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Because holidays at sea come with their own unique set of logistical challenges, you’ll almost always need a specific cruise policy or a cruise add-on.

Medical emergencies on a ship can be expensive, often involving onboard doctors or even a helicopter airlift to a mainland hospital. Cruise insurance is specially designed to handle these costs. On top of the medical side, it also includes handy perks you won't find on standard cover. Think compensation for missed port departures, reimbursement for pre-booked shore excursions if the itinerary changes, or a payout if you fall ill and are confined to your cabin by the ship’s doctor. When comparing quotes, just make sure you tick the "cruise" box so we can show you exactly what you need.

If you're swapping the beach for the slopes, standard holiday insurance won't usually provide the cover you need. Because skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating carry a much higher risk of injury, you’ll often need to add specific winter sports cover to your policy.

Without this specialist cover, any claims resulting from an accident on the slopes will be rejected, leaving you to foot foreign medical and mountain rescue bills yourself. A good winter sports policy provides essential medical emergency cover tailored to mountainous regions, including off-piste skiing (usually provided you’re within local resort boundaries or with a qualified guide).

Ski cover can also help protect your equipment, covering the loss, theft, or damage of your own skis or hired gear. Many policies will also compensate you for lost days if the piste is closed due to a lack of snow or severe avalanches, and reimburse you for unused ski passes and lessons if you’re injured. Just make sure to select "winter sports" when getting your quotes with us.

At PayingTooMuch, we believe there’s no single best travel insurance policy. Instead, there’s the best policy for you. Our job is to match you with a wide range of trusted providers, giving you the choice and flexibility to find the right fit for your specific health needs, travel plans and budget.

Comparing with us helps you see the limits, exclusions and prices of many travel insurance policies side by side, and choose the best fit for your individual circumstances.  

Travel insurance generally covers you if you become ill before your trip and are forced to cancel your holiday, provided you’ve got cancellation cover included in your policy. If you fall seriously ill or sustain an injury and a medical professional confirms you're unfit to travel, your insurance can reimburse you for the non-refundable costs of your trip, like flights, accommodation, and pre-booked excursions.

However, there’s a very important condition: you’ll usually only be covered if the illness was unpredictable. If you have to cancel your trip due to a pre-existing medical condition that you already knew about but didn't declare when you bought the policy, your claim will almost certainly be rejected. To make sure you’re fully protected, you’ll need to declare all pre-existing medical conditions accurately when comparing quotes with us.

Financial gurus like MoneySavingExpert’s Martin Lewis recommend purchasing your travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday, so you're protected against unexpected illness before you depart.

It’s a classic myth that travel insurance is only for overseas travel. While you won't need it for medical emergencies (thankfully, the NHS has that covered), consumer experts still highly recommend packing a UK policy for your staycation.

If you have to cancel your getaway due to sudden illness or redundancy, your insurance might help reimburse you for expensive cottage rentals or pre-paid train tickets. Plus, it can cover your luggage not already covered by your home contents insurance if things go missing or step in if you face severe travel delays. Just bear in mind that most insurers have a minimum requirement for a UK trip to qualify, usually two or three consecutive nights of pre-booked accommodation.

Travel insurance is designed to protect you against unexpected financial losses and medical emergencies while you’re away from home. When you buy a policy, you pay a premium to an insurance provider, and in return, they agree to cover the costs of specific unforeseen events detailed in your policy wording.

By using our price comparison service, you can easily weigh up different levels of cover to find the one that fits your exact needs and budget. If something goes wrong, for example, if you need emergency medical treatment abroad, your bags are stolen, or you have to cancel your trip due to a sudden illness, you submit a claim to your provider. If the claim’s valid under your terms and conditions, the insurer will reimburse you or pay the medical bills directly, minus any agreed excess.

Always compare policies carefully and read your Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) so you understand exactly what you’re protected against.

In travel insurance, an excess is the fixed amount of money you agree to pay towards the cost of any claim you make. For example, if you have a claim for £600 of stolen luggage and your policy has a £50 excess, your insurer will deduct the excess and pay you £550.

When comparing with us, you might notice that policies with a higher excess generally come with a cheaper upfront premium. Choosing a policy with a lower or zero excess (sometimes called an excess waiver) will normally make the policy slightly more expensive to buy.

While a higher excess saves you cash today, make sure it’s an amount you could comfortably afford if things go wrong on holiday. Also, keep an eye on how it’s applied. Some insurers charge the excess "per person, per section" of a claim, which can quickly add up if a family loses their bags and misses a flight.

Having too much fun and want to stay a bit longer? Whether you can extend your cover depends entirely on your provider. If you’re already kicking back on a sun lounger and decide to extend your trip, you’ll need to contact your insurer directly.

Some providers are happy to take an extra premium to extend your dates, provided you haven't made any claims and your health hasn't changed. But, it's worth noting that many standard insurers draw a hard line, refusing extensions once a trip has started or enforcing strict maximum trip lengths. If they say no and your policy lapses, you’ll be travelling uninsured.

When comparing holiday insurance quotes with us, you’ll need to declare any physical or mental health condition for which you’ve received a diagnosis, taken prescribed medication, or attended a hospital clinic or surgery for treatment or investigation within the last two years. For some conditions, we’ll ask about your history over the last five years.

It can be tempting to hold back information to get a cheaper quote, but doing so can be risky. If you fall ill abroad, even if the illness seems unrelated to your undeclared condition, your insurer can reject your claim entirely.

Don't worry; our price comparison process includes a straightforward, easy-to-use medical screening questionnaire. Answering these questions honestly ensures that the quotes you see provide cover that will protect you when you need it most. If you aren't sure about a diagnosis, it's always best to check with your GP.

While some standard, off-the-shelf insurers might cap their cover at a certain age, at PayingTooMuch, we believe that travel is for everyone.

Because we compare a brilliant panel of specialist providers, we can help you find the right cover whether you’re 18, 70, 80, or well into your 90s! We do the hard work of matching you with insurers who understand senior travellers and can cover a huge range of pre-existing medical conditions.

If you need to make a travel insurance claim, it’s important to remember that as a price comparison website, we don’t handle the claims process directly. Because you purchased your cover through us by comparing different providers, your contract is with the specific insurance company you selected.

There’ll be a dedicated claims section in your policy booklet outlining the exact phone numbers to call. Try to call them as soon as you can. This is especially important in a medical emergency, as most insurers need you to ring their assistance line before you receive any treatment. It’s also a great idea to gather your evidence early on. Think police reports for stolen gadgets, receipts for out-of-pocket expenses, or official medical certificates.

 You can find out about our top tips on making a successful claim on our blog.