traveltime travel insurance uk

Suggested companies

Admiral insurance, explorer travel insurance, insurefor.com.

TravelTime Travel Insurance   Reviews

In the Travel Insurance Company category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Write a review

Reviews 4.5.

Most relevant

Excellent service great travel…

Excellent service great travel insurance policy covers pre existing conditions. Peace of mind knowing i have a annual policy at a great reasonable price and always being kept up to date with updates and travel tips. Highly recommend.

Date of experience : 03 February 2024

No claim made but good experience so far

As with any insurance it is difficult to give a full review until you make a claim... if you ever have to do one. However, a review based on my experience to date would be five star. I like the approach they take to engaging you and signing up was as easy as could be. The price I believe to be great too.

Date of experience : 02 March 2023

Making a claim…

You only find out how good travel insurance is, when you need to make a claim. We cancelled our holiday due to illness, and found Travel time excellent. They quickly resolved our claim in full, with a minimum of hassle. I would recommend them without reservation.

Date of experience : 17 June 2023

Adding a medical condition…

I had to add a recent medical condition to my policy. I was nervous about the process and the possible unanswerable medical questions that I might face. These fears were unfounded, a very nice approachable lady on the telephone took me through the process. It was surprisingly easy and there was no additional cost to my premium.

Date of experience : 19 October 2023

Friendly and personal service

I’ve found the company easy to deal with - they respond quickly to any requests and when I purchased my insurance the whole process was easy and straightforward. The relevant documents arrived quickly via email.

Competitively priced

We have used travel time insurance for the last 3 years. Find them very competitive and easy to use..

Date of experience : 02 February 2024

Don't bother, go for well known companies

Niece broke her arm on holiday, couldn't claim anything at all , waste of time

Date of experience : 14 April 2023

Good clear instructions for filling out forms etc

Used many times now with confidence. I have a few health issues and it has been easy to use the format. Would highly recommend. Thankfully not had to use the insurance due to any health problems! And hopefully never will.

Date of experience : 15 October 2023

Competitive prices!!

Competitive prices, great service, friendly helpful staff if you need to speak to anyone. I’ve been with them for the last few years and will be renewing my yearly policy later this month. Give them a try !!

Date of experience : 24 February 2023

I don’t usually give negative reviews but feel this company deserve it

we have been going on holiday since the 1980's. we have always bought travel insurance. last year I was in Rhodes and on the second day could not use or straighten my hand. I thought I had slept on it awkwardly and thought it might go away later in the day. it got worse and started swelling and becoming more painful. the gentleman who owned the hotel we were staying in called his daughter who was a fifth year medical student at Rhodes Hospital. she told me it was not looking good so she asked if I had Travel insurance. i told her we had and she advised me to got to the nearest hospital as they spoke English there and other guests had been without any problems (as I was driving it was only 3 mile away and the wife had to change gear for me ) we followed the instructions and went to a place called Euro Medica. when we got there the reception took our details ( inc all paperwork) and asked us to wait while they checked everything out. 30 minutes later they said everything was fine and i was taken to a triage room. to start they thought it was thrombosis and checked that then it could have been a a fracture so checked that. they took blood samples to check for infections and arrived at the conclusion that it was probably tendonitis so put my arm into a half pot / cast. not great for the second day of the holiday. we went back to the Hotel and rang the insurance company. They were quite abrupt and said that the insurance would not cover it as it was not the local hospital. we should have gone to the one at the other side of Rhodes town. as you can imagine we just wanted the rest of the holiday to end as quickly as possible. the wife was in tears thinking we would have a large bill to pay. the insurance company never even rang to let us know that i needed to get a doctors note to say i was fit to fly home it was the lady from jet 2 who was the only one that cared. just before Christmas this year i got the news that it was going to cost me almost 1000 euros and the even though i spoke to the underwriters for the insurance company (they were supposed to ring back on the Tuesday before Christmas but never got back to me) I have come to the conclusion why have i spent 40 years paying holiday insurance when the first time you need them they don't care. note if you do go on holiday and get injured ring up first even if you have been told by everyone else they've never had a problem getting sorted. don't even take the advice of a medical student that works on the island. may be I was just unlucky but I think I just needed a better insurance company. the only reason I gave it a 1 star rating is you can't give it a Zero. please stay safe on your holidays

Date of experience : 04 September 2023

Reply from TravelTime Travel Insurance

Thank you for your Review. We're very sorry to hear about the problems you had and have spoken with you about your experience. As mentioned the medical assistance claims company will be in contact with you in order to finalise your claim.

Great price for great level of cover

Great price for those with pre-existing conditions. I looked elsewhere but nowhere beat the price for level of cover and covered our cruise. Second time with TravelTime.

Great Insurance

Have used TravelTime Travel Insurance on a few occasions and the process is very straight forward, if you call the office the staff are very polite and extremely helpful. I would recommend TravelTime to all.

Date of experience : 13 September 2023

Unlike other recent reviews, I have no complaints at all. I had to cancel at very short notice due to illness and my claim was paid in full. It took some time, but I was warned that it would and there was an excess to write off but we knew that when we took out the policy. All in all, very happy with the service and would use them again without hesitation.

Date of experience : 20 October 2022

Really helpful company

Really helpful company before and after travel and competitive pricing. Have used twice now without problems

Best Travel Insurance out there.

We have used TravelTime insurance for our bi-annual holidays for a couple of years. I thoroughly endorse this company as their policies are very competitively priced and the insurance covers most if not all eventualities. The policies are clear and concise and easy to interpret. Furthermore the customer service team are very helpful and responsive. Highly recommended.

Date of experience : 19 September 2023

Great company

Great company. Easy to speak to someone on the phone if needed. I had to change a medical condition on my policy before I traveled. Took five minutes. Will definitely use again.

Date of experience : 23 October 2023

Best price for a 2 week trip

Best price for a 2 week trip to Lanzarote for two of us. Very comprehensive insurance. Highly recommended. Now get daily emails with tips and info.

Date of experience : 16 February 2023

Taken ill abroad

In 22 i was admitted to hospital while on holiday abroad i cannot express enough how thankful i was to TravelTime for the service they provided in helping me to return home.

Great price and excellent…

Great price and excellent communication. Even with one or two health problems they were very helpful and competitive

Easy to use

Taking out the insurance policy was very easy as the staff were very polite and helpful explaining each policy terms as there were medical conditions involved with our party.

Date of experience : 27 October 2022

• FULLY COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE
• TEMPORARY INSURANCE
• NEW DRIVER INSURANCE
• CAR INSURANCE FOR 17 YEAR OLDS
• MULTI CAR INSURANCE
• CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE
• YOUNG DRIVER INSURANCE
• CAR INSURANCE GROUP CHECKER
• CAR INSURANCE CALCULATOR
• CAR INSURANCE CLAIM CHECK
• CREDIT CHECK IMPACT ON INSURANCE
• ADMIRAL CAR INSURANCE REVIEW
• HASTINGS DIRECT CAR INSURANCE REVIEW
• TESCO BANK CAR INSURANCE REVIEW
• 1ST CENTRAL CAR INSURANCE REVIEW
• CHURCHILL CAR INSURANCE REVIEW
• ESURE CAR INSURANCE REVIEW
• AVIVA CAR INSURANCE REVIEW
• WHY IS CAR INSURANCE EXPENSIVE?
• WHAT TO DO IF I HIT A PARKED CAR?
• PRICE OF INSURANCE AFTER AN ACCIDENT
• WHY INSURERS CANCEL POLICIES
• NON-FAULT ACCIDENT IMPACT ON INSURANCE
• INSURANCE FOR LEASED CARS
• IS MY CAR INSURED?
• FIBRE BROADBAND
• BROADBAND ONLY PACKAGES
• BROADBAND AND PHONE
• BROADBAND AND TV
• BROADBAND FOR GAMING
• WIRELESS BROADBAND
• NO CONTRACT BROADBAND
• EE BROADBAND
• VIRGIN MEDIA BROADBAND
• BT BROADBAND
• SKY BROADBAND
• TALKTALK BROADBAND
• VODAFONE BROADBAND
• SHELL ENERGY BROADBAND
• BROADBAND LONDON
• BROADBAND MANCHESTER
• BROADBAND BIRMINGHAM
• BROADBAND GLASGOW
• BROADBAND LIVERPOOL
• BROADBAND HULL
• BROADBAND SPEED CHECKER
• SOLAR PANELS COST GUIDE
• BEST SOLAR PANELS
• BEST SOLAR PANEL INSTALLERS
• BEST SOLAR INVERTER GUIDE
• SOLAR BATTERY STORAGE GUIDE
• SOLAR PANEL GRANTS EXPLAINED
• WINDOWS PRICES
• DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS PRICES
• BEST DOUBLE GLAZING COMPANIES
• COST OF DOUBLE GLAZING A 3 BED HOUSE
• TRIPLE GLAZED WINDOWS
• WINDOWS GRANTS EXPLAINED
• SIMPLISAFE REVIEW
• VERISURE REVIEW
• RING REVIEW
• YALE REVIEW
• EUFY REVIEW
• BEST HOME INSURANCE COMPANIES
• ADMIRAL REVIEW
• POLICY EXPERT REVIEW
• BUILDINGS INSURANCE EXPLAINED
• CONTENTS INSURANCE EXPLAINED
• BEST VPN FOR IPHONE
• BEST VPN FOR MAC
• BEST VPN FOR ANDROID
• BEST VPN FOR FIRE STICK
• BEST VPN FOR CHROME
• BEST CHEAP VPN
• BEST VPN DEALS
• EXPRESSVPN REVIEW
• NORDVPN REVIEW
• SURFSHARK VPN REVIEW
• CYBERGHOST VPN REVIEW
• PROTON VPN REVIEW
• PRIVATE INTERNET ACCESS VPN REVIEW
• PROTON VPN FREE REVIEW
• ATLAS VPN FREE REVIEW
• WINDSCRIBE VPN FREE REVIEW
• PRIVADOVPN FREE VPN REVIEW
• HIDE.ME VPN FREE REVIEW
• VPN FREE TRIALS
• LIVE DATA BREACHES
• VPN DEFINITIONS
• BEST HEARING AIDS
• HEARING AIDS
• HOW TO GET A HEARING TEST
• HOW WE COVER HEARING AIDS
• Independent

