Vacations involve a lot of planning and researching to book the perfect itinerary, but don’t forget about finding the best travel insurance! Whether it’s a long-awaited cruise, an epic international adventure, or a weekend getaway, you’ve invested a lot in the trip so it’s important to protect it and yourself. We know it’s not the most thrilling part of trip planning, but it can make or break your travel experience if something unexpected happens.
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In this review we break down why travel insurance matters, how to choose the best coverage, and what options we personally recommend (yep, we’ve used them ourselves). We have had flights delayed, luggage lost, a purse stolen on various trips. Those encounters are why we are so thankful for having coverage with travel insurance that helped. We are only reviewing the companies we have used and usually choose for every trip. We always do a price and coverage comparison because each trip is unique and sometimes you can save money by checking a few companies to get a quote.
- So, Why Is Travel Insurance Is Important?
- Can Travel Insurance Cover Land, Cruises, or Multi-Country Trips?
- Our Favorite Travel Insurance Providers (We’ve Used Them!)
- How to Compare Plans and Choose the Right Travel Insurance
- Final Tips for Booking the Best Travel Insurance
- FAQS on How to Find the Best Travel Insurance Plan:
- Final Thoughts on Finding the Best Travel Insurance
- Related Travel Articles for More Inspiration
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So, Why Is Travel Insurance Is Important?
Imagine your luggage gets lost en route to Italy, your husband breaks a tooth in Costa Rica and needs a dentist right away, or a hurricane forces your cruise to cancel and disrupt your trip plans. Without travel insurance, you could be left paying out of pocket for thousands of dollars. With insurance? You’re covered and your vacation isn’t ruined before it starts. Hopefully, you won’t have to use it on the majority of your trips, but if there’s a major problem on just one trip it can be financially catastrophic if you have no coverage or haven’t done your research and don’t have enough coverage.
Related: We also have a guide with packing tips to help you travel light and how to master itinerary planning for more trip planning inspiration!
Here are just a few things travel insurance can cover:
Plans vary so it’s important to really read what they cover. Also, your U.S. health insurance often doesn’t work abroad. Even Medicare doesn’t cover international medical care. That’s why travel medical insurance matters even more (we prefer plans with primary medical coverage).
- Trip cancellations or delays – Having a “cancel for any reason” clause is great for last minute cancellations that may not be covered reason otherwise.
- Lost or delayed baggage
- Emergency medical treatment
- Medical evacuation and repatriation – Although this is unlikely, it is a huge expense when it happens. Especially from a cruise.
- Missed cruise or tour connections
- Natural disasters or travel cancellations – This is especially important if you have a land/hotel portion trip with a cruise and the cruise portion gets cancelled.
- Rental Car Coverage
Can Travel Insurance Cover Land, Cruises, or Multi-Country Trips?
Yes! Travel insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Insurance policies can be tailored to where you are going and what you need even if it is a trip with multiple countries, flights, and even in combination with a cruise. If we have a complex itinerary we always call or online chat with the travel insurance representative to make sure we are covered for each portion of the itinerary.
- Cruise travelers can get protection for missed port stops, itinerary changes, or shipboard medical issues.
- Multi-country trips are covered under most comprehensive plans. You just need to enter all destinations during the quote process.
- Land-based trips (think Europe tours or tropical resort stays) are covered for medical emergencies, baggage delays, and more.
As long as you insure the total prepaid, nonrefundable trip cost, including tours, hotels, flights, and cruise segments, you can protect your full trip investment.
Our Favorite Travel Insurance Providers (We’ve Used Them!)
Of all of the travel insurance companies we use, the following 2 are the ones we primarily go to first. In our experience, Travelex is our go-to, but sometimes depending on where we are going (especially international) Generali is better for what we need. I’d get a quote from each to compare the coverages and make sure they line up with what you need. When we cruise or fly sometimes their preferred insurance is Allianz and we’ve used them as well with good experiences, but the other two offer more comprehensive policies for our longer itineraries.
1. Travelex Insurance Services
Travelex offers several tiers, but if you need coverage for pre-existing conditions you need to get their “Ultimate” plan within 21 days of your first trip payment so keep that in mind. They offer primary medical coverage which is why we like them because it will cover you first – they don’t force you to use your own medical insurance. We also like that they have a dedicated number if we need help while on the trip.
- Primary medical coverage (pays before any other insurance)
- Covers cruises, flights, hotels, tours, and more – They also have a pet care plan add-on
- Optional upgrades: adventure sports rider, cancel for any reason, car rental collision *You can add upgrades up until the trip starts too!
