Travel Insurance
Cover the unexpected. travel.
Don't let one canceled flight wreck the trip. Compare travel insurance across major carriers — by trip type, destination, and traveler profile.
Or see the best travel carriers →
Start comparing
What are you insuring?
Where to start
Three paths through travel
See the best travel carriers
Allianz, Travel Guard, Travelex, World Nomads, Generali, Seven Corners — independently ranked by trip type, claim handling, and policy substance.
Decode coverage types
Trip cancellation, trip interruption, medical, evacuation, baggage, CFAR — what each covers, what each costs, and which you actually need.
See rates
Travel insurance pricing is heavily based on trip cost, destination, and trip length. Most policies issue immediately and can be canceled within 10-14 days.
How we think about travel insurance
Most travel insurance is a small bet on a big tail event.
Travel insurance feels optional until it isn't. Medical evacuation alone can cost $50K-$250K. A canceled cruise during a non-refundable booking window. A baggage loss with critical work equipment. A hurricane reroute. The premium ($30-$200 for most trips) is a small price for protection against scenarios that turn vacations into financial disasters.
The complexity: travel insurance is one of the most highly variable products in personal insurance. Standard policies vs. CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason). Trip cancellation vs. trip interruption. Primary vs. excess medical. Pre-existing condition waivers. Reading the actual policy matters more here than in most insurance categories.
Where to start: see which carriers handle which trip types well, read independent reviews, and understand the structural choices before buying.
Explore travel guides
Everything you need to choose well
Best travel insurance
Top travel carriers ranked by trip type — international, domestic, cruise, adventure, annual multi-trip. Premium and coverage compared.
Carrier reviews
Independent reviews of major travel insurance carriers. Claim handling, policy substance, customer service, and where each wins.
Travel guides
CFAR vs. standard cancellation, primary vs. excess medical, pre-existing condition waivers, credit card coverage gaps, and trip-specific considerations.
See rates
Compare travel insurance rates by trip cost, destination, and travelers. Most policies issue immediately.
Carriers we've reviewed
The 6+ carriers competing for your business
Independent reviews of the major travel insurance carriers — ratings, pros, cons, and where they actually win vs. where they don't.
Travelex Insurance
Travelex Insurance is a family-friendly travel insurance with kids covered free on most plans and 24/7 travel assistance. Below, QuoteYeti's…
World Nomads
World Nomads is an adventure-friendly travel insurance covering 200+ activities for backpackers and adventurers. Below, QuoteYeti's editoria…
Allianz Travel
Allianz Travel is a global travel insurance brand with comprehensive coverage and annual multi-trip plans. Below, QuoteYeti's editorial team…
IMG
IMG is an international travel insurance with strong medical coverage and specialty plans for expats and students. Below, QuoteYeti's editor…
Seven Corners
Seven Corners is a tiered travel insurance plans with strong cruise-specific options. Below, QuoteYeti's editorial team breaks down where Se…
Generali Global Assistance
Generali Global Assistance is an established global travel insurance with strong airline and cruise partnerships. Below, QuoteYeti's editori…
In-depth reading
Travel insurance, explained
Long-form guides on the decisions that actually matter — written for buyers, not search engines.
Travel insurance and pre-existing conditions
How the pre-existing condition waiver works and why timing matters.
02Travel medical insurance vs. medical evacuation
Why you typically need both for international travel.
03Trip cancellation vs. Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR)
The two trip-protection products and when each makes sense.
04When to buy travel insurance
Timing matters: when to buy, when to skip, and when it's already too late.
Common misconceptions
What most people get wrong
Myth My credit card travel insurance is enough.
Reality Credit card travel coverage varies wildly. Some cards offer real coverage; others offer marketing language with severe limitations. Most cards exclude pre-existing conditions, have lower medical limits, and exclude common cancellation reasons. Read the benefit guide before relying on it.
Myth Travel insurance covers any reason I cancel.
Reality Standard trip cancellation only covers specific listed reasons (illness, injury, death in family, severe weather, terrorism in destination, etc.). 'Cancel For Any Reason' (CFAR) is a separate, more expensive add-on that covers any reason — but typically only reimburses 50-75% of trip cost.
Myth My health insurance covers me abroad.
Reality Most US health insurance has very limited or no coverage outside the country. Even those that do typically don't cover medical evacuation — which can run $50K-$250K for serious incidents in remote locations. Travel medical insurance fills the gap.
Myth Travel insurance is too expensive for short trips.
Reality For domestic trips, you might be right (premium often $30-$80). For international trips, premium is typically 5-7% of total trip cost. On a $5K trip, that's $250-$350 — small relative to the protection.
From The Dispatch
Reading list, curated
How to actually use open enrollment season
Most people pick their health insurance plan in under a minute and regret it for the next year. Here's a 30-minute method that surfaces the right plan for your specific situation.
Insurance StrategyWhen you should add an umbrella policy
Umbrella insurance is the cheapest insurance most people don't have. For about the cost of dinner once a month, it adds $1M+ of liability protection on top of your auto and home policies. Here's why most middle-class households should have it.
Auto InsuranceDo you actually need gap insurance?
Dealers push gap insurance hard at signing. Lenders bury it in the loan. Your insurer offers it cheap. Here's how to decide if you need it — and where to actually buy it.
Frequently asked
Travel insurance, demystified
When should I buy travel insurance?
Within 10-21 days of your initial trip deposit. Why so soon: pre-existing condition waivers (which prevent claim denials related to existing health conditions) typically require purchase within 14-21 days of deposit. Some 'cancel for any reason' (CFAR) coverage also has tight purchase windows.
What's CFAR coverage?
Cancel For Any Reason. An add-on (typically 40-60% more expensive than standard cancellation) that lets you cancel for literally any reason — not just listed covered reasons. Catch: usually reimburses only 50-75% of non-refundable trip cost, not 100%.
Does travel insurance cover COVID?
Most policies now treat COVID like any other illness — if you contract it before or during travel and a doctor confirms you can't travel, standard trip cancellation/interruption usually applies. Some specific policies offer enhanced COVID-related coverage. Verify before purchasing.
What's medical evacuation coverage?
Pays to transport you to appropriate medical care if you have a serious incident in a remote or under-equipped location. Critical for international travel, cruises, and adventure trips. Costs $50K-$250K out of pocket without coverage. Most comprehensive policies include $100K-$1M of evacuation coverage.
Do I need travel insurance for domestic trips?
Less critical than international, but worth considering for expensive trips (cruises, all-inclusive resorts, group travel) where deposits are non-refundable. Premium is typically $30-$80 for domestic trips and protects against cancellation, baggage, and medical (since your health insurance covers most US treatment).
What about annual multi-trip policies?
Worth it if you travel 3+ times per year. Annual policies typically cost $200-$500 and cover unlimited trips up to a set length (often 30 days each). For frequent travelers, the math is usually better than buying individual policies.