The Independent’s journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

Best travel insurance UK 2024 guide

We all deserve a break now and then. And the last thing you want to think of when booking your holiday is something going wrong. But it’s better to be prepared than caught off guard. That’s why you should always consider travel insurance when going on a trip.

But how can you find the best travel insurance policy for your needs? Read our guide below to find out more.

Why do I need travel insurance?

Travel insurance protects you financially if your trip away doesn’t go as planned and you incur unexpected expenses for delays, losses or medical treatment.

All travellers can benefit from travel insurance. But travel insurance is particularly important if you are going on an independent trip without a tour operator, because if something goes wrong, you will have no other help.

There are three main types of travel insurance:

• Single-trip cover: this is the most typical form of travel insurance, covering you for a one-off trip or holiday. There will be a time limit on the cover that can range anywhere between one month and 365 days
• Annual multi-trip cover: this allows you to make multiple trips, or have multiple holidays, in a 12-month period, all under the same travel insurance policy. There may be a cap on how long each individual trip can be
• Long stay, or backpacker, cover: this is normally used for around the world trips, gap years, and longer cruises, and can last for up to 18 months

To find the best UK travel insurance, compare policies before you go to ensure you get the right coverage for you and the specific trip you’re planning.

How to find the best travel insurance policy

When comparing policies to find the best travel insurance for your trip, you should consider: 

• Type of cover you need
• Excess (how much you’ll be expected to pay out yourself before the policy will cover you)
• Amount of medical coverage, and why pre-existing conditions aren’t included
• Limit on baggage claims
• Coverage for specific sports and activities
• Any potential rewards and discounts
• Add-ons, such as gadget insurance

Best travel insurance deals and discounts

Looking for the best travel insurance deals from the best travel insurance companies? In most cases, the easiest way to find the best travel insurance deals is to use a comparison website. Travel insurance comparison websites let you compare costs and coverage side by side to find the best UK travel insurance.

The four main comparison websites – Moneysupermarket, Comparethemarket, Confused.com and GoCompare – also often have certain deals and discounts when you buy travel insurance from them, offering some of the best travel insurance deals on the market.

Moneysupermarket : Find the same deal for less, and it will price match and give you a choice of a £20 gift card. Only on annual travel insurance.

Comparethemarket : Two for one cinema tickets with Meerkat Movies and savings at restaurants when you dine out or order pizza in with Meerkat Meals, as well as 25 per cent off coffee and pastries at Caffè Nero every day of the week through the Meerkat app.

(In November 2023, Confused.com and GoCompare had no deals or discounts for travel insurance).

Price is obviously a big consideration when you are looking for the best travel insurance – you’ve probably already spent a lot on your holiday. But you may be able to get much better coverage for just a few pounds extra, so it’s worth scrolling down the comparison site’s list of providers before buying.

Medical costs abroad will undoubtedly be the biggest expense you face if you fall ill abroad, so don’t scrimp on those.

Then think about your next biggest expense (probably cancellation/interruption of your trip) and make sure that you have high-value coverage for that.

If you find you can get much higher coverage (the maximum amount you can claim per type of claim, such as medical or baggage) for not very much more money, go for the slightly more expensive option.

Going direct

Comparison sites won’t always find you the cheapest deals, however. For example, Direct Line offers some of the best travel insurance with Covid cover and is not on comparison websites.

Some of the best travel insurance companies also offer discounts for buying directly from them, as follows:

Bundled coverage options

When looking for the best travel insurance for your holiday, it can make sense to buy a bundle of coverage under one policy.

Comparison websites will often offer add-on gadget cover, winter sports cover or cruise cover all under the one policy. If you need that extra cover, it is typically cheaper to buy your travel insurance this way rather than as separate policies.

What is covered by travel insurance?

The best travel insurance companies will offer you comprehensive coverage across all types of claims. It’s easy to compare the best travel insurance deals using a comparison website.

Medical coverage

This covers you for medical expenses you incur if you become ill or have an accident while away. The best UK travel insurance will have a high level of medical coverage.

For example, medical coverage will pay for any necessary treatment if you come down with severe food poisoning or you fall through a window and have to be taken to hospital in an ambulance.

• Avoid hefty bills or debt for medical assistance outside the UK
• Access better treatment – for example, at private vs public hospitals
• Often, as long as you declare existing conditions or pending treatment or tests, you are covered if you fall ill during your trip (check policy exclusions)
• Even the best travel insurance companies will likely charge you more if you have a pre-existing medical condition
• You might have to pay part or all your medical expenses first, then claim on the policy afterwards
• Even the best travel insurance companies do not cover events that happen after you have consumed alcohol excessively or taken recreational drugs or other substances

Trip cancellation/interruption

This insurance pays out the cost of your missed trip if you have to cancel or cut your holiday short due to unforeseen circumstances.

For example, cancellation insurance would normally pay out if you broke your leg just before you were due to travel and had to cancel your trip.

Interruption insurance would cover you if you had to come home early for certain reasons beyond your control – for example, if the area you were staying in was engulfed in wildfires.

• Money you would have lost on pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses is paid to you under the policy
• It can be especially valuable if the trip you are planning is very expensive, as this is money you would lose if you couldn’t go
• You’ll usually only be covered if your trip is cancelled or cut short for specific reasons listed in your policy
• You usually won’t be covered if you miss your flight because you are held by customs or cancel because of a work issue or a pre-existing medical condition that is not covered

Baggage cover

This insurance covers the cost of replacing your luggage if it is lost or stolen.

For example, if an airline loses your luggage in transit or your suitcase is stolen from your hostel while you’re away, you can make a claim for the cost of replacing its contents.

You may also be able to claim for costs related to baggage delay if the airline temporarily misplaced your baggage.

• You can claim for the actual cash value of your belongings or the cost of replacing them (whichever is less)
• High-value items, such as jewellery or sports equipment, can be very expensive to replace without travel insurance
• Standard policies usually place per item and total limits on claims.
• If you are taking very expensive items away, check your policy carefully to ensure that you’re covered (and potentially get a separate policy)
• Some items could be covered by your home insurance policy, so check your policy carefully to see what is any isn’t. It’s also important to note that, should a lost item be covered by both policies, you can only claim once; an attempt to claim twice would be considered fraud

Personal liability

This insurance covers you if you are held responsible for harming another person or damaging their property.

For example, it covers you in situations where you cause serious damage to your holiday accommodation or accidentally stumble into someone else, causing them to need medical treatment.

• The cost of defending yourself in a legal case or repairing/replacing damage could be extremely costly without travel insurance
• Your travel insurance company will take over dealing with a foreign legal system
• You’re covered for the cost of any compensation (up to certain limits)

Limits: 

• Not all travel insurance provides personal liability as standard
• Policies may exclude personal liability while you partake in adventure activities
• Claims related to you committing a crime or damage by wilful negligence won’t be covered
• You likely will not be covered if you admit liability or make an offer to pay before talking to your insurer

Finding the best travel insurance with Covid cover

Looking for the best travel insurance with Covid cover? Many travel insurance policies now include cancellation cover for reasons related to Covid. This often applies within two weeks of being due to travel, according to the Association of British Insurers, but individual policies can vary.

To make a claim, insurers often require proof in the form of a medically approved positive Covid test. A lateral flow test or self-diagnosis is usually not accepted.

