Single trip travel insurance
Planning a break? Find out what to look for when you compare single trip travel insurance.
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What is single trip travel insurance?
Single trip cover is a travel insurance policy for a one-off holiday or business trip. If you go away more than once a year, it could work out cheaper to buy annual (multi-trip) travel insurance.
But if you travel on holiday just once a year, single trip insurance could work out cheaper.
The type of single trip travel insurance policy you’ll need depends on where you’re going. You can choose from:
What does single trip insurance cover?
A basic travel insurance policy, including single trip cover, should typically protect you against:
- Emergency medical expenses – cover if you have an accident or become ill while you’re away. It can also help to pay for an air ambulance and repatriation to the UK if needed.
- Cancellation and curtailment – you won’t be out of pocket if you have to cancel or cut short your trip for any of the reasons specified in your policy.
- Flight cancellations – you may be able to claim on your travel insurance if your flight is cancelled or delayed for more than 12 hours – check the policy for details.
- Stolen, lost or damaged luggage – it’s not unknown for airlines to lose or damage your luggage. Travel insurance could pay you compensation to cover any loss or damage to your case and its contents. Get tips on keeping your belongings safe while travelling.
- Lost or stolen valuables and money – although you can typically claim for lost or stolen cash and traveller’s cheques, there may be an upper limit. Likewise, most policies will limit how much you can claim overall for valuables, as well as for single items.
- Personal liability – if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property during your trip and they make a claim against you, personal liability cover could help pay your legal expenses and any compensation.
What’s usually excluded from travel insurance for a single trip?
You should always read the policy carefully before buying to make sure it covers your needs. Insurance providers will have a list of exclusions – things they won’t pay out for if you make a claim. These may include:
- Medical treatment for pre-existing conditions
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Cancellation if you were aware of the reason when you bought your policy – for example, knowing that a close relative was unwell, and their condition was likely to deteriorate
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Some sports (for example, dangerous activities including bungee jumping and winter sports) – check the policy to see a list of what’s covered
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Strikes that were public knowledge when you bought your insurance
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Claims arising from travel to a place the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has advised to avoid prior to your trip. For example, because of disease epidemics/pandemics or terrorism threats. Always check for the latest update before you travel
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Claims resulting from being under the influence of alcohol or drugs
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Loss or theft of your valuables if you didn’t report the incident to the police within the timeframe stated on your policy
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Claims because you didn’t get the recommended inoculations and vaccinations needed for your trip.
What extra options can I add to single trip travel insurance?
Extra options you can choose to buy include:
- Missed departure or delays – if you miss a flight or connection because of a reason out of your control, such as strikes, road accidents or public transport delays, you may be able to claim for costs incurred. This is included as standard on some policies but check yours to see if you need to add it as an extra.
- Cover for sports and activities – some sports and activities may not be covered by standard travel insurance, so check your policy. You might need extra cover for winter sports, water sports, and even golf.
- Cruise cover – if you’re going on a cruise, you’ll need cruise travel insurance to cover you for things like missed port departures and getting you to a hospital if you fall ill while at sea.
- Natural catastrophe and terrorism cover – if natural catastrophes or terrorism cause you to cancel your trip, or it’s disrupted, this type of cover can compensate you.
- Cover for airspace closure – for example, because of volcanic ash or drones around an airport.
- Gadget cover – offers higher single-item limits for valuable tech such as smartphones, laptops and wearables. Can be bought as an add-on or as a standalone policy.
- Excess waiver – some providers give the option of paying extra on your premium to avoid having to pay an excess if you do need to claim.
Just be aware that any extras will push up the price of your single trip policy, so choose them only if you think you’ll need them.
Customers with pre-existing medical conditions
If you have a serious health condition, your travel insurance is likely to be more expensive. Whatever happens, don’t lie to an insurance provider, because this could mean any claim you make further down the line is likely to be rejected. When you declare any medical conditions on our website, we’ll only show you quotes from insurance providers who will cover them, with no exclusions.
If your condition is more serious, MoneyHelper has a directory of insurance providers who may be able to provide quotes over the phone. You can call them on 0800 138 7777.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a single trip policy?
The pros of a single trip travel insurance policy include:
- Price – only going on one holiday in the next 12 months? Then a single trip policy could be the most cost-effective choice.
- Cover for your whole trip – you can arrange cover for the exact number of days you’re away.
- Higher or no age limits – 75-80 years old? Many insurance providers won’t offer annual travel insurance for travellers of this age, so a single trip policy could be the only option.
- Cover for your trip will start when you buy it – this could come in handy if you need to cancel your trip.
- Tailored to your trip – if you love taking different kinds of holidays every year, you may find that you’re better off getting single trip insurance. That way you can tailor your policy for the region and activities you’ll be doing.
The cons include:
- Price – if you take more than one trip in a year, you could end up paying more than if you’d chosen an annual policy.
