPeopleOnline family travel insurance experts In this guide, our team of family travel insurance experts looks at the latest Martin Lewis travel insurance advice and other consumer guidance for UK holidaymakers. We explain how travel insurance works and the extra value that you could get by taking cover ‘As Soon As you Book’ for your holiday. DISCLAIMER: MoneyPeopleOnline is an independent money saving website that has been created to help households and parents to make the right financial decisions. We are in no way connected to Martin Lewis and his Money Saving Expert website, our guides are simply to help explain some of the guidance provided by these services and to add more detail from our expertise in these areas. Holidaymakers consistently leave themselves exposed to the risks of booking a holiday early to save money and then leaving taking out travel insurance to the last minute. Most parents don’t think about the risks of serious illness, including cancers, heart attack or a serious injury, which would prevent them from being able to enjoy their holiday and result in significant financial loss. 60 Second Summary – Martin Lewis travel insurance guide for Families 2026. One of the best tips for travellers and holidaymakers in the UK is when we ask, ‘Does Martin Lewis recommend travel insurance?’. The answer is very clearly yes Martin Lewis strongly recommends travel insurance and he also recommends getting it ‘ASAB – As Soon As you Book’. Holidaymakers seem to be making the same mistakes every year and leaving themselves exposed to potentially losing money on holiday bookings. In yet another warning issued in January, Martin Lewis recommended to take out travel insurance instantly to avoid losing money. Every year, Martin Lewis makes the same recommendation that travellers should get their travel insurance sorted out as soon as possible or ‘ASAB – As Soon As you Book’ to avoid losing money. Martin Lewis said on ITV’s This Morning with Holly Willoughby, he gets a Tweet from a viewer every year asking, “what can I do if I’ve been diagnosed with cancer, and I can’t travel?”. Travel insurance is specifically for helping you when something goes wrong, and it covers the costs of flight or ferry cancellations, medical problems before and during your trip, and lost or stolen luggage. Exclusions can be extremely costly and it’s extremely important to make sure that you check your policy wording carefully for medical, sports, and geographical exclusions. Martin Lewis also recommends checking with your credit cards or bank to see if you have any free travel insurance benefits included with them, which could potentially save you money. Does Martin Lewis recommend travel insurance? Martin Lewis recommends several travel insurance providers and companies, including his two premier travel policies from ABTA and LV= . Other travel insurance companies promoted on MSE include: Coverwise Leisure Guard CoverForYou Urban Jungle Admiral MoneySavingExpert has also recently launched its exclusive new ‘Cheap Travel Insurance Finder tool’ for consumers to compare quotes instantly online from a panel of partners. This is a new direction for MSE which has historically not provided direct pricing for insurance policies which is ususual for Mr Lewis. Top Martin Lewis travel insurance guides: Martin Lewis travel insurance pre existing medical conditions Cheap travel insurance Martin Lewis Travel insurance over 65’s Martin Lewis Martin Lewis UK travel insurance Coronavirus Travel Rights Martin Lewis – refunds, rights and more Getting the very best travel insurance can make a huge difference if you need to make a claim when travelling overseas , especially for families, the elderly, and people with pre-existing medical conditions . Martin Lewis travel insurance covers most of these topics and looks at how to save money in the process, which is also extremely important for parents and families. What is does ASAB mean and why is it important travel insurance? If you watch Martin Lewis or follow any of his social channels, then you may be familiar with the travel insurance ‘ASAB’ (As Soon As you Book) warning. This piece of travel insurance advice means that travellers should buy cover as soon as they’ve booked their holiday or travel. Martin Lewis says that he is regularly contacted by consumers asking for advice about recovering travel expenses from being unable to travel due to sickness. In the scenario he usually mentions, someone asks for help after being diagnosed with a serious illness to recover travel costs but they don’t have protection from travel cover. ASAB is also important for families because they’ve got the added complication of travelling with kids, which is more expensive to begin with and there are more people who may get ill or injured. You could lose a substantial amount of money if you can’t go on your family holiday because of an illness and you don’t have travel insurance. Top insurer, Allianz also recommends that you should book your travel insurance as early as you can. They also point out in their article ‘ Do I buy travel insurance before or after I travel ’, that you should take out cover at least 14 days before you leave to make sure that your policy is valid. Family Travel Insurance Martin Lewis travel insurance TOP recommendation is “Get it ASAB or As Soon As you Book” taken from an interview on This Morning with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield in July 2018 and again with The Independent in February 2023. Martin Lewis repeats this advice every year, including in his most recent This Morning interview in July 2024. Martin Lewis Travel Insurance 'ASAB' warning for families Martin Lewis TV talks to This Morning presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about booking your Travel Insurance As Soon As you Book Here’s a quote about Martin Lewis’s travel insurance advice in The Independent : The Independent – 22nd February 2023 “Each spring without fail, someone asks me a heart breaking question, I’ve just been diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness and I need long-term treatment, so I can’t go on holiday. What can I do?” As Martin Lewis strongly recommends on any of his travel insurance interviews, blogs or guides, get it ‘ASAB’. As Mr Lewis also points out on MoneySavingExpert.com in his Martin Lewis travel insurance guides, around half of the value of your policy is before you actually travel. Taking out travel insurance before you actually travel won’t affect the cost but it will significantly increase the value and could save your family money if you need to cancel your trip. Some of the information on the Martin Lewis travel insurance sections still relate quite heavily towards Coronavirus related issues . This is slightly outdated now as these are fortunately no longer a major issue for many travellers. Family \| Friendly \| Free What does travel insurance cover? A traditional or standard travel insurance policy is solely designed to protect you and your family against financial loss before, during and after your trip. This simply means that most good travel insurance policies will provide you with financial protection for most of the usual risks relating to overseas and domestic holidays, such as: Cancellation or curtailment Medical emergencies Loss or theft of possessions Holiday disruptions Viruses and diseases (e.g. COVID-19) Sports and activities Make The Most Of Your Money Are all travel insurance policies the same? Sadly no, there is a significant difference between a good travel insurance policy and a lower level travel insurance policy. Also, it’s not always true to say that “you get what you pay for” either, because some policies offer great value for money whereas others can be overpriced. You should always check your policy wording and terms & conditions very carefully before you accept any cover. It’s also worth noting that comparing several travel insurance quotes is the best way to make sure that you’ve got the right cover. You can do this through your own research, via comparison sites or by talking to a travel insurance expert. Below is an example of what a ‘good travel insurance’ policy should protect you for. Policy protection and cover type Potential reasons for claim Cancellation and curtailment of travel plans This is the bit that most people miss, and the bit that Martin Lewis travel insurance advice emphasises the most. If you need to cancel your holiday due to illness or injury prior to travel which means that you are unable to travel (e.g. car accident, sports injury, diagnosis of a serious illness etc.), or even things like family bereavements and an emergency at home. Hospital treatments and medical costs when overseas One of the single biggest and potentially most scary situations, is requiring medical treatment and hospitalisation when travelling overseas. Firstly, the language barrier alone can be a very scary issue, compounded by the potential astronomical costs of any treatments and care. You should also check very carefully to make sure that your policy covers any pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, cancer, heart conditions, stroke etc.). Personal belongings and luggage (e.g. Theft, loss and damage) Most of us travel with a significant amount of luggage and personal possessions when we go on holiday, especially if we’ve got children or for activity holidays. The potential costs of loss, theft or damage to those possessions can be hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Most good travel insurance policies will give higher limits for these belongings and you can even increase limits if you have specific items to cover. Extreme sports, dangerous activities and holiday excursions A popular reason for holidaymakers visiting foreign locations is to take part in certain activities or sports (e.g. skiing, snowboarding, sailing, diving and mountaineering). There are specific policies that cover these activities and some might exclude these unless stated in the policy terms and conditions. Personal and public liability (including legal costs) You are just as much at risk of hurting or injuring another person when you are on holiday, as when you’re at home (e.g. car accident, sports accident, property damage etc.). Your building and contents or car insurance will usually cover these at home, so you’ll nee to think about making sure that this is covered when you’re on holiday. Note: Every travel insurance policy has its own limits of cover and will provide different levels of coverage, so check your policy documents very carefully. Helping Families Save Money Who is the best and cheapest travel insurance? MoneySavingExpert.com’s main travel insurance page is titled ‘Cheap travel insurance’, so you would assume that it contains information on the best and cheapest travel insurance in the UK. While the page does contain various helpful tips about saving money on your cover, there isn’t much information about specific insurance companies that are budget-friendly. The companies that are suggested are mentioned briefly, without much context about their customer service record or features of their policies. MSE does have a built-in ‘cheap travel insurance finder’ tool, which works similarly to a typical price comparison tool as seen in the image below. This tool doesn’t offer exact prices but will give you a rough estimate of the prices you might expect to see. This list of prices will be based on: Your age (provides a general age bracket like 18-35 and you can’t input an exact age) If you need individual, couples, or family cover If you need a single trip or annual policy While this list can be a helpful starting point, it doesn’t account for things like your trip destination, exact age, or any medical conditions, which can all affect the price of your policy. MSE also states that they judge any policies included in this list solely on price, and don’t take customer feedback into account. We would be wary of choosing any policies based solely on these lists, as it is always best to do some research and consider which insurance company will work best for your situation. Where is the best place to get travel insurance? The ‘best’ place to get your travel insurance will depend on the type of cover that you are after and your own situation. Some people find it useful to use a comparison site or to speak to a travel insurance broker for advice about their policy. Our partners Medical Travel Compared are specialists in travel insurance for pre-existing conditions and can quickly compare the best prices and policies from across the UK. What medical conditions do you have to declare on travel insurance? You will need to declare any medical conditions that you have experienced in the recent past when you apply for travel insurance. Some companies will ask more detailed questions than others about your health and medical history. It can be useful to apply via a specialist website if you’re worried that your health will affect the policies that are available to you. Martin Lewis’ website MoneySavingExpert.com has a full page dedicated to pre-existing conditions travel insurance, which contains more information on this topic. We explain these comments and advice in full detail in our guide ‘ Martin Lewis Travel Insurance Pre-existing Medical Conditions ’. Compare Our Best Travel Insurance Quotes Martin Lewis travel insurance need to knows There are also 10 need to knows about travel insurance on the Martin Lewis guide to travel insurance that are very useful hints and tips. Travel insurance policies do vary significantly from one insurer to another, so it’s not just the price that you need to think about. 1. Take your family travel insurance As Soon As you Book (ASAB) One of the key tips and main points on all of the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides is to make sure that buy travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday or travel. Unfortunately, lots of us leave taking out travel insurance to the last minute or we buy it just before we travel which significantly reduces the value of your policy. One of the biggest elements of travel insurance is the cover and protection that it provides before you travel. Some of those events can include cancellation due to medical problems, redundancy, injury through an accident and even death in the family. Most consumers don’t even consider these elements or events when booking their holidays and thinking about travel insurance. Roughly 50% of the value of a travel insurance policy is in the time leading up to when you are due to travel. Martin Lewis travel insurance recommends ASAB which means ‘as soon as you’ve booked’ and this is a great rule to follow. Note: This also applies for people who are booking holidays in the UK, and it’s not just for overseas travel. 2. Check your family travel insurance policy exclusions Similar to most of the general insurance and personal insurance policies, travel insurance also comes with a standard set of exclusions that can vary from one insurer to another. You should check your policy documents and terms and conditions very carefully before you travel. Here’s a list of standard exclusions and explanations: Alcohol related accidents or injuries Alcohol related accidents or injuries are typical and standard exclusions on most travel insurance policies. This exclusion has applied for several years now since the increase of alcohol and drug related injuries from UK holidaymakers travelling abroad. If you are found to have alcohol or drugs in your system at the time of the accident or injury then your claim is likely to be refused. Extreme sports and hazardous activities Extreme sports and hazardous activities will also generally be excluded from most standard travel insurance policies, unless they offer specific activities (e.g. winter sports, sailing, diving, motorcycle riding etc.). You have a number of options if you intend to take part in extreme sports while you are on holiday, or for people who are travelling abroad specifically to take part in dangerous activities. There are a number of organisations for certain activities to speak to if you intend to take part in sports overseas. These organisations will be able to provide useful information which may be of use when looking for the right travel insurance cover. You can also get advice and quotes from an extreme sports travel insurance specialist to get the right cover. For more information and a list of specialists you can visit the British Insurance Brokers Association website. British Insurance Broker’s Association Contact Details Telephone (Insurance Help)- 0370 950 1790 Telephone (General Enquiries) – 0344 7700 266 Email – enquiries@biba.org.uk Pre-existing medical conditions Pre-existing medical conditions will usually need to be covered with a specialist policy or will often be excluded from a standard travel insurance policy. You will need to check your policy wording carefully and you can seek advice from a medical conditions specialist. Note: You must disclose your medical history when you take out a travel insurance policy, or your cover might be invalid. If you fail to tell your travel insurance provider about a specific pre-existing medical condition then your claims will usually be refused. We are proud to partner with Medical Travel Compared to provide top quality travel insurance cover with great coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions. Medical Travel Compared is one of the UK’s leading pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance specialists. If you feel they’re the right fit for you, feel free to get a medical travel insurance quote online . Invalid travel documents Invalid travel documents is also an unfortunate possibility when you travel overseas, such as an out of date passport, invalid visa documents or other travel documents that are required. You are responsible to ensure that you have the appropriate travel documents and that they are all valid (e.g. not out of date). Note: You should always check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website to find out which documents are required and any rules for entry. Make sure that you allow sufficient time to be able to prepare yourself and any requirements for entry to your destination. Policy excess Policy excess is the amount that you would have to pay to your travel insurance provider in the event of a claim. Your excess should be explained to you on your policy documents and you might be able to select different excess levels, also there will be different excess levels for different claims. Example: if you require hospital treatment while you are overseas and the cost is £2,000 for the procedure and medication, you might have to pay £300 excess before you claim will be paid. Excesses can vary from as little as £100 up to as much as £500 or even £1,000 for bigger claims (e.g. repatriation back to the UK). You might also find that it’s not worth claiming small amounts because the excess will be more than the claim. Private medical treatment or private hospitals Private medical treatment or private hospitals may also be excluded as these are not typically included with standard travel insurance coverage. Some higher level travel insurance policies will include private hospital treatment, but you just need to check first. You should always double check your documents to make sure that you are allowed to have treatment in your chosen hospital or facility. Some insurance companies will accept private hospital treatment as standard for certain procedures or medical emergencies, while others won’t. Note: If you’re unhappy with a claim being refused or you feel that you have been treated unfairly then you should refer your claim to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) for further advice. 