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World First Reviews

World First offers single trip policies for anyone aged up to 100 and they can provide you with cover for trips up to 12 months away.

• Service (2)
• Renewals (0)
• Sentiment Score: 10.0/10
• 11370 reviews found on websites such as TrustPilot
• Their Exclusive, Premier, Standard and Superior levels of cover are rated 5 Star by Defaqto
• Up to £10 million medical cover
• 24-hour multi-lingual emergency helpline with legal advice
• 14 day money back guarantee
• Cover for most pre-existing conditions
• Over 75 sports and activities covered as standard
• Rated 5 stars by Defaqto
• Claims (0),
• Service (2),
• Renewal (0)

Great Service

Great value covering existing medical conditions for a much better price than others.

Great to know they offer competitive prices for covering medical conditions.

Used this company last year, great service, smooth transaction.

Great to hear. Thanks for leaving a review Emma.

Quotes our team received

Trip Details

7 nights in Spain

Single Trip Quote

Medical cover limit, cancellation cover limit.

Worldwide cover including USA

Annual Trip Quote

Frequently asked questions.

World First offers three main travel insurance policies; Single Trip, Annual Multi-Trip and Backpacker & Longstay. They also provide other travel insurance policies including Family, Medical, Cruise, and Winter Sports.

World First does not cover travel to a country, specific area or event which the Travel Advice Unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised against all travel or all but essential travel. For more information, visit the FCO website .

Yes. World First does provide cover for pre-existing medical conditions, including cancer, angina, HIV, heart disease and many more conditions other insurers won't.

World First doesn’t provide a time limit for dealing with claims.

Travel Insurance Guides

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World First Travel Insurance   Reviews

In the Travel Insurance Company category

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Reviews 4.8.

11,569 total

Most relevant

Quick and efficient service

Quick and efficient service. Very competitive prices, have used many times and will use again . Highly recommended to all especially if you have health issues. Brilliant.

Date of experience : April 19, 2024

Quick and efficient response

Quick personal response to my phone call. Clear advice etc.

Date of experience : April 16, 2024

Holiday insurance

I recently purchased a policy with World First, the lady I spoke to was very pleasant, friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. There was no pressure to purchase the policy, just help and good advice. The cost was very reasonable and tailored to my travel needs. I will definitely be using World First in the future.

Date of experience : April 04, 2024

I've been insuring with World First for…

I've been insuring with World First for a few years now as their rates were competitive. Last year I had to make a claim for the first time and the team were helpful, clear and made the process OK.

Date of experience : November 30, 2023

Excellent service

Excellent service. all questions fully explained. very friendly staff on the phone conversation 😊

Date of experience : April 13, 2024

Big thanks from Wife and Me.

when you are diagnosed with a hindering ailment everything seems to be against you. especially the "t" word which one you get slapped int he face with. World First. nope! - some way the wording, process, questions are sympathetic and for an insurance company. make you feel they are here to help you get on with your life. Big thanks for the people who recommended world first. top notch company. no messing and clear amazing cover. Big thanks from Wife and Me.

Date of experience : March 30, 2024

Best deal of the day

I got quotes from various other companies which were well over the amount i wished to pay. All due to a medical condition i have. This company was recommended to me and after getting a quote online(which was well within my budget), I called them and the deal was done. Ari was extremely helpful and polite. I will definitely be using worldfirst again

Date of experience : April 02, 2024

Very Good Price for prostate cancer

I had tried a different company for travel insurance which used the same questionnaire so I had researched the answers needed to complete the online form. My husband has prostate cancer with complications so the questions did seem to go on for ever, but persevering I got to the end and the price was great. For the same level of cover as another firm with simpler questions was £400 compared to £900. It was worth the effort as we hope (health permitting) to have a second holiday but did not want to risk an annual policy quote (tempting fate as). Let us hope we do not need to claim on the policy as the proof of a good policy in the end is whether you get the help you require!

Date of experience : March 28, 2024

Excellent customer service

Positive experience due to excellent customer service. My phone call for a quote was answered quickly by a friendly and professional representative who spent time ensuring my travel insurance policy met my requirements. Very happy to recommend World First.

Date of experience : April 09, 2024

We’ve used this company for years

We’ve used this company for years , always so helpful and great customer service. I’ve a health condition so always want to chat through with them .

Straightforward website and reasonable cost.

Have used World First over a number of years given my medical conditions, website if straghtforward to use, questions on the whole flow and are easy to follow. Cover options are wide-ranging and cost is fairly reasonable, especially for annual travel insurance.

Date of experience : April 01, 2024

Excellent service, if you have medical ailments their prices are really good.

Date of experience : April 11, 2024

Without a doubt!

I have been using World First for years. I like the way they ask more detailed questions about health problems so they get a true picture of you. There quotes are always more competitive than others and their customer service team are very friendly and helpful. When they restructured and I had to use someone else for a year it cost a lot extra

Date of experience : March 15, 2024

Disappointed that I got no refund or…

Disappointed that I got no refund of any kind, nor some kind of Credit Note against a 12 week insurance policy that I came back to the UK under after just 2 weeks. When I'd spoke to them BEFORE taking out the insurance (whilst I was playing around choosing travel dates, looking at longer and shorter breaks, the policy price was the same, ie for a 12 week or 9 week break), during that conversation they said that in such an instance, if I took out a 12 week policy and returned on the 9th week, I'd get no refund. I assumed that was because the premium was the same, so logically to me that made perfect sense. The implication being that as the premiums are the same no refund (but the other implication was taken that there WOULD be some kind of refund were there to be a difference in premium - this was how it was presented to me). What they DIDN'T say was that UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES would I get a refund. So I had an expectation based on our conversation. So when I had to return back after just 2 weeks (on a 12 week insurance policy), I was HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED that I would not get any kind of refund at all. £545 this policy cost for a single traveller........ I wouldn't have minded a Credit Note or something. Anything. Naturally I'm not happy about this. ***** Response to their reply ***** As stated in my phone call with you after I’d left this review, a partial refund or a credit note, eg anything, any percentage or amount, against a future policy would have been GOOD CUSTOMER RELATIONS for someone who paid £545 and used only 2 weeks of a 12 week policy and had to come back for personal reasons. If you take the money and run, as in this case, then 1 star reviews like this will be the result. Please read and understand my review, to state me your t & c’s tells me you didn’t read and understand it properly.

Date of experience : March 13, 2024

Reply from World First Travel Insurance

Good afternoon We are sorry that you were disappointed. However, your policy wording does state the following: 'Please tell us as soon as you are aware that your policy does not meet your needs. If you cancel within 14 days of the receipt of your documentation and you have not started a trip, made a claim, or intend to make a claim, we will give you a full refund' If you purchase a policy over the phone with us, we also confirm to you 'Once you have received your documents, if for any reason you change your mind, you can cancel the policy within 14 days and get a full refund provided you have not travelled or made a claim.' I appreciate this may have been frustrating for you but, this information is readily available. Once you travel, we are unable to offer any refund at all. Our team are always on hand should you have any questions: for example, the ability to extend your policy cover whilst you are travelling: which is something that is readily available. We would have happily discussed this with you in your earlier call. Wishing you further safe and happy travels. Shushanah Rothwell Senior Administrator

A very good experience

I had found a quote on line but wanted to discuss it before committing myself. The person I spoke to was clear, pleasant and knowledgeable and managed to ask questions without rushing through them. I was very happy with the quote and with the service from the agent.

Date of experience : March 12, 2024

Holiday insurance. I have used World First for all my holiday insurance & have always found them to be extremely helpful in explaining their policies, very easy to do business with, always polite. I recommend them.

Date of experience : March 24, 2024

Excellent service at a reasonable cost

We found World First to be very helpful and thoroughly professional throughout the whole process. It is our first time using World First following a personal recommendation and we are sure it won’t be the last.

Date of experience : March 22, 2024

Number one travelling company

I have used world first for a number of years now because of their understanding of my medical conditions. They screen all of the issues that I have and because they understand how they effect me and the limited risk they pose they are able to cover me at a reasonable price.

Date of experience : March 23, 2024

Comprehensive screening to get the…

Comprehensive screening to get the right health travel cover

Date of experience : April 07, 2024

Very helpful

Didn’t have to wait too long to speak to a real person and when I did they were extremely helpful. Very competitive quote which I accepted! Obviously the real test is if (heaven forbid) I have to make a claim.

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World First Travel Insurance   Reviews

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Reviews 4.8.

11,569 total

Most relevant

Peace of Mind

It’s great that World First can provide me with a multi-trip travel insurance that also covers my inherited medical condition, providing a reasonable cover that hopefully I will not have to use, but if I do, it gives me assurance and peace of mind. Thank you World First.

Date of experience : 23 March 2024

Good value cover for people with medical conditions

I have used world first for a number of years now because of their understanding of my medical conditions. They screen all of the issues that I have and because they understand how they effect me and the limited risk they pose they are able to cover me at a reasonable price.

Date of experience : 15 March 2024

Excellent Service

The agent I spoke to was not only very knowledgeable and efficient but she was also very pleasant to deal with.She took the stress out of the whole experience and got me the insurance coverage I needed.

Date of experience : 13 March 2024

Travel insurance, good on phone, website not so much

Phoned up to get travel insurance, well and efficiently handled. Did try the website, but couldn’t make it work because you can’t select ‘Europe’, you have to select a specific country, and I was visiting two - mark knocked off for that.

Date of experience : 14 March 2024

Reply from World First Travel Insurance

Dear Mr Warner We are so super sad that we lost a mark. Must try harder!! We are hopeful that when you spoke to Georgia on our team here, she confirmed here that depending on the way that you find us, whether it's direct or a comparison site, the destination may be captured differently. But, we are always here at hand to ensure it has been done just as it should and thank you for corroborating that. For extra piece of mind, our policy wording will list each country and the 'area' for which they are insured under so regardless of a country being added specifically, your policy schedule will only list the general area also :) Wishing you safe and happy travels. Shushanah Rothwell Senior Administrator

Straightforward online application …

Straightforward application for travel insurance online. Of course, how claims are dealt with would be the real test.

Date of experience : 19 March 2024

Very satisfied by the provided…

Very satisfied by the provided services, will always plan my trips with World First Travel Insurance!

I came across World-First way before…

I came across World-First way before Covid. They are fantastic and I would recommend them without any doubts. I have complicated health issues, each one when screened actually asks such relevant questions to the condition. It is such a relief to be covered and get an annual policy. Many of my friends and family use them. One time I was unable to go due to to a health problem and they paid out quickly and with no fuss.

Date of experience : 16 February 2024

A good company

A good screening system followed by a competitive quote for a cancer condition. Helpful and good customer service.

Date of experience : 02 April 2024

holiday insurance with World First

I've taken out holiday insurance with World First a number of time's. Because World Fist are not faceless like so many companies today. They are very competitive in pricing and offer good level of cover. I just feel more comfortable in taking out holiday insurance with World First.

Date of experience : 12 February 2024

Good customer service

Have used this company before, never any problems and always quick to respond to queries.

A very good experience

A very good experience. The gentleman who dealt with my quote was knowledgeable, listened to my answers carefully and the price I was quoted was excellent. He even made the terms and conditions sound interesting!

Date of experience : 04 March 2024

Holiday Insurance for Old people?

It took some time to arrange the insurance cover as my wife and I are both over 80 and we appear to become a POOR RISK. We understand the reason but I wish it was not so difficult. However the young lady who I spoke to was most helpful and was only doing what was asked of her!

Date of experience : 02 March 2024

Tried to book online

Tried to book online, unsuccessfully, after 3 attempts I gave up and phoned. Got through within 4 or 5 minutes. Charming chap answered I explained the problems I had and he said ‘no problem, I’ll go through it for you now’. He took over and everything went through very smoothly. Received a variety of quotes from him and he said there was no need to rush as the quote was valid for a while. I hung up and after giving the quote some thought decided to go ahead. Apart from the hiccup in negotiating the website, everything else was as smooth as silk. Great service and staff. Delighted to have discovered World First, following a recommendation from a friend.

