- The best short term travel insurance plans
- What is short term travel insurance?
- The price of short term travel insurance
- The coverage of short term travel insurance
- What are the conditions of short term travel insurance?
- Why take out short term travel insurance?
- How to Choose the Right short term Travel Insurance
- Do current insurance policies cover short term travel insurance?
- FAQ
short term travel insurance: key takeaways
1. Definition: Short-term travel insurance, or single trip cover, protects you for one specific holiday or journey abroad.
2. Price: For a one-week trip to Europe, a standard policy typically costs between £15 and £25.
3. Coverage: It covers medical emergencies and cancellation, but often excludes undeclared pre-existing conditions and high-risk activities.
4. Bank cards and health insurances: Bank cards and the GHIC offer limited protection, often excluding cancellation, repatriation, and private medical care.
5. Tips: Always declare pre-existing medical conditions and check that the policy's medical and cancellation cover limits are sufficient.
6. Other useful info: Your GHIC is not a substitute for insurance, especially for repatriation or mountain rescue costs.
Why trust HelloSafe ?
HelloSafe is an international specialist in travel insurance comparison, advising over one million travellers every month. After analysing 41 travel insurance policies available in the UK, our experts share everything you need to know to choose the best short-term travel insurance.
The best short term travel insurance plans
Here is a selection of the best short term travel insurance plans available for UK residents in 2025. These solutions stand out for their high coverage limits, low deductibles and simplified conditions, providing truly solid protection for short trips abroad.
| Contract we recommend | Medical reimbursement | Deductible | Advantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| HelloTravel Premium | £10M | £25 |
|
| Cap Assistance 24/24 | £8M | £75 |
|
| Tourist Card | £10M | £50 |
|
| World Travel | £5M | £100 |
|
| Globe Partner | £100,000 | £30 |
|
| Globe Traveller | £500,000 | £30 |
|
- Policy certificate issued instantly.
- Worldwide assistance available 24/7.
- Full cancellation cover.
- Adventure sports option for extra flexibility.
- Mobile claims app.
- Pet care costs covered in emergencies.
- No extra cost for COVID-19.
- Assistance line in multiple languages.
- Hospital direct billing.
- Winter and adventure sports cover.
- Pre-existing conditions option.
- Family-friendly discounts for children.
- Teleconsultation service included.
- Baggage and flight delay benefits.
- Comprehensive worldwide reach.
- Dedicated business traveller support.
- Particularly suitable for EU-only trips.
- Paperless processing.
- 24/7 medical assistance.
- Coverage for trips up to 12 months.
- Stable premiums for older travellers.
- Multiple language customer support.
The best short term travel insurance may vary depending on your individual requirements. We invite you to use HelloSafe’s travel insurance comparison tool to find your ideal policy and subscribe online.
Compare the best travel insurance for freeI compareWhat is short term travel insurance?
Short term travel insurance is a policy that provides multi-risk cover for trips lasting up to 90 days outside the UK.
It is designed for holidays, business trips or visits abroad, covering medical emergencies, cancellations, baggage loss and more.
This insurance offers similar protection to annual cover, but is specific to a single trip or journey.
Short term travel insurance is sometimes called single trip or 3-month travel insurance in the UK, and is distinct from annual multi-trip insurance due to its duration limit.
Expert advice
Here are the situations where taking out short term travel insurance is especially recommended if you live in the UK:
- For infrequent travel, as it is more cost-effective than annual cover.
- When visiting countries with high healthcare costs like the USA.
- If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, regardless of trip length.
- For expensive trips with non-refundable flights, accommodation, or tour bookings.
- When participating in adventure sports or specific high-risk holiday activities.
- For any travel outside Europe where the GHIC is not valid.
- If travelling for business with valuable company equipment or laptops.
The price of short term travel insurance
On average, short term travel insurance costs between 2% and 5% of the total price of your trip.
| Trip | Trip cost | Indicative price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend in Amsterdam (3 days) | £350 | £8 to £18 |
| One week in Italy (7 days) | £750 | £20 to £35 |
| Two weeks in Thailand (14 days) | £1,500 | £40 to £75 |
| Family holiday to Florida (10 days) | £3,000 | £85 to £150 |
These prices are provided as an indication and may vary depending on the type of plan chosen (standard or premium) and the specific conditions of each insurer.
The price of your short term travel insurance depends on several factors:
- trip duration: longer trips usually cost more to insure.
- destination: prices are higher for countries with expensive healthcare such as the United States.
- traveller’s age: older travellers generally pay more for coverage.
- level of coverage: higher sum insured, lower excess or extra benefits will increase the premium.
- selected options: cover for valuable items, adventure sports, or cancellation for any reason add to the cost.