3. Disclose all of your families medical history to be fully covered It can be difficult to talk about your medical history and it’s not always something that you will want to disclose on a travel insurance application. It is important to be open and honest about your health to avoid any potential issues with claims. If you fail to disclose a pre-existing medical condition on your application then your policy could be invalid and any claims might be refused. When you apply for travel insurance, you will be asked questions about your health, medical history and lifestyle. If you want more information then you should visit our Martin Lewis pre existing travel insurance guide. Alternatively you can get a medical travel insurance quote online . 4. Destinations: check to make sure that yours is included Dangerous or hazardous locations are often excluded from most standard travel insurance policies. You should always check to see whether your chosen destination is currently listed on the unsafe travel locations. You can check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website to get the latest destinations on the list. There are two standard types of travel insurance policies which are ‘European’ and ‘Worldwide’ cover. The slightly confusing thing is that European travel insurance generally covers you to travel to a number of other non-European locations. Annual travel insurance cover for non-European travel If you buy annual travel insurance cover then you should make sure that it covers your potential destinations for the whole year. Most annual travel insurance policies can’t be changed once you’ve paid for them and started your cover. It does seem slightly strange to call it ‘European’ travel insurance when in reality they cover a number of non-European destinations. Some of the locations that are often included outside of Europe include: Egypt Russia Israel Turkey Morocco Tunisia You should check to make sure that any potential destinations are covered under the travel insurance policy you are looking at. Another slightly strange anomaly with European travel insurance is that not all policies include Spain (including Canaries and Balearic Islands) as standard. These can often be added at an extra cost but this may make the cover less cost-effective. Some of the best European travel insurance policies include: Allianz Insure and Go AIG 5. Do I need travel cover if I have the free EHIC or GHIC? The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and the new version which is the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) are free for UK residents. The GHIC came in to operation from the 1st January 2021, and it gives you access to treatment from state-run medical facilities and hospitals in the European Union (EU). The main feature of the GHIC is that it provides the holder with treatment at the same cost as what national residents would pay. Most other European countries don’t operate the same National Health Service (NHS) as in the UK, so there will often be a charge or fee for treatment. Does an EHIC or GHIC replace the need for travel insurance? NO – You should always take out travel insurance as well as having the EHIC or GHIC. Martin Lewis travel insurance guides also recommend that you should always have travel insurance as well as either of these cards. Travel insurance covers over EHIC and GHIC: Lost or stolen property Cancellations and curtailment Personal liability Holiday disruption and delays Repatriation back to the UK Sports injuries and accident liability What does the EHIC or GHIC do if I’ve got travel insurance? You might wonder whether it’s actually worth getting a card if you’ve travel insurance, and that’s a good question. The only benefit of the EHIC or GHIC if you’ve got travel insurance is that it might mean that you don’t have to pay any excess for medical claims. What does the EHIC or GHIC do if I’ve got travel insurance? The older style EHIC is no longer available after the 1st January 2021 and you would automatically receive a GHIC in its place. The GHIC is free and can be obtained via the NHS website (see below). GHIC application GHIC guides Note: There are websites that claim to offer GHIC for a fee (usually £30-40) which should be avoided as recommended quite rightly on the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides. 6. Is annual travel insurance worth it for families? As a general rule of thumb from the advice in the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides, it is suggested that 2 or more trips in a 12 month period is worth considering annual cover. As most travel insurance providers will recommend, annual travel insurance is more cost-effective and easier than buying two or more individual policies. There are many other considerations when buying annual travel insurance, such as: Make sure that it covers all of your destinations If you’re taking part in sports or activities then make sure that they are included and covered Longer trips might not be covered so check limits on travel times Short holidays or weekend breaks might be cheaper to cover individually Cruise holidays may not be covered on an annual policy (optional add-on usually) You might also have a limit on your annual travel insurance policy for the maximum amount of time you are allowed to travel overseas in a year. Some limits might be as low as 2 weeks or can go up to as high as 3 months in some cases, depending on your insurance provider. People looking for specialist travel insurance policies such as working abroad, backpacking, travelling for long periods, or gap years. There are specific policies and providers that are ideal for these types of travel. 7. Does my bank or credit card cover family travel insurance? It’s fairly common in recent times for bank or credit card customers to get travel insurance with certain account types. If you’re not sure whether any of your accounts have this benefit then you should definitely check, because you might already have travel insurance. One of the big points that isn’t really mentioned in the Martin Lewis travel insurance guide is that these policies can have exclusions, and might not be the level of cover that you are looking for, such as: Pre-existing medical conditions Extreme Sports (e.g. winter sports, sailing, diving etc.) USA and Canada Dangerous destinations Cruises Martin Lewis travel insurance guides also points out that there is another benefit that is offered on some credit cards, which is called ‘travel accident insurance’. This is another type of cover completely that covers accidents when travelling, but it isn’t offered much with more modern card facilities. 8. Get winter sports cover for skiing and snowboarding holidays This is a subject that we know a lot about being a lifelong skier and winter sports fanatic, so we’ve had lots of experience in this area. Lots of travel insurance policies offer winter sports cover either as a separate policy or can be added as a benefit. People who take part in winter sports will be aware of the risks involved as well as the other issues, such as loss or theft of equipment. Main risks for winter sports and activities: Accidents and injuries can be a common issue for people who take part in winter sports, and that can be for any level of experience. Some of the most common injuries can be things like broken bones and head injuries. If you need treatment in the mountains and especially if you need to be rescued off the mountain by helicopter. Theft, loss and damage of ski equipment is also common when in the mountains and especially in the past 10 years, where theft has unfortunately become part of winter holiday risks. Ski equipment can be extremely expensive to replace, even if it is rented from a local ski shop. Replacing ski equipment can more than double the cost of your already costly ski holiday. Public liability insurance (e.g. injuring another person in an accident or damaging another person’s equipment) can also be vital cover because accidents can happen and it might not be your fault at all. The mountains can be a very dangerous place and especially in adverse weather conditions, so an unintentional or unavoidable accident might happen. Adverse weather conditions can also cause major disruptions or mean that your holiday might be significantly impacted. Some winter sports travel insurance policies will cover you for mountain closures due to severe weather problems. Note: As it has been pointed out by Martin Lewis, most winter sports travel insurance policies won’t cover you for skiing or snowboarding off-piste (unless you are accompanied by a qualified guide). 9. Can I get family cruise travel insurance? The number of people taking cruise holidays dramatically fell during COVID, the overall figure dropped to under the 5 million in 2021. Globally, these figures have partially recovered to around 20 million cruise holiday travellers in 2022. One of the common mistakes that people make with cruise holidays, is assuming that their travel insurance covers them for this type of trip. Unfortunately, most traditional travel insurance policies don’t fully cover cruise holidays as standard. You might be lucky and get some cover on your standard travel insurance policy but some critical elements will usually be missing, such as: Illness (confined to cabin) e.g. virus or outbreak of diseases Excursions that were not used or unavailable Change to your cruise schedule Missing the ship departure All of these can be covered with a standard travel insurance policy add on benefit, and this is usually not too expensive. There are also specialist travel insurance policies and providers that specifically tailor their cover for cruise holidays. How does cancellation cover work and how do I make a claim if I’m having problems with my tour operator or airline? Most traditional and standard travel insurance policies will cover you for cancellation and curtailment of your holiday for a number of reasons. However, even if you have the highest level of cover from the very best travel insurance provider, you’ll still have to follow a certain procedure to make a claim for cancellations. One of the biggest potential issues with climbing for cancellation on a travel insurance policy, is the clause about ‘recoverable costs’. This means that your travel insurance policy will only cover you for costs that cannot be recovered from your tour operator or airline first. As it recommends on the Martin Lewis travel insurance guide, you’ll need to speak to your tour operator and airline first to see what compensation they would offer or what costs they would reimburse. This is a fairly normal procedure with any travel plans that are cancelled or changed, and simply means that you would need to provide proof or evidence that you followed the correct procedure. A standard ‘recoverable costs’ clause would usually look like this: In the event of cancellation of your holiday or travel you should follow some simple steps before you make a claim. First you should contact your tour operator to find out what their refund policy is, and any potential compensation they will provide (including credit notes and vouchers) Any trips that have been booked by using a credit card or debit card, you should firstly contact the card provider to find out what cover they offer, and any compensation they might provide. We are unable to process a claim without following these steps first and firstly finding out what compensation might be available. Once you’ve completed these steps please contact your claims department for us to process your claim. How to make a complaint about travel insurance If you have a complaint about your travel insurance policy or if you’re not happy with the outcome of a claim, then you can raise a complaint with the Financial Ombudsmen Service (FOS). All travel insurance policies are covered by the same regulators and you will automatically have a level of protection built in. You should firstly raise your complaint with your travel insurance provider, and then you can escalate your complaint to the FOS if you’re unhappy with the outcome. Common travel insurance complaints: Unclear terms and conditions (hidden small print) Unpaid or pay out shortfalls on claims Unfair fees or charges Poor service Exclusions not explained properly Financial Ombudsman Service Contact Details Telephone – 0800 023 4567 (or 0300 123 9123) Telephone (outside the UK) – 0207 964 0500 Email – complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk You can also visit ‘ Resolver ’ which is a free to use website for people who wish to make complaints to financial services companies. How to make a claim on a travel insurance policy Travel insurance is there to protect you and your family, so you shouldn’t feel bad if you need to claim on it. Often, people are put off claiming on their travel insurance because of unclear wording, complicated claims processes, high excesses, or just can’t be bothered with the hassle. There are several simple steps that you should follow if you need to make a claim on your travel insurance policy. 1. Submit your claim form and contact your insurance provider as soon as you can Submit your claim form and contact your insurance provider as soon as you can to avoid any unnecessary questions or potential issues. If you fail to notify your insurance company of your claim in a certain timeframe (usually 1 or 2 weeks), then you might risk missing the claim window that is allowed under your policy terms and conditions, this includes any police reports and crime reference numbers. 2. Get a crime reference number (CRN) from the local police Get a crime reference number (CRN) from the local police for any theft or damage to possessions. This can be a painful process and might seem like a waste of your time, especially if you’re on holiday and you want to make the most of your time abroad. Submitting an incident report to the police can be the difference between a valid and an invalid claim on your travel insurance policy. Often this needs to be done within 24 or 48 hours of the incident happening. 3. Speak to your insurer and get them to authorise treatment before you have it Speak to your insurer and get them to authorise treatment before you have it which can be extremely difficult, but can make a huge difference. Most travel insurance policies will require that you contact them before you receive treatment to make sure that it is in an approved facility or hospital and that the procedure is valid. This can be difficult as well, especially if you are in significant pain or discomfort. 4. Keep a log of costs and receipts Keep a log of costs and receipts for any payments to make sure that you have a full audit trail of anything you have paid for. Most travel insurance policies will want proof or evidence for any costs that you have incurred that you are claiming for. These can include hotel costs, taxis, medications or medical treatments. You also have the option to make a complaint to your insurance provider and escalate your complaint to the FOS (see above), if you feel that you are being treated unfairly. Get a cheap travel insurance quote online We have a simple travel insurance quote tool online that gives you access to some of the best and cheapest travel insurance policies. Our trusted travel insurance partners are experts in travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, so your health shouldn’t stop you from getting the best travel insurance quotes. Compare Our Best Travel Insurance Quotes Get our best cover to protect you and your family. Compare quotes from the UK’s leading Travel Insurance brands.
Markdown	[![Money People Online](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/mpo-logo-no-padding.svg)](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/) More ▾ Close [About](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/about-us/) [Contact](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/contact-us/) [All News](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/martin-lewis-travel-insurance/) [Get a Quick Quote \>\>\>](https://quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/?source=MPO&id=mpo-martin-lewis-travel-insurance "Get a Quick Quote >>>") - [Mortgages](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/) - - - #### Mortgage Rates and Deals - [Cost of moving home calculator UK](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/guides/cost-of-moving-home-calculator-uk/) - [Exit Strategies for Bridging Loans](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/guides/exit-strategies-for-bridging-loans/) - [Bridging Loan Calculator](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/guides/bridging-loan-calculator/) - [Martin Lewis Bridging Loans Guide](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/guides/martin-lewis-bridging-loans-guide/) - [Bridging Loans Guide](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/guides/bridging-loans-guide-for-parents-and-families/) - [Equity Release and Lifetime Mortgage Guide for Parents](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/guides/equity-release-and-lifetime-mortgage-guide-for-parents/) - [Standard Variable Rate mortgages (SVR)](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/guides/standard-variable-rate-mortgages-svr/) - [Remortgaging Fees and Costs For Families](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/guides/remortgaging-fees-and-costs-for-families-2025/) - [How To Get A UK Mortgage Under 4%](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/guides/how-to-get-a-uk-mortgage-under-4/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/guides/) - - #### Mortgage Lender Reviews - [Santander Buy to Let Mortgage Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/lenders/santander-buy-to-let-mortgage-review/) - [Santander Mortgage Review For Families 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/lenders/santander-mortgage-review/) - [NatWest mortgage review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/lenders/natwest-mortgage-review/) - [Nationwide Mortgage Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/lenders/nationwide-mortgage-review/) - [Halifax Mortgage Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/lenders/halifax-mortgage-review/) - [HSBC Mortgage Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/lenders/hsbc-mortgage-review/) - [Barclays Mortgage Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/lenders/barclays-mortgage-review/) - [Accord Mortgages Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/lenders/accord-mortgages-review/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/lenders/) - - #### Mortgage Reviews - [Mortgageable Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/companies/mortgageable-review/) - [Tembo Money Mortgage Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/companies/tembo-money-mortgage-review/) - [Habito Mortgages Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/companies/habito-mortgage-review/) - [London and Country Mortgage Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/companies/are-l-and-c-mortgages-a-good-choice-for-parents/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/companies/) - - #### Latest Mortgage News - [UK house prices in early 2026: what a flat February means for families](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/news/uk-house-prices-in-early-2026-what-a-flat-february-means-for-families/) - [UK inflation at 3% in January 2026: what it means for parents’ finances](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/news/uk-inflation-at-3-in-january-2026-what-it-means-for-parents-finances/) - [First Time Buyer Mortgage Approvals Hit Record Levels in the UK](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/news/first-time-buyer-mortgage-approvals-hit-record-levels-in-the-uk/) - [Mortgage Rate News: Nationwide, Virgin Money and Principality Increase Rates](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/news/mortgage-rate-news-nationwide-virgin-money-and-principality-increase-rates/) - [Mortgage Rate Options Hit 18 Year High](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/news/mortgage-rate-options-hit-18-year-high/) - [Halifax Data Shows UK House Price Dip to Six Month Low](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/news/halifax-data-shows-uk-house-price-dip-to-six-month-low/) - [Bank of England Rate Cut Expected as Inflation Falls 0.4%](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/news/bank-of-england-rate-cut-expected-as-inflation-falls-0-4-percent/) - [GDP Falls 0.1% Leaving Door Wide Open for Interest Rate Cut](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/news/gdp-falls-0-1-leaving-door-wide-open-for-interest-rate-cut/) - [More Options and Lowest Fixed Mortgage Rates Since 2022](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/news/more-options-and-lowest-fixed-mortgage-rates-since-2022/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/news/) - [Life Insurance](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/) - - - #### Life Insurance Providers - [Post Office Over 50s Life Insurance Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/providers/post-office-over-50s-life-insurance-review/) - [Beagle Street Family Life Insurance Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/providers/beagle-street-life-insurance/) - [The Exeter Life Insurance Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/providers/the-exeter-life-insurance/) - [Budget life insurance – does it really save you money?