Date of experience : 01 March 2024

Competitive quote despite pre existing medical condition Due to having a pre existing medical…

Due to having a pre existing medical condition I had to shop around. Some insures wouldn’t even insure despite my condition not impacting on my everyday life. World first were extremely responsive and provided a competitive and comprehensive quote. I actually spoke to ‘a person’ on the phone which was a bonus. Very pleased with the outcome

Date of experience : 29 January 2024

Having tried many insurance companies…

Having tried many insurance companies over the years, and due to medical conditions, I found that their premiums were rather exorbitant. Then by chance, a couple of years ago, I found Worldwide. After completing the information required to get a quote, I was amazed by the premium which was quoted. I was delighted to pay the requested sum and I have since gone on to recommend Worldwide to friends and family as well as patients and professional staff at my local doctors and hospital.

Date of experience : 15 February 2024

Super easy to navigate around the…

Super easy to navigate around the website and once I'd started the process of choosing which option I wanted, I didn't have any issues! The questions asked were pertinent to my condition which was very much appreciated! Overall I can only commend World First and can't see myself using anybody else in the future👍🏻

Date of experience : 09 February 2024

World First Client Satisfaction

Your representative, Jess, was very helpful, genuinely friendly, and very professional.

Date of experience : 10 April 2024

Great to use

Used World First several times. Competitive rates and cover

Date of experience : 09 April 2024

Don't waste your time with these scammers!

I picked this company due to the decent review but I am sorry to say that I have been terribly disappointed! After needing their help during a trip to India and asking them specifically if they covered the doctor, I was told that they could not confirm coverage of the test until I had the test results. I then went ahead and paid for it myself and thankfully it wasn't a huge amount. I then got a lot of calls from WorldFirst but not to support me but rather to try to catch me out. I had to confirm the name of my bank as well as how many accounts I had with them because they didn't believe I didn't have alternative coverage elsewhere. WorldFirst was unwilling/unable to pay the hospitals where I had tests done directly so I covered it myself. And when it came to refunding me the money, they are now asking for me to sign that they can have access to ALL my medical records! They had all sorts of reasons why they wouldn't want to access everything but only things that were related to the claim I made to ensure that it wasn't an existing condition but the fact remained that I would have to sign off on giving them full access. I decided that nothing was worth this and I simply asked them to cancel this policy and refund me my money. Only now they are suddenly saying that they can't as there is a claim and they have paid hospitals directly, which is a direct lie and I have the receipts from the hospitals to prove it. I am sure that you will see an apologetic response to this review saying they are terribly sorry I had a poor experience and they are working to rectify it. Trust me that will solely be for the reader's benefit and nothing will actually be done. Do yourself a favour and avoid these scammers, who don't pay up but rather add to your stress of being ill!

Date of experience : 10 March 2024

Good Morning I can see that a member of our team spoke with you yesterday and cancelled your policy for a pro rata refund as a result of your comments and following your request. The refund should reach your account within a few days. Kind Regards Shushanah Rothwell Senior Administrator

The operator was very concise in her detail of cover. The Price. Cover for previous medical conditions although the excess was high. Second time we have used them. Not claimed yet so don't know how the payout would be. Not rectieved my paperwork as yet don't have a printer. Lots of print to read in the contract very small. Could do with makeing it larger and condensing it. Otherwise ok.

Date of experience : 07 February 2024

Dear Mr Walker Trust me when I say that if we could bring those pages down, we would! Being fully regulated means that we have meticulously devised and created a policy wording that must provide absolutely everything and without this, we would be doing our customers a great disservice: not to mention that you would not know exactly the cover that your policy was offering. There is nothing within that information that must not be there! If our clients require a large print copy due to sight difficulties, we can of course provide this but, we pride ourselves as an insurance company that does not have any 'small print'. Although you may think it small in stature, it is all of the same size :) I can see that we have requested the policy be sent to you in the post. All of our post is sent second class within the three days that our team work from the office. So as you may appreciate, it can take a few days to reach you: but it is on the way. Thank you for coming back to us and thank you for taking the team to leave us a 4 star review. All the best! Shushanah Rothwell Senior Administrator

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World First Travel Insurance   Reviews

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Reviews 4.8.

11,569 total

Most relevant

The website was not very clear on…

The website was not very clear on accepting the insured it offered different grades of insurance but they all had the same excess charge of £250 but once accepted and paid the policy I received showed an excess charge £1000 on my policy and £750 excess on my wife’s policy. This should be made clear before clients accept their policy.

Date of experience : November 17, 2023

Reply from World First Travel Insurance

Good Morning Thank you for your review. I wanted to add a little further explanation into that as the excess you refer to can be different for every single person: simply because this is the excess you will pay if claiming for specific pre existing medical conditions which you have declared to us. This is outlined during a quote online or, if you purchase your policy with us directly over the phone, our team member will explain this to you following the completion of the screening process. This is an addition to the standard policy excess which does not change. We don't expect any of our customers to purchase a policy with us if they are unsure of the cover provided. Our friendly team are on hand if you wish to call us or, whilst you are completing a quote online, use our chat facility: depending on the time of course! We are available to explain everything that you need before you purchase the policy if you wish. Wishing you safe and happy holidays! Shushanah Rothwell Senior Administrator

Clear and effective

Easy to select and order insurance at a competitive price to meet my needs.

Date of experience : March 12, 2024

Excellent service

Excellent service and very competitive price on renewing current policy (with 20% discount for existing customer). Advisor was courteous, knowledgeable and very professional in dealing with my renewal.

Date of experience : March 26, 2024

Comprehensive question and answer…

Comprehensive question and answer required before agreeing on my travel insurance for 2024! Well worth the effort though as due to my recently diagnosed cancer they were the only company interested in offering me the necessary cover. Excellent, well informed and easy to have a dialogue with compared to the other formulaic companies I contacted. Will highly recommend and they will have my future business if their professionalism is maintained.

Date of experience : February 01, 2024

Super customer care and service.

You were able to provide what we needed in terms of age medical cover and activities. In addition your team was excelent.

Date of experience : December 15, 2023

Fast service

Asked for documents by post because did not own printer or would be taking mobile phone on holiday.. No problem at all. Fast efficient service.

Date of experience : October 11, 2023

Cancer cover found

I am living with cancer and it was great to find a provider who would cover me and my family on a trip to Sri Lanka

Date of experience : January 15, 2024

After speaking to the World First Rep., I was quite impressed by the attitude and help that I was given re a Policy quote, unfortunately I was ineligible for a Annual policy, age-wise, so I took a single travel policy out, which was a reasonable price.

Date of experience : September 03, 2023

Very easy, online process and very good value for money. My dad, who the policy was for, has a number of health issues and world first covered them all.

Date of experience : February 07, 2024

Used World FirstTravel some years ago…

Used World FirstTravel some years ago and were reasonable priced and helpful , compared to say Saga, who put the price up when I went back to them.

Date of experience : September 14, 2023

Simple for older travellers

As an older traveller the process was simple all done by phone and the quote reasonable by todays standards. I had been put on to the company by my brother who recommended them and has used them several times.

Date of experience : September 23, 2023

Amendment to order

I needed to make an amendment to my order and emailed the customer service team. I was responded to immediately after the bank holiday and advised I would be called that same day to go over the extra information I wanted to include. The insurance is comprehensive and I feel confident in the service & the company, especially after the prompt, efficient service received.

Date of experience : May 30, 2023

Travel insurance in the UK

The company dealt with me in a professional manner and although the questions they asked were very detailed, we received a very favourable rate

Date of experience : February 22, 2024

Policy to suit difficult medical circumstances

It is a policy to suit our difficult medical circumstances. The man (Daniel) who helped us was so good and patient

Date of experience : January 12, 2024

Renewal quite

Great as usual not tried anyone else but happy with quote

Date of experience : March 23, 2024

Reasonable Priced Multi Trip Cover

Although a long process due to medical conditions I was able to get multi travel insurance for a very reasonable price.

Date of experience : February 15, 2024

Excellent for existing medical conditiond

The company is much fairer in price than others for people with existing medical conditions. The screening starts with entering medication which makes the process much easier than others

I took out travel insurance over the…

I took out travel insurance over the phone the person who dealt with me was extremely helpful, the whole process was painless.

Date of experience : November 29, 2023

Senior life

Straightforward questions. Medical screening alright and to the point. Not the first time used World First and knew that I could look for a good quote

Date of experience : January 20, 2024

Very competitive insurance for people with existing medical conditions

World-first provided the cover I was looking for at a price I felt was reasonable. I was previously with Avanti and they were quoting a price for renewal similar to my expectations but when I tried to renew they raised their price despite not having claimed for over 4 years that I was with them.

Date of experience : August 10, 2023

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According to our analysis of more than 50 travel insurance companies and hundreds of different travel insurance plans, the best travel insurance company is Travelex Insurance Services. In our best travel insurance ratings, we take into account traveler reviews, credit ratings and industry awards. The best travel insurance companies offer robust coverage and excellent customer service, and many offer customizable add-ons.

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Table of Contents

• Travelex Insurance Services
• Allianz Travel Insurance

Travel insurance can help you protect the financial investment you made in your vacation when unexpected issues arise. Find the best travel insurance for the type of trip(s) you're taking and the coverages that matter most to you – from interruptions and misplaced belongings to illness and injury.

• Travelex Insurance Services: Best Overall
• Allianz Travel Insurance: Best for Trip Interruptions
• HTH Travel Insurance: Best for Groups
• Tin Leg: Best Cost
• AIG Travel Guard: Best for Families
• Nationwide Insurance: Best for Last-Minute Travel Insurance
• Seven Corners: Best for 24/7 Support When Traveling
• Generali Global Assistance: Best for Medical Emergencies
• Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection: Best for Specialized Coverage

Customizable upgrades are available, including car rental coverage, additional medical insurance and adventure sports coverage

Medical and trip cancellation maximum are not as high as some other companies

• 100% of the insured trip cost for trip cancellation; 150% for trip interruption
• Up to $1,000 in coverage for lost, damaged or stolen bags and personal items; $200 for luggage delays
• $750 in missed connection coverage
• $50,000 in emergency medical and dental coverage
• Up to $500,000 in emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage

SEE FULL REVIEW »

Annual and multitrip policies are available

Distinguishing between the company's 10 travel insurance plans can be challenging

• Up to $200,000 in trip cancellation coverage; $300,000 in trip interruption coverage
• $2,000 for lost, damaged or stolen luggage and personal effects; $600 for bag delays
• Up to $1,600 for travel delays
• Emergency medical coverage of up to $75,000
• Epidemic coverage

Generous coverage at the mid- and high-tier levels, and great group discounts

Preexisting conditions coverage is only available at mid- and high-tier plans

• 100% trip cancellation coverage (up to $50,000); 200% trip interruption coverage
• Up to $2,000 in coverage for baggage and personal effects; $400 in baggage delay coverage
• Up to $2,000 in coverage for trip delays; $1,000 for missed connections
• $500,000 in coverage per person for sickness and accidents

Variety of plans to choose from, including two budget-friendly policies and several more premium options

More limited coverage for baggage issues than other companies

• 100% trip cancellation protection; 150% trip interruption
• $500 per person for lost, stolen or damaged baggage and personal items
• Up to $2,000 per person in travel delay coverage ($150 per day); $100 per person for missed connections
• $100,000 per person in emergency medical coverage, including issues related to COVID-19

Travel insurance policy coverage is tailored to your specific trip

Information about policy coverage inclusions is not readily available without first obtaining a quote

• Trip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of your trip's cost; trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost
• Up to $2,500 in coverage for lost, stolen or damaged baggage; $500 related to luggage delays
• Up to $1,000 in missed connection and trip delay coverage
• $100,000 in emergency medical coverage

Variety of plans to choose from and coverage available up to a day before you leave on your trip

Limited trip cancellation coverage even at the highest tier

• Trip cancellation coverage up to $30,000; trip interruption coverage worth up to 200% of the trip cost (maximum of $60,000)
• $2,000 for lost, damaged or stolen baggage; $600 for baggage delays
• Up to $2,000 for trip delays; missed connection and itinerary change coverage of $500 each
• $150,000 for emergency medical and dental issues

Customer service available 24/7 via text, Whatsapp, email and phone

Cancel for any reason coverage costs extra

• 100% trip cancellation coverage (up to between $30,000 and $100,000 depending on your state of residence); interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost 
• Lost, stolen or damaged baggage coverage up to $2,500; up to $600 for luggage delays
• Trip delay and missed connection coverage worth up to $1,500
• Emergency medical coverage worth up to between $250,000 and $500,000 (depending on where you live)

Generous emergency medical and emergency evacuation coverage

Coverage for those with preexisting conditions is only available on the Premium plan

• 100% reimbursement for trip cancellation; 175% reimbursement for trip interruption
• $2,000 in coverage for loss of baggage per person
• $1,000 per person in travel delay and missed connection coverage
• $250,000 in medical and dental coverage per person

In addition to single-trip plans, company offers specific road trip, adventure travel, flight and cruise insurance coverage

Coverage for missed connections or accidental death and dismemberment is not part of the most basic plan

• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to 100% of the trip cost; interruption coverage worth up to 150% of the trip cost
• $500 in coverage for lost, stolen or damaged bags and personal items; bag delay coverage worth $200
• Trip delay coverage worth up to $1,000; missed connection coverage worth up to $100
• Medical coverage worth up to $50,000

To help you better understand the costs associated with travel insurance, we requested quotes for a weeklong June 2024 trip to Spain for a solo traveler, a couple and a family. These rates should help you get a rough estimate for about how much you can expect to spend on travel insurance. For additional details on specific coverage from each travel insurance plan and to input your trip information for a quote, see our comparison table below.