What Covid-related cover to look for

The best travel insurance with Covid cover should include the following:

• Cover if you can’t start your trip because you tested positive for Covid before travelling
• Cover if you or family members cannot return home because you/they test positive for Covid during the holiday
• Cover for additional costs, such as alternative flights, accommodation and Covid tests
• Cover if you cannot reach your final destination during transit due to Covid-19

Travel insurance providers with comprehensive Covid cover

Looking for the best travel insurance providers with Covid cover? Most travel insurance policies now offer some kind of Covid cover, but Churchill, Direct Line, M&S and Aviva have some of the most comprehensive offerings, with cover for cancellations and expenses related to Covid.

• Covid covered as standard on travel insurance policies
• Cover for trip cancellations if you, a close relative or a travelling companion is diagnosed with Covid-19 or another pandemic disease
• Cover if you or a person you’re planning to stay with must quarantine (abroad or in the UK)
• Cover if you can’t use pre-booked and pre-paid accommodation affected by Covid-19
• Cover for quarantine or where the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel within 28 days of departure
• Cover for emergency medical expenses abroad due to Covid-19

Direct Line

• Cover for travel to a destination where the FCDO is advising against all but essential travel 
• Cover for medical expenses if you catch Covid-19 while you’re away 
• Cover for additional accommodation and transport if you have to quarantine due to Covid
• Cover for cancellation costs if you or a close relative get Covid-19 before you go
• Cover for quarantine or if the FCDO changes its advice after you book your trip
• Cover if you have to cut your trip short if the FCDO changes its country advice unexpectedly

• Cover for emergency medical expenses if you catch Covid-19 during your trip
• Cover for unrecoverable costs up to £6,000 if you must cancel your trip or return early, including if you have to self-isolate or quarantine before you travel due to Covid-19
• Cover for if you need to cancel your trip due to a positive Covid-19 test or if the FCDO advise against travel to your destination in the 31 days leading up to your trip
• Providing you haven’t travelled against FCDO advice, you’ll also be covered if you catch Covid-19 while abroad

• Coverage of up to £5,000 per person if you must cancel your trip due to getting Covid (you’ll need to provide confirmation and evidence of a positive test result)
• Cover for Covid-related emergency medical treatment and expenses while away
• Cover if you unexpectedly need to quarantine, including extra travel and accommodation costs to get home (provided a return trip was booked) 
• Cover for costs for any accommodation and excursions unused due to getting Covid where the costs can’t be recovered elsewhere
• No cover you if you travel against FCDO advice*
• No cover if you can’t travel because you don’t meet the entry requirements of a country (such as having had Covid vaccinations)*

* It’s worth noting that these clauses are not unusual and the majority of providers will have something similar

Tips for selecting the best UK travel insurance packages

Need some help picking the best UK travel insurance packages to make sure that you get the best travel insurance deals? Here are some tips for picking the best policy features for you.

Coverage limits

When looking for the best travel insurance companies to go with, check coverage limits. These are the maximum amounts your travel insurer will pay if you need to claim. You’ll see when you compare travel insurance policies that coverage limits vary for each type of claim and between policies.

The government-backed MoneyHelper website recommends that the best UK travel insurance should have the following minimum coverage for each type of claim:

• Medical: £1m or more for travel to Europe and £2m or more for the US
• Cancellation/interruption: £2,000 or more
• Missed departure: £500 or more
• Delay: £200 or more
• Baggage cover: £1,500 or more
• Personal liability cover: £2 million or more

Deductibles/excess

Deductibles, also known as the excess, is the amount you have to pay out of your own pocket before your travel insurance will start paying for your claim.

You have to make a trade-off when it comes to choosing the excess and the best travel insurance policy for you.

The lower the excess on a travel insurance policy, the better for you if you have to claim because you will have less to pay from your own pocket (or, more often, deducted from your claim).

But lower excess travel insurance policies are more expensive because the insurer knows it has more to pay out if you claim. Higher excess policies are cheaper, but you’ll have more deducted from your claim.

An exclusion on a travel insurance policy is an event the policy will not cover you for.

Common exclusions on a standard travel insurance policy may not be obvious. According to the ABTA – The Travel Association, these include:

• Incidents that occur after drinking too much alcohol or taking drugs
• Theft of unattended possessions
• Sports, extreme sports and activities such as skiing, white water rafting and bungee jumping
• Medical treatment resulting from existing medical conditions you have not declared or conditions preventable by vaccine or advisable medication, such as antimalarials
• Medical costs if you stay abroad after your doctor says you are fit to return to the UK
• Strikes and industrial action if it was known when you booked your trip
• Rescheduled flights where the airline has cancelled and then rescheduled your flight
• Travel to destinations where the FCDO advises against all but essential travel

To get the best travel insurance deals, one way around some of these exclusions is to buy add-ons for adventure activities. In addition, make sure to declare all pre-existing conditions and keep an eye out for any travel disruptions before you book.

Pre-existing conditions

Pre-existing conditions are illnesses or medical conditions you have and are aware of before you travel.

Travel insurance companies will ask you to disclose any pre-existing conditions. If you use a comparison website, it will be among the first questions you’re asked before it shows you quotes. It’s important to be honest.

Some travel insurance companies, but not all, will offer cover for pre-existing medical conditions, while others will offer cover but exclude any claims arising from that medical condition. This will depend on the person being covered and the medical condition.

Most price comparison websites include an option to show insurers who do offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, so that would be a good place to start.

The following are likely to be considered pre-existing conditions you should disclose, according to the government-backed MoneyHelper website:

• A condition where you are on a list for an operation
• A condition where you are waiting for test results
• Anything you have been to the doctor about in the last year, including minor things
• Any serious conditions you’ve ever had – for example, cancer, heart trouble, respiratory problems or a mental health breakdown

A good tip for everyone, but especially if you have a pre-existing condition, is to buy your travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday. If your condition gets worse and forces you to cancel your plans, you’ll be covered from the day the policy starts.

On family group policies, the cost will be determined based on the riskiest traveller (according to insurers), which could be someone with a pre-existing condition or an older individual. In this case, it is often cheaper for the group for that person to get a separate policy.

Add-on options

Add-ons are extras you can purchase in addition to a standard travel insurance policy. They cost a bit more, but you may find you’re not covered without them. 

Gadget insurance

This covers things that a standard policy may not, such as your mobile phone or laptop. If these items are covered, you may find the claim limits are far less than the cost of replacing them.

Before you add this option to your travel insurance, check your home insurance policy, because you may already be covered.

Winter sports/adventure activities

Riskier activities, such as skiing or white water rafting, often require extra holiday insurance because insurers think that you are more likely to need to make a claim doing these things.

Winter sports/adventure activities cover is worth getting, or you may find you are not covered for medical expenses if something goes wrong.

Standard travel insurance is generally meant for land-based holidays so you’ll need to opt for a specialist cruise policy if your holiday is a cruise.

European FCDO travel advice extension

Most standard travel insurance policies are invalid if you travel when the FCDO advises against “all but essential travel”.

This add-on allows you to travel to Europe with a valid travel insurance policy, even if the FCDO has advised against it.

This can be an expensive add-on, but if you really must travel to a risky area, you will need this extension in order to make sure you have cover.

Best holiday insurance summary

Choosing the right travel insurance is an essential part of enjoying peace of mind while you are on holiday.

When looking for the best travel insurance deals, don’t just pick the cheapest policy. Instead, look for the cover limits that match your requirements. For example, baggage cover of £5,000 isn’t worth having if your baggage is worth £1,000; cancellation cover up to £10,000 isn’t worth having if your holiday cost you £2,000.

The easiest way to compare the best travel insurance is usually by using a travel insurance comparison website.

Think about the sort of activities you’ll be doing while you’re away. You may need extra holiday insurance for things such as winter sports or scuba diving or if you are going on a cruise.

Be honest about any pre-existing conditions when buying your travel insurance, or you won’t be covered if you have to claim.

The best travel insurance is a safety net for you and your family to enjoy your trip away stress-free, knowing that you’re covered for everything from medical expenses to cancellations if things go wrong.

Frequently asked questions about the best travel insurance UK packages

Is travel insurance necessary for domestic travel within the uk.

Even where medical costs in the UK are covered by the NHS, a sudden illness could lead to other expenses, forcing you to cancel your trip, the costs of which travel insurance would cover.

Lost or stolen luggage and broken gadgets or other claims for damage can just as easily occur in the UK as abroad.

What is annual travel insurance, and is it a good option for frequent travellers?

Annual travel insurance is a policy that covers you for multiple trips away within any 12-month period. It is often cheaper than buying a separate policy for each trip if you are planning to go away multiple times in one year.

Annual travel insurance is also useful if you are planning a long trip visiting several countries, as often insurers require you to buy travel insurance before you leave the UK rather than abroad mid-trip.

Are there any travel insurance companies that specialise in certain types of trips or travellers?

Specialist travel insurers cater to specific groups of people. It can make sense to seek out travel insurers that cover your needs.

Adventures Insurance, Sports Cover Direct and Snowcard tailor their travel insurance to those who enjoy activity holidays and extreme sports, for example.