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/providers/budget-life-insurance/) - [HSBC Life Insurance Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/providers/hsbc-life-insurance-review/) - [SunLife Over 50s Life Insurance Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/providers/sunlife-life-insurance-review/) - [One Family Life Insurance Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/providers/one-family-life-insurance-review/) - [Guardian 1821 life insurance review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/providers/guardian-1821-life-insurance-review/) - [Zurich Life Insurance Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/providers/zurich-life-insurance-review/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/providers/) - - #### Life Insurance Reviews - [LifeSearch Family Life Insurance Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/companies/lifesearch-reviews/) - [Polly Life Insurance Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/companies/polly-life-insurance-review/) - [Tom Life Insurance Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/companies/tom-life-insurance-review/) - [DeadHappy, is it really ‘life insurance to die for’?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/companies/deadhappy-life-insurance-review/) - [Reassured Life Insurance](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/companies/reassured-life-insurance-review/) - [NatWest Life Insurance Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/companies/natwest-life-insurance-review/) - [Sainsbury’s Life Insurance Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/companies/sainsburys-life-insurance-review/) - [Sainsburys Over 50s Life Insurance Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/companies/sainsburys-over-50s-life-insurance-review/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/companies/) - - #### Life Insurance Guides - [Government extends Cost of Living Support for families](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/government-extends-cost-of-living-support-for-families/) - [Will Labour scrap the two-child limit for Universal Credit?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/will-labour-scrap-the-two-child-limit-for-universal-credit/) - [Sunak and Tory government pledge an extra 120,000 NHS staff](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/sunak-and-tory-government-pledge-an-extra-120000-nhs-staff/) - [Top Tips for End of Tax Year 2024](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/top-tips-for-end-of-tax-year-2024/) - [Inflation-linked BT Broadband and mobile price rises scrapped](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/inflation-linked-bt-broadband-and-mobile-price-rises-scrapped/) - [Quidco Cashback Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/quidco-cashback-website-review-is-it-real-or-fake/) - [Rail strikes updates for December – How do you claim?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/national-rail-strike-updates-can-i-get-compensation-and-how-can-i-claim/) - [Consumer duty summary – what do the new rules mean?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/consumer-duty-summary/) - [Average UK energy bills to fall by up to £426](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/average-uk-energy-bills-fall-by-426/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/guides/) - - #### Life Insurance News - [DeadHappy is Finally Gone for Good](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/news/deadhappy-is-finally-gone-for-good-june-2024/) - [Aviva takeover of AIG Life UK investigation](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/news/aviva-takeover-of-aig-life-uk-investigation/) - [Insurance complaints – FOS predicts 44,300 in 2024](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/news/insurance-complaints-fos/) - [Urgent: Bereavement Support Payment Deadline (08/02/2024)](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/news/bereavement-support-payment-deadline/) - [Bereavement support payments – could you claim up to £10,000?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/news/bereavement-support-payments-could-you-claim-up-to-10000/) - [LV= claim that 1 in 4 adults are worried about mental health](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/news/lv-claim-that-1-in-4-adults-are-worried-about-mental-health/) - [Aviva buys AIG Life for £460million](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/news/aviva-buys-aig-life-for-460million/) - [Scottish Widows Claims Statistics (2022)](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/news/scottish-widows-claims-statistics-2022/) - [Legal and General Claims Statistics (2022)](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/news/legal-and-general-claims-statistics-2022/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/news/) - [Health Insurance](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/) - - - #### Health Insurance Providers - [WPA Family Health Insurance Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/wpa-family-health-insurance-review/) - [Bupa Family Health Insurance Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/bupa-health-insurance-is-it-really-worth-the-money/) - [Vitality Health Insurance Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/vitality-health-insurance-is-it-right-for-you/) - [The Exeter health insurance – a good option for health cover?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/the-exeter-health-insurance/) - [AXA Health insurance – does it offer good value for money?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/axa-health-insurance/) - [National Friendly health insurance – is it the best choice?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/national-friendly-health-insurance-is-it-the-best-choice/) - [Freedom health insurance – is it a good choice?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/freedom-health-insurance-is-it-a-good-choice/) - [Aviva health insurance – is it any good?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/aviva-health-insurance-is-it-any-good/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/) - - #### Health Insurance Reviews - [WPA Family Health Insurance Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/wpa-family-health-insurance-review/) - [Bupa Family Health Insurance Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/bupa-health-insurance-is-it-really-worth-the-money/) - [Vitality Health Insurance Review](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/vitality-health-insurance-is-it-right-for-you/) - [The Exeter health insurance – a good option for health cover?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/the-exeter-health-insurance/) - [AXA Health insurance – does it offer good value for money?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/axa-health-insurance/) - [National Friendly health insurance – is it the best choice?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/national-friendly-health-insurance-is-it-the-best-choice/) - [Freedom health insurance – is it a good choice?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/freedom-health-insurance-is-it-a-good-choice/) - [Aviva health insurance – is it any good?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/providers/aviva-health-insurance-is-it-any-good/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/companies/) - - #### Health Insurance Guides - [Guide to Simplify Private Health Insurance for Parents and Families](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/guides/guide-to-simplify-private-health-insurance-for-parents-and-families/) - [Health Insurance Underwriting Explained: Moratorium or Full Medical Underwriting](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/guides/health-insurance-underwriting-explained-moratorium-or-full-medical-underwriting/) - [Fairer Finance launches Health Insurance product ratings](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/guides/fairer-finance-launches-health-insurance-product-ratings/) - [Private health insurance vs NHS](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/guides/private-health-insurance-vs-nhs-which-is-better/) - [How much do private medical treatments cost in the UK?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/guides/how-much-do-private-medical-treatments-cost-in-the-uk/) - [MPO guide to health insurance renewals](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/guides/mpo-guide-to-health-insurance-renewals/) - [Top tips for buying cheap health insurance](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/guides/top-tips-for-buying-cheap-health-insurance/) - [What is family health insurance?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/guides/what-is-family-health-insurance/) - [What is the Best Private Health Insurance 2025?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/guides/what-is-the-best-private-health-insurance-2023/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/guides/) - - #### Latest Health Insurance News - [Rachel Reeves Under Pressure To Charge VAT On Private Healthcare](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/news/rachel-reeves-under-pressure-to-charge-vat-on-private-healthcare/) - [New The Exeter HealthWise App features – how do they help customers?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/news/new-the-exeter-healthwise-app-features/) - [Almost 7 million UK adults have private medical insurance](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/news/almost-7-million-uk-adults-now-have-private-medical-insurance/) - [Study shows employee wellbeing is top worry for UK businesses](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/news/study-shows-employee-wellbeing-is-top-worry-for-uk-businesses/) - [UK health inequalities cause extra 33,000 cancer cases each year](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/news/uk-health-inequalities-cause-extra-33000-cancer-cases-each-year/) - [AXA Health announce menopause support for all customers](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/news/axa-health-announce-menopause-support-for-all-customers/) - [NHS waiting list rises by 100,000 in 1 month](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/news/nhs-waiting-list-rises-by-100000-in-1-month/) - [Bupa announces new Bupa Family+ Health Insurance](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/news/bupa-announce-new-family-life-insurance/) - [ABI urges chancellor to cut IPT on health insurance](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/news/abi-urges-chancellor-to-cut-ipt-on-health-insurance/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/news/) - [Travel](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/) - - - #### Our Guides - [Martin Lewis Family Travel Insurance Guide](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/martin-lewis-travel-insurance/) - [Does Travel Insurance cover Pregnancy?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/does-travel-insurance-cover-pregnancy/) - [Single Trip Travel Insurance for Families](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/single-trip-travel-insurance/) - [MPO Guide to Cheaper Cruise Travel Insurance](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/cruise-travel-insurance/) - [Martin Lewis travel insurance pre-existing medical conditions](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions/) - [Guide to travel insurance with cancer](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/guide-to-travel-insurance-with-cancer/) - [MPO Travel Insurance Excess Guide](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/travel-insurance-excess/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/) - - #### More News - ### [Does travel insurance cover strikes?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/does-travel-insurance-cover-strikes/) - ### [Guide to travel insurance for diabetics](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/travel-insurance-for-diabetics/) - ### [Travel insurance with medical conditions](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/travel-insurance-with-medical-conditions/) - ### [How do I know if my passport is valid?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/how-do-i-know-if-my-passport-is-valid/) - ### [Save on travel insurance with pre-existing conditions](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/save-on-travel-insurance-with-pre-existing-conditions/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/) - - #### Travel Insurance Reviews - [Medical Travel Compared Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/providers/medical-travel-compared-review/) - [LV= Travel Insurance Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/providers/lv-travel-insurance-review/) - [Admiral Travel Insurance Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/providers/admiral-travel-insurance-review/) - [Staysure Travel Insurance Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/providers/staysure-travel-insurance/) - [Asda Travel Insurance Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/providers/asda-travel-insurance/) - [Saga Travel Insurance Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/providers/saga-travel-insurance/) - [Tesco Travel Insurance Review 2025](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/providers/tesco-travel-insurance/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/providers/) - [Tax](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/) - - - #### Tax Guides - [Inheritance Tax Guide to Gifting and Pensions for Families](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/guides/inheritance-tax-guide-to-gifting-and-pensions-for-families/) - [Tax Relief Guide For Parents with Buy-to-Let Mortgages and Properties](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/guides/tax-relief-guide-for-parents-with-buy-to-let-mortgages-and-properties/) - [How to Claim Higher and Additional Rate Pension Tax Relief](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/guides/how-to-claim-higher-and-additional-rate-pension-tax-relief/) - [Making Tax Digital (MTD) 2026 – Guide for Parents and Families](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/guides/making-tax-digital-mtd-2026-guide-for-parents-and-families/) - [National Insurance Guide for Parents and Families](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/guides/national-insurance-guide-for-parents-and-families/) - [MPO Complete Tax Codes Guide for Parents and Families](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/guides/complete-tax-codes-guide-for-parents/) - [Income Tax Guide and Tips for Parents and Families](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/guides/income-tax-guide-and-tips-for-parents-and-families/) - [Self Assessment Tax Return Guide for Parents](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/guides/self-assessment-tax-return-guide-for-parents/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/guides/) - - #### Tax News - [Martin Lewis Budget 2025 Review for Families and Parents](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/news/martin-lewis-budget-2025-review-for-families-and-parents/) - [Autumn Budget 2025: Review For Families and Parents](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/news/autumn-budget-2025-review-for-families-and-parents/) - [Rachel Reeves Says No Income Tax Increase in Autumn Budget](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/news/rachel-reeves-says-no-income-tax-increase-in-autumn-budget/) - [Autumn Budget 2025: Summary of Possible Tax Increases for Parents](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/news/autumn-budget-2025-summary-of-possible-tax-increases-for-parents/) - [Martin Lewis Pushes for End to “Stealth Tax Raid” on Families](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/news/martin-lewis-pushes-for-end-to-stealth-tax-raid-on-families/) - [Rachel Reeves’s “fair” Budget: What it Could Mean for Families’ Taxes](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/news/rachel-reevess-fair-budget-what-it-could-mean-for-families-taxes/) - [Paper Tax Return Deadline. 