Travel Insurance Types: Which One Is Right for You?

There are several types of travel insurance you'll want to evaluate before choosing the policy that's right for you. A few of the most popular types of travel insurance include:

COVID travel insurance Select insurance plans offer some or a combination of the following COVID-19-related protections: coverage for rapid or PCR testing; accommodations if you're required to quarantine during your trip if you test positive for coronavirus; health care; and trip cancellations due to you or a family member testing positive for COVID-19. Read more about the best COVID-19 travel insurance options .

Cancel for any reason insurance Cancel for any reason travel insurance works exactly how it sounds. This type of travel insurance lets you cancel your trip for any reason you want – even if your reason is that you simply decide you no longer want to go. Cancel for any reason travel insurance is typically an add-on you can purchase to go along with other types of travel insurance. For that reason, you will pay more to have this kind of coverage added to your policy.

Also note that this type of coverage typically only reimburses 50% to 80% of your nonrefundable prepaid travel expenses. You'll want to make sure you know exactly how much reimbursement you could qualify for before you invest in this type of policy. Compare the best cancel for any reason travel insurance options here .

International travel insurance Travel insurance is especially useful when traveling internationally, as it can provide medical coverage for emergencies (in some cases for COVID-19) when you're far from home. Depending which international travel insurance plan you choose, this type of travel insurance can also cover lost or delayed luggage, rental cars, travel interruptions or cancellations, and more.

Cheap travel insurance If you want travel insurance but don't want to spend a lot of money, there are plenty of cheap travel insurance options that will offer at least some protections (and peace of mind). These are typically called a company's basic or standard plan; many travel insurance companies even allow you to customize your coverage, spending as little or as much as you want. Explore your options for the cheapest travel insurance here .

Trip cancellation, interruption and delay insurance Trip cancellation coverage can help you get reimbursement for prepaid travel expenses, such as your airfare and cruise fare, if your trip is ultimately canceled for a covered reason. Trip interruption insurance, on the other hand, kicks in to reimburse you if your trip is derailed after it starts. For instance, if you arrived at your destination and became gravely ill, it would cover the cost if you had to cut your trip short.

Trip delay insurance can help you qualify for reimbursement of any unexpected expenses you incur (think: lodging, transportation and food) in the event your trip is delayed for reasons beyond your control, such as your flight being canceled and rebooked for the next day. You will want to save your receipts to substantiate your claim if you have this coverage.

Lost, damaged, delayed or stolen bags or personal belongings Coverage for lost or stolen bags can come in handy if your checked luggage is lost by your airline or your luggage is delayed so long that you have to buy clothing and toiletries for your trip. This type of coverage can kick in to cover the cost to replace lost or stolen items you brought on your trip. It can also provide coverage for the baggage itself. It's even possible that your travel insurance policy will pay for your flight home if damages are caused to your residence and your belongings while you're away, forcing you to return home immediately.

Travel medical insurance If you find yourself sick or injured while you are on vacation, emergency medical coverage can pay for your medical expenses. With that in mind, however, you will need to find out whether the travel medical insurance you buy is primary or secondary. Where a primary policy can be used right away to cover medical bills incurred while you travel, secondary coverage only provides reimbursement after you have exhausted other medical policies you have.

You will also need to know how the travel medical coverage you purchase deals with any preexisting conditions you have, including whether you will have any coverage for preexisting conditions at all. Read more about the best travel medical insurance plans .

Evacuation insurance Imagine you break your leg while on the side of a mountain in some far-flung land without quality health care. Not only would you need travel medical insurance coverage in that case, but you would also need coverage for the exorbitant expense involved in getting you off the side of a mountain and flying you home where you can receive appropriate medical care.

Evacuation coverage can come in handy if you need it, but you will want to make sure any coverage you buy comes with incredibly high limits. According to Squaremouth, an emergency evacuation can easily cost $25,000 in North America and up to $50,000 in Europe, so the site typically suggests customers buy policies with $50,000 to $100,000 in emergency evacuation coverage.

Cruise insurance Travel delays; missed connections, tours or excursions; and cruise ship disablement (when a ship encounters a mechanical issue and is unable to continue on in the journey) are just a few examples why cruise insurance can be a useful protection if you've booked a cruise vacation. Learn more about the top cruise insurance plans here .

Credit card travel insurance It is not uncommon to find credit cards that include trip cancellation and interruption coverage , trip delay insurance, lost or delayed baggage coverage, travel accident insurance, and more. Cards that offer this coverage include popular options like the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card , the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card and The Platinum Card from American Express . 

Note that owning a credit card with travel insurance protection is not enough for your coverage to count: To take advantage of credit card travel insurance, you must pay for prepaid travel expenses like your airfare, hotel stay or cruise with that specific credit card. Also, note that credit cards with travel insurance have their own list of exclusions to watch out for. Many also require cardholders to pay an annual fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

The best time to buy travel insurance is normally within a few weeks of booking your trip since you may qualify for lower pricing if you book early. Keep in mind, some travel insurance providers allow you to purchase plans until the day before you depart.

Many times, you are given the option to purchase travel insurance when you book your airfare, accommodations or vacation package. Travel insurance and travel protection are frequently offered as add-ons for your trip, meaning you can pay for your vacation and some level of travel insurance at the same time.

However, many people choose to wait to buy travel insurance until after their entire vacation is booked and paid for. This helps travelers tally up all the underlying costs associated with a trip, and then choose their travel insurance provider and the level of coverage they want.

Figuring out where to buy travel insurance may be confusing but you can easily research and purchase travel insurance online these days. Some consumers prefer to shop around with a specific provider, such as Allianz or Travelex, but you can also shop and compare policies with a travel insurance platform. Popular options include:

• TravelInsurance.com: TravelInsurance.com offers travel insurance options from more than a dozen vetted insurance providers. Users can read reviews on the various travel insurance providers to find out more about previous travelers' experiences with them. Squaremouth: With Squaremouth, you can enter your trip details and compare more than 90 travel insurance plans from 20-plus providers.
• InsureMyTrip: InsureMyTrip works similarly, letting you shop around and compare plans from more than 20 travel insurance providers in one place. InsureMyTrip also offers several guarantees, including a Best Price Guarantee, a Best Plan Guarantee and a Money-Back Guarantee that promises a full refund if you decide you no longer need the plan you purchased.

Protect your trip: Search, compare and buy the best travel insurance plans for the lowest price. Get a quote .

When you need to file a travel insurance claim, you should plan on explaining to your provider what happened to your trip and why you think your policy applies. If you planned to go on a Caribbean cruise, but your husband fell gravely ill the night before you were set to depart, you would need to explain that situation to your travel insurance company. Information you should share with your provider includes the details of why you're making a claim, who was involved and the exact circumstances of your loss.

Documentation is important, and your travel insurance provider will ask for proof of what happened. Required documentation for travel insurance typically includes any proof of a delay, receipts, copies of medical bills and more.

Most travel insurance companies let you file a claim using an online form, but some also allow you to file a claim by phone or via fax. Some travel insurance providers, such as Allianz and Travel Insured International, offer their own mobile apps you can use to buy policies and upload information or documents that substantiate your claim. In any case, you will need to provide the company with proof of your claim and the circumstances that caused it.

If your claim is initially denied, you may also need to answer some questions or submit some additional information that can highlight why you do, in fact, qualify.

Whatever you do, be honest and forthcoming with all the information in your claim. Also, be willing to provide more information or answer any questions when asked.

Travel insurance claims typically take four to six weeks to process once you file with your insurance company. However, with various flight delays and cancellations due to things like extreme weather and pilot shortages, more travelers have begun purchasing travel insurance, encountering trip issues and having to submit claims. The higher volume of claims submitted has resulted in slower turnaround times at some insurance companies.

The longer you take to file your travel insurance claim after a loss, the longer you will be waiting for reimbursement. Also note that, with many travel insurance providers, there is a time limit on how long you can submit claims after a trip. For example, with Allianz Travel Insurance and Travelex Insurance Services, you have 90 days from the date of your loss to file a claim.

You may be able to expedite the claim if you provide all the required information upfront, whereas the process could drag on longer than it needs to if you delay filing a claim or the company has to follow up with you to get more information.

Travel insurance is never required, and only you can decide whether or not it's right for you. Check out Is Travel Insurance Worth It? to see some common situations where it does (and doesn't) make sense.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is an award-winning content creator who has been writing about travel insurance and travel for more than a decade. She has researched travel insurance options for her own vacations and family trips to more than 50 countries around the world, and has experience navigating the claims and reimbursement process. In fact, she has successfully filed several travel insurance claims for trip delays and trip cancellations over the years. Johnson also works alongside her husband, Greg, who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states, in their family media business.

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World Nomads Travel Insurance Review | Money

E ven the best travel insurance companies don’t generally cover sport injuries, and if they do, it’s for an additional cost. World Nomads, on the other hand, is ideal for thrill-seeking travelers that plan to do more than just head to the beach or visit tourist attractions. The company offers travel insurance options that include coverage for extreme sports, such as snowboarding, skydiving and scuba diving.

Read on for a detailed review on World Nomads’ insurance options, accessibility, customer experience and more.

Best for Adventure Sports

World Nomads offers ideal coverage options for adventure seekers. For example, the Explorer plan — the company’s most comprehensive — insures against accidents that can happen in adventurous activities and sports, including triathlons.

Most of World Nomads’ competitors don’t offer similar insurance packages for travelers involved in high-risk activities. However, purchasing a World Nomads plan may be expensive if your trip doesn’t include sport and adventure activities .

World Nomads Travel Insurance Pros and Cons

• Insurance coverage for 200+ sports and adventure activities

24/7 emergency assistance

• Additional coverage can be purchased during your trip

No pre-existing medical condition coverage

• No coverage options for travelers aged 70+
• No "Cancel for Any Reason" add-on available

Pros explained

World Nomads plans can include coverage for more than 200 types of sports and activities, 24/7 emergency assistance and the option to purchase additional coverage during a trip.

Insurance coverage for 200+ sports activities

World Nomads Travel Insurance is an excellent option for thrill-seeking travelers. The company has two plans that cover a wide range of sport activities.

The Standard package covers activities such as horseback riding, zip lining and river tubing. The Explorer package offers coverage for more intense activities like shark cage diving, skydiving and ice climbing.