- Excellent 24/7 emergency assistance phone number(we have used this feature several times)
- Child coverage included at no extra cost with adult policy on some plans
👉 Check Travelex Plans Here
2. Generali Global Assistance
Great for international travel and higher medical limits, but you have to add “primary medical coverage” as an add-on with their plans. We still have used them frequently, especially on international multi-country trips, but compare prices. They also have a “Cancel for any Reason” rider that can be added on. Generali also only offers pre-existing condition coverage only on their premium tier plan.
- Secondary medical coverage (can be upgraded with a primary add-on)
- Plans range from standard to premium – We usually choose the mid plan, but it depends on your needs.
- Optional riders: CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason), ID theft resolution, pre-existing condition waiver (if bought early on the premium plan)
- Plans cover medical and dental – their plans also offer “no out of pocket” medical
- 24/7 multilingual emergency help which is great when you are traveling abroad.
👉 See Generali Coverage Options
Other Travel Insurance Options that we’ve tried and recommend:
Allianz Travel Insurance – We’ve used them on several flights and our Charleston trip and although we didn’t have to make any claims they sent an easy to understand policy detailing coverages. Our cruise travel agent also books insurance through them so we’ve used them on several short cruises with no issues.
- Allianz offers a year-round policy that covers all trips if you travel frequently!
- They have a concierge service with a dedicated phone number
- Allianz also offers family coverage on single or multi trip plans
How to Compare Plans and Choose the Right Travel Insurance
Here’s what to look for when shopping for a policy:
1. Know Your Coverage Needs
- Are you going overseas or on a cruise abroad? Choose a plan with emergency medical and evacuation coverage.
- Going on a cruise? Look for other cruise-specific benefits and weather disruption protection.
- Traveling with the whole family? Look for family-friendly plans that cover kids for free like the Travelex and Allianz ones.
- Traveling with a pet? Travelex offers a pet care add-on.
- Traveling with sporting equipment? Generali offers an add-on that covers the equipment and delays.
2. Compare Primary vs. Secondary Medical Coverage
- Primary means you don’t have to wait for your regular insurance to pay first (faster, easier). – We prefer this option on a plan.
- Secondary means you file with your own insurance first, then use travel insurance for what’s not covered.
3. Add Riders if Needed
Some examples:
- Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR): Gives you more flexibility if you change your mind
- Adventure Sports Coverage: Great if you’re ziplining, scuba diving, or skiing
- Rental Car Damage: Helpful if renting a car abroad
4. Book Early for Best Protection
Many plans offer extra perks like covering pre-existing conditions if purchased within 21 days of your first trip deposit so check the details of the plan.
Compare Plans for your trip:
Final Tips for Booking the Best Travel Insurance
- Always insure the entire cost of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip.
- Save receipts and documentation because it helps with claims.
- Use reputable providers with responsive customer service or 24/7 phone access.
- Read the fine print—especially around exclusions, medical coverage, and what documentation is needed to make a claim.
FAQS on How to Find the Best Travel Insurance Plan:
Yes. Most U.S.-based health insurance (including Medicare) does not cover international medical care. Travel insurance can fill that gap by covering doctor visits, hospital stays, and emergency evacuations.
Absolutely. Many plans cover costs for delayed or canceled flights, including hotel stays, meals, and alternate transportation. Just make sure to save your receipts and documentation. Delays must usually meet a minimum number of hours to qualify (often 6+ hours, depending on the plan).
Standard trip cancellation insurance only reimburses you for covered reasons (like illness, injury, or weather). Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) lets you cancel for any reason, including personal ones not listed in the policy, and still get up to 75% reimbursement. You must usually buy it within 14-21 days of your first trip deposit.
Final Thoughts on Finding the Best Travel Insurance
No one wants to think about what could go wrong on vacation. Travel insurance gives you the peace of mind to fully enjoy your trip, knowing you’re protected from the unexpected. Whether you’re sailing the Caribbean, hiking in the mountains, or relaxing at an all-inclusive, a little extra investment goes a long way. We believe it is an essential part of our trip planning.
We personally use and recommend Travelex Insurance Services, Generali Global Assistance, or Allianz for their excellent coverage, customer service, and flexibility. They’ve come through for us when we needed it, but any travel insurance coverage is better than none so even if you don’t go with these find a policy to protect your trip.
Author’s Note
We’re a fun team of frequent travelers who run the TravelMakesMeHappy.com blog to help you plan better trips with less stress and more joy. We believe strongly that travel insurance is essential for peace of mind and hope you find the best for your trip! We sought out these 3 companies to join as affiliates because we have used them and believe they are the best out there to protect every kind of trip. ~ K.J. August, 2025