31st October](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/news/paper-tax-return-deadline-31st-october/) - [Predicted Tax Rises in Autumn Budget – How to Protect Your Family](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/news/predicted-tax-rises-in-autumn-budget-how-to-protect-your-family/) - [See all »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/news/) - - #### Property Tax Hub - [UK Rental Property Business and Tax Rules for Landlords](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/property-tax-hub/uk-rental-property-business-and-tax-rules-for-landlords/) - [Self Assessment Tax Returns for UK Landlords](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/property-tax-hub/self-assessment-tax-returns-for-uk-landlords/) - [Allowable Rental Income Expenses to Reduce Tax](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/property-tax-hub/allowable-rental-income-expenses-to-reduce-tax/) - [Types of UK Property Ownership and Rules for Tax and Inheritance](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/property-tax-hub/types-of-uk-property-ownership-and-rules-for-tax-and-inheritance/) - [Restriction of tax relief on mortgage interest – section 24 explained](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/property-tax-hub/restriction-of-tax-relief-on-mortgage-interest-section-24-explained/) - - [Other Services](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax-form/) - [Family Deals](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/deals-and-discounts/) - [Home](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/) - [Travel Insurance](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/) - [Guides](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/) - Martin Lewis Family Travel Insurance Guide # What Does Martin Lewis Say About Travel Insurance 2026? ![A photo of Daniel Sharpe-Szunko, the author](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ace61a3a4ddce61398b0c7fee72bfeccb91eb2d5ad02bd25d237b3fa93859123?s=96&d=mm&r=g) By [Daniel Sharpe-Szunko](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/author/danielsharpeszunko/) Last updated: 22 December 2025 21 min read ## Our family finance experts look at the annual travel insurance warning by Martin Lewis, the UK's most well-known money saving expert. How can you get the best value from your family travel insurance policy by taking cover ASAB (As Soon As you Book). ## What does Martin Lewis say about Family Travel Insurance 2026? Martin Lewis says more every year about travel insurance than any other general insurance product or policy. His annual warning to British travellers and holiday markers is to book your travel insurance policy ASAB, which stands for ‘As Soon As you Book’. According to Martin Lewis, he is contacted several times every year by one of his MoneySavingExpert community to ask for advice about how to recover travel costs. The typical example that he gives is someone who has been diagnosed with a serious illness which means that they can’t travel, but they don’t have travel insurance. ### Family Money Experts: Martin Lewis Cheap Travel Insurance guide for Families 2026. - Get your Travel Insurance ASAB (As Soon As you Book) to get the most value for money and cover. - Check with your Bank and Credit Cards to see if you’re already covered. - Use cashback sites like Quidco and Topcashback to get money back on your travel insurance. - Make sure that you disclose any pre-existing medical conditions and be honest about your lifestyle. - Read your policy documents carefully and check for any exclusions (e.g. sports, alcohol, etc.). - Don’t leave it to chance, especially if you’ve got children or if you’re travelling remote destinations. - Make sure that your family cover is right and all of your family are properly protected (e.g. check age limits). ### MoneyPeopleOnline family travel insurance experts In this guide, our team of family travel insurance experts looks at the latest [Martin Lewis travel insurance advice](https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2025/03/martin-lewis-holiday-warning/) and other consumer guidance for UK holidaymakers. We explain how travel insurance works and the extra value that you could get by taking cover ‘As Soon As you Book’ for your holiday. DISCLAIMER: MoneyPeopleOnline is an independent money saving website that has been created to help households and parents to make the right financial decisions. We are in no way connected to Martin Lewis and his Money Saving Expert website, our guides are simply to help explain some of the guidance provided by these services and to add more detail from our expertise in these areas. Holidaymakers consistently leave themselves exposed to the risks of booking a holiday early to save money and then leaving taking out travel insurance to the last minute. Most parents don’t think about the risks of serious illness, including cancers, heart attack or a serious injury, which would prevent them from being able to enjoy their holiday and result in significant financial loss. ![A picture of a stopwatch](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7) ## 60 Second Summary – Martin Lewis travel insurance guide for Families 2026. One of the best tips for travellers and holidaymakers in the UK is when we ask, ‘Does Martin Lewis recommend travel insurance?’. The answer is very clearly yes Martin Lewis strongly recommends travel insurance and he also recommends getting it ‘ASAB – As Soon As you Book’. Holidaymakers seem to be making the same mistakes every year and leaving themselves exposed to potentially losing money on holiday bookings. In yet another warning issued in January, Martin Lewis recommended to take out travel insurance instantly to avoid losing money. - Every year, Martin Lewis makes the same recommendation that travellers should get their travel insurance sorted out as soon as possible or ‘ASAB – As Soon As you Book’ to avoid losing money. - Martin Lewis said on ITV’s This Morning with Holly Willoughby, he gets a Tweet from a viewer every year asking, “what can I do if I’ve been diagnosed with cancer, and I can’t travel?”. - Travel insurance is specifically for helping you when something goes wrong, and it covers the costs of flight or ferry cancellations, medical problems before and during your trip, and lost or stolen luggage. - Exclusions can be extremely costly and it’s extremely important to make sure that you check your policy wording carefully for medical, sports, and geographical exclusions. - Martin Lewis also recommends checking with your credit cards or bank to see if you have any free travel insurance benefits included with them, which could potentially save you money. [Compare Quotes Now](https://quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/?source=MPO&id=mpo-martin-lewis-travel-insurance "Compare Quotes Now") ## Does Martin Lewis recommend travel insurance? Martin Lewis recommends several travel insurance providers and companies, including his two premier travel policies from [ABTA](https://abtatravelinsurance.onesolutiontravel.co.uk/) and [LV=](https://www.lv.com/travel-insurance). Other travel insurance companies promoted on MSE include: - [Coverwise](https://www.coverwise.co.uk/travel-insurance/Insurance-home.aspx) - [Leisure Guard](https://www.leisureguardflexitravelinsurance.com/) - [CoverForYou](https://www.coverforyou.com/) - [Urban Jungle](https://myurbanjungle.com/v1t/purchase/policy-choice) - [Admiral](https://www.admiral.com/travel-insurance) MoneySavingExpert has also recently launched its exclusive new ‘Cheap Travel Insurance Finder tool’ for consumers to compare quotes instantly online from a panel of partners. This is a new direction for MSE which has historically not provided direct pricing for insurance policies which is ususual for Mr Lewis. ### Top Martin Lewis travel insurance guides: - [Martin Lewis travel insurance pre existing medical conditions](https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/pre-existing-travel-insurance/) - [Cheap travel insurance Martin Lewis](https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/cheap-travel-insurance/) - [Travel insurance over 65’s Martin Lewis](https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/over65s-travel-insurance/) - [Martin Lewis UK travel insurance](https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/uk-travel-insurance/) - [Coronavirus Travel Rights Martin Lewis – refunds, rights and more](https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights/) Getting the very best travel insurance can make a huge difference if you need to make a claim when [travelling overseas](https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/travel-abroad), especially for families, the elderly, and people with [pre-existing medical conditions](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions/). Martin Lewis travel insurance covers most of these topics and looks at how to save money in the process, which is also extremely important for parents and families. ## What is does ASAB mean and why is it important travel insurance? If you watch Martin Lewis or follow any of his social channels, then you may be familiar with the travel insurance ‘ASAB’ (As Soon As you Book) warning. This piece of travel insurance advice means that travellers should buy cover as soon as they’ve booked their holiday or travel. Martin Lewis says that he is regularly contacted by consumers asking for advice about recovering travel expenses from being unable to travel due to sickness. In the scenario he usually mentions, someone asks for help after being diagnosed with a serious illness to recover travel costs but they don’t have protection from travel cover. ASAB is also important for families because they’ve got the added complication of travelling with kids, which is more expensive to begin with and there are more people who may get ill or injured. You could lose a substantial amount of money if you can’t go on your family holiday because of an illness and you don’t have travel insurance. Top insurer, [Allianz](https://www.allianz.com/en/about-us.html) also recommends that you should book your travel insurance as early as you can. They also point out in their article ‘[Do I buy travel](https://www.allianz-assistance.com.sg/blog/Do-I-Buy-Travel-Insurance-Before-Or-After-Booking.html) [insurance](https://www.allianz-assistance.com.sg/blog/Do-I-Buy-Travel-Insurance-Before-Or-After-Booking.html) [before or after I travel](https://www.allianz-assistance.com.sg/blog/Do-I-Buy-Travel-Insurance-Before-Or-After-Booking.html)’, that you should take out cover at least 14 days before you leave to make sure that your policy is valid. ![Family travel insurance image of family at the airport having fun](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7) ![Family travel insurance image of family at the airport having fun](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ML-Travel-Insurance-Review-image-1024x546.png) *** Family Travel Insurance Martin Lewis travel insurance TOP recommendation is “Get it ASAB or As Soon As you Book” taken from an interview on [This Morning](https://www.itv.com/thismorning/articles/martin-lewis-do-these-five-things-now-and-save-you-money-on-your-2018-holidays) with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield in July 2018 and again with [The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-b2287065.html) in February 2023. Martin Lewis repeats this advice every year, including in his most recent [This Morning interview](https://www.itv.com/thismorning/articles/martin-lewis-vital-money-saving-guide-for-holidaymakers) in July 2024. ### Martin Lewis Travel Insurance 'ASAB' warning for families Martin Lewis TV talks to This Morning presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about booking your Travel Insurance As Soon As you Book Here’s a quote about Martin Lewis’s travel insurance advice in [The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-b2287065.html): ### The Independent – 22nd February 2023 “Each spring without fail, someone asks me a heart breaking question, I’ve just been diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness and I need long-term treatment, so I can’t go on holiday. What can I do?” As Martin Lewis strongly recommends on any of his travel insurance interviews, blogs or guides, get it ‘ASAB’. As Mr Lewis also points out on MoneySavingExpert.com in his Martin Lewis travel insurance guides, around half of the value of your policy is before you actually travel. Taking out travel insurance before you actually travel won’t affect the cost but it will significantly increase the value and could save your family money if you need to cancel your trip. Some of the information on the Martin Lewis travel insurance sections still relate quite heavily towards [Coronavirus related issues](https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights/). This is slightly outdated now as these are fortunately no longer a major issue for many travellers. * Family \\| Friendly \\| Free ## What does travel insurance cover? A traditional or standard travel insurance policy is solely designed to protect you and your family against financial loss before, during and after your trip. This simply means that most good travel insurance policies will provide you with financial protection for most of the usual risks relating to overseas and domestic holidays, such as: - Cancellation or curtailment - Medical emergencies - Loss or theft of possessions - Holiday disruptions - Viruses and diseases (e.g. COVID-19) - Sports and activities * Make The Most Of Your Money ## Are all travel insurance policies the same? Sadly no, there is a significant difference between a good travel insurance policy and a lower level travel insurance policy. Also, it’s not always true to say that “you get what you pay for” either, because some policies offer great value for money whereas others can be overpriced. You should always check your policy wording and terms & conditions very carefully before you accept any cover. It’s also worth noting that comparing several travel insurance quotes is the best way to make sure that you’ve got the right cover. You can do this through your own research, via comparison sites or by talking to a travel insurance expert. Below is an example of what a ‘good travel insurance’ policy should protect you for. \| Policy protection and cover type \| Potential reasons for claim \| \|---\|---\| \| Cancellation and curtailment of travel plans \| This is the bit that most people miss, and the bit that Martin Lewis travel insurance advice emphasises the most. If you need to cancel your holiday due to illness or injury prior to travel which means that you are unable to travel (e.g. car accident, sports injury, diagnosis of a serious illness etc.), or even things like family bereavements and an emergency at home. \| \| Hospital treatments and medical costs when overseas \| One of the single biggest and potentially most scary situations, is requiring medical treatment and hospitalisation when travelling overseas. Firstly, the language barrier alone can be a very scary issue, compounded by the potential astronomical costs of any treatments and care. You should also check very carefully to make sure that your policy covers any pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, cancer, heart conditions, stroke etc.). \| \| Personal belongings and luggage (e.g. Theft, loss and damage) \| Most of us travel with a significant amount of luggage and personal possessions when we go on holiday, especially if we’ve got children or for activity holidays. The potential costs of loss, theft or damage to those possessions can be hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Most good travel insurance policies will give higher limits for these belongings and you can even increase limits if you have specific items to cover. \| \| Extreme sports, dangerous activities and holiday excursions \| A popular reason for holidaymakers visiting foreign locations is to take part in certain activities or sports (e.g. skiing, snowboarding, sailing, diving and mountaineering). There are specific policies that cover these activities and some might exclude these unless stated in the policy terms and conditions. \| \| Personal and public liability (including legal costs) \| You are just as much at risk of hurting or injuring another person when you are on holiday, as when you’re at home (e.g. car accident, sports accident, property damage etc.). Your building and contents or car insurance will usually cover these at home, so you’ll nee to think about making sure that this is covered when you’re on holiday. \| Note: Every travel insurance policy has its own limits of cover and will provide different levels of coverage, so check your policy documents very carefully. * Helping Families Save Money ## Who is the best and cheapest travel insurance? MoneySavingExpert.com’s main travel insurance page is titled ‘Cheap travel insurance’, so you would assume that it contains information on the best and cheapest travel insurance in the UK. While the page does contain various helpful tips about saving money on your cover, there isn’t much information about specific insurance companies that are budget-friendly. The companies that are suggested are mentioned briefly, without much context about their customer service record or features of their policies. MSE does have a built-in ‘cheap travel insurance finder’ tool, which works similarly to a typical price comparison tool as seen in the image below. This tool doesn’t offer exact prices but will give you a rough estimate of the prices you might expect to see. This list of prices will be based on: - Your age (provides a general age bracket like 18-35 and you can’t input an exact age) - If you need individual, couples, or family cover - If you need a single trip or annual policy While this list can be a helpful starting point, it doesn’t account for things like your trip destination, exact age, or any medical conditions, which can all affect the price of your policy. MSE also states that they judge any policies included in this list solely on price, and don’t take customer feedback into account. We would be wary of choosing any policies based solely on these lists, as it is always best to do some research and consider which insurance company will work best for your situation. ## Where is the best place to get travel insurance? The ‘best’ place to get your travel insurance will depend on the type of cover that you are after and your own situation. Some people find it useful to use a comparison site or to speak to a travel insurance broker for advice about their policy. Our partners [Medical Travel Compared](https://quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/?source=MPO&id=moneypeopleonline-martin-lewis-travel-insurance-guide) are specialists in travel insurance for pre-existing conditions and can quickly compare the best prices and policies from across the UK. ## What medical conditions do you have to declare on travel insurance? You will need to declare any medical conditions that you have experienced in the recent past when you apply for travel insurance. Some companies will ask more detailed questions than others about your health and medical history. It can be useful to apply via a specialist website if you’re worried that your health will affect the policies that are available to you. Martin Lewis’ website MoneySavingExpert.com has a full page dedicated to pre-existing conditions travel insurance, which contains more information on this topic. We explain these comments and advice in full detail in our guide ‘[Martin Lewis Travel Insurance Pre-existing Medical Conditions](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions/)’. [Compare Our Best Travel Insurance Quotes ![A calculator and a clipboard](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/End-of-content-block-image.svg)](https://quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/?source=MPO) ## Martin Lewis travel insurance need to knows There are also 10 need to knows about travel insurance on the Martin Lewis guide to travel insurance that are very useful hints and tips. Travel insurance policies do vary significantly from one insurer to another, so it’s not just the price that you need to think about. ### 1\. Take your family travel insurance As Soon As you Book (ASAB) One of the key tips and main points on all of the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides is to make sure that buy travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday or travel. Unfortunately, lots of us leave taking out travel insurance to the last minute or we buy it just before we travel which significantly reduces the value of your policy. One of the biggest elements of travel insurance is the cover and protection that it provides before you travel. Some of those events can include cancellation due to medical problems, redundancy, injury through an accident and even death in the family. Most consumers don’t even consider these elements or events when booking their holidays and thinking about travel insurance. Roughly 50% of the value of a travel insurance policy is in the time leading up to when you are due to travel. Martin Lewis travel insurance recommends ASAB which means ‘as soon as you’ve booked’ and this is a great rule to follow. Note: This also applies for people who are booking holidays in the UK, and it’s not just for overseas travel. ### 2\. Check your family travel insurance policy exclusions Similar to most of the general insurance and personal insurance policies, travel insurance also comes with a standard set of exclusions that can vary from