Senior travellers are the focus of policies from All Clear, Avanti, Co-op Insurance Services, Free Spirit Flex, Good 2 Go Extra, Goodtogo Insurance, Saga, Staysure and Total Travel Protection.

Insurers offering business trip cover include Allianz, Direct Line, Coverwise and Insure & Go.

How do I make a claim with my travel insurance company?

To claim on your travel insurance while you are away, make sure that you take your policy number with you and the emergency number for your insurer. If you are travelling abroad, take any international numbers too.

Call your insurer as soon as you realise you need to make a claim. Keep all receipts and medical expense forms. If you are travelling with other people, make them aware of your policy details and the insurer’s phone number in case they need to call on your behalf.

To make a claim when you return home, check the following:

• You haven’t left it too late to make a claim
• What you’re claiming for is covered
• The excess is not more than the value of your claim (if so, it’s not worth claiming)

Notify your insurer as soon as possible for a claim form, send it back fast and keep a copy of it. You should also include copies of paperwork to support your claim, such as receipts or medical certificates (keep copies of the originals in case your claim is queried or refused).

Laura Miller

Laura Miller is a freelance journalist, editor, and producer. She has a wealth of consumer finance experience, having written about money matters and business for over 15 years.

During her tenure as a freelance writer, she has worked for ITN, Wired, and The Sunday Times, as well as financial institutions such as Aegon, the Chartered Insurance Institute, and Pension Bee, where she’s presenter of the Pension Confident Podcast.

Laura has previously held roles at The Times, where she was the Acting Editor of Times Money Mentor, The Telegraph as a senior finance reporter and was the co-host of the It’s Your Money Podcast, which was renowned for making complex finance issues accessible, and The Financial Times, where she worked as a News Editor. Laura has also worked at CNN, Politics.co.uk, and as a producer at Radio 5 Live.

Connor Campbell

Connor Campbell is an experienced personal and business finance writer who has been producing online content for almost a decade. 

Connor is the personal finance expert for Independent Advisor, guiding readers through everything they need to know about car insurance and home insurance. From how much it costs to the best insurance providers in the UK, he’s here to help you find the right policy for your needs. 

In his capacity as writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet , Connor explored a number of topics close to his heart, such as the impact of our increasingly cashless society, and the hardships and heroics of British entrepreneurs. His commentary was featured in sites such as The Mirror , the Daily Express and Business Insider . 

At financial trading firm Spreadex, meanwhile, his market commentary was featured in outlets such as The Guardian , BBC , Reuters and the Evening Standard . 

Connor is a voracious reader with an MA in English, and is dedicated to making life’s financial decisions a little bit easier by doing away with jargon and needless complexity.

• Best home insurance
• Best life insurance
• Best pet insurance
• Car insurance
• Home insurance guide
• Buildings insurance
• Contents insurance
• Home insurance glossary
• Admiral home insurance review
• Aviva home insurance review
• AXA home insurance review
• Churchill home insurance review
• Compare the market review
• Direct Line home insurance review
• Esure home insurance review
• LV home insurance review
• More Than home insurance review
• Policy Expert home insurance review
• Rias home insurance review
• How we cover home insurance companies

The Independent Advisor brand is operated by 3S Media International Limited. 3S Media International Ltd is an introducer appointed representative of Moneysupermarket.com Financial Group Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA FRN 303190).

TravelTime Travel Insurance Review

Everything you need to know before you buy travel insurance from TravelTime!

The experts say:

TravelTime is the perfect choice for travel insurance. With a Which? Ranking of 62 out of 71 providers, you can be sure you're getting great coverage at an affordable price. Plus, their Covid Cover rating and Fairer Finance Rating are both impressive - so you know that even in these uncertain times, you'll be in safe hands. Medical expenses cover is up to £10 million, and the baggage cover is a generous £2,000. Cancellation cover is also up to £4,000, with an excess payable on medical claims of just £99 - that's one of the lowest we've seen! So whether it's your next big adventure or a quick city break, make sure you pick TravelTime for your travel insurance!

What TravelTime customers are saying right now:

• :thumbsup: Quickly paid claim when the managing director got involved.
• :smiley: Very happy with the service and would use them again without hesitation.
• :white_check_mark: Got refund into account for cancelled flight.
• :clap:: Got an automated response after submitting a claim by email.
• :ok_hand:: Understood that there was an excess to write off when taking out the policy.
• 🤬 Terrible customer service and unresponsiveness to queries.
• 🤯 Delay in claims processing and requests for resubmission of documents.
• 😡 Refusal to transfer policy to the next year after travel was banned.

TravelTime customer reviews summary

TravelTime travel insurance has consistently been met with unhappiness and dissatisfaction from customers. Reports of poor customer service, slow claim processing, and refusal to transfer policies have been common. While there have been some positive reviews of the company, they appear to be outweighed by the negative ones. Overall, TravelTime travel insurance is not recommended and receives a score of 4/10.

AllClear Travel Insurance Review

Everything you need to know before you buy travel insurance from AllClear!

Co-op Insurance Services Travel Insurance Review

Everything you need to know before you buy travel insurance from Co-op Insurance Services!

Covered2Go Travel Insurance Review

Everything you need to know before you buy travel insurance from Covered2Go!

Reviewed: 100+ UK travel insurance providers

• Privacy Policy
• Car Insurance Reviews
• Pet Insurance Reviews
• Home Insurance Reviews

[email protected]

Copyright © 2023 TravelInsuranceReview.co.uk

• Small Business
• Credit Cards
• Personal Finance
• Business Loans
• Business Bank Accounts
• Free Business Bank Accounts
• Business Insurance
• Business Energy
• Business Water
• Accounting software
• How Do Business Loans Work?
• How To Get A Business Loan
• Do I Need A Business Bank Account?
• How To Open A Business Bank Account
• Do I Need Business Insurance?
• Types Of Business Insurance
• How To Switch Business Energy Supplier
• How To Start A Business
• What is an SME?
• How To Go Self-Employed
• How To Grow Your Business

Whether you’re an established business or start-up, see the latest offers from leading business bank account providers

• Personal Loans
• Secured Loans
• Bad Credit Loans
• Guarantor Loans
• Car Finance
• Unsecured Vs Secured Loans
• How to Get a Loan
• Why Can’t I Get A Loan?
• What Are Joint Loans?
• What Is A Bank Loan?
• Am I Eligible For A Personal Loan?
• What You Need To Know About APR
• Paying Off A Loan Early
• Loans For People On Benefits

Compare loans and check your eligibility from a range of leading loan providers

• Best Mortgage Lenders
• Mortgage Rates
• Commercial Mortgages
• Mortgage Calculator
• Stamp Duty Calculator
• Mortgage Eligibility
• What Is Stamp Duty?
• Fixed Vs Variable Rate Mortgages
• What Is A Buy-To-Let Mortgage?
• What Is A Joint Mortgage?
• How Remortgaging Works
• How To Pay Off Your Mortgage Early
• How Long Does A Mortgage Offer Last?
• What Is A Shared Ownership Mortgage?
• What Is A Guarantor Mortgage?
• UK House Prices
• How To Open A Bank Account
• Student Bank Accounts
• How Overdrafts Work
• Can I Open A Bank Account For My Child?
• Regular Savings Accounts
• What Is A Personal Pension?
• ISA Or Savings Account?
• How To Choose A Credit Card
• Do I Need A Credit Card?
• Credit Card Charges And Fees
• Debit Vs Credit Cards
• Breakdown Cover
• Car Insurance
• Home Insurance
• Travel Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Do I Need Breakdown Cover?
• Do I Need Life Insurance?
• Types Of Life Insurance
• What Is Home Emergency Cover?
• How To Maintain Your Vehicle
• Benefits Of Life Insurance
• Can You Have Multiple Life Insurance Policies?
• What Does Car Warranty Cover?
• Insurance Hub

Compare Travel Insurance

Many or all of the products and brands we promote and feature including our ‘Partner Spotlights’ are from our partners who compensate us. However, this does not influence our editorial opinion found in articles, reviews and our ‘Best’ tables. Our opinion is our own. Read more on our methodology here .

About Travel Insurance

Planning a holiday is one of the most exciting activities we can undertake, but we all have different ideas about our perfect trip. For some of us a beach holiday in Benidorm is paradise, while others would prefer a trek in Southeast Asia or a mountain climb in Scotland.

Whatever we choose, we should always be cautious about protecting ourselves if something goes wrong, and that’s why travel insurance is so important.

NerdWallet has partnered with Quotezone. Compare quotes from the UK’s top insurers, including:

This insurance quote service is powered by Quotezone. The data you supply and submit is collected directly by Quotezone who are responsible for the handling and processing of that data. By using their quote system you are agreeing to their terms and conditions and privacy policy which can be found at Quotezone.co.uk.

What will travel insurance cover?

