Best Travel Insurance Companies in 2026: 9 Companies Compared

Allianz Travel is our pick for travellers who want a familiar, full-range insurer. Its single-trip plans cover the usual mix of trip cancellation, interruption, emergency medical care and baggage, while annual plans suit people who travel several times a year. The range makes it easy to step up cover for an expensive holiday or step down for a short domestic break.

The catch is choice. With several plans on offer, two travellers can buy very different cover under the same brand name. Compare medical limits, cancellation reasons and baggage limits line by line, and check whether cancel for any reason cover is offered on the plan you pick, since it is usually an add-on with its own deadline.

World Nomads earns its place for anyone whose holiday involves more than a beach and a museum. Its plans cover a long list of activities, from hiking and snorkelling to more demanding sports, depending on the plan level. Travellers can also buy cover while already abroad in many cases, which helps if plans change on the road.

That flexibility has limits. Check the activity list for your exact sport before you assume it is covered, and note that trip cancellation cover is not the strongest part of the package. For a costly pre-paid trip, a mainstream insurer may protect the booking itself better, even if World Nomads wins on activities.

SafetyWing takes a different approach, with travel medical cover sold as an ongoing subscription rather than one policy per trip. That suits digital nomads, gap-year travellers and anyone crossing borders for months rather than days. Children can be included on some plans, and cover continues across countries without buying a new policy each time.

It is less suited to a single expensive holiday. Trip cancellation and interruption cover is limited compared with mainstream trip policies, so travellers with large non-refundable bookings should compare a trip policy alongside it. Read the medical limits and deductible carefully, since subscription cover is built around medical emergencies first.

Travelex is a practical choice for families watching the total cost of a holiday. Some plans include cover for children travelling with an insured adult, which can cut the cost of insuring a family in one booking. Upgrade options let travellers add cover for rental cars, adventure activities or cancel for any reason where available.

As with most budget-friendly options, the base plan is not the whole story. Medical limits and baggage limits differ between plans, and the cheapest option may leave gaps on a longer or more expensive trip. Get a quote for the whole family, then check the medical and cancellation figures before deciding on price alone.

Seven Corners covers a wider set of traveller types than most names on this list, including students abroad, mission trips, cruises and long stays. That breadth helps when a standard holiday policy does not fit, for example on a semester abroad or a multi-month trip. Its trip protection and travel medical lines are sold separately, so travellers can match the product to the journey.

The downside is complexity. With many plans and optional extras, it is easy to pick the wrong product or miss a deadline for adding cover. Take time to match the plan to the trip length and destination, and keep receipts and medical records from the start, since longer claims need stronger documentation.

IMG Global is best understood as an international medical insurer first and a holiday insurer second. Its travel medical plans suit expats, students and long-term travellers who need health cover outside their home country for weeks or months. Provider networks and direct billing options matter here, and IMG has long experience in that market.

Holiday travellers should not assume it replaces a trip policy. If the main risk is a cancelled flight or a lost deposit, a trip protection plan from another insurer may cover that loss better. IMG makes most sense when medical care abroad is the main worry, especially on longer stays.

AXA is a large global insurer with trip plans that cover cancellation, medical emergencies, baggage and delay in a straightforward package. For travellers who want one well-known name and a plan that handles the common problems, it is a steady choice. Its size also means wide acceptance and established claims channels in many countries.

Pricing follows the usual pattern: older travellers and costlier trips pay more, and some extras, such as cancel for any reason cover, sit behind upgrades. Compare the plan levels rather than the brand alone, and check the medical limit against the cost of care at your destination, since hospital bills vary sharply by country.

Faye appeals to travellers who want insurance handled on a phone, not by phone calls and paper forms. Its app covers claims, trip alerts and policy documents in one place, and it can flag delays or disruptions as they happen. For younger travellers and frequent flyers who already manage travel through apps, that experience is a real advantage.

The trade-off is track record. Faye is newer than Allianz or AXA, so its long-term claims history is shorter, and plan availability varies by location. Check that it sells cover for your destination and trip type, and read the fine print on cancellation and medical limits just as you would for an older insurer.

Travel Guard, from AIG, is a solid pick for family holidays and cruises, where one disruption can affect several people and a large booking at once. Its plans cover trip cancellation, interruption, medical care and baggage, with assistance services for emergencies abroad. Families can often cover children on the same plan structure, which keeps booking simpler.

The higher plan levels carry higher premiums, and the value depends on trip cost. On a cheap short break, a basic plan may be enough. On a cruise or a costly family holiday, the stronger medical and cancellation limits of a higher plan are worth the extra cost, so quote both levels before you choose.