one insurer to another. You should check your policy documents and terms and conditions very carefully before you travel. Here’s a list of standard exclusions and explanations: Alcohol related accidents or injuries Alcohol related accidents or injuries are typical and standard exclusions on most travel insurance policies. This exclusion has applied for several years now since the increase of alcohol and drug related injuries from UK holidaymakers travelling abroad. If you are found to have alcohol or drugs in your system at the time of the accident or injury then your claim is likely to be refused. Extreme sports and hazardous activities Extreme sports and hazardous activities will also generally be excluded from most standard travel insurance policies, unless they offer specific activities (e.g. winter sports, sailing, diving, motorcycle riding etc.). You have a number of options if you intend to take part in extreme sports while you are on holiday, or for people who are travelling abroad specifically to take part in dangerous activities. There are a number of organisations for certain activities to speak to if you intend to take part in sports overseas. These organisations will be able to provide useful information which may be of use when looking for the right travel insurance cover. You can also get advice and quotes from an extreme sports travel insurance specialist to get the right cover. For more information and a list of specialists you can visit the [British Insurance Brokers Association](https://www.biba.org.uk/insurance-guides/travel-insurance-guides/) website. ### British Insurance Broker’s Association Contact Details Telephone (Insurance Help)- 0370 950 1790 Telephone (General Enquiries) – 0344 7700 266 Email – [enquiries@biba.org.uk](mailto:enquiries@biba.org.uk) Pre-existing medical conditions Pre-existing medical conditions will usually need to be covered with a specialist policy or will often be excluded from a standard travel insurance policy. You will need to check your policy wording carefully and you can seek advice from a medical conditions specialist. Note: You must disclose your medical history when you take out a travel insurance policy, or your cover might be invalid. If you fail to tell your travel insurance provider about a specific pre-existing medical condition then your claims will usually be refused. We are proud to partner with Medical Travel Compared to provide top quality travel insurance cover with great coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions. Medical Travel Compared is one of the UK’s leading pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance specialists. If you feel they’re the right fit for you, feel free to [get a medical travel insurance quote online](https://quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/?source=MPO&id=moneypeopleonline-martin-lewis-travel-insurance-guide). Invalid travel documents Invalid travel documents is also an unfortunate possibility when you travel overseas, such as an out of date passport, invalid visa documents or other travel documents that are required. You are responsible to ensure that you have the appropriate travel documents and that they are all valid (e.g. not out of date). Note: You should always check the [Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) website to find out which documents are required and any rules for entry. Make sure that you allow sufficient time to be able to prepare yourself and any requirements for entry to your destination. Policy excess Policy excess is the amount that you would have to pay to your travel insurance provider in the event of a claim. Your excess should be explained to you on your policy documents and you might be able to select different excess levels, also there will be different excess levels for different claims. Example: if you require hospital treatment while you are overseas and the cost is £2,000 for the procedure and medication, you might have to pay £300 excess before you claim will be paid. Excesses can vary from as little as £100 up to as much as £500 or even £1,000 for bigger claims (e.g. repatriation back to the UK). You might also find that it’s not worth claiming small amounts because the excess will be more than the claim. Private medical treatment or private hospitals Private medical treatment or private hospitals may also be excluded as these are not typically included with standard travel insurance coverage. Some higher level travel insurance policies will include private hospital treatment, but you just need to check first. You should always double check your documents to make sure that you are allowed to have treatment in your chosen hospital or facility. Some insurance companies will accept private hospital treatment as standard for certain procedures or medical emergencies, while others won’t. Note: If you’re unhappy with a claim being refused or you feel that you have been treated unfairly then you should refer your claim to the [Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)](https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers/complaints-can-help/insurance) for further advice. ### 3\. Disclose all of your families medical history to be fully covered It can be difficult to talk about your medical history and it’s not always something that you will want to disclose on a travel insurance application. It is important to be open and honest about your health to avoid any potential issues with claims. If you fail to disclose a pre-existing medical condition on your application then your policy could be invalid and any claims might be refused. When you apply for travel insurance, you will be asked questions about your health, medical history and lifestyle. If you want more information then you should visit our Martin Lewis pre existing travel insurance guide. Alternatively you can [get a medical travel insurance quote online](https://quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/?source=MPO). ### 4\. Destinations: check to make sure that yours is included Dangerous or hazardous locations are often excluded from most standard travel insurance policies. You should always check to see whether your chosen destination is currently listed on the unsafe travel locations. You can check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website to get the latest destinations on the list. There are two standard types of travel insurance policies which are ‘European’ and ‘Worldwide’ cover. The slightly confusing thing is that European travel insurance generally covers you to travel to a number of other non-European locations. Annual travel insurance cover for non-European travel If you buy annual travel insurance cover then you should make sure that it covers your potential destinations for the whole year. Most annual travel insurance policies can’t be changed once you’ve paid for them and started your cover. It does seem slightly strange to call it ‘European’ travel insurance when in reality they cover a number of non-European destinations. Some of the locations that are often included outside of Europe include: - [Egypt](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt) - [Russia](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/russia) - [Israel](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/israel) - [Turkey](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey) - [Morocco](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco) - [Tunisia](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tunisia) You should check to make sure that any potential destinations are covered under the travel insurance policy you are looking at. Another slightly strange anomaly with European travel insurance is that not all policies include Spain (including Canaries and Balearic Islands) as standard. These can often be added at an extra cost but this may make the cover less cost-effective. Some of the best European travel insurance policies include: - [Allianz](https://www.allianz-assistance.co.uk/content/dam/onemarketing/awp/allianz-assistance-co-uk/policy-information-pdfs/UK-ST-backpacker-B2C-Policy-080224.pdf) - [Insure and Go](https://res.cloudinary.com/dttwa61aq/image/upload/v1702462901/igo/policy-wording/2024/InsureandGo_Budget_Policy_Wording_1223.pdf) - [AIG](https://www.aig.co.uk/content/dam/aig/emea/united-kingdom/documents/hosted-documents/lifelineplus-key-facts-and-policy-wording.pdf.coredownload.pdf) ### 5\. Do I need travel cover if I have the free EHIC or GHIC? The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and the new version which is the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) are free for UK residents. The GHIC came in to operation from the 1st January 2021, and it gives you access to treatment from state-run medical facilities and hospitals in the European Union (EU). The main feature of the GHIC is that it provides the holder with treatment at the same cost as what national residents would pay. Most other European countries don’t operate the same National Health Service (NHS) as in the UK, so there will often be a charge or fee for treatment. Does an EHIC or GHIC replace the need for travel insurance? NO – You should always take out travel insurance as well as having the EHIC or GHIC. Martin Lewis travel insurance guides also recommend that you should always have travel insurance as well as either of these cards. Travel insurance covers over EHIC and GHIC: - Lost or stolen property - Cancellations and curtailment - Personal liability - Holiday disruption and delays - Repatriation back to the UK - Sports injuries and accident liability What does the EHIC or GHIC do if I’ve got travel insurance? You might wonder whether it’s actually worth getting a card if you’ve travel insurance, and that’s a good question. The only benefit of the EHIC or GHIC if you’ve got travel insurance is that it might mean that you don’t have to pay any excess for medical claims. What does the EHIC or GHIC do if I’ve got travel insurance?** The older style EHIC is no longer available after the 1st January 2021 and you would automatically receive a GHIC in its place. The GHIC is free and can be obtained via the NHS website (see below). - [GHIC application](https://overseas-healthcare.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/get-healthcare-cover-travelling-abroad/start) - [GHIC guides](https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/) Note: There are websites that claim to offer GHIC for a fee (usually £30-40) which should be avoided as recommended quite rightly on the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides. ### 6\. Is annual travel insurance worth it for families? As a general rule of thumb from the advice in the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides, it is suggested that 2 or more trips in a 12 month period is worth considering annual cover. As most travel insurance providers will recommend, annual travel insurance is more cost-effective and easier than buying two or more individual policies. There are many other considerations when buying annual travel insurance, such as: - Make sure that it covers all of your destinations - If you’re taking part in sports or activities then make sure that they are included and covered - Longer trips might not be covered so check limits on travel times - Short holidays or weekend breaks might be cheaper to cover individually - Cruise holidays may not be covered on an annual policy (optional add-on usually) You might also have a limit on your annual travel insurance policy for the maximum amount of time you are allowed to travel overseas in a year. Some limits might be as low as 2 weeks or can go up to as high as 3 months in some cases, depending on your insurance provider. People looking for specialist travel insurance policies such as working abroad, backpacking, travelling for long periods, or gap years. There are specific policies and providers that are ideal for these types of travel. ### 7\. Does my bank or credit card cover family travel insurance? It’s fairly common in recent times for bank or credit card customers to get travel insurance with certain account types. If you’re not sure whether any of your accounts have this benefit then you should definitely check, because you might already have travel insurance. One of the big points that isn’t really mentioned in the Martin Lewis travel insurance guide is that these policies can have exclusions, and might not be the level of cover that you are looking for, such as: - Pre-existing medical conditions - Extreme Sports (e.g. winter sports, sailing, diving etc.) - USA and Canada - Dangerous destinations - Cruises Martin Lewis travel insurance guides also points out that there is another benefit that is offered on some credit cards, which is called ‘travel accident insurance’. This is another type of cover completely that covers accidents when travelling, but it isn’t offered much with more modern card facilities. ### 8\. Get winter sports cover for skiing and snowboarding holidays This is a subject that we know a lot about being a lifelong skier and winter sports fanatic, so we’ve had lots of experience in this area. Lots of travel insurance policies offer winter sports cover either as a separate policy or can be added as a benefit. People who take part in winter sports will be aware of the risks involved as well as the other issues, such as loss or theft of equipment. Main risks for winter sports and activities: - Accidents and injuries can be a common issue for people who take part in winter sports, and that can be for any level of experience. Some of the most common injuries can be things like broken bones and head injuries. If you need treatment in the mountains and especially if you need to be rescued off the mountain by helicopter. - Theft, loss and damage of ski equipment is also common when in the mountains and especially in the past 10 years, where theft has unfortunately become part of winter holiday risks. Ski equipment can be extremely expensive to replace, even if it is rented from a local ski shop. Replacing ski equipment can more than double the cost of your already costly ski holiday. - Public liability insurance (e.g. injuring another person in an accident or damaging another person’s equipment) can also be vital cover because accidents can happen and it might not be your fault at all. The mountains can be a very dangerous place and especially in adverse weather conditions, so an unintentional or unavoidable accident might happen. - Adverse weather conditions can also cause major disruptions or mean that your holiday might be significantly impacted. Some winter sports travel insurance policies will cover you for mountain closures due to severe weather problems. Note: As it has been pointed out by Martin Lewis, most winter sports travel insurance policies won’t cover you for skiing or snowboarding off-piste (unless you are accompanied by a qualified guide). ### 9\. Can I get family cruise travel insurance? The number of people taking cruise holidays dramatically fell during COVID, the overall figure dropped to under the 5 million in 2021. Globally, these figures have partially recovered to around 20 million cruise holiday travellers in 2022. One of the common mistakes that people make with cruise holidays, is assuming that their travel insurance covers them for this type of trip. Unfortunately, most traditional travel insurance policies don’t fully cover cruise holidays as standard. You might be lucky and get some cover on your standard travel insurance policy but some critical elements will usually be missing, such as: - Illness (confined to cabin) e.g. virus or outbreak of diseases - Excursions that were not used or unavailable - Change to your cruise schedule - Missing the ship departure All of these can be covered with a standard travel insurance policy add on benefit, and this is usually not too expensive. There are also specialist travel insurance policies and providers that specifically tailor their cover for cruise holidays. ## How does cancellation cover work and how do I make a claim if I’m having problems with my tour operator or airline? Most traditional and standard travel insurance policies will cover you for cancellation and curtailment of your holiday for a number of reasons. However, even if you have the highest level of cover from the very best travel insurance provider, you’ll still have to follow a certain procedure to make a claim for cancellations. One of the biggest potential issues with climbing for cancellation on a travel insurance policy, is the clause about ‘recoverable costs’. This means that your travel insurance policy will only cover you for costs that cannot be recovered from your tour operator or airline first. As it recommends on the Martin Lewis travel insurance guide, you’ll need to speak to your tour operator and airline first to see what compensation they would offer or what costs they would reimburse. This is a fairly normal procedure with any travel plans that are cancelled or changed, and simply means that you would need to provide proof or evidence that you followed the correct procedure. A standard ‘recoverable costs’ clause would usually look like this: - In the event of cancellation of your holiday or travel you should follow some simple steps before you make a claim. - First you should contact your tour operator to find out what their refund policy is, and any potential compensation they will provide (including credit notes and vouchers) - Any trips that have been booked by using a credit card or debit card, you should firstly contact the card provider to find out what cover they offer, and any compensation they might provide. - We are unable to process a claim without following these steps first and firstly finding out what compensation might be available. Once you’ve completed these steps please contact your claims department for us to process your claim. ## How to make a complaint about travel insurance If you have a complaint about your travel insurance policy or if you’re not happy with the outcome of a claim, then you can raise a complaint with the Financial Ombudsmen Service (FOS). All travel insurance policies are covered by the same regulators and you will automatically have a level of protection built in. You should firstly raise your complaint with your travel insurance provider, and then you can escalate your complaint to the FOS if you’re unhappy with the outcome. Common travel insurance complaints: - Unclear terms and conditions (hidden small print) - Unpaid or pay out shortfalls on claims - Unfair fees or charges - Poor service - Exclusions not explained properly ### Financial Ombudsman Service Contact Details Telephone – 0800 023 4567 (or 0300 123 9123) Telephone (outside the UK) – 0207 964 0500 Email – [complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk](mailto:complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk) You can also visit ‘[Resolver](https://www.resolver.co.uk/about)’ which is a free to use website for people who wish to make complaints to financial services companies. ## How to make a claim on a travel insurance policy Travel insurance is there to protect you and your family, so you shouldn’t feel bad if you need to claim on it. Often, people are put off claiming on their travel insurance because of unclear wording, complicated claims processes, high excesses, or just can’t be bothered with the hassle. There are several simple steps that you should follow if you need to make a claim on your travel insurance policy. ### 1\. Submit your claim form and contact your insurance provider as soon as you can Submit your claim form and contact your insurance provider as soon as you can to avoid any unnecessary questions or potential issues. If you fail to notify your insurance company of your