Travel insurance is a premium taken out to cover the traveller in the eventuality of something bad occurring during the holiday. Typical occurrences covered by travel insurance include:

• Flight/holiday cancellation and curtailment
• Serious injury/illness
• Loss of baggage/contents
• Personal liability (injuring someone else)
• Emergency assistance

Should I always go for the cheapest policy?

Definitely not, unless it covers you for everything you plan to do on the holiday and all eventualities. Cheaper options can sometimes exclude important details and set high excess levels.

What won’t it cover?

These are not concrete examples and all insurers differ, but some reasons why an insurer might not pay out include:

• In certain circumstances it will not cover extreme sports or expeditions; don’t book a trek to the top of Mount Everest and expect standard insurance to pay out in the event of a disaster
• Loss of items or injury through negligence such as alcohol
• Ignoring FCO (Foreign & Commonwealth Office) advice
• Full cost of valuables (see below)
• Failure to report crime within a certain time frame

Is travel insurance mandatory?

For the vast majority of countries travel insurance is not mandatory, although for the cost of a few pounds it makes sense to obtain it. There are many factors, such as flight cancellations, crime, bag thefts and political upheaval in a country that are out of the traveller’s control, but will cost them dearly if they are not insured.

Passport controls in some countries, such as Cuba, will ask for proof of insurance before allowing you to enter. When you apply for a visa for Russia, you could be asked to supply evidence of insurance. The simple rule of thumb is to check well before you reach the airport and put steps in place to cover yourself.

When should I take out travel insurance?

From the moment you book, not the start of the holiday. The cost will probably not be too different, and that extra cost will cover you if you have to cancel before the holiday begins. If you decide to undertake a more spontaneous extreme excursion or activity while on holiday, this could be booked a day or two before.

What affects my travel insurance costs?

There are a huge range of factors, such as:

• The destination itself
• Type of holiday – cruise, multi-trip, extreme adventure
• Your health (see below)
• Gadgets (see below)
• Length of travel

How will my health affect costs?

There’s no need to reveal every ailment and pain you suffer, but failure to disclose significant conditions such as heart conditions, cancer or diabetes would be folly simply because your cover could be invalidated in the event of a claim and you could face bills of thousands or tens of thousands of pounds. Even if you have been cured of a particular condition, you might still have to declare it.

Previous injuries, illnesses and conditions could be regarded as denoting a higher risk and the downside is that it might drive up your travel insurance costs. An insurer might even refuse to insure you altogether. Some countries such as the US and Canada have particularly expensive medical care, which could also affect the insurers’ decision.

Will travel insurance cover my gadgets?

It depends – some companies will cover laptops, smartphones, cameras and similar, but only up to a certain cost. Consider paying out an additional premium for individual items.

What should I do if I’m travelling to somewhere that becomes dangerous?

Check your policy documents for details of what your insurer will do in the event of trouble. Aim for a tour operator covered by ATOL (UK Civil Aviation Authority), ABTA or similar representative body.

If something happens a few days before you’re due to leave then your first port of call should be the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which regularly updates travellers on travel advice and the current political/economic/social states of countries that might be affected by unrest or freak, dangerous conditions such as earthquakes.

Travel Insurance FAQs

Which? recommends £2 million of medical cover for Europe and £5 million worldwide, £1,500 of cover for baggage and personal belongings, and £3,000 for cancellation or curtailment.

Don’t travel to Europe without an EHIC – European Health Insurance Card. It’s free and in effect gives you access to state–provided healthcare within EEA countries.

The more claims you’ve made in the past, the more expensive your cover is likely to be.

It is not mandatory to take out travel insurance through the airline or travel agent you’ve booked the holiday with. In fact, shopping around may save you money.

About the Author

Holly champions clear, jargon-free writing. She’s been creating finance content for leading organisations for over 10 years.

Feel the Fear and Consider Life Insurance Anyway?

Life insurance can stir up difficult feelings that may even be a barrier to getting cover. Understanding why this decision can be emotionally charged might help you to approach it differently.

Life Assurance vs Life Insurance: What’s the Difference?

Life assurance is cover that lasts your whole lifetime, while life insurance usually lasts for a specific period of time. Here’s why that difference matters if you’re thinking of putting that protection in place.

Can You Get Life Insurance with No Medical?

Most people don’t need to have a medical exam to get life insurance. But if the insurer does ask you to have one, it doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be offered cover.

Suggested companies

Traveltime travel insurance, insurefor.com.

Traveltime   Reviews

In the Travel & Vacation category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Write a review

Reviews 1.8.

Most relevant

Avoid, a long wait before the wrong answer!

Avoid, it will take weeks before they answer your claim and then get the answer wrong! Our flight was cancelled 30 minutes before departure. EasyJet booked us a new flight for the next day. We claimed for lost accommodation (at the destination) and delay expenses. TravelTime took over 30 days to refuse the claim quoting the exclusion in delay reason 1 which says: '(this does not include a travel carrier’s cancellation prior to your departure date)'. We were delayed not cancelled and even if the trip was cancelled then it was cancelled on the day of departure, not before! The exclusion does not apply. Also note that if you have a late flight then you might practically have no delay insurance at all with this policy/interpretation! If your flight was due at 00:15 and the gate notice becomes 'flight cancelled' at 23:45 say. We now have to wait 8 weeks before complaining to the ombudsman.

Date of experience : 06 December 2023

Very poor customer service

Took out travel insurance with this company. On returning home I wanted to make a claim regarding lost luggage. They refused to assist saying all claims are dealt with my another company. Very poor customer service, happy to take your payment but that's where their involvement ends.

Date of experience : 10 September 2023

This company are getting official 5

This company are getting official defacto 5 stars..based on facts not opinion from travel insurance companies...also they are getting top reviews on other sites ...so something smells here...I just got a fantastic deal from them ..better than all the others

Date of experience : 18 October 2021

What a complete rip off company stay clear..after sending every document they asked for .for flight delay and lost luggage .they denied recieving them despite sent recorded delivery and was signed for..7 months on NOTHING no reply to emails ..heard other reports of these clowns just don't bother taking out insurance with these incompetent fools.. They have no intention of dealing with paying out..but they will gladly take your money...LOOK ELSEWHERE GUYS.!!

Date of experience : 07 August 2022

Helpful at rescheduling

I can’t review from a claims point of view - but I had a trip postponed, and then cancelled due to covid and they were incredibly helpful the whole way through, first at moving my dates of coverage for a very small fee, and then for refunding me for all but a reasonable admin fee once the trip was cancelled All email replies were prompt and friendly - and they always picked up the phone! no idea who everyone else here was dealing with

Date of experience : 16 October 2021

Truly Terrible Travel Insurance

Getting a policy was very quick and easy through Money Supermarket but actually making a claim has been a nightmare. I submitted a claim and all of the required documentation two weeks ago and have had no response at all. They are impossible to contact - the emails are never responded to and the phone calls are never answered. I would avoid this company at all costs.

Date of experience : 04 February 2023

We booked insurance pre-virus for a…

We booked insurance pre-virus for a holiday in June. I had to make one minor adjustment to a Date of Birth and they re-issued the whole insurance based on the new date making it post their Virus policy. They took all their phone lines down and do not respond to mails, despite several attempts. A terrible company and terrible way to treat customers especially in these times. AVOID.

Date of experience : 20 May 2020

Careful about confusing names

I have no idea about Traveltime (as in traveltime.co.uk) but like the reviewer of 18_oct I was confused as to why reviews here seemed so bad for travel insurance firm I wanted to check out. So I wanted to point out these reviews seen here are for traveltime.co.uk which is NOT the five star "TravelTime Insurance" I have no affiliation to either

Date of experience : 09 November 2021

Zero stars more like !

Unfortunately I am unable to put zero stars which is what this company deserves. “ When is insurance not really insurance” ......when it’s with Travel Time Insurance ! Purchased Premium Plus Insurance. Wish I hadn’t bothered as not covered for flight cancellation. This was certainly not made clear at purchase. They take hours and hours to answer the phone. I wouldn’t want to be abroad and desperate for help !! No customer services whatsoever. Basically scammers. Buyer beware...don’t bother with.them. If you pay for insurance then you want to actually be insured and you won’t be with this lot !

Date of experience : 19 July 2020

Not a cheap option when you get nothing for your money!

I am yet another reviewer who regrets not being able to give less than one star. Had to cancel holiday because the government changed the Covid regulations for returning to the Uk, 9 hours before we were due to travelsuch that we could not satisfy the new conditions legally if we travelled. Travel Time rejected our claim on the basis that the policy did not provide for that SPECIFIC event.

