Travel insurance: short guide and 5 best providers
Updated 19 October 2026.
A travel insurance pays out €30-€50/year and covers €100,000+ of medical costs abroad. Skipping it is a really bad idea.
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Quick answer: An annual travel insurance policy costs EUR 30 to 50 per year for one person (EUR 60 to 100 for a family) and covers medical costs, repatriation, luggage loss and cancellation. For more than 2 holidays a year, an annual policy is always cheapest; for a single trip, a one-off policy costs EUR 15 to 25. Compare via Independer or Verzekeringssite.nl and read the exclusions: adventure sports, pregnancy after week 26 and undisclosed pre-existing conditions are not covered as standard.
Short or annual?
Short trip (1-3 weeks): €15-€25 single trip. More than 2 trips per year: annual insurance (€60-€100/year) is cheaper.
Most important coverage
1) Medical costs unlimited. 2) Repatriation (emergency flight home, €10,000+). 3) Luggage €1000+. 4) Cancellation €500+. 5) Liability €1,000,000.
Standard or extensive package?
Extensive package adds: ski equipment, valuables, money loss, computer/phone abroad. Worth it for €5 extra if you travel with electronics.
Best providers (2026)
Allianz Global Assistance (best in class), AIG/Travel Guard, ANWB (good for Europe), Centraal Beheer, Unigarant. Compare via MoneySuperMarket or comparethemarket.com for current quotes.
| Provider | Price p.p./month (annual) | Worldwide | Adventure sports | Cancellation optional |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FBTO | from 1.67 euros | Yes | Not included | Yes |
| Allianz Direct | from 1.71 euros (excess 75 euros) | Yes | Extendable | Yes |
| Centraal Beheer | from 3.50 euros | Yes | Optional | Yes |
| ANWB | from 3.00 euros | Extra option | Optional | Yes |
| Unigarant | from 2.50 euros | Yes | Not included | Yes |
| Prices indicative for 1 person, vary by age and coverage level. Verify current premiums at Independer or Verzekeringssite.nl (source FBTO and Allianz: Overstappen.nl, July 2026). | ||||
Pregnancy and adventure sports
Standard policies often exclude pregnancy after week 26 and 'risk sports' (climbing, off-piste skiing, scuba below 30m). Specifically check coverage.
Existing medical conditions
Tell your insurer about diabetes/heart conditions/chronic illness. Without disclosure, claims are denied. Often costs €20-€30 extra.
Skip credit-card insurance for big trips
Visa/Mastercard Gold includes basic travel insurance. OK for European city breaks. Insufficient for long-haul or adventure travel.
How to claim a payout
Always call before treatment (24/7 alarm number). Keep all receipts. Take photos of the situation. File within 4 weeks of returning home.
What does a standard travel insurance cover?
A standard annual travel insurance (around 7-12 euros per month for a family) typically covers: medical costs and repatriation, cancellation due to illness or death of a close relative, loss or theft of luggage, and flight or baggage delay.
What is almost never covered: adventure sports (off-piste skiing, kitesurfing, rock climbing), epidemics or pandemics, and regions classified as 'amber' or 'red' by your government's foreign travel advice.
Comparing travel insurance: what to look for
The most important comparison points are: maximum medical coverage (look for at least 1 million euros/dollars for US travel), repatriation coverage, 24/7 emergency helpline, and excess or deductible.
For trips to the USA, Canada or Australia, make sure your policy covers at least 1 million euros in medical costs - hospital bills in the US can run to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Also check the sum-insured for valuables: most policies cap expensive electronics at 300-500 euros per item, which may not cover a new laptop or camera.
Credit card travel insurance: when is it enough?
Platinum and gold credit cards from ABN AMRO, ING and Rabobank often include travel insurance when you pay for the trip with the card. Check the coverage carefully: most card-based policies have a lower medical maximum and do not cover cancellation. Card travel insurance is fine for a short European city break with low medical risk; for a long-haul trip or USA travel, take out a separate policy.
Travel insurance and cancellation cover: when to combine?
A standard travel insurance covers medical costs, repatriation and lost baggage, but does not include cancellation before departure. If you want protection in case illness or bereavement prevents you from travelling, you need cancellation cover, either as an add-on or a separate policy.
A single-trip cancellation policy costs around 5 to 6 percent of the trip cost. ABN AMRO charges 5.13 percent with a minimum of 11.65 euros. That means a 900-euro package holiday per person costs roughly 46 euros in cancellation cover.
An annual travel insurance including cancellation starts at around 3.73 euros per month (Overstappen.nl, July 2026), which works out cheaper than separate policies if you travel more than twice a year.
Three situations where the combination is most worthwhile: you book a non-refundable package or separate flights and hotel totalling over 700 euros per person; you travel multiple times a year and an annual policy with cancellation is cheaper than individual cover each time; or you travel as a family where the chance of last-minute illness is higher.
Important: take out cancellation cover immediately after booking, before any risk arises. If you apply after someone in your group is already unwell, that situation will not be covered.
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Do I need travel insurance for Europe?
In Europe, your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC) entitles you to basic medical care in all EU countries. But travel insurance adds: full repatriation, coverage for non-emergency medical costs, liability and baggage. For travel outside Europe, travel insurance with high medical coverage is essential, especially for the USA.
What does travel insurance cost?
A single-trip travel insurance for a week in Europe costs around 15-35 euros. An annual travel insurance for a family costs 7-12 euros per month and is always cheaper if you take more than 3-4 holidays per year. Compare policies at MoneySuperMarket, comparethemarket.com or GoCompare.
Does my credit card cover me as a traveller?
Gold and platinum credit cards sometimes include travel insurance when you pay for the trip with the card. Check the policy conditions: coverage is often more limited than a separate policy, with lower medical maximums and no cancellation cover.
How much is a return flight from the Netherlands?
Varies by destination and season. European city breaks typically €60-€200, long-haul €400-€900. Check the live price by filling in your dates.
When should I take out cancellation insurance?
Immediately after booking your trip, and before any risk arises. If you take out the policy after someone in your group has already fallen ill, that reason will not be covered. A single-trip cancellation policy costs around 5 to 6 percent of the trip cost; an annual travel insurance with cancellation starts at around 3.73 euros per month.
Does my travel insurance cover activities like snorkelling or climbing?
Snorkelling and recreational swimming are covered as standard by almost every travel insurance. Rock climbing and scuba diving below 30 metres are classified as high-risk sports and are typically excluded. Check with your insurer whether an adventure sports extension is available; Allianz Direct and AIG offer this as an option.
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