How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- There is no single best travel policy, because a cruise, a backpacking trip and a long stay abroad need different medical limits, cancellation cover and activity cover.
- Allianz and Travel Guard suit prepaid holidays with high cancellation risk, while SafetyWing and IMG suit longer, open ended travel with a focus on medical cover.
- World Nomads is the clearest pick for adventure sports, but even it has activity lists and exclusions, so check your exact sport before you buy.
- Price varies by age, destination, trip cost and trip length, so every starting price here is listed as See website, and a personal quote is the only fair comparison.
Quick comparison
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best travel insurance companies for different trips
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Allianz Travel is a safe first quote for a standard holiday, especially a package trip, cruise or family holiday with large prepaid costs. Its plans cover trip cancellation, interruption, baggage and emergency medical care in different combinations, and annual plans suit frequent travellers who would rather buy once than price every trip. The assistance network is large, which helps when a hospital abroad needs a guarantee of payment.
The weakness is activity cover. Basic Allianz plans do not cover many adventure sports, and higher tiers or add ons may be needed for skiing, diving or trekking at altitude. Read the activity list for your trip, and check epidemic related terms and pre existing condition rules, since those details differ by plan and by state of residence for US buyers.
What we like- Wide plan range from basic to annual
- Strong trip cancellation and interruption cover
- Large global assistance network
Watch out for- Adventure sports cover is limited on basic plans
- Medical limits vary a lot by plan tier
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
World Nomads built its name on travellers who do not sit still. Its plans cover a long list of activities, from surfing and scuba diving to trekking and skiing, subject to conditions and safety rules, and gear cover helps when cameras and laptops travel too. The ability to buy or extend cover while already abroad, where allowed, is a real advantage for backpackers whose plans change.
Cancellation is the trade off. World Nomads is stronger on medical and activity cover than on reimbursing large prepaid, non refundable trip costs, so a luxury cruise or an expensive tour may be better served by Allianz or Travel Guard. Check the activity list for your exact sport, including height, depth and guide requirements, before you rely on it.
What we like- Covers a long list of adventure activities
- Gear cover for electronics and equipment
- Can buy or extend while travelling in many cases
Watch out for- Trip cancellation cover is more limited than some rivals
- Pricing can be higher for older travellers
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
SafetyWing suits people who travel for months without a fixed return date. Its Essential plan works like a rolling subscription, billed every four weeks, and travellers can start cover while already abroad in many cases. That flexibility, plus emergency medical cover in a large number of countries, made it popular with remote workers and long term backpackers.
It is not a like for like replacement for a comprehensive holiday policy. Trip cancellation cover is limited, and cover while visiting your home country is restricted, especially for US residents. If your main risk is a cancelled prepaid holiday, choose a single trip plan instead. If your main risk is medical care during a long stay abroad, SafetyWing is a strong, simple option.
What we like- Subscription style cover with no fixed return date
- Can sign up while abroad
- Simple monthly billing for long trips
Watch out for- Essential plan is travel medical cover, not full trip cancellation cover
- US home country cover has limits
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
IMG is for travellers who want to tune a policy rather than accept a fixed package. Its Patriot and global medical lines let you adjust deductibles, coinsurance and maximum limits, and long term plans suit expatriates, students abroad and frequent travellers who need cover for months or years. High medical ceilings on some plans are reassuring for travel in countries with expensive private hospitals.
Complexity is the cost. With many options, it is easy to pick a low deductible and a low limit, or the reverse, without noticing the gap. Take time to compare two or three IMG configurations with the same trip details, and check evacuation, repatriation and pre existing condition terms in the policy wording, not just the sales summary.
What we like- Highly customisable deductibles and limits
- Long term and expatriate plans
- High medical ceilings on some products
Watch out for- Quote and application process can feel complex
- Plan choice needs careful reading
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Travel Guard, from AIG, is a strong choice for a single expensive trip where cancellation, interruption and medical cover all matter. Top tiers offer high emergency medical and evacuation limits, baggage and delay cover, and cancel for any reason as an option on eligible plans, usually reimbursing a percentage of prepaid costs if bought within a deadline. That breadth suits cruises, tours and multi destination holidays.
Comprehensive cover costs more, and the cheapest Travel Guard plan will not match the top tier on limits or cancellation flexibility. Compare plans with the same trip cost and traveller age, and note the deadline for cancel for any reason and for pre existing condition waivers, since missing those windows removes valuable benefits.
What we like- Comprehensive plans with high medical and evacuation limits on top tiers
- Cancel for any reason available on some plans
- Long track record
Watch out for- Prices can be high for comprehensive cover
- Plan names and benefits vary by state
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Seven Corners appeals to travellers whose main worry is a serious medical event abroad. Many of its plans offer high emergency medical and evacuation limits, and its range includes options for students, groups and longer stays, not just short holidays. That makes it a useful quote for older travellers, travellers with higher medical risk and trips to remote areas where evacuation could be expensive.
The plan range is broad, which can slow the comparison. Adventure activity cover varies, and some lower cost plans have lower limits than the headline range suggests. Filter first by medical limit and evacuation limit, then by trip cancellation need, and read the exclusions for your activities before you buy.
What we like- Strong medical and evacuation limits on many plans
- Options for students, mission trips and long stays
- Cruise and trip protection plans
Watch out for- Interface and plan range can feel crowded
- Some plans need careful checking for activity exclusions
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
AXA is a familiar name for international travellers, and its travel plans cover the usual mix of medical care, trip cancellation, baggage and delay, with single trip, annual and longer options in many markets. For travellers based in or visiting Europe, AXA familiarity and a wide assistance network are genuine advantages, and its plans are often straightforward to compare.