Date of experience : 22 July 2022

AVOID took a policy out way ahead of the pandemic even starting sent an email and claim on 20 April, Finally had a response today 19 June, nothing about claim but offering me a refund on my policy if I confirm to them I will not claim and cancel my policy. I now have to reply saying I want to claim which will take another 2 months to be read! Steer clear of this company

Date of experience : 19 June 2020

Spoke to a charming woman today to…

Spoke to a charming woman today to change date of travel she was very efficient and cordial and email and rebate sent straight away

Date of experience : 20 February 2023

Do not waste your money buying travel…

Do not waste your money buying travel insurance with these people. Made a claim several months ago. They accepted the claim and then later said they no longer underwrite it whatever that means ! Then then gave me details of another company to contact and they have not responded to me

Date of experience : 18 January 2022

Stay clear!

They DO NOT reply to Emails or phone calls. Wanted to change date of travel but have given up and will take out a new policy with a reputable company. I am glad I found out how they operate before I travelled, as it would have been a disaster if I required there services in an emergency. Hopefully they go under as they do not deserve peoples hard earned money.

Date of experience : 16 July 2020

Absolutely disgraceful company

Absolutely disgraceful company. Here we are, mid-July, and I’m still waiting on a response to emails sent as far back as May. They are also not answering phones. I purchased a travel policy in February but it was unusable due to the Covid situation. I have been trying to either get a refund or change the policy dates. Do not use this bunch of amateurs if you want a decent service. I dread to think of the situation anyone would be left in if they had to try to contact them whilst in trouble on holiday.

Date of experience : 12 July 2020

No communication following claim

My wife was admitted into hospital for a hip operation and we were forced to cancel our holiday. I made a claim to Traveltime and have now waited a month with no response other than an acknowledgment. I phoned them and was told it would be dealt with as a priority, now I cant get through to anyone despite hanging on for hours listening to inane music!!!!!!!!!

Date of experience : 27 July 2017

I usually go with the big providers but…

I usually go with the big providers but I decided to try smaller one as the reviews were good. Overall dreadful, before travelling one of our family had a change in medical condition so I wanted to infirm them and if aplicable cover any additional premium. The phone just rang and rang over days. We left a lmessage.... no reply. I wrote as We were Travelling in 2 weeks and we’re told it would be 7 weeks for a reply. I continued to try explaining we would be on holiday and needed confirmation of cover. I could a reply 2 weeks after returning saying that we need to provide more info (already provided) I complained and the basically just said fill out the additional medical details if you like. Back to the big providers for me!

Date of experience : 04 September 2020

BEING CHEAP IS NOT ALWAYS BEST

What a joke this company is. I had to cancel my holiday the same day I was due to fly. I got all the evidence required which I had to pay for. The response was we can’t refund you accommodation fees as it’s a time share and we can’t refund your flight fees unless you get a written letter from Jet2 that they haven’t refunded you money despite it clearly written in their terms and conditions Ask yourself why are they so cheap, and my problems won’t affect you unless you need to make a claim. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

Date of experience : 03 December 2021

DO NOT USE DO NOT USE

I purchased a yearly policy for traveltime and unfortunately had to make a claim. This claim has been submitted to them over 6 months ago and they do not answer the phone or emails. The policy is not worth the paper it is written on. Please do not use this company if you want a reliable and safe policy look elseware.

Date of experience : 26 September 2022

Excellent customer service…

Excellent customer service I gave wrong email twice, but was quickly sent documents to correct email can't fault at all would definitely use again.

Date of experience : 06 January 2023

Is this your company?

Claim your profile to access Trustpilot’s free business tools and connect with customers.

Suggested companies

Traveltime travel insurance, insurefor.com.

Traveltime   Reviews

In the Travel & Vacation category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Write a review

Reviews 1.8.

Most relevant

what is wrong with this company meant to be working from Home what a joke. don't answer emails, or phone calls, I am working from home I would of got the sack by now if I acted like that, can't see why they are not back at work by now anyway as it's not as they deal with the public. would never want to use this company would of hated to of been taken ill on holiday using them god help us. I will be going to compare the market about this company and make sure they are never on that site again. I would of given them no stars but unable to do this. Hope they are sitting at home enjoying my money.

Date of experience : June 01, 2020

I would give -1

I would give -1! Got a shoddy response to an email I sent 2 months ago. Only offering a refund for 1 policy but unfortunately I had 2 due to 2 trips booked. They don't answer their phones and well the email response is around 8-10 weeks. I wanted to know if I could change dates and they said no. I asked if I didn't get a refund on a particular flight the answer was no even though I purchased well before Covid. Would never get travel insurance with them again!

Date of experience : July 09, 2020

Avoid at all costs

Avoid at all costs. Even taking into account the current circumstances this company are to be avoided at all costs. When things go wrong you really find out who can be relied on to help and resolve matters and it is NOT Traveltime. I will certainly steer clear of this lot in future.

Date of experience : June 06, 2020

Do not buy your insurance from this…

Do not buy your insurance from this company. Purchased my insurance a good month before the FCO listed my destination as a no go zone due to Covid and before the date they listed on their website that customers wouldn't be able to claim against covid. Two and a bit months after submitting my claim I chased them for an update. Because this eventuality wasn't specifically referenced in their "Covered" section they won't pay out. Neither was it in their "Not covered" section but guess which one they chose to side with. Another money grabbing company that will snake out of any claim they can. In addition to this I tried to leave a review on the site that appears on their website. Nowhere to do it which is interesting. I can see why their star rating is so high on their site now. All the positive reviews are related to purchasing the insurance and none that I could see on claiming.

Date of experience : August 05, 2020

Worst travel insurance I have ever!

Worst travel insurance I have ever!! Did not cover anything due to the COVID crisis. Do yourself a favour and buy with a reputable company who actually respond to your emails/calls.

Date of experience : July 05, 2020

Tried cancelling a policy ..

Tried cancelling a policy ... literally impossible to get through. How come if staff are working from home, the same amount of staff pre-covid only not in the office no one answers the phone. No email contact. It's all a con. Stay away.

Date of experience : June 21, 2022

Terrible service

Terrible service, took out a policy before we were told about having to quarantine from Spain so I phoned them and asked if the policy was still valid, she said no so I asked for a refund, luckily I was in the 14 days , I asked if I hadn’t have asked within the 14 days would have got a refund? She said no , disgrace, I asked her to cancel she said I had to email in to a really long email address.

Date of experience : July 30, 2020

Purchased a policy from this company…

Purchased a policy from this company that has not covered me in anyway absolute snakes as other have stated would give them zero if I could.

Date of experience : August 24, 2020

I would leave 0 if I could!!

I would leave 0 if I could. I have sent at least 5 emails to them, as it say's on their web site they are still working via email. And still no response!! I know these are unprecedented times , but a vast majority of the country seems to be working via email, and getting back to their customers with no issues. All phones lines are not working too. 7/6/2020 And most of the UK are back at work one way or another. But traveltime seem to be stuck in time. Some time before the internet was around as they don't seem to be working via email at all!! Maybe I'll send a carrier pigeon. Seemed to work in the world wars OK.

Date of experience : June 07, 2020

4 month delay in claim response and refusal

I would award less than 1 star. Our May flight was delayed by 28 hours. We submitted all the paperwork, boarding passes, statement from airline, it was a massive bundle. After 31 working days a handler still hadn't responded. Held on phone for a couple of hours to be told that it would be dealt with asap. Not true. Another couple of weeks went by and then we had a rejection email. We pointed out the clause that said in the event of a delay over 12 hours we were covered. Again another delay. Then they flatly refused the claim. Said we weren't covered. I will never use this company again. Shocking.

Date of experience : October 03, 2022

Do not use this bunch of cowboys

Do not use this bunch of cowboys. I paid £50 for travel insurance and was only claiming £90 back. The policy was booked before their 'cut-off' date for covid 19,but they still refuse to pay out. I wish I had seen the negative reviews before I wasted my money. Never again.

Date of experience : May 25, 2020

TRAVEL TIME Avoid doing business with this company…

Avoid doing business with this company at any cost as I think they are pretty much scammers. I took out a policy with this company in March 2020 for our booked holiday in May. The FCO advice changed to advise against travel to Spain, then later Spain closed it's borders to foreign tourists. This meant that even if I had gone I would not have been covered so, in effect, I have given them money for which I have received no service. A nice little business, if you can get it. Very difficult to get in contact with most of the time. They seem to be administered by some company called CSAL (from the email address) so AVOID anything to do with them too. AVOID AVOID AVOID. I was not able to award zero stars.

Date of experience : July 17, 2021

Lack of response

Lack of response, shirking of responsibilities, hiding behind the underwriter. This is by far the worst insurance company I have ever dealt with. I urge anyone to avoid using them and if you are unfortunate enough to be a customer of their, please report them to the relevant ombudsman or fca.

Date of experience : June 26, 2020

Dire. Avoid. Poor communication. I gave up and eventually got a refund. A rival company was cheaper and had a better Trust Pilot review to boot!!

Date of experience : April 18, 2017

Save your money

Save your money. They will not pay out in the event of a claim. Their small print will cover them and you will get nothing. I put a claim in during October and it took them until January to contact me and basically say "read the small print and weep" and of course the usual "due to covid..." etc etc. Avoid at all costs.