- Effort – you’ll miss out on the ease offered by annual policies. For example, with an annual policy, you can take short-notice and spontaneous trips away (to the areas you’re covered for) without having to spend time completing online forms and comparing insurance policies.
- More potential risk – if you delay buying your single trip policy after you’ve booked, you might be unable to claim if you need to cancel, for example. With an existing annual policy, you’d be covered straight away.
- More hassle if you extend your stay – single trip cover is based on fixed dates. That means if you stay a little longer, you’ll have to either extend your short trip travel insurance or take out a new policy.
How can I get cheap single trip holiday insurance?
One simple way to find cheap single trip travel insurance is to compare quotes with us.
If you’re making more than one trip in a year, you might find it cheaper to get an annual travel policy, offering multi-trip cover, rather than buying separate policies for two or three single trips. You can also compare annual cover prices with us, so you can decide which option is right for you.
What our expert says...
"When taking out a single trip policy, it's best to get covered early. That's because your cover starts from the moment you take out the policy, which means you'll be protected for any cancellations or other issues right away, rather than just while you're travelling."
- Anna McEntee, Home, pet and travel insurance expert
How much does single trip travel insurance cost?
From £1.10
2 nights UK[1]
From £6.89
1 week Europe[2]
From £20.40
1 week Worldwide[3]
[1] Based on Compare the Market data for a single trip travel policy for a 20 year old with no pre-existing medical conditions travelling in UK for 2 nights. Prices correct as of April 2025.
[2] Based on Compare the Market data for a single trip travel policy for a 20 year old with no pre-existing medical conditions travelling in Europe for 1 week. Prices correct as of April 2025.
[3] Based on Compare the Market data for a worldwide travel insurance policy for a 20 year old with no pre-existing medical conditions travelling for 1 week. Prices correct as of April 2025.
Start a quoteWhat do I need to get a quote?
When you search for single trip travel insurance with Compare the Market, it’s a good idea to have some basic information about your travel plans, including:
- Dates of travel
- All countries you’re planning to visit
- How many people you want to insure
- Any medical conditions – including current or older pre-existing medical issues
- How much cover you need and any additional cover you might want.
Why choose Compare the Market?
We compare 44 providers[4]
Rated 4.8/5 on Trustpilot[5]
We can help you find the right single trip travel insurance policy for you. Simply compare travel insurance and get a quote in minutes.
[4] Correct as of March 2025.
[5] As of April 8th 2025, Compare the Market had an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 79,257 people who left a review on Trustpilot. The score 4.8 corresponds to the Star Label ‘Excellent’.
Start a quoteSingle trip travel insurance FAQs
What is an excess?
An excess is the amount of money you’re expected to contribute towards a claim. For example, if your cancellation cover was for £1,000 and the policy excess was £250, when your claim is paid you’d get £750.
Travel insurance policies may have different amounts of excess for different types of claims. And the excess may depend on the cover level you choose. Check your policy terms and conditions so you know exactly how much the excess for each type of claim will be.
Does it matter where I’m travelling to?
Yes, your destination will impact on the price of your premium, and the type of single trip travel insurance policy you’ll need.
For example, medical costs in certain countries outside Europe can be eye-wateringly high. Because of this, a single trip USA travel insurance policy or worldwide single trip cover will cost you more than single trip European travel insurance.
Please note: your travel insurance won’t cover you if you’re travelling to a country that the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) doesn’t consider safe. For more information, check the FCDO website.
Do I need a Global Health Insurance Card?
Yes, if you’re taking out single trip European travel insurance, you should get a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) too. The GHIC allows UK residents access to state-provided, medically necessary healthcare while visiting EU countries. It replaced the EHIC card after Brexit. If you have still got an EHIC card that hasn’t yet expired you can continue to use it.
However, a GHIC isn’t a substitute for travel insurance. It won’t cover repatriation if you need to be flown back to the UK. And it won’t cover non-medical mishaps like holiday cancellation, flight delays or lost baggage.
Do I need single trip travel insurance if I’m holidaying in the UK?
If you’re planning a staycation in the UK, you won’t have to worry about medical cover as you’ll be able to receive treatment from the NHS.
However, travel insurance could cover your costs if you need to cancel your holiday or if anything happens to your baggage. UK travel insurance plans often have minimum stay requirements (typically 2 or 3 nights), so make sure you check this before buying a policy.
What are my other travel insurance options?
If you travel frequently throughout the year, an annual travel insurance policy might be a cheaper option than taking out a new single travel policy for every trip. Annual policies are sometimes called multi-trip insurance.
If you take just one family holiday a year, single trip family travel insurance for a single trip could offer great value. The whole family are covered under one policy, and some providers even cover the kids for free.
Can I get one-day travel insurance?
Yes, it’s possible to get overseas travel insurance for a single day.
Many insurance providers require a minimum number of nights’ booked accommodation to insure you for a staycation in the UK. Normally that’s at least two nights but some providers will cover you for one-night stays, as long as it’s a minimum distance from your home.
