How to choose travel insurance

What the policy actually needs to cover — and what you can safely skip.

Most travelers buy insurance to satisfy a visa officer. Buy it properly and it earns its cost the one time you need it.

Non-negotiables

• Medical cover of at least €30,000 (mandatory for Schengen).
• Emergency evacuation and repatriation.
• Cover for the entire trip duration, including transit days.
• 24-hour assistance line that works from abroad.

Worth adding

Trip cancellation and baggage delay, if you have paid a large non-refundable deposit or are connecting through a busy hub.

Usually skippable

Gadget cover you already have on a home policy, and rental-car excess if your card provides it.

Read the exclusions

Adventure activities, pre-existing conditions and travel against official advice are the three that catch people out most often.