claim in a certain timeframe (usually 1 or 2 weeks), then you might risk missing the claim window that is allowed under your policy terms and conditions, this includes any police reports and crime reference numbers. ### 2\. Get a crime reference number (CRN) from the local police Get a crime reference number (CRN) from the local police for any theft or damage to possessions. This can be a painful process and might seem like a waste of your time, especially if you’re on holiday and you want to make the most of your time abroad. Submitting an incident report to the police can be the difference between a valid and an invalid claim on your travel insurance policy. Often this needs to be done within 24 or 48 hours of the incident happening. ### 3\. Speak to your insurer and get them to authorise treatment before you have it Speak to your insurer and get them to authorise treatment before you have it which can be extremely difficult, but can make a huge difference. Most travel insurance policies will require that you contact them before you receive treatment to make sure that it is in an approved facility or hospital and that the procedure is valid. This can be difficult as well, especially if you are in significant pain or discomfort. ### 4\. Keep a log of costs and receipts Keep a log of costs and receipts for any payments to make sure that you have a full audit trail of anything you have paid for. Most travel insurance policies will want proof or evidence for any costs that you have incurred that you are claiming for. These can include hotel costs, taxis, medications or medical treatments. You also have the option to make a complaint to your insurance provider and escalate your complaint to the FOS (see above), if you feel that you are being treated unfairly. ## Get a cheap travel insurance quote online We have a simple travel insurance quote tool online that gives you access to some of the best and cheapest travel insurance policies. Our trusted travel insurance partners are experts in travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, so your health shouldn’t stop you from getting the best travel insurance quotes. [Compare Our Best Travel Insurance Quotes Get our best cover to protect you and your family. Compare quotes from the UK’s leading Travel Insurance brands. ![A calculator and a clipboard](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/End-of-content-block-image.svg)](https://quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/?source=MPO) ### Quick links [Mortgage Guides](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/guides/) [Life Insurance Guides](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/guides/) [Travel Insurance Guides](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/) [Health Insurance Guides](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/guides/) [Home Insurance Guides](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/home-insurance/guides/) [Tax Guides](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/guides/) Search More Pages - [![Does Travel Insurance cover Pregnancy?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Travel-Insurance-Pregnancy-MPO-50x50.png)](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/does-travel-insurance-cover-pregnancy/) ### [Does Travel Insurance cover Pregnancy?](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/does-travel-insurance-cover-pregnancy/) - [![Single Trip Travel Insurance for Families](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Single-trip-travel-insurance-MPO-50x50.png)](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/single-trip-travel-insurance/) ### [Single Trip Travel Insurance for Families](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/single-trip-travel-insurance/) - [![MPO Guide to Cheaper Cruise Travel Insurance](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cruise-travel-insurance-MPO-50x50.png)](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/cruise-travel-insurance/) ### [MPO Guide to Cheaper Cruise Travel Insurance](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/cruise-travel-insurance/) - [![Martin Lewis travel insurance pre-existing medical conditions](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Martin-Lewis-New-Image-MPO-50x50.png)](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions/) ### [Martin Lewis travel insurance pre-existing medical conditions](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions/) - [![Guide to travel insurance with cancer](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/travel-insurance-with-cancer-MPO-50x50.png)](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/guide-to-travel-insurance-with-cancer/) ### [Guide to travel insurance with cancer](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/guide-to-travel-insurance-with-cancer/) ### Follow MoneyPeople [![Facebook](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Facebook-Logo-blue.png)](https://www.facebook.com/people/Money-People-Online/61582329914998/) [![TikTok](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tiktok-logo-round-no-text-original.svg)](https://www.tiktok.com/@moneyparentofficial) [![Instagram](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Instagram-Logo-gradient.png)](https://www.instagram.com/moneyparentofficial/) [![YouTube](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Youtube-Logo-Red.png)](https://www.youtube.com/@moneypeopleonline) Money Tools [Mortgage Repayment Calculator](https://essential-mortgages.co.uk/mortgages/mortgage-calculator/) [Life Insurance Calculator](https://iaminsured.co.uk/life-insurance/guides/life-insurance-calculator/) [Stamp Duty Calculator](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/guides/stamp-duty-calculator/) [Travel Insurance Comparison](https://quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/?source=MPO) [Home Insurance Comparison](https://lemonadeeurope.pxf.io/c/6720962/1984145/24305) ### Sign up for our newsletter Sign up today for all the best deals and helpful guides. Take control of your finances the MoneyPeople way\! ![A laptop sits atop a desk while displaying an email on its screen](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sidebar-newsletter-img-mpo.png) [Get signed up today](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/newsletter-sign-up/) ### About MPO MoneyPeopleOnline.co.uk is an independent family finance service for parents in the United Kingdom. Our content is written by our team of personal finance experts with over 30 years of finance industry expertise. Our mission is to help parents to make the best financial decisions and save them money. The most important thing about MPO is that we're parents ourselves and so we live with the same challenges that you have. Our Experts are rated 'Excellent' ![Five Stars](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Five-Stars-Yellow-with-White-BG.svg) on ![Google](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Google-Official.webp) ### In this article ### Compare Travel Insurance Deals... Compare travel insurance instantly with our cheap travel cover comparison tool. ![A calculator, a house, and a young family](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sidebar-quote-mpoblue-travel-img.png) [Compare Travel Cover](https://quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/?source=MPO) People Also Ask Does Martin Lewis recommend Avanti travel insurance? Martin Lewis does not recommend any travel insurance providers himself, but several insurers are mentioned on MoneySavingExpert.com. This includes travel insurance companies like Avanti, as well as AllClear and Staysure. Money Saving Expert also recommends using price comparison tools to find the cheapest policies for your trip. Their team also recommends our partner Medical Travel Compared as the top specialist to approach if you have serious pre-existing medical conditions. What medical conditions need declaring for travel insurance? It's important to declare all medical conditions that you are asked about when applying for travel insurance. You should also mention any medication or treatments you have been prescribed, as well as any surgeries or tests where you are awaiting appointments or results. Common conditions declared on travel insurance applications include cancer, stroke, heart attack, heart conditions, and diabetes. How much should travel insurance cost? Based on our latest research, the average cost of travel insurance in the UK is currently £12.60 for a single trip policy, and £21.58 for an annual policy. Various factors will affect the cost of your travel insurance policy, including your trip destination, duration of trip, and level of cover needed. You should choose the policy that is most affordable for you, while still providing a decent level of cover and additional benefits (if needed). Is travel insurance free for pensioners? NO - Travel insurance is not free for pensioners in the UK, but there are various travel insurance options for older customers. Many insurers offer specific travel insurance policies that have been designed for over 50s. It's a good idea to compare multiple quotes to find the cheapest quotes and best value for money before choosing your travel insurance policy. Is it worth buying travel insurance at the moment? It is always beneficial to buy a travel insurance policy when booking a holiday or a work trip. This is because your policy will protect you financially in case anything goes wrong before or during your trip. You are protected from the moment that you buy your policy, and can claim for a range of reasons including flight delays or cancellations, loss or theft of personal belongings, and emergency medical care. Guides and News [View All ❯](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/) Our Mission ### Our Mission ### More on this topic - [Does Travel Insurance cover Pregnancy?Travel insurance provides financial and medical protection for parents and pregnant women when travelling abroad. There are certain other medical...6 min 18 December 2024Read now »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/does-travel-insurance-cover-pregnancy/) - [Single Trip Travel Insurance for FamiliesSingle trip travel insurance is an affordable and simple way for families to protect themselves financially during a one-off holiday...7 min 21 November 2024Read now »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/single-trip-travel-insurance/) - [MPO Guide to Cheaper Cruise Travel InsuranceCruise travel insurance is a specialist type of holiday insurance that can either be bought separately or it is sold...7 min 5 January 2026Read now »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/cruise-travel-insurance/) - [Martin Lewis travel insurance pre-existing medical conditionsMost people will only buy travel insurance once or twice a year at most and it’s easy to get confused...15 min 20 February 2025Read now »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions/) - [Guide to travel insurance with cancerIt can be more complicated to get travel insurance with cancer compared to standard travel insurance. Your premiums will usually...6 min 17 May 2023Read now »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/guide-to-travel-insurance-with-cancer/) - [MPO Travel Insurance Excess GuideMost of us will be familiar with the term ‘excess’ when talking about general insurance policies, including car insurance, home...4 min 1 November 2024Read now »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/travel-insurance-excess/) - [When should I buy travel insurance?Travel insurance is extremely valuable and can make a huge difference if something was to happen on or before your...4 min 4 November 2024Read now »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/when-should-i-buy-travel-insurance/) - [Does travel insurance cover strikes?After years of cancelled holidays and restricted travel due to Covid-19, the travel industry has now started to bounce back....4 min 28 April 2023Read now »](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/does-travel-insurance-cover-strikes/) How this site works... ### How this site works... MoneyPeopleOnline.co.uk is an information based website - All of our contents provided by MoneyPeopleOnline is written by a team of qualified and experienced Financial Services Experts therefore it is reliable and accurate information. Our website is solely to provide FREE expert opinion about things that can affect our users to help them make better financial decisions. You shouldn't use this information alone to make financial decisions and should always speak to a qualified expert to get proper advice. We cannot provide information that is specifically for each persons individual circumstances, but it is there to help you to make the right financial decisions. Our staff cannot accept any liability for any financial losses that you might have suffered. See our website's [TERMS & CONDITIONS](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/), [PRIVACY POLICY](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/privacy-policy/) and [DISCLAIMER](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/disclaimer-policy/) for further information. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of any prices that are quoted by MoneyPeopleOnline.co.uk as prices will change from time to time. Any figures provided by MoneyPeopleOnline.co.uk are purely an illustration and to be used as a guide. You should get up to date figures that are specific to your individual needs and circumstances. ### Our Mission MoneyPeopleOnline and the Money Mum & Dad mission is to simplify the confusing personal finance problems we face daily. Our family lives are busy and we need to get the most out of our money without sacrificing quality... we're here to help\! On our website, we provide free and impartial advice on all of the everyday finance topics that many UK consumers need some help with including: - [Life Insurance](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/life-insurance/) - Income Protection Insurance - Critical Illness Insurance - [Health Insurance](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/health-insurance/) - [Travel Insurance](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/) - [Mortgages](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/mortgages/) - [Tax](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/tax/) and Finance MoneyPeopleOnline is the official home of the Money Mum & Dad Podcast, where our Money Dad Dan and Money Mum Caz discuss the UK's biggest finance and insurance questions. ### Pricing Information �From £10 per month for up to £300,000 is an example based on the following pricing illustrations. £10 per month Life Insurance quoted rates are based on level term life cover for non-smokers with no pre-existing medical conditions or other high risk factors. Individual factors and medical underwriting will be assessed which may vary the premium and sum assured you are eligible for or may result in you being declined. Correct as on 7th February 2025. £322,952 over 20 years - 30 year old born in 1995 (Aviva) £197,619 over 20 years - 35 years old born in 1990 (Aviva) £159,606 over 15 years - 40 year old born in 1985 (Aviva) £92,280 over 15 years - 45 year old born in 1980 (Aviva) £67,652 over 10 years - 50 year old born in 1975 (Aviva) £37,971 over 10 years - 55 year old born in 1970 (Aviva) £20,242 over 10 years - 60 year old born in 1965 (Aviva) £12,368 over 10 years - 65 year old born in 1960 (Aviva) £7,497 over 10 years – 70 year old born in 1955 (Aviva) †From £5 per month for up to £100,000 is an example based on the following pricing illustrations. £5 per month Life Insurance quoted rates are based on level term life cover for non-smokers with no pre-existing medical conditions or other high risk factors. Individual factors and medical underwriting will be assessed which may vary the premium and sum assured you are eligible for or may result in you being declined. Correct as on 7th February 2025. £117,810 over 20 years - 30 year old born in 1995 (Aviva) £75,745 over 20 years - 35 years old born in 1990 (Aviva) £56,577 over 15 years - 40 year old born in 1985 (Aviva) £35,960 over 15 years - 45 year old born in 1980 (Aviva) £26,787 over 10 years - 50 year old born in 1975 (Aviva) £17,018 over 10 years - 55 year old born in 1970 (Aviva) £10,115 over 10 years - 60 year old born in 1965 (Aviva) £6,181 over 10 years - 65 year old born in 1960 (Aviva) £3,746 over 10 years - 70 year old born in 1955 (Aviva) \*Not all of our insurance partners offer an advised service and so you should check to make sure that you are happy with the service levels being offered to you. ◊Please note that we do not work with discount brokers. Some of the brokers we work with may not provide quotes from all of the insurers featured on our website. [![Facebook Logo](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Facebook-Logo.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/people/Money-People-Online/61582329914998/) [![TikTok Logo](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/tiktok-logo-round-no-text-purple.svg)](https://www.tiktok.com/@moneyparentofficial) [![Instagram Logo](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Instagram-Logo.svg)](https://www.instagram.com/moneyparentofficial/) [![YouTube Logo](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Youtube-Logo.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/@moneypeopleonline) Copyright MPO Media Ltd 2026. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/privacy-policy/) [Terms & Conditions](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/) [Complaints](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/complaints-policy/) [Disclaimer](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/disclaimer-policy/)