However, World Nomads has specific restrictions on some of the activities. For example, the Standard package covers tree climbing but only up to 33 feet. With this in mind, read your insurance agreement carefully to make sure you know the extent of your coverage.

World Nomads Travel Insurance has a hotline with representatives ready to provide emergency assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week for both the Standard and Explorer plans.

Agents can help you schedule a dentist appointment for an emergency tooth extraction or advise you on how to get a prescription filled while traveling internationally, for example. You can also get assistance for replacing lost or stolen items, arranging medical transportation and arranging an emergency cash advance.

Additional coverage can be purchased during a trip

Another advantage of choosing World Nomads is that if you decide to extend your vacation mid-trip, you can buy additional coverage.

World Nomads policies can cover getaways of up to 180 days. However, if your coverage expires during your trip, you can log onto the World Nomads site and purchase a new policy.

Verify all policy documents the company sends by email as they contain important information regarding waiting periods, conditions and restrictions that may apply.

Cons explained

Just as World Nomads trip insurance has positive features, there are some drawbacks.

World Nomads considers any illness, disease or other condition you’ve had within the past 90 days a pre-existing medical condition. These are not eligible for medical expenses, trip interruption, trip cancellation and accidental death and dismemberment coverage.

World Nomads defines a pre-existing condition as one you’ve:

• Shown symptoms of
• Been tested or treated for
• Been recommended to get a test for
• Received a prescription for

Note that many travel insurers do not underwrite pre-existing conditions. However, some offer a pre-existing condition exclusion waiver if you purchase a policy within a set number of days of making the first payment towards your trip.

Travelers aged 70+ can’t purchase coverage through World Nomads

World Nomads does not insure U.S. travelers that are age 70 or older. But residents of some countries will find other age limits. For example, Canadian travelers must be under age 66 to purchase coverage, and residents from the United Kingdom must be under 65.

No ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ upgrade

Worlds Nomads Travel Insurance doesn’t offer a “Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) coverage. This optional add-on is offered by some insurers and it allows you to cancel your trip for any reason, even if it’s not covered in the main policy. CFAR coverage usually provides a refund of up to 75% of your non-refundable trip costs.

World Nomads Travel Insurance Plans

World Nomads Travel Insurance offers two plans, Standard and Explorer. Both plans are similar, but the Explorer plan offers higher coverage limits.

Plans are available for international or domestic travel. If you are purchasing coverage for a domestic trip, you will not be covered unless your destination is over 100 miles away from your home.

Standard Plan

The Standard plan is quite comprehensive, covering trip interruptions and delays, medical expenses, accidental death and dismemberment and more. Some of the plan’s benefit limits include:

• $2,500 for Trip Cancellations
• $100,000 for Medical Expenses
• $300,000 for Emergency Evacuations

This plan also insures baggage, gear and personal effects up to $1,000. Keep in mind that it covers activities and sports that most other insurance companies don’t, such as backpacking, sailing, golfing and more.

Explorer Plan

The Explorer plan covers everything the Standard plan does, but also offers more benefits and higher coverage caps.

Although the Standard plan covers numerous sports and adventures, the Explorer plan is the best option for travelers participating in higher-risk activities, such as hot air ballooning and skydiving. The plan also includes rental car coverage except for residents of Texas or New York.

Here are some of the plan’s benefit limit:

• $10,000 for Trip Cancellations
• $100,00 for Medical Expenses
• $3,000 for Baggage Delays and Personal Effects
• $500,000 for Emergency Evacuations

World Nomads Travel Insurance Pricing

To get a cost estimate for your policy, visit the World Nomads website and request a free quote. Policy prices vary depending on the state of residence and age of the travelers, the dates and destination of your trip and other factors.

World Nomads Travel Insurance Financial Stability

Policies offered by World Nomads Travel Insurance are underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. This means that Nationwide assumes the financial responsibility of paying out the claims. Nationwide Mutual Insurance and World Nomads have an A+ and A- AM Best Financial Strength Rating, respectively.

World Nomads Travel Insurance Accessibility

Availability.

World Nomads Travel Insurance policies are available to residents of all 50 states and over 140 countries.

Contact information

There are several ways you can contact the company’s support team.

For general inquiries about policies, visit the website and fill out a form on the Contact Us page .

For toll-free emergency assistance in the U.S. or Canada, the World Nomads Travel Insurance phone number is (877) 289-0968. For emergency assistance outside of the U.S. and Canada, World Nomads offers a collect number at (954) 334-8143.

You can also email the company at [email protected].

User experience

The company website is easy to navigate overall, including easy-to-follow information regarding benefits and limits. You can also find a detailed list of the numerous sport activities the company covers with each of its plans.

World Nomads Travel Insurance Customer Satisfaction

World Nomads has a poor customer rating of 1.08 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). However, the company has received only nine complaints in the past year and the company has answered most of them.

On third-party review sites, some users have complained about the claims process and not being covered for certain activities. To prevent these situations, read your policy carefully or talk to a customer service representative to avoid denied claims.

World Nomads Travel Insurance FAQ

Is world nomads a good travel insurance company, what doesn't world nomads travel insurance cover.

World Nomads policies don't cover pre-existing conditions, routine physicals, non-urgent medical treatments and pregnancy-related expenses.

How do I sign up for World Nomads Travel Insurance?

How do i make a travel insurance claim with world nomads, how we evaluated world nomads travel insurance.

To evaluate World Nomads Travel Insurance, we considered its website accessibility, policies, support options, financial stability and customer reviews. We also compared it to other companies in the travel insurance industry.

Summary of Money’s World Nomads Travel Insurance Review

World Nomads Travel Insurance offers comprehensive policies specifically designed for adventure seekers.

The company has two insurance plans, each one covering trip delays and cancellations, emergency medical expenses, baggage and more. What makes these policies stand out is its coverage for over 150 sports and activities, like hiking, snowboarding, scuba diving and skiing. Other travel insurance providers typically shy away from providing sports coverage, and if they do, it’s at an additional cost.

Before purchasing a policy from World Nomads or any other insurer, check that the activities you’re planning for your trip are covered and be aware of any restrictions.

© Copyright 2023 Money Group, LLC . All Rights Reserved.

This article originally appeared on Money.com and may contain affiliate links for which Money receives compensation. Opinions expressed in this article are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For more information, read Money’s full disclaimer .

This article may contain affiliate links that Microsoft and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links.

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Travel Insurance

Cheapest travel insurance of April 2024

Mandy Sleight

Heidi Gollub

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 9:52 a.m. UTC April 11, 2024

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WorldTrips is the best cheap travel insurance company of 2024 based on our in-depth analysis of the cheapest travel insurance plans. Its Atlas Journey Preferred and Atlas Journey Premier plans offer affordable travel insurance with high limits for emergency medical and evacuation benefits bundled with good coverage for trip delays, travel inconvenience and missed connections.

Cheapest travel insurance of 2024

Why trust our travel insurance experts

Our team of travel insurance experts analyzes hundreds of insurance products and thousands of data points to help you find the best travel insurance for your next trip. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content . You can read more about our methodology below.

• 1,855 coverage details evaluated.
• 567 rates reviewed.
• 5 levels of fact-checking.

Best cheap travel insurance

Top-scoring plans

Average cost, medical limit per person, medical evacuation limit per person, why it’s the best.

WorldTrips tops our rating of the cheapest travel insurance with two plans:

• Atlas Journey Preferred is the cheaper travel insurance plan of the two, with $100,000 per person in emergency medical benefits as secondary coverage and an optional upgrade to primary coverage. It’s also our pick for the best travel insurance for cruises .
• Atlas Journey Premier costs a little more but gives you $150,000 in travel medical insurance with primary coverage . This is a good option if health insurance for international travel is a priority.

Pros and cons

• Atlas Journey Preferred is the cheapest of our 5-star travel insurance plans.
• Atlas Journey Premier offers $150,000 in primary medical coverage.
• Both plans have top-notch $1 million per person in medical evacuation coverage.
• Each plan offers travel inconvenience coverage of $750 per person.
• 12 optional upgrades, including destination wedding and rental car damage and theft.
• No non-medical evacuation coverage.

Cheap travel insurance for cruises

Travel insured.

Top-scoring plan

Travel Insured offers cheap travel insurance for cruises and its Worldwide Trip Protector plan gets 4 stars in our rating of the best cruise travel insurance .

• Worldwide Trip Protector offers $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage per person and a rare $150,000 in non-medical evacuation per person. It also has primary coverage for travel medical insurance benefits, which means you won’t have to file medical claims with your health insurance first.
• Cheap trip insurance for cruises.
• Offers a rare $150,000 for non-medical evacuation.
• $500 per person baggage delay benefit only requires a 3-hour delay.
• Optional rental car damage benefit up to $50,000.
• Missed connection benefit of $500 per person only available for cruises and tours.

Best cheap travel insurance for families

Travelex has the best cheap travel insurance for families because kids age 17 are covered by your policy for free when they’re traveling with you.

• Free coverage for children 17 and under on the same policy.
• $2,000 travel delay coverage per person ($250 per day) after 5 hours.
• Hurricane and weather coverage after a common carrier delay of any amount of time.
• Only $50,000 per person emergency medical coverage.
• Baggage delay coverage is only $200 and requires a 12-hour delay.

Best cheap travel insurance for seniors

Evacuation limit per person

Nationwide has the best cheap travel insurance for seniors — its Prime plan gets 4 stars in our best senior travel insurance rating. However, Nationwide’s Cruise Choice plan ranks higher in our best cheap travel insurance rating.

• Cruise Choice has a $500 per person benefit if a cruise itinerary change causes you to miss a prepaid excursion. It also has a missed connections benefit of $1,500 per person after only a 3-hour delay, for cruises or tours. But note that this coverage is secondary coverage to any compensation provided by a common carrier.
• Coverage for cruise itinerary changes, ship-based mechanical breakdowns and covered shipboard service disruptions.
• Non-medical evacuation benefit of $25,000 per person.
• Baggage loss benefits of $2,500 per person.
• Travel medical coverage is secondary.
• Trip cancellation benefit for losing your job requires three years of continuous employment.
• No “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) upgrade available.
• Missed connection coverage of $1,500 per person is only for tours and cruises, after a 3-hour delay.

Best cheap travel insurance for add-on options

AIG offers the best cheap travel insurance for add-on options because the Travel Guard Preferred plan allows you to customize your policy with a host of optional upgrades.

• Travel Guard Preferred upgrades include “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage , rental vehicle damage coverage and bundles that offer additional benefits for adventure sports, travel inconvenience, quarantine, pets, security and weddings. There’s also a medical bundle that increases the travel medical benefit to $100,000 and emergency evacuation to $1 million.
• Bundle upgrades allow you to customize your affordable travel insurance policy.
• Emergency medical and evacuation limits can be doubled with optional upgrade.
• Base travel insurance policy has relatively low medical limits.
• $300 baggage delay benefit requires a 12-hour delay.
• Optional CFAR upgrade only reimburses up to 50% of trip cost.

Best cheap travel insurance for missed connections

TravelSafe has the best cheap travel insurance for missed connections because coverage is not limited to cruises and tours, as it is with many policies.

• Best-in-class $2,500 per person in missed connection coverage.
• $1 million per person in medical evacuation and $25,000 in non-medical evacuation coverage.
• Generous $2,500 per person baggage and personal items loss benefit.
• Most expensive of the best cheap travel insurance plans.
• No “interruption for any reason” coverage available.
• Weak baggage delay coverage of $250 per person after 12 hours.

Cheapest travel insurance comparison

How much does the cheapest travel insurance cost?

The cheapest travel insurance in our rating is $334. This is for a WorldTrips Atlas Journey Preferred travel insurance plan, based on the average of seven quotes for travelers of various ages to international destinations with a range of trip values.  

Factors that determine travel insurance cost

There are several factors that determine the cost of travel insurance, including:

• Age and number of travelers being insured.
• Trip length.
• Total trip cost.
• The travel insurance plan you choose.
• The travel insurance company.
• Any add-ons, features or upgraded benefits you include in the travel insurance plan.