The coverage of short term travel insurance
Short term travel insurance is designed for trips up to 90 days, providing essential protection for holidays, business visits, or brief stays abroad.
It offers comprehensive cover for unexpected incidents but is limited to a single trip or short period outside the UK.
| Covered guarantee | Definition | Expert advice |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Trip cancellation | Refund for unused trip costs if cancellation occurs before departure. | Choose at least £1,000 cover per traveller and no more than £50 deductible. Change of mind, known events, and work absences are almost always excluded. |
| 🚫 Missed departure | Pays the extra transport if you miss your scheduled transport due to a delay. | Look for at least £250 cover, preferably no deductible. Lateness or lack of written proof from your carrier are not covered. |
| 🧳 Baggage loss or theft | Compensates if personal belongings are lost, stolen, or damaged. | Opt for at least £1,000 cover and under £50 deductible. Unattended luggage and over-limit valuables are usually excluded. |
| 🕒 Travel delay | Pays a fixed amount for long delays of flights or public transport. | Ensure at least £100 after 4 hours delay, with no excess. Delays under 4 hours or without official proof are excluded. |
| 🏥 Emergency medical expenses | Key guarantee. Pays for urgent medical treatment abroad. | Look for a minimum of £2 million, max £50 deductible. Alcohol/drug incidents, pre-existing illness, and routine care are not included. |
| 🚑 Medical repatriation | Key guarantee. Covers emergency return to the UK for medical reasons. | Choose unlimited or at least £10 million cover, no excess. Non-emergency repatriation and refusal to follow medical advice are excluded. |
| 🦷 Emergency dental care | Covers urgent dental treatment abroad during the trip. | Seek at least £200 cover and deductible under £30. Planned, preventative, or cosmetic treatment is excluded. |
| 🪪 Personal liability abroad | Pays if you injure someone else or damage property abroad. | Minimum £1 million is recommended, with no more than £100 excess. Damage to family, rented items, or professional acts is not covered. |
| ⚖️ Legal assistance abroad | Pays for legal fees or bail if needed abroad. | Minimum £3,000 legal costs, £7,500 bail recommended. Alcohol, criminal acts, or disputes over contracts are excluded. |
| 💔 Trip interruption | Refund for unused services if you have to cut your trip short. | At least £1,000 cover advised, with low deductible. Voluntary early returns and minor reasons for interruption are excluded. |
Change of mind, known events, and work absences are almost always excluded.
Lateness or lack of written proof from your carrier are not covered.
Unattended luggage and over-limit valuables are usually excluded.
Delays under 4 hours or without official proof are excluded.
Alcohol/drug incidents, pre-existing illness, and routine care are not included.
Non-emergency repatriation and refusal to follow medical advice are excluded.
Planned, preventative, or cosmetic treatment is excluded.
Damage to family, rented items, or professional acts is not covered.
Alcohol, criminal acts, or disputes over contracts are excluded.
Voluntary early returns and minor reasons for interruption are excluded.
Reimbursement limits vary depending on the insurer and the plan selected (eco, standard, premium). They must always be checked in the general terms and conditions.
To find the short term travel insurance best suited to your needs and destination, easily compare offers on HelloSafe.
What are the conditions of short term travel insurance?
To activate your short term travel insurance and ensure your cover is valid, several key conditions need to be respected.
- UK residency: you must be a resident of the UK at the time you purchase short term travel insurance.
- Purchase before trip: you must buy the policy before leaving the UK, not after you start your trip.
- Trip duration limit: your trip must not exceed the maximum number of days allowed, usually 90 days or less.
- Single trip coverage: the policy applies to one continuous journey, not multiple or split trips under the same contract.
- Destination restrictions: travel to countries on the Foreign Office advice list is not covered and will void your insurance.
- Pre-existing conditions: you must declare any ongoing medical conditions and obtain written acceptance for them to be covered.
- Incident reporting: you must inform the insurer as soon as possible in the event of hospitalisation, theft, or accident.
- Supporting documents: all claims require official documentation such as medical certificates, receipts, or police reports as evidence.
Watch out!
A common pitfall is assuming stable pre-existing medical conditions don't need declaring. Insurers require full disclosure of your medical history. Non-disclosure, even for managed ailments, can void your entire policy, leaving you to face huge medical bills abroad. Always declare everything.
Why take out short term travel insurance?
A medical emergency or accident abroad can quickly become costly even on the shortest trips, leaving you financially exposed without suitable short term travel insurance.