Date of experience : January 14, 2022

Disaster Took out this policy in January when there was no mention of covid . Now it seems we are not covered even thoughFCO advises against travel . If we go and catch covid we aren’t covered for that either ... emailed twice, no response. Avoid this company at all costs.

Date of experience : June 30, 2020

This company is a shower RUBBISH

This company is a shower --------- , thank god it was just £25 and i would have great concern if i had to make a claim as you cannot get through while in the UK .

Date of experience : April 19, 2022

Do not use this company

Do not use this company Booked and paid for travel insurance for a family holiday end of June 21, when i changed the holiday to October 21, tried on numerous occasions via phone and email no response whatsoever very poor customer service

Date of experience : July 16, 2021

Terrible service, I've called them and waited for hours and cannot get to speak to anyone, a waste of time, go elsewhere, claims are done by another company and there no contact number to talk to for advice, its all online.

Date of experience : March 01, 2022

I would give this company no stars if i…

I would give this company no stars if i could. Do not use them if you want to be covered for not being able to go on your holiday, My Mum was unable to go on her holiday in March. And she had taken out a policy which she was told would cover her for all circumstances. She lives with her 97 year old father so needed to make sure she was covered if anything happened to him or indeed if someone in the family couldn't look after him. The week before the holiday her daughter (myself) had a major family/personal issue so I was unable to look after my grandfather as planned when she was away. Therefore she cancelled her holiday to be there for me. Thinking she would be covered. We put claim in and got medical certificate as requested. This has been back and forth since March with Travel Time and CSAL the claims department. They asked for another medical certificate in my name which we paid for. But not have declined the claim saying not covered as i have suffered from depression!!!! But I'm not on any medication and think everyone in the world suffers with anxeity and depression. I had a massive personal issue going on and she wanted to be with me to help and she needed to be there for her father my grandfather (as I couldn't do that). They are saying as I've suffered before claim no upheld.!!! We have lodged a complain but that was 3 weeks ago and not getting anywhere. Emails sent, phone calls made and just keep getting fobbed off. We are in the process now of taking it further!!!

Date of experience : August 10, 2022

Is this your company?

Claim your profile to access Trustpilot’s free business tools and connect with customers.

Money latest: Mortgage rates could go lower than expected, BoE hints; 'era of cheap food over,' says supermarket boss

The Bank of England has hinted a base rate cut is coming, and it's "not ruled out in June". Read all today's personal finance and consumer news - and listen to the latest Ian King Business Podcast below.

Thursday 9 May 2024 17:20, UK

• Interest Rates
• Interest rate held at 5.25% | June rate cut 'not ruled out but not fait accompli' - BoE | Cuts may take interest rate 'lower than currently priced into market'
• Supermarket boss declares end of the 'cheap food era'
• Gordon Ramsay to open new restaurants on London skyscraper

Essential reads

• Ed Conway on interest rates : Waiting game almost over - but Bank needs to be bold to jump US
• 10 cheapest popular destinations in Europe - and how costs compare
• The top-paying savings account on the market right now
• Iconic tea brand enlists Top Boy star for £12m ad to revive fortunes - but poll suggests Britons prefer rival
• Cheap Eats : Chef at Tom Kerridge pub picks Buckinghamshire spot
• Listen to the Daily above and  tap here to follow wherever you get your podcasts

You may remember our coverage here a few weeks back on the proliferation of scams targeting Taylor Swift fans hoping to buy tickets to see one of her current run of shows across Europe...

The Shake It Off star will hold a series of concerts in the UK as she continues her Eras tour, with the first taking place in Edinburgh on 7 June.

But the artist's megastardom has seen a huge demand for tickets, which were not cheap even before they sold out within minutes - with prices ranging from £58.65 - £194.75.

Resale prices from legitimate websites have been in the region of £700 each - with some fans reported to have spent well in excess of that to see their hero.

However, such is her popularity among an army of mostly young female devotees that the market has become a target for people seeking to exploit the widespread desperation for tickets.

As reported here, a spate of attempts had seen Facebook users' accounts hacked by scammers, who would then create seemingly genuine posts in groups on the site that the users were members of.

Initially, the posts would suggest the user was seeking to sell tickets - generally four - that were invariably just a few rows from the front of a specific venue for one of Swift's UK shows.

The price suggested in the posts was generally around £180, more expensive than the face value of most tickets, but a fraction of the cost of those being advertised on legitimate resale sites - especially for such desirable seating.

More recent instances indicate the methods being employed by scammers have since evolved and, it appears, become significantly more sophisticated.

In these more recent attempts to defraud so-called Swifties (and in many cases, the parents purchasing the tickets), the posts detail the specific rows and seat numbers.

A further departure from the previous efforts is the scammers no longer including the asking price for the (non-existent) tickets.

Both these changes were evident in one attempt Sky News has become aware of - as was another and decidedly sinister tactic.

In this case, given the number of previous scams that have flooded Facebook, the admin for the group in question first removed the post - correctly assuming it was fraudulent.

But, he told Sky News, he was subsequently sent a photo of what appeared to be the user's passport as a means of verifying her post was genuine.

This development indicates the scammer in question had used some form of photo-editing software to create an image that appeared to be of the user's passport.

"I contacted her to explain that I had deleted her post and removed her account from the group as there are so many scams around, and I could not verify their identity or the validity of the ticket offer," said Trevor Williams, who runs the local community Facebook group in Birmingham.

"Within a few minutes, I received a photo of a passport in this name and an assurance that she was genuine.

"This was enough to change my decision and the post was put it back on the group.

"Most people have no idea of the problems of being an admin on these groups, as you simply cannot win."

How can you protect yourself against these scams?

For those looking to buy resale tickets, the main advice is to simply avoid being tempted into seemingly genuine offers posted on Facebook, unless it is from someone you know and have spoken to directly (and not just over Facebook).

Those looking to sell on their tickets will invariably use the established and legitimate resale sites such as Viagogo or StubHub.

Perhaps the most useful piece of advice is an old one - if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

In terms of protecting yourself against your account on Facebook (or any social media site) being hacked by scammers, the best measure is to ensure you have enabled two-step or two-factor authentication.

This can be found through the security and privacy settings on your Facebook account, and involves the use of your telephone number or a separate authentication app on your phone whenever someone attempts to log in.

TV chef Gordon Ramsay has announced he will open new restaurants and a cooking academy in one of London's tallest skyscrapers. 

The 60th floor of 22 Bishopsgate will have a 14-seat chef's table experience - run by the team from the chef's three-Michelin-starred Chelsea restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

In addition, Lucky Cat restaurant, a Lucky Cat terrace bar and a Bread Street Kitchen will open on the 59th floor.

Finally, he'll be opening a cooking academy in the building, The Gordon Ramsay Academy. 

Mr Ramsay said: "This is more than just a new opening - it's a significant milestone for our business. 

"We're not only launching the highest culinary experiences in London, but also creating a vibrant culinary hub at the incredible 22 Bishopsgate."

City editor Mark Kleinman   has revealed that high street billionaire Mike Ashley is closing in on a deal to become the new British partner of struggling fashion chain Ted Baker.

He learnt that Frasers Group had emerged as the preferred partner for the chain following the collapse of No Ordinary Designer Label (NODL), Ted Baker's existing UK licensing partner.

It is hoped a deal could be agreed over the coming days - read more on this story here ...

Eating ultra-processed meat is linked to an increased risk of early death.

A Harvard study over 30 years tracked more than 114,000 adults.

The highest risks were linked with the most processed meats such as sausages and ham. 

Regular eaters had a 13% higher chance of dying over the 34 years tracked.

Diets high in sugary and artificially sweetened drinks had a 9% increased risk, the study found.

The used car market increased by 6.5% in the first quarter of the year , with sales of over 1.9 million vehicles, new figures show.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says the total reveals the strongest start to a year since pre-pandemic 2019.

Sales of used hybrids also increased.

That's all from an enlightening news conference in which we heard an interest rate cut in June hadn't been ruled out - and that rates could fall more than markets expect. 

Scroll through to read and watch some of the key moments - meantime, we'll return to general money and consumer news.

We're now hearing the final questions of this news conference. 

The governor of the Bank of England is asked if August is more likely than June to see the Monetary Policy Committee cut interest rates. 

"Nice try to introduce the 'is it June' question again," Andrew Bailey says with a smile.

"We're going meeting by meeting," he adds, stressing that more data [which will be at the MPC's disposal over the coming months] will allow them more visibility and more scope to make a decision."

Our  economics editor Ed Conway  is next to ask the governor a question.

He asks whether increasing government interest in the Bank's workings has any influence on an interest rate cut.

"We [the Monetary Policy Committee] never discuss politics," Andrew Bailey replies. 

"We are an independent central bank, we have a remit and it is our duty to exercise that remit at all times."