Expert tip: “In general, travelers can expect to pay anywhere from 4% to 10% of their total prepaid, non-refundable trip costs,” said Suzanne Morrow, CEO of InsureMyTrip.

Is buying the cheapest travel insurance a good idea?

Choosing cheaper travel insurance without paying attention to what a plan covers and excludes could leave you underinsured for your trip. Comparing travel insurance plans side-by-side can help ensure you get enough coverage to protect yourself financially in an emergency for the best price. 

For example, compare these two Travelex travel insurance plans:

• Travel Basic is cheaper but it only provides up to $15,000 for emergency medical expense coverage. You’ll also have to pay extra for coverage for children.
• Travel Select will cost you a bit more but it covers up to $50,000 in medical expenses and includes coverage for kids aged 17 and younger traveling with you. It also offers upgrades such additional medical coverage, “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage and an adventure sports rider that may be a good fit for your trip.

Reasons to consider paying more for travel insurance 

Make sure you understand what you’re giving up if you buy the cheapest travel insurance. Here are a few reasons you may consider paying a little extra for better coverage. 

• Emergency medical. The best travel medical insurance offers primary coverage for emergency medical benefits. Travel insurance with primary coverage can cost more than secondary coverage but will save you from having to file a claim with your health insurance company before filing a travel insurance claim.
• Emergency evacuation. If you’re traveling to a remote location or planning a boat excursion on your trip, look at travel insurance with a high medical evacuation insurance limit. If you are injured while traveling, transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility could cost in the tens to hundreds of thousands. It may make sense to pay more for travel insurance with robust emergency evacuation coverage. 
• Flexibility. To maximize your trip flexibility, you might consider upgrading your travel insurance to “ cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage . This will increase the cost of your travel insurance but allow you to cancel your trip for any reason — not just those listed in your policy. The catch is that you’ll need to cancel at least 48 hours before your trip and will only be reimbursed 50% or 75% of your trip expenses, depending on the plan. 
• Upgrades. Many travel insurance plans have optional extras like car rental collision and adventure sports (which may otherwise be excluded from coverage). These will cost you extra but may give you the coverage you need. 

How to find the cheapest travel insurance

The best way to find the cheapest travel insurance is to determine what you’re looking for in a travel insurance policy and compare plans that meet your needs.

 “Travel insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every trip is different, and every traveler has different needs, wants and concerns. This is why comparison is key,” said Morrow.

Consider the following factors when comparing cheap travel insurance plans.

• How often you’re traveling. A single-trip policy may be the most cost-effective if you’re only going on a single trip this year. But a multi-trip travel insurance plan may be cheaper if you’re going on multiple international trips throughout the year. Annual travel insurance policies cover you for a whole year as long as each trip doesn’t exceed a certain number of days, usually 30 to 90 days. 
• Credit card has travel insurance benefits. The best credit cards offer perks and benefits, and many offer travel insurance-specific benefits. The coverage types and benefit limits can vary, and you must put the entire trip cost on the credit card to use the coverage. If your trip costs more than the coverage limit on your card, you can supplement the rest with a cheaper travel insurance plan.
• The coverage you need. When looking for the best travel insurance option at the most affordable price, only buy extras and upgrades you really need. A basic plan may only provide up to $500 in baggage insurance, but if you only plan to take $300 worth of clothes and accessories, you don’t need to pay more for higher coverage limits.

Is cheap travel insurance worth it?

Cheap travel insurance can be worth it, as long as you understand the plan limitations and exclusions. Taking the time to read your policy, especially the fine print, well before your trip can ensure there won’t be any surprises about what’s covered once your journey begins.

“If a traveler is looking for coverage for travel delays, cancellations, interruptions, medical and baggage — a comprehensive travel insurance policy will provide the most bang for their buck,” said Morrow. But if you’re on a tight budget and are only worried about emergency medical care and evacuation coverage while traveling abroad, stand-alone options are cheaper.

Before buying travel insurance, you should also consider what your health insurance will cover. 

“Most domestic health insurance plans, including Medicare, will not cover medical bills abroad,” said Morrow. Even if you’re staying stateside, you may find value in an affordable travel insurance plan with medical coverage if you have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). 

A cheap travel insurance plan is better than none at all if you end up in a situation that would have covered some or all of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses.

Methodology

Our insurance experts reviewed 1,855 coverage details and 567 rates to determine the best travel insurance . From those top-scoring travel insurance plans, we chose the most affordable for our rating of the cheapest travel insurance.

Insurers could score up to 100 points based on the following factors:

• Cost: 40 points. We scored the average cost of each travel insurance policy for a variety of trips and traveler profiles.
• Medical expenses: 10 points. We scored travel medical insurance by the coverage amount available. Travel insurance policies with emergency medical expense benefits of $250,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
• Medical evacuation: 10 points. We scored each plan’s emergency medical evacuation coverage by coverage amount. Travel insurance policies with medical evacuation expense benefits of $500,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
• Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver: 10 points. We gave full points to travel insurance policies that cover pre-existing medical conditions if certain conditions are met.
• Missed connection: 10 points. Travel insurance plans with missed connection benefits of $1,000 per person or more received full points.
• “Cancel for any reason” upgrade: 5 points. We gave points to travel insurance plans with optional “cancel for any reason” coverage that reimburses up to 75%.
• Travel delay required waiting time: 5 points. We gave 5 points to travel insurance policies with travel delay benefits that kick in after a delay of 6 hours or less.
• Cancel for work reasons: 5 points. If a travel insurance plan allows you to cancel your trip for work reasons, such as your boss requiring you to stay and work, we gave it 5 points.
• Hurricane and severe weather: 5 points. Travel insurance plans that have a required waiting period for hurricane and weather coverage of 12 hours or less received 5 points.

Some travel insurance companies may offer plans with additional benefits or lower prices than the plans that scored the highest, so make sure to compare travel insurance quotes to see your full range of options.

Cheapest travel insurance FAQs

When buying travel insurance, cheapest is not always the best. The most affordable travel insurance plans typically offer fewer coverages with lower policy limits and few or no optional upgrades. Add up your total nonrefundable trip costs and compare travel insurance plans and available features that cover your travel expenses. This strategy can help you find the cheapest travel insurance policy that best protects you from financial loss if an unforeseen circumstance arises.

Get the coverage you need: Best travel insurance of 2024

According to our analysis, WorldTrips , Travel Insured International and Travelex offer the best cheap travel insurance. Policy coverage types and limits can vary by each travel insurance provider, so the best way to get the cheapest travel insurance plan is to compare several policies and companies to find the right fit for your budget.

A good rate for travel insurance depends on your budget and coverage needs. The most comprehensive travel insurance plan is usually not the cheapest. But cheap trip insurance may not have enough coverage or the types of coverage you want. Comparing different levels of coverage and how much they cost can help you find the best cheap insurance for travel. 

The average cost of travel insurance is between 5% to 6% of your total travel expenses for one trip, according to our analysis of rates. However, you may find cheaper travel insurance if you opt for a plan with fewer benefits or lower coverage limits. How much you pay for travel insurance will also depend on the number of travelers covered, their ages, the length of the trip and any upgrades you add to your plan.

Travel insurance covers nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs — up to the policy coverage limits — when your trip is interrupted or canceled for a covered reason outlined in your plan documents. Even the cheapest travel insurance policies usually provide coverage for:

• Medical emergencies.
• Trip delays.
• Trip interruption.
• Trip cancellation.
• Lost, stolen or damaged luggage.

However, if you’re looking to save on travel insurance, you can shop for a policy that only has travel medical insurance and does not include benefits for trip cancellation .

Even when you buy cheap travel insurance, you can often use upgrade options to customize your policy to meet your specific needs. 

Some common travel insurance add-ons you may want to consider include:

• Rental car damage coverage. 
• Medical bundle.
• Security bundle.
• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
• Adventure sports bundle.
• Pet bundle.
• Wedding bundle.
• “Cancel for work reasons” coverage.
• “Interruption for any reason” (IFAR) coverage.
• “Cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage .

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Mandy is an insurance writer who has been creating online content since 2018. Before becoming a full-time freelance writer, Mandy spent 15 years working as an insurance agent. Her work has been published in Bankrate, MoneyGeek, The Insurance Bulletin, U.S. News and more.

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.

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A duty to protect: how travel insurance can address a riskier world.

At night, scrolling through social media on his phone, Christopher Chao is acutely aware of any global events that might affect his business travel clients.

Christopher Chao, senior vice president, Aon

As a broker and senior vice president at Aon, Chao has helped a number of clients navigate business travel risks and purchase insurance policies to cover these exposures. So when he sees images from the war in Ukraine circulating on social media, he first thinks of his clients’ risks.

“I immediately get in contact with our brokers on our team and any clients that I know have exposure there, and try to get ahead of the curve,” Chao said.

And let’s face it, the world has thrown a number of curveballs his way over the last few years. Between a global pandemic, global political instability and shifting climate risks, navigating business travel insurance markets has grown increasingly challenging for insureds.

Companies want traveling employees to be safe, but the strategies for protecting them are already different than just a few years ago. Ongoing geopolitical conflicts, a global pandemic and other risks have fundamentally shifted the level of business travel risk, especially as compared to 2019, our last “normal” year.

As insureds navigate this tenuous risk environment, they may come to rely more on risk management solutions like 24/7 travel assistance programs to keep them apprised of shifting exposures. Others might take advantage of a soft market to purchase additional coverages to ensure that their road warriors are safe while traveling for business.

Same Risks, Greater Frequency 

There are two basic exposures businesses contend with when they send employees out on a company trip: workers’ compensation injuries and damages to company property.

If someone falls ill or is injured, they may need medical care; if their physical safety is threatened, they might need an emergency evacuation or other form of transport home. On the property end, if a company car is damaged during an accident or if a computer is hacked whilst in another country, there are unique challenges a business might have to overcome, including navigating local insurance laws and negotiating with cyber criminals from afar.

These two risks have remained largely stable over time. Rarely are there emerging business travel concerns (future pandemics notwithstanding). The frequency with which claims occur, however, is constantly in flux.

“The younger population is definitely pressing their employers, ‘What are you doing for me if I get in trouble on a business travel trip?’ ” — Christopher Chao, senior vice president, Aon

In 2020, claims volume plummeted as businesses halted travel and pivoted to video conferences. Now, as face-to-face meetings are steadily rebounding, claims too will likely increase.

World events, like geopolitical conflicts or an uptick in natural disasters, can increase the odds that a claim occurs whilst an employee is traveling. On the geopolitical side, experts are saying we’re faced with the most tense environment we have in years as war continues in Ukraine and the Middle East. One security firm estimated it helped consulting firms, finance companies, technology firms and construction companies evacuate 4,000 people from Ukraine in March 2022.

Climate risks, too, are becoming unpredictable. A wildfire, hurricane or other natural disaster can threaten the safety of a business traveler. They can also cause flight delays and other issues that disrupt travel.

“Climate change-induced natural disasters, including hurricanes, wildfires and floods, pose significant challenges, lead[ing] to travel disruptions and safety concerns,” said Jim Villa, senior vice president of accident and health at Arch Insurance.

Added to these risks is the fact that employees are changing the way they conduct business travel. With the rising popularity of remote work, a traveling employee might tack on a few days of work-from-Sicily time at the end of a business trip to Europe or they might spend a few extra days in Florida after a company conference. If they get hurt during their pleasure travel, that may be covered under the policy.

Chao said many policies allow for 14 additional days of coverage to account for this flux period. “If someone gets hurt or injured or sick, the only reason is because they’re traveling at the direction of the policyholder, of the employer. So that has to be covered,” he said.

Some might ask why not return to virtual meetings, in the face of such persistent risks? After all, video calls got us through the pandemic. Executives argue that there’s a benefit to in-person meetings. Relationship-building occurs over business dinners and coffee chats that can’t occur via a sterile Zoom screen. Business travel spend rebounded to 77% of pre-pandemic levels for domestic travel and 74% for international trips last year, per a Global Business Travel Association survey.