Here are some examples of healthcare costs abroad:
| Type of treatment | Average cost | Covered by insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Foot sprain (X-ray and consultation) |
| Up to £10,000,000, depending on the plan |
| Stitches after a fall |
| Up to £10,000,000, depending on the plan |
| Consultation and treatment for intestinal infection |
| Up to £10,000,000, depending on the plan |
| Emergency tooth extraction |
| Up to £1,500, subject to dental limits |
| Medical repatriation |
| Often up to £10,000,000, if medically necessary |
- Europe: £150-300
- North America: £800-1,200
- Asia: £100-250
- Europe: £200-400
- North America: £1,000-2,000
- Asia: £150-350
- Europe: £100-250
- North America: £600-1,000
- Asia: £80-200
- Europe: £300-600
- North America: £1,500-3,000
- Asia: £200-500
- Europe: £15,000-30,000
- North America: £50,000-100,000
- Asia: £25,000-60,000
Coverage varies greatly depending on the plan chosen (standard or premium) and the insurer. Refer to the general conditions and always compare with tools like HelloSafe.
Short term travel insurance can also cover other important risks: trip cancellation, lost or stolen luggage, civil liability, repatriation assistance, legal expenses and services like emergency advances or teleconsultation that can be essential even for a brief stay abroad.
Good to know
Your GHIC card won't cover repatriation or private care. For true peace of mind, short-term insurance is essential. Avoid unexpected costs up to £100,000 for medical emergencies and get home safely. Insurers like AVA can even handle hospital billing directly for you.
How to Choose the Right short term Travel Insurance
Short term travel insurance policies can differ in coverage limits, claims conditions, and price. To ensure you have the right protection for your trip, compare key criteria carefully based on your destination, activities, and personal situation.
| Criterion | Why it matters | Expert tip |
|---|---|---|
| 💶 Reimbursement limits | This is the maximum amount paid for medical, baggage, or cancellation claims. | Make sure medical cover is at least £2,000,000, especially when travelling to the USA or Asia. |
| 📉 Deductible | The deductible is your share of costs before insurance will pay a claim. | Opt for a plan with the lowest possible deductible for medical emergencies abroad. |
| 📋 Policy conditions | Conditions may restrict cover for late purchase or pre-existing medical issues. | Confirm there are no hidden exclusions and read about pre-existing conditions carefully. |
| 👵 Traveller’s age | Age limits or pricing changes often apply from age 65, sometimes earlier. | Find a policy specifically accommodating seniors for full protection if you are over 65. |
| 👨👩👧 Traveller profile | Single, family, and business travellers have different coverage needs. | Look for family cover or choose a plan that matches solo, couple, or business travel needs. |
| 📆 Trip duration | Policies are usually limited to 90 days per trip. | If your trip exceeds 90 days, consider a long stay policy for uninterrupted coverage. |
| 🌍 Geographic area | Some policies exclude certain countries, and costs to USA or Canada are higher. | Make sure all countries visited are included, and check higher medical cover for the USA. |
| 🛡️ Existing coverage | Bank card or health insurance may overlap or not be enough. | Always review what is already included with your card or health insurer before purchasing. |
| 🧗 Planned activities | Sports, winter activities, or adventure trips may need specific add-on cover. | Declare all activities in advance and add sport or business coverage when required. |
Do current insurance policies cover short term travel insurance?
It is legitimate to wonder if your current insurances, such as credit card insurances or the public health system, can offer you a short term travel insurance, but unfortunately it is often not enough.
Here is a summary table to help you review your current insurance and what it covers.
| Type of insurance | Short term travel insurance included? | What it covers | Why Travel Insurance is better |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHS (National Health Service) | Never | Provides emergency healthcare within the UK and via GHIC in the EU only. No coverage for repatriation, cancellation, lost baggage, or personal liability on international trips outside the EU at all. | Travel insurance covers cancellations, baggage, liability, and medical abroad up to £10,000,000. |
| Private health insurance (Bupa, AXA PPP Healthcare) | Almost Never | Covers emergency healthcare abroad, may reach £1,000,000, and some repatriation. No cover for cancellation, lost luggage, travel delay, or personal liability during your trip. | Travel insurance reimburses medical, baggage, legal, and cancellation up to £10,000,000 worldwide. |
| Classic credit card (Barclaycard Platinum, Halifax) | Never | Sometimes offers basic medical or accident cover, often less than £2,000,000, but usually none. No cover for cancellation, repatriation, baggage, legal expenses, or adventurous activities abroad. | Travel insurance includes medical, cancellation, and repatriation cover up to £10,000,000. |
| Premium credit card (HSBC Premier, American Express) | Limited coverage | May provide limited medical (£1-10 million), cancellation, or baggage cover, short trip duration limits. No comprehensive coverage for all risks, adventure sports, or valuable items on every trip. | Travel insurance offers higher limits, covers more risks, and protects up to £10,000,000 per trip. |
No coverage for repatriation, cancellation, lost baggage, or personal liability on international trips outside the EU at all.
