Travel Insurance Explained Simply

Travel insurance is the one thing every traveler skips until the day they wish they hadn’t. Here is the no-nonsense version.

What it actually covers

1. Emergency medical — by far the most important. Hospitalisation abroad can run €5,000–€100,000.
2. Repatriation — flying you home, often by medical flight (€20,000+ on its own).
3. Trip cancellation / interruption — recovers prepaid bookings if you can’t go or have to leave early.
4. Lost or delayed baggage — modest payouts (€500–€2,000).
5. Personal liability — if you accidentally injure someone or damage property abroad.

What it usually doesn’t cover

• Extreme sports unless you add an adventure rider.
• Pre-existing conditions (must be declared, often pay extra).
• Pandemics — most 2026 policies still exclude voluntary cancellation due to outbreaks.
• High-value electronics beyond a per-item cap (often €500).
• Damage caused while under the influence.

Annual vs single-trip

If you travel 3+ times a year, an annual multi-trip policy is cheaper. Single-trip is fine for occasional travelers.

How much should it cost?

• Europe weekend: €5–10
• Two weeks worldwide: €20–40
• Annual multi-trip worldwide: €70–150
• Backpacker 6-month worldwide: €180–300

Premium cards (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire, Revolut Metal) include travel insurance — check coverage before duplicating.

How to pick a policy

1. Medical cover of at least €1,000,000.
2. Repatriation included.
3. Cancel-any-reason add-on if booking expensive non-refundable trips.
4. 24/7 English-language emergency line — test it before flying.

When to claim

• Always file a police report within 24h for theft.
• Keep all medical receipts and itemized invoices.
• Submit your claim within 30 days of the incident.

The cheapest policy is the one you have and read

A €25 policy you understand beats a €100 policy you assumed would cover you.