“A lot of meetings can be replaced with virtual meetings,” Mark Kurland, middle market senior director of underwriting for multi-industry and technology, Liberty Mutual, allowed.

“I think there is a need to get out and meet customers and get back to face-to-face meetings and travel, but on a more limited and managed basis.”

Villa agreed: “Industries reliant on face-to-face interactions, such as sales, consulting, and client management, have demonstrated a greater willingness to resume travel activities as they seek to rebuild relationships and pursue new opportunities,” he said.

A New Cohort of Business Travelers

Facing elevated business travel risks, many employees are asking their companies what they’re doing to protect them during company trips.

Younger workers, in particular, are concerned about remaining safe during travel.

Forty-two percent of millennial business travelers say they have adjusted travel plans due to political instability or health risks, a 2019 survey by Wakefield Research found. Only 36% of Gen X and 23% of baby boomers said the same.

“The younger population is definitely pressing their employers, ‘What are you doing for me if I get in trouble on a business travel trip?’ ” Chao said.

These risk management services are available for both domestic and international trips, though “they’re typically just bought for overseas travel,” Kurland said.

With international trips, business travelers might feel less certain about what to do in an emergency. In their home country, they might feel more confident in their ability to get in touch with emergency services on their own.

“I think there is a need to get out and meet customers and get back to face-to-face meetings and travel, but on a more limited and managed basis.” — Mark Kurland, middle market senior director of underwriting for multi-industry and technology, Liberty Mutual

Even in those cases, employers should consider travel assistance services plans. Someone who is severely injured several states away from their home, might want a professional to step in and help make medical evacuation arrangements. Employees may also feel relieved to know that there are services in place to help them in the event of an emergency.

The Business Travel Insurance Playbook

Right now, the rates for business travel insurance coverages remain relatively soft and there are few policy exclusions aside from war risks.

Mark Kurland, middle market senior director of underwriting for multi-industry and technology, Liberty Mutual

So insureds should consider purchasing expanded protections, like travel inconvenience benefits, emergency evacuation or physical damages coverages, in order to ensure employees and company property are protected while abroad.

When it comes to auto coverages in particular, these added benefits can be a boon. “For auto rentals overseas, insureds should purchase coverage offered locally. We recommend you purchase the liability coverage, which you may be forced to buy anyway if it’s required. But then we recommend you purchase the physical damage coverage, round up for all perils — stolen vehicle, damaged vehicle,” Kurland said. “You just don’t want to deal with having to adjust that claim overseas.”

Multinational corporations should ensure that workers traveling from different countries have the same scope of coverage. If a company has employees from several different nations traveling to meet at one conference and an insured event occurs they need to have similar protections in place for each individual worker.

“Employees from different countries are going to travel together,” Chao said. “If they’re involved in the same accident, and they’ve got all this piecemeal type of coverage that’s a big problem.”

If companies have questions about their business travel exposures, Chao offered a simple piece of advice: “Talk to your broker, and say, what are our challenges?” If they’re proactive, they’ll be able to guide you through today’s risks. &

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Sponsored: Philadelphia Insurance Companies

How a carrier partner can help navigate a challenging management and professional liability market.

Rates in the management & professional liability (M&PL) markets were on the rise from 2020 to early 2023 and are now falling rapidly.

M&PL divisions manage a number of different insurance products including management liability (D&O), professional liability (E&O), employment practices liability (EPL), fiduciary liability policies, cyber, etc. In 2023 and into 2024, a big influence on the marketplace has been the extremely aggressive and softening public company D&O market.

Though these rates have been softening for management liability, that may change over the next few years as companies continue to adjust their business models motivated by economic uncertainty. Layoffs were up nearly 200% last year , Forbes reported, even as other recession indicators, like the inflation rate , improved. A recession could lead to an increased claim activity and force carriers to raise rates.

“Whenever there is a meaningful downturn in the economy, we tend to see claim frequency pop up,” said George Schalick, Jr., senior vice president of the Management and Professional Liability Division at Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY).

With continued fiscal uncertainty, businesses potentially already burdened with pandemic-related claims should seek a carrier with a long history in M&PL products. They will provide much-needed risk management guidance and be better positioned to support their insureds during market fluctuations.

Why Insureds Might See an Uptick in M&PL Claims

George Schalick, Jr., Senior Vice President of the Management and Professional Liability Division, Philadelphia Insurance Companies

The current soft market might come as a bit of a surprise as it does not track with previous underwriting cycles and economic conditions. Afterall, many privately held and non-profit organizations struggled during the early days of the pandemic with shutdowns and rapidly declining revenues.  But the Government assistance programs, like the Paycheck Protection Program loans , helped keep many afloat during the tough times.

“During COVID many organizations stopped doing business until they were able to sort out all of the health and safety challenges,” Schalick said. “They were forced to lock down, but then all the government assistance programs allowed them to keep people employed. The increased volume of claims we anticipated we would see coming from the lockdowns and restrictions that were imposed upon businesses in the U.S. didn’t manifest at first.”

“Just because there wasn’t an onslaught of reported claims at the beginning of the pandemic, doesn’t mean the circumstances that would give rise to a claim being reported didn’t occur. Courts and the judicial system were closed or slowed and now that they are back open, we’re starting to see the circumstances that occurred during the COVID lockdowns becoming claims today,” Schalick said. “Litigation is progressing.”

Added to the delayed pandemic litigation is a concern over newer claims that might be filed as the country inches toward an economic downturn. Though a recession was avoided in 2023, experts think a soft dip could occur in 2024, with 76% of economists saying there’s a 50% or less chance of an economic downturn this year — that almost always results in more management liability claims.

“During the Great Recession in 2008, we saw an almost immediate spike in claims because of the economic conditions and the pressure it placed on organizations. They were making personnel changes with significant belt tightening almost immediately.” Schalick said.

What’s in Store for M&PL Policy Rates in 2024?

Despite an uptick in claims and increased economic uncertainty, management liability rates haven’t increased, resulting in market-wide pricing levels that may not meet the increased pressure of rising settlements and jury verdicts.

“Rates are going the other direction and settlement values are not falling,” Schalick said.

The mismatch between rates, claim frequency and severity is, in part, because carriers experiencing the dramatic soft market in the public D&O market are seeking premium gain in the private and non-profit market.

“In the public company market, the rates have been decreasing significantly. The rates were increasing in the private, not-for-profit market, and rightfully so, but there’s a desire to supplement overall mid-size D&O for carriers who also write private not-for-profit, and they see that as an opportunity to aggregate premium,” Schalick said. “So the always competitive landscape in the private, not-for-profit market has dramatically increased in the last 18 to 24 months.”

Still, companies of all sizes and types should be concerned about management liability rates in the future. Legal system abuse is resulting in increases in both the amount of litigation and the size of verdicts plaintiffs are receiving.

Certain areas of the country are particularly vulnerable to this type of legal system abuse. As a result, insureds in these localities are likely to be vulnerable to rate increases.

“The environment is so positive for the plaintiff that forces premium increases so carriers are able to stay in that market long term,” Schalick said.

Why a Tenured Carrier Partner Can Help Insureds Navigate An Uncertain Market

It’s clear that insureds are facing an uncertain M&PL market over the next few years. Fortunately, carriers with a long history in the M&PL space will be there to offer stability.

Philadelphia Insurance Companies has been supporting this market for 35 years. PHLY is committed to offering long-term rate stability, even as economic and claims trends start to push premiums upwards. They have an appetite for all sorts of companies, large and small, for-profit and nonprofit alike.

“We’ve been at this game for a long time and are one of the most tenured underwriters in this space,” Schalick said. “We like to stay very consistent.”

  PHLY has worked with both for-profit and non-profit on management liability policies. With dedicated M&PL teams throughout the company’s 13 regions, PHLY provides the support agents and brokers are looking for on behalf of their clients. The teams know their regions well and can respond to local trends. They’re also dedicated to making the renewal process as easy as possible for their partners and policyholders.

“We have real confidence in our results, so we focus a lot on making the renewal experience as painless as possible for all agents and insureds,” Schalick said.

The company is also investing in tools to help insureds avoid losses. Earlier this year, they launched a new online risk management platform, PHLYGateway, which offers resources for insureds on how to create an employee handbook and trainings on issues such as recognizing workplace sexual harassment and discrimination.

If insureds have questions, they can consult a Best Practices Help Line, provided via the platform. That way, they can get on the spot risk management guidance to help them prevent claims.

To learn more, visit: https://www.phly.com/mplDivision/managementLiability/default.aspx .

This article was produced by the R&I Brand Studio, a unit of the advertising department of Risk & Insurance, in collaboration with Philadelphia Insurance Companies. The editorial staff of Risk & Insurance had no role in its preparation.

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We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

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WorldTrips Travel Insurance Review: Is it Worth The Cost?

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Since 1998, WorldTrips has provided medical insurance and trip protection to travelers from the U.S. and around the world in addition to coverage for international students. The company also provides coverage for various tour groups, missionary work and student exchange programs. The insurance policies are underwritten by Tokio Marine HCC, a Houston-based insurance company.

Whether you’re a U.S. resident looking for comprehensive travel insurance plans or a student looking for a medical-only policy, WorldTrips insurance has coverage options.

What kind of plans does WorldTrips provide?

If you’re a U.S. resident, WorldTrips offers four single-trip comprehensive travel insurance plans: Atlas Cruiser, Atlas Journey Economy, Atlas Journey Preferred and Atlas Journey Premier. Here's a quick overview of the coverage offered by each plan.

Atlas Cruiser: This plan comes with 100% trip cancellation , 100% trip interruption , $25,000 medical expenses, $100,000 medical evacuation and $1,500 baggage loss coverage (up to $500 per item). This plan also offers optional Cancel For Any Reason coverage for up to 75% of the total trip cost (as long as you purchase it within 21 days of your initial trip payment and more than 48 hours before your trip begins).

Atlas Journey Economy: This budget plan covers 100% trip cancellation, 100% trip interruption, $10,000 medical expenses , $250,000 medical evacuation and $1,000 baggage loss (up to $250 per item).

Atlas Journey Preferred: This mid-range plan offers coverage for 100% trip cancellation, 150% trip interruption, $100,000 medical expenses, $1 million medical evacuation and $1,500 baggage loss (up to $500 per item). You can add Cancel For Any Reason coverage for 50% or 75% of the total trip cost.

Atlas Journey Premier: The priciest plan also provides the most coverage, including 100% trip cancellation, 150% trip interruption, $150,000 medical expenses (primary coverage), $1 million medical evacuation and $2,000 baggage loss (up to $500 per item). You have the option to add Cancel For Any Reason coverage for 50% or 75% of the total trip cost.

Non-U.S. residents and international students have access to medical-only policies. Annual plans aren’t available for U.S. residents.

» Learn more: The best travel insurance companies

WorldTrips travel insurance cost and coverage

WorldTrips offers several comprehensive single-trip plans that include basic trip protections and medical coverage. The cost varies based on coverage limits.

WorldTrips single-trip plan cost

Here's a comparison of the cost of WorldTrips insurance plans for a 10-day trip that costs $2,000 for a 35-year-old traveler from California. In our example, the destination isn’t specified, and the trip doesn’t include a cruise.

The Atlas Journey Premier plan comes in at $126, the most expensive option. The Atlas Cruiser plan has a similar cost of $120. The Preferred and Economy plans, which cost $103 and $79, respectively, are a bit cheaper, but come with lower coverage limits.

» Learn more: What to know before buying travel insurance

Which WorldTrips travel insurance plan is for me?

The kind of coverage you’re seeking for your upcoming travels is going to affect your plan selection. Here are a few situations which might influence your decision:

If you’ve made nonrefundable deposits for your trip: If you’re going on a safari to Kenya or on a cruise to Antarctica and you’ve prepaid nonrefundable expenses, you probably want to go with plans that offer more coverage, such as Atlas Journey Preferred or Atlas Journey Premier.