No cover for cancellation, lost luggage, travel delay, or personal liability during your trip.
No cover for cancellation, repatriation, baggage, legal expenses, or adventurous activities abroad.
No comprehensive coverage for all risks, adventure sports, or valuable items on every trip.
Expert advice
Be aware: bank card and private health insurance often exclude trip curtailment for family emergencies. Always read the policy details carefully to avoid costly surprises abroad. In all cases, it is safer and more reassuring to take out dedicated travel insurance tailored to your specific trip.
FAQ
Is short term travel insurance mandatory?
Short term travel insurance is not generally mandatory for all destinations, but it is required for entry to certain countries, especially for visa or Schengen-zone applications. For most UK travellers it is not compulsory, but it is strongly recommended, as even a short city break could be disrupted by illness, theft, or flight delays, resulting in significant unforeseen expenses.
When is it recommended to purchase short term travel insurance?
It is best to purchase short term travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. By arranging cover early, you will be protected against cancellations, disruptions, or unexpected events both before departure and during your stay abroad. Waiting until just before travel may limit your coverage period and put pre-trip payments at risk.
How do I purchase short term travel insurance?
First, compare options using HelloSafe’s travel insurance comparison platform to find the best deal and suitable policy. Next, review the guarantees and exclusions, paying close attention to limits and specific restrictions for short term cover. Then, buy the chosen policy online. You will receive your insurance certificate directly by email for use with airlines, embassies, or during emergencies.
Can I purchase short term travel insurance after booking my trip?
Yes, you can buy short term travel insurance after you have booked your trip, as long as you have not already departed from the UK. However, only future risks will be covered from the start date of the policy, so arranging insurance as soon as possible remains the most protective and cost-effective approach.
How do I make a claim on my short term travel insurance?
If you need to make a claim, contact your insurer as soon as possible and follow the instructions provided. Retain receipts, police reports, or other evidence, as documentation is usually required. Many UK insurers offer online claims services, including apps for uploading supporting documents, helping to speed up payouts and simplify the process.
Does short term travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
Most short term travel insurance will not automatically cover pre-existing medical conditions unless disclosed and accepted by the insurer. You should declare any such conditions at the time of application, as non-disclosure could invalidate your policy. Some insurers offer specialist cover for specific conditions for an additional premium.
Are adventure sports included in short term travel insurance?
Adventure sports are not always included as standard in short term travel insurance policies. If you plan to ski, dive, or undertake other high-risk activities during your trip, check the policy’s inclusions carefully or purchase a specific add-on for these sports. Always confirm your activities are covered before departing.
Is short term travel insurance mandatory?
Short term travel insurance is not generally mandatory for all destinations, but it is required for entry to certain countries, especially for visa or Schengen-zone applications. For most UK travellers it is not compulsory, but it is strongly recommended, as even a short city break could be disrupted by illness, theft, or flight delays, resulting in significant unforeseen expenses.
When is it recommended to purchase short term travel insurance?
It is best to purchase short term travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. By arranging cover early, you will be protected against cancellations, disruptions, or unexpected events both before departure and during your stay abroad. Waiting until just before travel may limit your coverage period and put pre-trip payments at risk.
How do I purchase short term travel insurance?
First, compare options using HelloSafe’s travel insurance comparison platform to find the best deal and suitable policy. Next, review the guarantees and exclusions, paying close attention to limits and specific restrictions for short term cover. Then, buy the chosen policy online. You will receive your insurance certificate directly by email for use with airlines, embassies, or during emergencies.
Can I purchase short term travel insurance after booking my trip?
Yes, you can buy short term travel insurance after you have booked your trip, as long as you have not already departed from the UK. However, only future risks will be covered from the start date of the policy, so arranging insurance as soon as possible remains the most protective and cost-effective approach.
How do I make a claim on my short term travel insurance?
If you need to make a claim, contact your insurer as soon as possible and follow the instructions provided. Retain receipts, police reports, or other evidence, as documentation is usually required. Many UK insurers offer online claims services, including apps for uploading supporting documents, helping to speed up payouts and simplify the process.
Does short term travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
Most short term travel insurance will not automatically cover pre-existing medical conditions unless disclosed and accepted by the insurer. You should declare any such conditions at the time of application, as non-disclosure could invalidate your policy. Some insurers offer specialist cover for specific conditions for an additional premium.
Are adventure sports included in short term travel insurance?
Adventure sports are not always included as standard in short term travel insurance policies. If you plan to ski, dive, or undertake other high-risk activities during your trip, check the policy’s inclusions carefully or purchase a specific add-on for these sports. Always confirm your activities are covered before departing.