"Our remit applies at all times, so it [politics] isn't a consideration."

Asked if inflation dynamics in the UK are different to the US, Andrew Bailey says there is no law that says the US moves first on interest rate cuts and everyone else afterwards.

"There is no law," he says.

"Moreover, we have a remit and target which is related to domestic inflation in the UK.

"We're an open economy so we take the rest of the world into consideration 

"But there is no law to say we can only move once the Federal Reserve (central bank of the US) moves."

There is a feeling among economists that, although the US often leads, the European Central Bank may be the first to move with an early June cut.

This could, it has been suggested, push the UK to cut on 20 June.

We move on to how the Bank intends to cut interest rates. 

"To make sure that inflation stays around the 2% target - that inflation will need to be too high nor too low - it's likely that we will need to cut Bank rate over the coming quarters and make monetary policy somewhat less restrictive over the forecast period," Andrew Bailey says.

Crucially, he adds, the Bank may cut "more so than currently priced into market rates".

Heading into today, markets expected a rate cut this summer - most likely August. They were pricing in up to three cuts this year - leading us to 4.5% by December - but the governor is suggesting we could go below that figure. 

"We have no preconceptions about how fast and how far we might cut Bank rates," Mr Bailey continues. 

"Instead, we will continue to look carefully for evidence that the outlook for inflation is consistent with the 2% target.

"Given the decisions we have already made, we will reach a new decision on the appropriate level of Bank rate based on the evidence at each meeting."

Andrew Bailey moves on to medium-term inflation and says it will rise from 2% to 2.5% by the end of year and then fall back next year.

He forecasts it will fall to 1.9% in two years and to 1.6% in four years.

"This projection reflects our view that we're making very good progress in returning inflation to the 2% target," he says.

"In fact, the projection suggests that inflation could fall below the inflation target towards the end of the forecast period."

Andrew Bailey opens the media conference. 

"Inflation is now falling to just above 3%, and we expect it to be close to the target in the coming months," he says, referencing the 2% targeted by the Bank. 

"That's encouraging, but we are not yet at a point where we can cut bank rates," noting that inflation will likely rise later in the year. 

He says recent data showed few surprises - which is welcome news. 

"This absence of data surprises is an indication that we're now getting back to more normal times, at least compared to the highly unusual period we've been living through with a global pandemic and a major war in Europe."

He adds: "More data will help us to extract the signal from the noise and help us to judge whether or not we are on track to bring inflation back to the 2% target sustainably." 

He then turns to when a cut in interest rates could be expected. 

"A change in Bank [interest] rates in June is neither ruled out nor a fait accompli," he says. 

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Suggested companies

Admiral insurance, explorer travel insurance, insurefor.com.

TravelTime Travel Insurance   Reviews

In the Travel Insurance Company category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Write a review

Reviews 4.5.

Most relevant

Excellent service great travel…

Excellent service great travel insurance policy covers pre existing conditions. Peace of mind knowing i have a annual policy at a great reasonable price and always being kept up to date with updates and travel tips. Highly recommend.

Date of experience : February 03, 2024

No claim made but good experience so far

As with any insurance it is difficult to give a full review until you make a claim... if you ever have to do one. However, a review based on my experience to date would be five star. I like the approach they take to engaging you and signing up was as easy as could be. The price I believe to be great too.

Date of experience : March 02, 2023

Making a claim…

You only find out how good travel insurance is, when you need to make a claim. We cancelled our holiday due to illness, and found Travel time excellent. They quickly resolved our claim in full, with a minimum of hassle. I would recommend them without reservation.

Date of experience : June 17, 2023

Adding a medical condition…

I had to add a recent medical condition to my policy. I was nervous about the process and the possible unanswerable medical questions that I might face. These fears were unfounded, a very nice approachable lady on the telephone took me through the process. It was surprisingly easy and there was no additional cost to my premium.

Date of experience : October 19, 2023

Friendly and personal service

I’ve found the company easy to deal with - they respond quickly to any requests and when I purchased my insurance the whole process was easy and straightforward. The relevant documents arrived quickly via email.

Competitively priced

We have used travel time insurance for the last 3 years. Find them very competitive and easy to use..

Date of experience : February 02, 2024

Don't bother, go for well known companies

Niece broke her arm on holiday, couldn't claim anything at all , waste of time

Date of experience : April 14, 2023

Good clear instructions for filling out forms etc

Used many times now with confidence. I have a few health issues and it has been easy to use the format. Would highly recommend. Thankfully not had to use the insurance due to any health problems! And hopefully never will.

Date of experience : October 15, 2023

Competitive prices!!

Competitive prices, great service, friendly helpful staff if you need to speak to anyone. I’ve been with them for the last few years and will be renewing my yearly policy later this month. Give them a try !!

Date of experience : February 24, 2023

I don’t usually give negative reviews but feel this company deserve it

we have been going on holiday since the 1980's. we have always bought travel insurance. last year I was in Rhodes and on the second day could not use or straighten my hand. I thought I had slept on it awkwardly and thought it might go away later in the day. it got worse and started swelling and becoming more painful. the gentleman who owned the hotel we were staying in called his daughter who was a fifth year medical student at Rhodes Hospital. she told me it was not looking good so she asked if I had Travel insurance. i told her we had and she advised me to got to the nearest hospital as they spoke English there and other guests had been without any problems (as I was driving it was only 3 mile away and the wife had to change gear for me ) we followed the instructions and went to a place called Euro Medica. when we got there the reception took our details ( inc all paperwork) and asked us to wait while they checked everything out. 30 minutes later they said everything was fine and i was taken to a triage room. to start they thought it was thrombosis and checked that then it could have been a a fracture so checked that. they took blood samples to check for infections and arrived at the conclusion that it was probably tendonitis so put my arm into a half pot / cast. not great for the second day of the holiday. we went back to the Hotel and rang the insurance company. They were quite abrupt and said that the insurance would not cover it as it was not the local hospital. we should have gone to the one at the other side of Rhodes town. as you can imagine we just wanted the rest of the holiday to end as quickly as possible. the wife was in tears thinking we would have a large bill to pay. the insurance company never even rang to let us know that i needed to get a doctors note to say i was fit to fly home it was the lady from jet 2 who was the only one that cared. just before Christmas this year i got the news that it was going to cost me almost 1000 euros and the even though i spoke to the underwriters for the insurance company (they were supposed to ring back on the Tuesday before Christmas but never got back to me) I have come to the conclusion why have i spent 40 years paying holiday insurance when the first time you need them they don't care. note if you do go on holiday and get injured ring up first even if you have been told by everyone else they've never had a problem getting sorted. don't even take the advice of a medical student that works on the island. may be I was just unlucky but I think I just needed a better insurance company. the only reason I gave it a 1 star rating is you can't give it a Zero. please stay safe on your holidays

Date of experience : September 04, 2023

Reply from TravelTime Travel Insurance

Thank you for your Review. We're very sorry to hear about the problems you had and have spoken with you about your experience. As mentioned the medical assistance claims company will be in contact with you in order to finalise your claim.

Great price for great level of cover

Great price for those with pre-existing conditions. I looked elsewhere but nowhere beat the price for level of cover and covered our cruise. Second time with TravelTime.

Great Insurance

Have used TravelTime Travel Insurance on a few occasions and the process is very straight forward, if you call the office the staff are very polite and extremely helpful. I would recommend TravelTime to all.

Date of experience : September 13, 2023

Unlike other recent reviews, I have no complaints at all. I had to cancel at very short notice due to illness and my claim was paid in full. It took some time, but I was warned that it would and there was an excess to write off but we knew that when we took out the policy. All in all, very happy with the service and would use them again without hesitation.

Date of experience : October 20, 2022

Really helpful company

Really helpful company before and after travel and competitive pricing. Have used twice now without problems

Best Travel Insurance out there.

We have used TravelTime insurance for our bi-annual holidays for a couple of years. I thoroughly endorse this company as their policies are very competitively priced and the insurance covers most if not all eventualities. The policies are clear and concise and easy to interpret. Furthermore the customer service team are very helpful and responsive. Highly recommended.

Date of experience : September 19, 2023

Great company

Great company. Easy to speak to someone on the phone if needed. I had to change a medical condition on my policy before I traveled. Took five minutes. Will definitely use again.

Date of experience : October 23, 2023

Best price for a 2 week trip

Best price for a 2 week trip to Lanzarote for two of us. Very comprehensive insurance. Highly recommended. Now get daily emails with tips and info.

Date of experience : February 16, 2023

Taken ill abroad

In 22 i was admitted to hospital while on holiday abroad i cannot express enough how thankful i was to TravelTime for the service they provided in helping me to return home.

Great price and excellent…

Great price and excellent communication. Even with one or two health problems they were very helpful and competitive

Easy to use

Taking out the insurance policy was very easy as the staff were very polite and helpful explaining each policy terms as there were medical conditions involved with our party.

Date of experience : October 27, 2022