If you need to add on Cancel for Any Reason coverage: For single-trip insurance plans, go with either Atlas Cruiser, Atlas Journey Preferred or Atlas Journey Premier because they offer this optional upgrade.

If travel insurance is mandatory and you hold a premium travel rewards credit card : If a tour operator requires you purchase travel insurance but you hold a credit card that already provides some trip protections, you can probably get away with the least expensive Atlas Journey Economy policy.

» Learn more: What does travel insurance cover?

How to get a quote from WorldTrips

To get an online quote, go to the WorldTrips home page and select whether you’re a U.S. resident, a non-U.S. resident or an international student. If you’re a U.S. resident, click on that box, then fill out the form to price your plan.

Make sure to provide your state of residence, total trip cost, departure and return dates, traveler’s age and initial trip payment date. If you’re going on a cruise, be sure to check the box. Once the form is complete, select “View my plans” and compare the plan types.

What isn’t covered by WorldTrips insurance?

As with any travel insurance policy, there are some exclusions to coverage. Here’s a sampling of things WorldTrips doesn’t cover:

Intentional self-inflicted injuries, including suicide.

War, invasion or acts of foreign enemies.

Speed or endurance competitions as well as athletic stunts.

Piloting or learning how to pilot an aircraft.

Being engaged in illegal activities.

Medical tourism.

Traveling against a physician’s advice.

Operating a motor vehicle without a license.

» Learn more: How much is travel insurance in 2023?

Is WorldTrips travel insurance worth it?

WorldTrips insurance offers multiple plans for U.S. travelers looking for trip insurance and medical coverage abroad as well as non-U.S. travelers and students looking for medical coverage in case of an unexpected injury or illness.

If you travel once or twice per year, WorldTrips offers several comprehensive single-trip policy options that are worth checking out. However, if you need an annual plan, you'll want to look elsewhere.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

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Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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Money latest: First time house buyers expected to benefit from new law

Building society reforms could help people trying to get on to the property ladder. The bill is backed by cross-party MPs, saying the changes will support "more working people to become homeowners". You can also listen to the latest Sky News Daily podcast about inflation as you scroll.

Saturday 20 April 2024 07:48, UK

Weekend Money

• Should you offer kids cash rewards for good grades? The psychologist's view  
• Amex hikes, inflation and child-free pubs: What our readers said this week
• Money news of week: Inflation falls by less than expected, wages grow and fuel warning for drivers

Best of the week

• Spotlight on unpaid carers: 'You can't afford to feel': The woman who cares for her daughter, son and husband
• Ian King analysis: Why an interest rate cut may not come as soon as you think
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• Money Problem: My boss ruined end of maternity leave with ultimatum - what are my rights?
• Do solar panels work in Britain's wet and cloudy climate?
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By Brad Young, Money team

As exam season approaches, some parents are putting hundreds of pounds aside to reward their children if they achieve certain grades. 

While some parents lambasted the idea as "absolute potatoes", others told Sky News they saw their children's focus increase after offering up to £250 for the top results.

Among them was Sarah Cook, 45, from Dorset, who said cash incentives had improved her eldest daughter's concentration at GCSEs and she promised her youngest, Merryn, the same offer: £100 for a 9, 8 or 7 (A*/A in old money), £50 for a 6 or 5 (B) or £20 for a 4 (C). 

"We were definitely all for it and happy to pay up based on achievement. I think it reflects real life as well - if you do well in your job, you tend to get paid more," Ms Cook said. 

Merryn, 13, added: "I think it is better for the motivation and for that extra encouragement to get the highest you possibly can and to push yourself more."

Robert Gidney, from Norfolk, said his 14-year-old son's results had improved by a grade since the family decided on reward money: £250 for a grade 9, reduced by £50 for each lower grade, with no reward for grades below 5.

"He seems to be concentrating a lot more on it. He has been studying a lot more and putting a lot more effort in."

He admitted the practice might not be for everyone - something mother of two Sarah Paterson, 57, from Cheshire, would agree with. 

"Never in a million years," she said, recalling how her children, now aged 26 and 37, would protest that their friends were being offered cash rewards. 

"It's absolute potatoes. What are you setting you kids up for there? 

"If they are going to academic, they are going to be academic. Life is about self-motivation."

What the psychologists say

External motivators like money can help children focus in the short term, but they "eventually kill off intrinsic motivation", said Dr Cath Lowther, general secretary of the Association of Educational Psychologists. 

She said all children were intrinsically interested in learning, but regular external incentives "erode the engines of motivation" that cause them to find joy in learning or set and achieve their own goals. 

It could also cause conflict and jealousy in some schools, with "children in that classroom who can't afford breakfast". 

There is already too much pressure on children, said Dr Emma Citron, consultant clinical psychologist and chartered member of the British Psychological Society. 

They are already trying to catch up after the pandemic and taking exams that could determine if they get a university place, she said. 

"I just think that it's sending all the wrong messages as parents. You're adding to their pressure and actually, more importantly, changing the dynamic between you and your children. 

"You're making it conditional on outcome, on reward, rather than what we know to be good, which is unconditional approval and validation."

Parents ought to be "quietly supportive" and act in a pastoral capacity, she said. 

Teachers split on the practice

Charlotte, a biology teacher at a private school, who did not wish to give her last name, said approximately 20% of a given year group were offered cash incentives by their parents. 

The educator of 30 years said those children often found academia harder, misbehaved or hadn't put in much work before exam season. 

"It's not that much fun, revising, it's pretty dull, so I think anything that is an incentive is probably a good thing."

She said her children, now adults, were not offered cash, adding they had dyslexia and dyspraxia. 

"They knew that what we required was just for them to do their best," she said.

A 26-year-old teacher at a state school in Reading said she hadn't found cash incentives were common during her four years as a teacher, but she was offered money by her parents when she took exams. 

"I think sometimes it could be effective, but it could put more pressure on the pupil and I don't know if it's healthy," said the teacher, who did not wish to be named. 

"They are going to feel disappointed if they don't get the grades no matter what."

Dr Lowther said cash incentives spoke to a wider problem with the British schooling system, where external motivators are built in from the start, rather than practices that foster intrinsic motivators like autonomy and connection to others.

From gold stars at reception to narrow choices in the national curriculum, schools focus on extrinsic incentives, she said.

"It would be great if there could be some real thinking about the curriculum and getting science behind how it's developed and how it's implemented," she said. 

Each week hundreds of our readers share their thoughts on the things we've been covering in the Money blog.

This week's comments have been dominated by these topics...

• Our feature on renting your home out to celebrities;
• Wednesday's inflation announcement; 
• Changes to American Express cards;
• The prospect of child-free pubs. 

We learnt on Wednesday that inflation had eased to 3.2% from 3.4% in March.

Many readers said they felt no difference in their wallets after the announcement, with these two comments summing up the general mood...

It definitely does not feel like inflation is coming down. And isn't that what really matters, especially with elections coming up. These figures will feel like fake news to the majority of people. oellph

We're told inflation had fallen however the prices at the tills still remain unchanged. A pint is sold at £6-7, the weekly shop has reduced somewhat but only slightly, petrol and diesel prices are back on the rise and everyone is struggling to pay their bills and save money. Reggie

Others looked towards the summer's expected interest rate drop... 

A double-edged sword here. As interest rates go down, so will the value of sterling. So up go the costs of imports. kinlochdavid

Big money rentals for the stars

We got dozens of comments last weekend from hopeful readers with properties they thought would be perfect for a film set after our feature...

I live in Wales... I have a small two-bed, with a mountain and woods behind. Any good? Marc

I'm happy to let stars use my house for filming Pardeep ahluwalia

I have a beautiful period property full of antique furniture. I don’t live in part of it and a film crew could use it for filming and change it as they wished Margo

How would I go about letting my house out to film crews? Mia Foster

As our feature set out, parking, easy-going neighbours and having one large room for equipment help make your house an attractive prospect for filming.

Much of the industry is based in London but, between them, the three agencies contacted by the Money team for the feature have organised filming in Manchester, Birmingham, the Midlands, the Home Counties and coastal areas.

Others were less keen on the idea...

I wouldn't let them anywhere near my house I've seen the state they leave them in Gary pledger

Child-free pubs

Another talking point this week was whether kids should be allowed into pubs - after one unnamed boozer went viral online for a sign declaring it was "dog friendly" and "child free". 

Lots of social media users were upset by the idea...

But many of our readers agreed:

Kids should NOT be allowed in pubs. It's an adult pass time. If I go for a drink, I expect peace and quiet, not people's brats running riot. Linda

All pubs used to be child-free. What's the problem? Wilco

There should be more child-free pubs, only places like a Beefeater or a Toby Carvery should be allowed children in. We have pubs/working men's clubs in our village where there is nothing for children to do or play with. These types of pubs are not places for children. Claire

American Express changes  

From November, the amount BA Amex and BA Amex Premium Plus cardholders will need to spend every year to get "two-for-one" companion vouchers will rise to £15,000.

American Express is also increasing the annual fee for its Amex Premium Plus card from £250 to £300 - an inflation-busting 20% increase.

It's safe to say the change went down badly with some of our readers... 

Does anyone really think paying over £600 per year for an American Express Platinum card is good value? They must be absolutely nuts!!!! Big Daddy Smooth

These increases from Amex are outrageous and totally unacceptable. I will be cutting up my card and sending it back. OutragedAmex

A spokesman for Amex said the companion voucher "remains an industry-leading credit card benefit", while both cards "continue to provide great value for customers".

On Wednesday, we found out that inflation has eased to 3.2%  from 3.4% when the Office for National Statistics released the latest data.

Economists had predicted the figure, which covers the month of March, would fall to 3.1%. 

It's important to remember that this doesn't mean prices are coming down - they are just rising slower. 

All eyes will now turn to decision-makers at the Bank of England as they prepare to consider cutting interests rates next month. 

You can read more on that here ...

A day earlier, the ONS released its latest data on wage growth. 

Wages excluding bonuses grew by 6% in the three months to the end of February, compared with the same period a year ago. 

A Reuters poll of economists had predicted wage growth would slow to 5.8% from 6.1% in November to January. 

The figures, while welcome on the face of it for struggling households, made for worrying reading at the Bank of England, which is assessing the timing for a long-awaited interest rate cut in its battle against inflation.

We also got a warning from the RAC and AA after government data showed petrol prices had risen by 8p since the start of the year. 

The two companies said the price at the pump could go well above 150p a litre . 

During this week alone, the cost has gone up by 1.6p - there has not been a sharper weekly rise since August 2023.

Average pump prices for diesel have also increased to 157.5p, the highest since November 2023.

"With increased tensions in the Middle East, the cost of oil is only likely to go up, which could push petrol well above 150p a litre," RAC fuel price spokesman Simon Williams said. 

This was echoed by AA fuel price spokesman Luke Bosdet, who said pump prices were climbing towards the point "drivers fear". 

"It is a psychological shock that shouts out from the price boards each time motorists drive past," he said.

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money.

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

Tesla has recalled more than 3,800 of its Cybertruck models following complaints that the accelerator pedal is at risk of getting stuck, US regulators have announced.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had contacted the carmaker, founded and run by Elon Musk, about the issue earlier in the week.

That was after a video came to light, on the billionaire entrepreneur's X platform and TikTok, showing how a rubber cover attached to the accelerator could come loose, pinning the pedal down.

It has since been watched millions of times on both platforms.

Meta's AI has told a Facebook user it has a disabled child that was part of a New York gifted and talented programme.

An anonymous parent posted in a private parenting group, asking for advice on which New York education programme would suit their child.

They described the child as '2e' which stands for twice-exceptional and means they have exceptional ability and also a disability.

"Does anyone here have experience with a '2e' child in any of the NYC G&T [Gifted & Talented] programs?" the user asked.

"Would love to hear your experience, good or bad or anything in between."

Instead of getting a response from another parent, Meta's AI replied.

"I have a child who is also 2e and has been part of the NYC G&T program," it began.

Read more on this story here ...

People who are fit to work but do not accept job offers will have their benefits taken away after 12 months, the prime minister has pledged.