US buyers should check availability carefully, since AXA travel products and benefits differ by country and by state. Adventure sports, pre existing conditions and cancel for any reason may not match a US focused rival on the same trip. Get a quote for your exact residence and destination, and compare medical limits rather than brand familiarity alone.
What we like- Large international insurer
- Plans for single, annual and long trips
- Medical and assistance cover in many countries
Watch out for- US plan availability and benefits vary
- Adventure cover needs checking by plan
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Travelex is worth a quote when budget matters but you still want real cover. Its plans pair trip cancellation with emergency medical care at prices that often undercut premium rivals, and upgrades can raise limits for travellers who need more. For a domestic or short international trip with modest prepaid costs, that balance is often enough.
The limit shows on longer or riskier trips. Medical ceilings on lower tiers may be too low for expensive hospital systems, and adventure activities may need an upgrade or may be excluded. If your trip involves costly medical risk or high value prepaid bookings, compare Travelex against Allianz or Travel Guard on the same limits before choosing on price alone.
What we like- Competitive prices on basic and mid tier plans
- Trip cancellation and medical cover in one policy
- Upgrade options for higher limits
Watch out for- Top medical limits are lower than premium rivals
- Some add ons cost extra
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Faye is built for travellers who want to manage everything from a phone. Claims can be filed in the app, reimbursements for covered expenses can be fast, and assistance is reachable without hunting for a phone number in a PDF. Its plans cover trip cancellation, interruption, emergency medical care and baggage, which covers the core needs of most leisure trips.
The main caution is track record. Faye is newer than Allianz, Travel Guard or AXA, so there is less long term claims history to judge. Early reviews are often positive on speed and service, but travellers with complex medical histories or very expensive trips should still compare Faye with an established rival on limits, exclusions and pre existing condition terms.
What we like- Modern app with fast claims and reimbursements
- Trip cancellation, medical and baggage cover
- 24/7 assistance in app
Watch out for- Newer brand with a shorter claims track record
- Plan availability varies by state
How we chose
We compared companies on emergency medical and evacuation limits, trip cancellation and interruption cover, baggage and delay cover, adventure activity lists, plan flexibility for long trips, and assistance and claims reputation, using vendor sites, plan documents and public comparisons. Price was not ranked as a fixed number, because travel premiums depend on age, destination, trip length, trip cost and medical history. A quote for your exact trip is the only fair price comparison.
Buying travel insurance without missing the fine print
This is not financial advice, and travel insurance is a contract with exclusions that matter. Buy cover soon after booking, because pre existing condition waivers and cancel for any reason options usually have purchase deadlines measured in days, not months. Buying the week before departure can remove benefits you assumed were included.
Start with medical, then cancellation
For international travel, emergency medical and evacuation limits matter most, since a hospital stay or air evacuation abroad can cost far more than a cancelled flight. Check whether the plan pays the hospital directly or reimburses you later, and whether your destination country requires proof of cover. Then check trip cancellation for the prepaid amount you cannot recover from airlines, hotels or tour operators.
Check activities, pre existing conditions and home cover
List every activity you plan, from skiing to scuba diving, and confirm each one is covered, including any guide, height or depth conditions. If you have a pre existing condition, check the waiver rules and the look back period. If you travel for months, check cover for trips home, for visits to your home country and for extending the policy while abroad.
Compare claims, not just premiums
Read recent claims reviews for your destination and trip type, and check how claims are filed, what documents are needed and how long payment takes. A cheap plan with slow, document heavy claims can be expensive in practice. Save policy numbers, assistance numbers and receipts in your phone before departure, and keep a copy outside the app as well.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best travel insurance company overall?
There is no one winner for every trip. Allianz and Travel Guard lead for prepaid holidays with high cancellation risk, World Nomads leads for adventure trips, and SafetyWing and IMG lead for long stays abroad. Match the company to your trip type first, then compare quotes.
How much does travel insurance cost?
Cost depends on age, destination, trip length, trip cost and cover level, so a single price would mislead most readers. As a rough guide, comprehensive single trip cover often costs a single digit percentage of the prepaid trip cost, while long stay medical cover is usually priced monthly. Get quotes with identical trip details for a fair comparison.
Does travel insurance cover trip cancellation for any reason?
Standard cancellation cover applies to listed reasons, such as illness, injury or a covered family emergency. Cancel for any reason is a separate upgrade on some plans, usually reimbursing only a percentage of prepaid costs, and it must be bought within a deadline after booking. Read the percentage and deadline before you rely on it.
Do I need travel insurance for domestic trips?
Domestic travel still benefits from trip cancellation, interruption, baggage and delay cover, though emergency medical cover matters less if your health plan already covers care nationwide. Check your health plan network and deductible first, then decide whether a domestic travel plan adds enough value.
Does travel insurance cover adventure sports?
Some plans do, some do not, and many cover only listed activities under conditions. World Nomads covers a long activity list, while other carriers require an upgrade or exclude higher risk sports. Confirm your exact activity, including any altitude, depth or guide requirement, in the policy wording.
Can I buy travel insurance after I have left home?
In many cases yes, but options are fewer and some benefits, such as trip cancellation for that trip, may no longer apply. SafetyWing and World Nomads allow purchase while travelling in many cases, subject to waiting periods and eligibility. Buy before departure when you can, especially for cancellation cover.
Sources we checked (9)
- https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com
- https://www.worldnomads.com
- https://www.safetywing.com
- https://www.imglobal.com
- https://www.travelguard.com
- https://www.sevencorners.com
- https://www.axatravelinsurance.com
- https://www.travelexinsurance.com
- https://www.withfaye.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
Allianz Travel
World Nomads
SafetyWing
IMG
Travel Guard
Seven Corners
AXA Travel Insurance
Travelex Insurance
Faye