Readable Markdown	## What does Martin Lewis say about Family Travel Insurance 2026? Martin Lewis says more every year about travel insurance than any other general insurance product or policy. His annual warning to British travellers and holiday markers is to book your travel insurance policy ASAB, which stands for ‘As Soon As you Book’. According to Martin Lewis, he is contacted several times every year by one of his MoneySavingExpert community to ask for advice about how to recover travel costs. The typical example that he gives is someone who has been diagnosed with a serious illness which means that they can’t travel, but they don’t have travel insurance. Family Money Experts: Martin Lewis Cheap Travel Insurance guide for Families 2026. - Get your Travel Insurance ASAB (As Soon As you Book) to get the most value for money and cover. - Check with your Bank and Credit Cards to see if you’re already covered. - Use cashback sites like Quidco and Topcashback to get money back on your travel insurance. - Make sure that you disclose any pre-existing medical conditions and be honest about your lifestyle. - Read your policy documents carefully and check for any exclusions (e.g. sports, alcohol, etc.). - Don’t leave it to chance, especially if you’ve got children or if you’re travelling remote destinations. - Make sure that your family cover is right and all of your family are properly protected (e.g. check age limits). ### MoneyPeopleOnline family travel insurance experts In this guide, our team of family travel insurance experts looks at the latest [Martin Lewis travel insurance advice](https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2025/03/martin-lewis-holiday-warning/) and other consumer guidance for UK holidaymakers. We explain how travel insurance works and the extra value that you could get by taking cover ‘As Soon As you Book’ for your holiday. DISCLAIMER: MoneyPeopleOnline is an independent money saving website that has been created to help households and parents to make the right financial decisions. We are in no way connected to Martin Lewis and his Money Saving Expert website, our guides are simply to help explain some of the guidance provided by these services and to add more detail from our expertise in these areas. Holidaymakers consistently leave themselves exposed to the risks of booking a holiday early to save money and then leaving taking out travel insurance to the last minute. Most parents don’t think about the risks of serious illness, including cancers, heart attack or a serious injury, which would prevent them from being able to enjoy their holiday and result in significant financial loss. ![A picture of a stopwatch](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7) ## 60 Second Summary – Martin Lewis travel insurance guide for Families 2026. One of the best tips for travellers and holidaymakers in the UK is when we ask, ‘Does Martin Lewis recommend travel insurance?’. The answer is very clearly yes Martin Lewis strongly recommends travel insurance and he also recommends getting it ‘ASAB – As Soon As you Book’. Holidaymakers seem to be making the same mistakes every year and leaving themselves exposed to potentially losing money on holiday bookings. In yet another warning issued in January, Martin Lewis recommended to take out travel insurance instantly to avoid losing money. - Every year, Martin Lewis makes the same recommendation that travellers should get their travel insurance sorted out as soon as possible or ‘ASAB – As Soon As you Book’ to avoid losing money. - Martin Lewis said on ITV’s This Morning with Holly Willoughby, he gets a Tweet from a viewer every year asking, “what can I do if I’ve been diagnosed with cancer, and I can’t travel?”. - Travel insurance is specifically for helping you when something goes wrong, and it covers the costs of flight or ferry cancellations, medical problems before and during your trip, and lost or stolen luggage. - Exclusions can be extremely costly and it’s extremely important to make sure that you check your policy wording carefully for medical, sports, and geographical exclusions. - Martin Lewis also recommends checking with your credit cards or bank to see if you have any free travel insurance benefits included with them, which could potentially save you money. ## Does Martin Lewis recommend travel insurance? Martin Lewis recommends several travel insurance providers and companies, including his two premier travel policies from [ABTA](https://abtatravelinsurance.onesolutiontravel.co.uk/) and [LV=](https://www.lv.com/travel-insurance). Other travel insurance companies promoted on MSE include: - [Coverwise](https://www.coverwise.co.uk/travel-insurance/Insurance-home.aspx) - [Leisure Guard](https://www.leisureguardflexitravelinsurance.com/) - [CoverForYou](https://www.coverforyou.com/) - [Urban Jungle](https://myurbanjungle.com/v1t/purchase/policy-choice) - [Admiral](https://www.admiral.com/travel-insurance) MoneySavingExpert has also recently launched its exclusive new ‘Cheap Travel Insurance Finder tool’ for consumers to compare quotes instantly online from a panel of partners. This is a new direction for MSE which has historically not provided direct pricing for insurance policies which is ususual for Mr Lewis. ### Top Martin Lewis travel insurance guides: - [Martin Lewis travel insurance pre existing medical conditions](https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/pre-existing-travel-insurance/) - [Cheap travel insurance Martin Lewis](https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/cheap-travel-insurance/) - [Travel insurance over 65’s Martin Lewis](https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/over65s-travel-insurance/) - [Martin Lewis UK travel insurance](https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/uk-travel-insurance/) - [Coronavirus Travel Rights Martin Lewis – refunds, rights and more](https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights/) Getting the very best travel insurance can make a huge difference if you need to make a claim when [travelling overseas](https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/travel-abroad), especially for families, the elderly, and people with [pre-existing medical conditions](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions/). Martin Lewis travel insurance covers most of these topics and looks at how to save money in the process, which is also extremely important for parents and families. ## What is does ASAB mean and why is it important travel insurance? If you watch Martin Lewis or follow any of his social channels, then you may be familiar with the travel insurance ‘ASAB’ (As Soon As you Book) warning. This piece of travel insurance advice means that travellers should buy cover as soon as they’ve booked their holiday or travel. Martin Lewis says that he is regularly contacted by consumers asking for advice about recovering travel expenses from being unable to travel due to sickness. In the scenario he usually mentions, someone asks for help after being diagnosed with a serious illness to recover travel costs but they don’t have protection from travel cover. ASAB is also important for families because they’ve got the added complication of travelling with kids, which is more expensive to begin with and there are more people who may get ill or injured. You could lose a substantial amount of money if you can’t go on your family holiday because of an illness and you don’t have travel insurance. Top insurer, [Allianz](https://www.allianz.com/en/about-us.html) also recommends that you should book your travel insurance as early as you can. They also point out in their article ‘[Do I buy travel](https://www.allianz-assistance.com.sg/blog/Do-I-Buy-Travel-Insurance-Before-Or-After-Booking.html) [insurance](https://www.allianz-assistance.com.sg/blog/Do-I-Buy-Travel-Insurance-Before-Or-After-Booking.html) [before or after I travel](https://www.allianz-assistance.com.sg/blog/Do-I-Buy-Travel-Insurance-Before-Or-After-Booking.html)’, that you should take out cover at least 14 days before you leave to make sure that your policy is valid. ![Family travel insurance image of family at the airport having fun](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ML-Travel-Insurance-Review-image-1024x546.png) *** Family Travel Insurance Martin Lewis travel insurance TOP recommendation is “Get it ASAB or As Soon As you Book” taken from an interview on [This Morning](https://www.itv.com/thismorning/articles/martin-lewis-do-these-five-things-now-and-save-you-money-on-your-2018-holidays) with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield in July 2018 and again with [The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-b2287065.html) in February 2023. Martin Lewis repeats this advice every year, including in his most recent [This Morning interview](https://www.itv.com/thismorning/articles/martin-lewis-vital-money-saving-guide-for-holidaymakers) in July 2024. ### Martin Lewis Travel Insurance 'ASAB' warning for families Martin Lewis TV talks to This Morning presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about booking your Travel Insurance As Soon As you Book Here’s a quote about Martin Lewis’s travel insurance advice in [The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-b2287065.html): ### The Independent – 22nd February 2023 “Each spring without fail, someone asks me a heart breaking question, I’ve just been diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness and I need long-term treatment, so I can’t go on holiday. What can I do?” As Martin Lewis strongly recommends on any of his travel insurance interviews, blogs or guides, get it ‘ASAB’. As Mr Lewis also points out on MoneySavingExpert.com in his Martin Lewis travel insurance guides, around half of the value of your policy is before you actually travel. Taking out travel insurance before you actually travel won’t affect the cost but it will significantly increase the value and could save your family money if you need to cancel your trip. Some of the information on the Martin Lewis travel insurance sections still relate quite heavily towards [Coronavirus related issues](https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights/). This is slightly outdated now as these are fortunately no longer a major issue for many travellers. * Family \\| Friendly \\| Free ## What does travel insurance cover? A traditional or standard travel insurance policy is solely designed to protect you and your family against financial loss before, during and after your trip. This simply means that most good travel insurance policies will provide you with financial protection for most of the usual risks relating to overseas and domestic holidays, such as: - Cancellation or curtailment - Medical emergencies - Loss or theft of possessions - Holiday disruptions - Viruses and diseases (e.g. COVID-19) - Sports and activities * Make The Most Of Your Money ## Are all travel insurance policies the same? Sadly no, there is a significant difference between a good travel insurance policy and a lower level travel insurance policy. Also, it’s not always true to say that “you get what you pay for” either, because some policies offer great value for money whereas others can be overpriced. You should always check your policy wording and terms & conditions very carefully before you accept any cover. It’s also worth noting that comparing several travel insurance quotes is the best way to make sure that you’ve got the right cover. You can do this through your own research, via comparison sites or by talking to a travel insurance expert. Below is an example of what a ‘good travel insurance’ policy should protect you for. \| Policy protection and cover type \| Potential reasons for claim \| \|---\|---\| \| Cancellation and curtailment of travel plans \| This is the bit that most people miss, and the bit that Martin Lewis travel insurance advice emphasises the most.If you need to cancel your holiday due to illness or injury prior to travel which means that you are unable to travel (e.g. car accident, sports injury, diagnosis of a serious illness etc.), or even things like family bereavements and an emergency at home. \| \| Hospital treatments and medical costs when overseas \| One of the single biggest and potentially most scary situations, is requiring medical treatment and hospitalisation when travelling overseas.Firstly, the language barrier alone can be a very scary issue, compounded by the potential astronomical costs of any treatments and care. You should also check very carefully to make sure that your policy covers any pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, cancer, heart conditions, stroke etc.). \| \| Personal belongings and luggage (e.g. Theft, loss and damage) \| Most of us travel with a significant amount of luggage and personal possessions when we go on holiday, especially if we’ve got children or for activity holidays.The potential costs of loss, theft or damage to those possessions can be hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Most good travel insurance policies will give higher limits for these belongings and you can even increase limits if you have specific items to cover. \| \| Extreme sports, dangerous activities and holiday excursions \| A popular reason for holidaymakers visiting foreign locations is to take part in certain activities or sports (e.g. skiing, snowboarding, sailing, diving and mountaineering).There are specific policies that cover these activities and some might exclude these unless stated in the policy terms and conditions. \| \| Personal and public liability (including legal costs) \| You are just as much at risk of hurting or injuring another person when you are on holiday, as when you’re at home (e.g. car accident, sports accident, property damage etc.).Your building and contents or car insurance will usually cover these at home, so you’ll nee to think about making sure that this is covered when you’re on holiday. \| Note: Every travel insurance policy has its own limits of cover and will provide different levels of coverage, so check your policy documents very carefully. * Helping Families Save Money ## Who is the best and cheapest travel insurance? MoneySavingExpert.com’s main travel insurance page is titled ‘Cheap travel insurance’, so you would assume that it contains information on the best and cheapest travel insurance in the UK. While the page does contain various helpful tips about saving money on your cover, there isn’t much information about specific insurance companies that are budget-friendly. The companies that are suggested are mentioned briefly, without much context about their customer service record or features of their policies. MSE does have a built-in ‘cheap travel insurance finder’ tool, which works similarly to a typical price comparison tool as seen in the image below. This tool doesn’t offer exact prices but will give you a rough estimate of the prices you might expect to see. This list of prices will be based on: - Your age (provides a general age bracket like 18-35 and you can’t input an exact age) - If you need individual, couples, or family cover - If you need a single trip or annual policy While this list can be a helpful starting point, it doesn’t account for things like your trip destination, exact age, or any medical conditions, which can all affect the price of your policy. MSE also states that they judge any policies included in this list solely on price, and don’t take customer feedback into account. We would be wary of choosing any policies based solely on these lists, as it is always best to do some research and consider which insurance company will work best for your situation. ## Where is the best place to get travel insurance? The ‘best’ place to get your travel insurance will depend on the type of cover that you are after and your own situation. Some people find it useful to use a comparison site or to speak to a travel insurance broker for advice about their policy. Our partners [Medical Travel Compared](https://quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/?source=MPO&id=moneypeopleonline-martin-lewis-travel-insurance-guide) are specialists in travel insurance for pre-existing conditions and can quickly compare the best prices and policies from across the UK. ## What medical conditions do you have to declare on travel insurance? You will need to declare any medical conditions that you have experienced in the recent past when you apply for travel insurance. Some companies will ask more detailed questions than others about your health and medical history. It can be useful to apply via a specialist website if you’re worried that your health will affect the policies that are available to you. Martin Lewis’ website MoneySavingExpert.com has a full page dedicated to pre-existing conditions travel insurance, which contains more information on this topic. We explain these comments and advice in full detail in our guide ‘[Martin Lewis Travel Insurance Pre-existing Medical Conditions](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/martin-lewis-travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions/)’. [Compare Our Best Travel Insurance Quotes ![A calculator and a clipboard](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/End-of-content-block-image.svg)](https://quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/?source=MPO) ## Martin Lewis travel insurance need to knows There are also 10 need to knows about travel insurance on the Martin Lewis guide to travel insurance that are very useful hints and tips. Travel insurance policies do vary significantly from one insurer to another, so it’s not just the price that you need to think about. ### 1\. Take your family travel insurance As Soon As you Book (ASAB) One of the key tips and main points on all of the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides is to make sure that buy travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday or travel. Unfortunately, lots of us leave taking out travel insurance to the last minute or we buy it just before we travel which significantly reduces the value of your policy. One of the biggest elements of travel insurance is the cover and protection that it provides before you travel. Some of those events can include cancellation due to medical problems, redundancy, injury through an accident and even death in the family. Most consumers don’t even consider these elements or events when booking their holidays and thinking about travel insurance. Roughly 50% of the value of a travel insurance policy is in the time leading up to when you are due to travel. Martin Lewis travel insurance recommends ASAB which means ‘as soon as you’ve booked’ and this is a great rule to follow. Note: This also applies for people who are booking holidays in the UK, and it’s not just for overseas travel. ### 2\. Check your family travel insurance policy exclusions Similar to most of the general insurance and personal insurance policies, travel insurance also comes with a standard set of exclusions that can vary from one insurer to another. You should check your policy documents and terms and conditions very carefully before you travel. Here’s a list of standard exclusions and explanations: Alcohol related accidents or injuries Alcohol related accidents or injuries are typical and standard exclusions on most travel insurance policies. This exclusion has applied for several years now since the increase of alcohol and drug related injuries from UK holidaymakers travelling abroad. If you are found to have alcohol or drugs in your system at the time of the accident or injury then your claim is likely to be refused. Extreme sports and hazardous activities Extreme sports and hazardous activities will also generally be excluded from most standard travel insurance policies, unless they offer specific activities (e.g. winter sports, sailing, diving, motorcycle riding etc.). You have a number of options if you intend to take part in extreme sports while you are on holiday, or for people who are travelling abroad specifically to take part in dangerous activities. There are a number of organisations for certain activities to speak to if you intend to take part in sports overseas. These organisations will be able to provide useful information which may be of use when looking for the right travel insurance cover. You can also get advice and quotes from an extreme sports travel insurance specialist to get the right cover. For more information and a list of specialists you can visit the [British Insurance Brokers Association](https://www.biba.org.uk/insurance-guides/travel-insurance-guides/) website. ### British Insurance Broker’s Association Contact Details Telephone (Insurance Help)- 0370 950 1790 Telephone (General Enquiries) – 0344 7700 266 Email – [enquiries@biba.org.uk](mailto:enquiries@biba.org.uk) Pre-existing medical conditions Pre-existing medical conditions will usually need to be covered with a specialist policy or will often be excluded from a standard travel insurance policy. You will need to check your policy wording carefully and you can seek advice from a medical conditions specialist. Note: You must disclose your medical history when you take out a travel insurance policy, or your cover might be invalid. If you fail to tell your travel insurance provider about a specific pre-existing medical condition then your claims will usually be refused. We are proud to partner with Medical Travel Compared to provide top quality travel insurance cover with great coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions. Medical Travel Compared is one of the UK’s leading pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance specialists. If you feel they’re the right fit for you, feel free to [get a medical travel insurance quote online](https://quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/?source=MPO&id=moneypeopleonline-martin-lewis-travel-insurance-guide). Invalid travel documents Invalid travel documents is also an unfortunate possibility when you travel overseas, such as an out of date passport, invalid visa documents or other travel documents that are required. You are responsible to ensure that you have the appropriate travel documents and that they are all valid (e.g. not out of date). Note: You should always check the [Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) website to find out which documents are required and any rules for entry. Make sure that you allow sufficient time to be able to prepare yourself and any requirements for entry to your destination. Policy excess Policy excess is the amount that you would have to pay to your travel insurance provider in the event of a claim. Your excess should be explained to you on your policy documents and you might be able to select different excess levels, also there will be different excess levels for different claims. Example: if you require hospital treatment while you are overseas and the cost is £2,000 for the procedure and medication, you might have to pay £300 excess before you claim will be paid. Excesses can vary from as little as £100 up to as much as £500 or even £1,000 for bigger claims (e.g. repatriation back to the UK). You might also find that it’s not worth claiming small amounts because the excess will be more than the claim. Private medical treatment or private hospitals Private medical treatment or private hospitals may also be excluded as these are not typically included with standard travel insurance coverage. Some higher level travel insurance policies will include private hospital treatment, but you just need to check first. You should always double check your documents to make sure that you are allowed to have treatment in your chosen hospital or facility. Some insurance companies will accept private hospital treatment as standard for certain procedures or medical emergencies, while others won’t. Note: If you’re unhappy with a claim being refused or you feel that you have been treated unfairly then you should refer your claim to the [Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)](https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers/complaints-can-help/insurance) for further advice. ### 3\. Disclose all of your families medical history to be fully covered It can be difficult to talk about your medical history and it’s not always something that you will want to disclose on a travel insurance application. It is important to be open and honest about your health to avoid any potential issues with claims. If you fail to disclose a pre-existing medical condition on your application then your policy could be invalid and any claims might be refused. When you apply for travel insurance, you will be asked questions about your health, medical history and lifestyle. If you want more information then you should visit our Martin Lewis pre existing travel insurance guide. Alternatively you can [get a medical travel insurance quote online](https://quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/?source=MPO). ### 4\. Destinations: check to make sure that yours is included Dangerous or hazardous locations are often excluded from most standard travel insurance policies. You should always check to see whether your chosen destination is currently listed on the unsafe travel locations. You can check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website to get the latest destinations on the list. There are two standard types of travel insurance policies which are ‘European’ and ‘Worldwide’ cover. The slightly confusing thing is that European travel insurance generally covers you to travel to a number of other non-European locations. Annual travel insurance cover for non-European travel If you buy annual travel insurance cover then you should make sure that it covers your potential destinations for the whole year. Most annual travel insurance policies can’t be changed once you’ve paid for them and started your cover. It does seem slightly strange to call it ‘European’ travel insurance when in reality they cover a number of non-European destinations. Some of the locations that are often included outside of Europe include: - [Egypt](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt) - [Russia](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/russia) - [Israel](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/israel) - [Turkey](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey) - [Morocco](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco) - [Tunisia](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tunisia) You should check to make sure that any potential destinations are covered under the travel insurance policy you are looking at. Another slightly strange anomaly with European travel insurance is that not all policies include Spain (including Canaries and Balearic Islands) as standard. These can often be added at an extra cost but this may make the cover less cost-effective. Some of the best European travel insurance policies include: - [Allianz](https://www.allianz-assistance.co.uk/content/dam/onemarketing/awp/allianz-assistance-co-uk/policy-information-pdfs/UK-ST-backpacker-B2C-Policy-080224.pdf) - [Insure and Go](https://res.cloudinary.com/dttwa61aq/image/upload/v1702462901/igo/policy-wording/2024/InsureandGo_Budget_Policy_Wording_1223.pdf) - [AIG](https://www.aig.co.uk/content/dam/aig/emea/united-kingdom/documents/hosted-documents/lifelineplus-key-facts-and-policy-wording.pdf.coredownload.pdf) ### 5\. Do I need travel cover if I have the free EHIC or GHIC? The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and the new version which is the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) are free for UK residents. The GHIC came in to operation from the 1st January 2021, and it gives you access to treatment from state-run medical facilities and hospitals in the European Union (EU). The main feature of the GHIC is that it provides the holder with treatment at the same cost as what national residents would pay. Most other European countries don’t operate the same National Health Service (NHS) as in the UK, so there will often be a charge or fee for treatment. Does an EHIC or GHIC replace the need for travel insurance? NO – You should always take out travel insurance as well as having the EHIC or GHIC. Martin Lewis travel insurance guides also recommend that you should always have travel insurance as well as either of these cards. Travel insurance covers over EHIC and GHIC: - Lost or stolen property - Cancellations and curtailment - Personal liability - Holiday disruption and delays - Repatriation back to the UK - Sports injuries and accident liability What does the EHIC or GHIC do if I’ve got travel insurance? You might wonder whether it’s actually worth getting a card if you’ve travel insurance, and that’s a good question. The only benefit of the EHIC or GHIC if you’ve got travel insurance is that it might mean that you don’t have to pay any excess for medical claims. What does the EHIC or GHIC do if I’ve got travel insurance?** The older style EHIC is no longer available after the 1st January 2021 and you would automatically receive a GHIC in its place. The GHIC is free and can be obtained via the NHS website (see below). - [GHIC application](https://overseas-healthcare.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/get-healthcare-cover-travelling-abroad/start) - [GHIC guides](https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/) Note: There are websites that claim to offer GHIC for a fee (usually £30-40) which should be avoided as recommended quite rightly on the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides. ### 6\. Is annual travel insurance worth it for families? As a general rule of thumb from the advice in the Martin Lewis travel insurance guides, it is suggested that 2 or more trips in a 12 month period is worth considering annual cover. As most travel insurance providers will recommend, annual travel insurance is more cost-effective and easier than buying two or more individual policies. There are many other considerations when buying annual travel insurance, such as: - Make sure that it covers all of your destinations - If you’re taking part in sports or activities then make sure that they are included and covered - Longer trips might not be covered so check limits on travel times - Short holidays or weekend breaks might be cheaper to cover individually - Cruise holidays may not be covered on an annual policy (optional add-on usually) You might also have a limit on your annual travel insurance policy for the maximum amount of time you are allowed to travel overseas in a year. Some limits might be as low as 2 weeks or can go up to as high as 3 months in some cases, depending on your insurance provider. People looking for specialist travel insurance policies such as working abroad, backpacking, travelling for long periods, or gap years. There are specific policies and providers that are ideal for these types of travel. ### 7\. Does my bank or credit card cover family travel insurance? It’s fairly common in recent times for bank or credit card customers to get travel insurance with certain account types. If you’re not sure whether any of your accounts have this benefit then you should definitely check, because you might already have travel insurance. One of the big points that isn’t really mentioned in the Martin Lewis travel insurance guide is that these policies can have exclusions, and might not be the level of cover that you are looking for, such as: - Pre-existing medical conditions - Extreme Sports (e.g. winter sports, sailing, diving etc.) - USA and Canada - Dangerous destinations - Cruises Martin Lewis travel insurance guides also points out that there is another benefit that is offered on some credit cards, which is called ‘travel accident insurance’. This is another type of cover completely that covers accidents when travelling, but it isn’t offered much with more modern card facilities. ### 8\. Get winter sports cover for skiing and snowboarding holidays This is a subject that we know a lot about being a lifelong skier and winter sports fanatic, so we’ve had lots of experience in this area. Lots of travel insurance policies offer winter sports cover either as a separate policy or can be added as a benefit. People who take part in winter sports will be aware of the risks involved as well as the other issues, such as loss or theft of equipment. Main risks for winter sports and activities: - Accidents and injuries can be a common issue for people who take part in winter sports, and that can be for any level of experience. Some of the most common injuries can be things like broken bones and head injuries. If you need treatment in the mountains and especially if you need to be rescued off the mountain by helicopter. - Theft, loss and damage of ski equipment is also common when in the mountains and especially in the past 10 years, where theft has unfortunately become part of winter holiday risks. Ski equipment can be extremely expensive to replace, even if it is rented from a local ski shop. Replacing ski equipment can more than double the cost of your already costly ski holiday. - Public liability insurance (e.g. injuring another person in an accident or damaging another person’s equipment) can also be vital cover because accidents can happen and it might not be your fault at all. The mountains can be a very dangerous place and especially in adverse weather conditions, so an unintentional or unavoidable accident might happen. - Adverse weather conditions can also cause major disruptions or mean that your holiday might be significantly impacted. Some winter sports travel insurance policies will cover you for mountain closures due to severe weather problems. Note: As it has been pointed out by Martin Lewis, most winter sports travel insurance policies won’t cover you for skiing or snowboarding off-piste (unless you are accompanied by a qualified guide). ### 9\. Can I get family cruise travel insurance? The number of people taking cruise holidays dramatically fell during COVID, the overall figure dropped to under the 5 million in 2021. Globally, these figures have partially recovered to around 20 million cruise holiday travellers in 2022. One of the common mistakes that people make with cruise holidays, is assuming that their travel insurance covers them for this type of trip. Unfortunately, most traditional travel insurance policies don’t fully cover cruise holidays as standard. You might be lucky and get some cover on your standard travel insurance policy but some critical elements will usually be missing, such as: - Illness (confined to cabin) e.g. virus or outbreak of diseases - Excursions that were not used or unavailable - Change to your cruise schedule - Missing the ship departure All of these can be covered with a standard travel insurance policy add on benefit, and this is usually not too expensive. There are also specialist travel insurance policies and providers that specifically tailor their cover for cruise holidays. ## How does cancellation cover work and how do I make a claim if I’m having problems with my tour operator or airline? Most traditional and standard travel insurance policies will cover you for cancellation and curtailment of your holiday for a number of reasons. However, even if you have the highest level of cover from the very best travel insurance provider, you’ll still have to follow a certain procedure to make a claim for cancellations. One of the biggest potential issues with climbing for cancellation on a travel insurance policy, is the clause about ‘recoverable costs’. This means that your travel insurance policy will only cover you for costs that cannot be recovered from your tour operator or airline first. As it recommends on the Martin Lewis travel insurance guide, you’ll need to speak to your tour operator and airline first to see what compensation they would offer or what costs they would reimburse. This is a fairly normal procedure with any travel plans that are cancelled or changed, and simply means that you would need to provide proof or evidence that you followed the correct procedure. A standard ‘recoverable costs’ clause would usually look like this: - In the event of cancellation of your holiday or travel you should follow some simple steps before you make a claim. - First you should contact your tour operator to find out what their refund policy is, and any potential compensation they will provide (including credit notes and vouchers) - Any trips that have been booked by using a credit card or debit card, you should firstly contact the card provider to find out what cover they offer, and any compensation they might provide. - We are unable to process a claim without following these steps first and firstly finding out what compensation might be available. Once you’ve completed these steps please contact your claims department for us to process your claim. ## How to make a complaint about travel insurance If you have a complaint about your travel insurance policy or if you’re not happy with the outcome of a claim, then you can raise a complaint with the Financial Ombudsmen Service (FOS). All travel insurance policies are covered by the same regulators and you will automatically have a level of protection built in. You should firstly raise your complaint with your travel insurance provider, and then you can escalate your complaint to the FOS if you’re unhappy with the outcome. Common travel insurance complaints: - Unclear terms and conditions (hidden small print) - Unpaid or pay out shortfalls on claims - Unfair fees or charges - Poor service - Exclusions not explained properly ### Financial Ombudsman Service Contact Details Telephone – 0800 023 4567 (or 0300 123 9123) Telephone (outside the UK) – 0207 964 0500 Email – [complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk](mailto:complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk) You can also visit ‘[Resolver](https://www.resolver.co.uk/about)’ which is a free to use website for people who wish to make complaints to financial services companies. ## How to make a claim on a travel insurance policy Travel insurance is there to protect you and your family, so you shouldn’t feel bad if you need to claim on it. Often, people are put off claiming on their travel insurance because of unclear wording, complicated claims processes, high excesses, or just can’t be bothered with the hassle. There are several simple steps that you should follow if you need to make a claim on your travel insurance policy. ### 1\. Submit your claim form and contact your insurance provider as soon as you can Submit your claim form and contact your insurance provider as soon as you can to avoid any unnecessary questions or potential issues. If you fail to notify your insurance company of your claim in a certain timeframe (usually 1 or 2 weeks), then you might risk missing the claim window that is allowed under your policy terms and conditions, this includes any police reports and crime reference numbers. ### 2\. Get a crime reference number (CRN) from the local police Get a crime reference number (CRN) from the local police for any theft or damage to possessions. This can be a painful process and might seem like a waste of your time, especially if you’re on holiday and you want to make the most of your time abroad. Submitting an incident report to the police can be the difference between a valid and an invalid claim on your travel insurance policy. Often this needs to be done within 24 or 48 hours of the incident happening. ### 3\. Speak to your insurer and get them to authorise treatment before you have it Speak to your insurer and get them to authorise treatment before you have it which can be extremely difficult, but can make a huge difference. Most travel insurance policies will require that you contact them before you receive treatment to make sure that it is in an approved facility or hospital and that the procedure is valid. This can be difficult as well, especially if you are in significant pain or discomfort. ### 4\. Keep a log of costs and receipts Keep a log of costs and receipts for any payments to make sure that you have a full audit trail of anything you have paid for. Most travel insurance policies will want proof or evidence for any costs that you have incurred that you are claiming for. These can include hotel costs, taxis, medications or medical treatments. You also have the option to make a complaint to your insurance provider and escalate your complaint to the FOS (see above), if you feel that you are being treated unfairly. ## Get a cheap travel insurance quote online We have a simple travel insurance quote tool online that gives you access to some of the best and cheapest travel insurance policies. Our trusted travel insurance partners are experts in travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, so your health shouldn’t stop you from getting the best travel insurance quotes. [Compare Our Best Travel Insurance Quotes Get our best cover to protect you and your family. Compare quotes from the UK’s leading Travel Insurance brands. ![A calculator and a clipboard](https://moneypeopleonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/End-of-content-block-image.svg)](https://quote.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/?source=MPO)
Shard	158 (laksa)
Root Hash	9220611926404511958
Unparsed URL	uk,co,moneypeopleonline!/travel-insurance/guides/martin-lewis-travel-insurance/ s443