Outlining his plans to reform the welfare system if the Conservatives win the next general election, Rishi Sunak said "unemployment support should be a safety net, never a choice" as he promised to "make sure that hard work is always rewarded".

Mr Sunak said his government would be "more ambitious about helping people back to work and more honest about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life" by introducing a raft of measures in the next parliament.

You can read more about what they include here ...

Building society reforms - backed by MPs - could help people trying to get on to the property ladder.

The Building Societies Act 1986 (Amendment) Bill is closer to becoming law after its third reading was unopposed in the Commons.

The idea is to expand societies' lending capacity via modernisation.

Tory MP Peter Gibson the bill would help with "cutting red tape" and removing "outdated bureaucratic governance systems not faced by the big banks". 

It follows a government consultation which looked at how to allow building societies to "compete on a more level playing field with banks".

The bill is government-backed and Labour is behind it too, saying the changes will support "more working people to become homeowners".

Labour's Julie Elliott, the bill's sponsor, said: "It is important to acknowledge that whilst the housing sector has recovered significantly since the record low mortgage approvals during the COVID pandemic, approvals currently are still below that which we saw before the pandemic. 

"That is why I think a bill like this, which gives more choice to the building society sector to operate in the interests of its members, is a good thing."

Treasury minister Gareth Davies offered the government's support and said the bill would help ensure the "future growth and success" of the building society sector. 

Labour's shadow Treasury minister Darren Jones said building societies "direct a significant proportion of their lending to first-time buyers" and the bill "could unlock significant additional lending capacity".

The bill will undergo further scrutiny in the House of Lords.

By  James Sillars , business reporter

There was a worse than expected performance for retail sales last month, defying predictions of a consumer-led pick up from recession for the UK economy.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported sales volumes were flat in March, following an upwardly revised figure of 0.1% for the previous month.

It said sales at non-food stores helped offset declines at supermarkets.

Sales of fuel rose by 3.2%.

ONS senior statistician Heather Bovill said of the overall picture: "Retail sales registered no growth in March.

"Hardware stores, furniture shops, petrol stations and clothing stores all reported a rise in sales.

"However, these gains were offset by falling food sales and in department stores where retailers say higher prices hit trading.

"Looking at the longer-term picture, across the latest three months retail sales increased after a poor Christmas."

While the performance will not damage the  expected exit from recession  during the first quarter of the year, it suggests that consumers are still carefully managing their spending.

While the  cost of living crisis  - exacerbated by the  Bank of England's interest rate rises  to push  inflation  down - has severely damaged budgets, wage growth has been rising at a faster pace than prices since last summer.

Separate ONS data this week has shown the annual rate of inflation at 3.2% - with wages growing at a rate of 6% when the effects of bonuses are stripped out.

Economists widely believe consumer spending power will win through as the year progresses, despite borrowing costs remaining at elevated levels.

"Misleading" labelling in some supermarkets means shoppers may not know where their food comes from, Which? has said.

Loose cauliflowers, red cabbage, courgettes and onions at Sainsbury's, peppers, melons and mangoes at Asda, and spring onions at Aldi had no visible origin labelling on the shelf or the products themselves, the consumer organisation found during research.

Only 51% of people find origin information on groceries helpful, a survey found.

Two thirds (64%) said they would be more likely to buy a product labelled "British" than one that was not. 

Almost three quarters (72%) said it was important to know where fresh meat comes from, while 51% said they wanted to know where processed and tinned meat comes from.

Under current rules, meat, fish, fresh fruit and vegetables, honey and wine should be labelled with the country or place of origin.

"Research has uncovered a surprising amount of inconsistent and misleading food labelling, suggesting that - even when the rules are properly adhered to - consumers aren't getting all the information they want about their food's origin," said Which? retail editor Ele Clark.

"Supermarkets should particularly focus on labelling loose fruit and vegetables more clearly."

An Aldi spokeswoman said: "We understand that our shoppers want to know where the food they buy comes from, and we work hard to ensure that all our labelling complies with the rules.

"When it comes to fresh fruit and veg, we are proud to support British farmers and aim to stock British produce whenever it's available. Customers understand that at this time of year that isn't always possible, but we remain firmly committed to supporting the British farming community."

Asda said: "We have stringent processes in place to ensure country of origin is clearly displayed at the shelf edge and on products themselves where applicable, at all our stores.

"We have reminded our colleagues at this particular store of these processes so that customers are able to clearly see the country of origin."

A spokesman for Iceland said: "At Iceland our products are great quality and value for customers and we follow UK government guidance on food labelling, including country of origin."

A Sainsbury's spokeswoman said: "We have processes in place to make sure country of origin information is clearly displayed on the product or shelf and we carry out regular checks working closely with our regulator, the Animal and Plant Health Agency."

By Jess Sharp , Money team 

Barclays has been criticised for making the "ludicrous" decision to limit how much cash its customers can deposit in a year. 

Ron Delnevo from the Payment Choice Alliance said the move was a "disgrace" and accused the bank of trying to force businesses to stop accepting cash. 

From July, the change will mean Barclays customers can only deposit up to £20,000 per calendar year into their personal accounts. 

The limit will reset every January. 

It comes after Natwest made a similar decision last year, capping deposits to £3,000 a day, or £24,000 in any 12-month period. 

"The decision by Barclays is ludicrous. This is plainly an anti-cash move," Mr Delnevo told Sky News. 

"It is trying to take free choice from people. It's like it is saying, 'if you are using cash, then we think you are a criminal'.

"It's a disgrace quite frankly and there is no excuse for it. It's just wrong." 

Asked if he was concerned other banks could follow suit, he said: "Definitely." 

He gave the example of someone selling a car for cash. "How would you deposit the money into your account?" he asked.

Barclays said the change was being made to help it identify "suspicious activity". 

"We take financial crime and our responsibility to prevent money laundering seriously," a spokesperson said. 

"We have contacted customers to let them know that from July we are making some changes to the amount of cash customers can deposit into their Barclays accounts.

"We have set the limit at an amount that will allow us to better identify suspicious activity, while still ensuring our customers have access to cash."

The UK's estimated 23 million pet owners are at risk of a new kind of scam, one that took nearly £240m in the first six months of last year. 

Scammers are now targeting the most vulnerable owners – those who’ve lost their pets. 

Fraudsters are turning to lost pet forums and websites to claim they've found missing pets, demanding a ransom payment for their return.

Figures from UK Finance reveal this type of fraud – known as Authorised Push Payment (APP), when a victim is tricked into sending money directly to a criminal’s account - cost British consumers £239.3m in the first six months of 2023.

James Jones, head of consumer affairs at Experian, has some tips on how to avoid the scam...

• Never pay the ransom – If someone is demanding a large sum of money in exchange for your pet's safe return, call the police immediately. Never pay the money upfront, as it will most likely be a scam. Be sure to take a step back and analyse the situation.
• Examine the photos - is it a fake? – In an era where the use of artificial intelligence to fabricate photos is becoming increasingly commonplace, spotting a fake is becoming more challenging. But if you do receive a suspicious photo, make sure to take a closer look to determine whether it is in fact your pet. To do this, check if the photo has been taken from your social media profile and reframed to pass as a recent photo. You should also check for any signs of photoshopping. This could be the way the image has been cut, or the lack of shadows. It is also always helpful to get a second opinion – what you might miss, another person could spot.
• Spotting fabricated stories – Scammers may share specific personality traits you recognise about your pet to convince you they legitimately have it in their possession. However, they may be getting this information from adverts you’ve shared on missing pet websites, or even details shared about your pet on your social media profiles. Be extra cautious and question their authenticity.
• Be careful not to overshare on social media – While sharing information of pets on social media channels is commonplace, this can make them a goldmine for fraudsters. Always be careful about posting personal details, such as your address, pet’s name, or your location in real time. This is all information a fraudster could use to their benefit. Even if you have a private account, you still need to be cautious, as fraudsters have sophisticated methods for obtaining personal information.
• Avoid using your pet’s name as your password – The easiest password to remember is your pet’s name, but unfortunately fraudsters know this too. Of course, you need to be able to remember your passwords, but it’s vital not to make them too simple. The ideal password should contain a minimum of 10 characters using a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. As a rule of thumb, it’s also best to ensure you are using muti-factor authentication, when possible.

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The Most Beautiful Stations on the Moscow Metro

You might have heard that there are some beautiful metro stations in Moscow. Soviet decorations, chandeliers, mosaic painting and statues are common in many of the stations. The good news is that the Moscow Metro does not cost a lot of money and many of the most beautiful stations on the Moscow metro are on the same line, so you can almost get on and off at each station to visit these. Over the New Year holidays, I had a free afternoon and decided to visit some of these stations. Check out what I found below…..

The main stations that you will want to visit are on the Number 5 line, also known as the Circle Line. An advantage of this line is that you can get to it very easily and quickly no matter where you are in Moscow. The announcements on the metro are in Russian as well as English so you don’t need to worry if your Russian language skills are not good.

If, like me, you arrive in Moscow via train from Kyiv , then you will arrive at a metro station which many Muscovites believe to be the most beautiful of them all…..

Kievskaya metro station was opened in 1954 and features white marble walls which curve upwards and have with large mosaics surrounded by a gold trim in a very classical style. The mosaics depict life in Ukraine and was designed by a Ukrainian who wanted to display Ukraine’s influence and contribution to Soviet Russia.

Kievskaya, one of the most beautiful stations on the Moscow metro

Soviet era artwork between the arches

Mosaic with golden trim

People carrying flags is a common theme

Going into battle

Belorusskaya

If you look at a map of the metro , you will want to go in a clockwise direction on the circle line. So you will want to get on the train going in the Barrikadnaya direction and not Park Kultury. Stay on this line until you reach the 2nd station, Belorusskaya. This station was built in 1952 and like Kievskaya also features white marble pylons and a plaster ceiling.

The ceiling features 12 mosaics in an octagonal shape depicting Belarusian life, while the tiling on the floor is said to resemble a Belarusian quilt. One of the passageway exits of the station has a statue called ‘Belarusian Partisans’ of three men wearing long coats, holding guns and carrying a flag.”

Belorusskaya metro platform

Soviet artwork on the roof

The hammer and sickle features prominently in the metro artwork

Three men carrying guns, holding the flag…

Mayakovskaya

To get to the next station, we need to change onto the green line (line 2) and go just one stop to the station of Mayakovskaya. This station has an art deco theme and, for some, resembles an elaborate ballroom. The columns are faced with stainless steel and pink rhodonite while the marble walls and ceiling have 34 mosaics with the theme “24-hour Soviet Sky. Apparently, Stalin resided here during the 2nd World War as the station was used as a command post for Moscow’s anti-aircraft regiment.

Mayakovskaya metro

24-Hour Soviet Sky mosaic

Bomber planes

It looks like planes flying over Red Square

Novoslobodskaya

It’s time to get back on the metro and return to Belorusskaya. At Belorusskaya, change to the circle line again and continue clockwise to the next station, Novoslobodskaya. With its 32 stained glass panels, this station reminds me of a church. The panels were designed by Latvian artists and are surrounded by a brass border.

Novoslobodskaya metro

The platform of Novoslobodskaya metro

Stained glass artwork

The golden trim around artwork is also very common

Prospekt Mira

Back on the metro and again just one stop until our next station, Prospekt Mira. This station was originally called Botanichesky Sad after the nearby Botanical Gardens of the Moscow State University. The pylons are covered in white marble and decorated with floral bas-relief friezes. The ceiling is decorated with casts and several cylindrical chandeliers.

Prospekt Mira metro station

Notice the floral decoration

Komsomolskaya

On the metro once more and once more we are going just one stop to the next station – Komsomolskaya. This station is famous for its its yellow ceiling. The chandeliers in this station are huge. The photos below do not do this station justice.  For me, this station resembles a presidential palace.  You hace to see it for yourself to truly appreciate it.

Because of it’s location, this is one of the busiest stations in the Moscow metro as it serves three of the main train stations in the city – Leningradsky, Yaroslavsky, and Kazansky so be prepared for a lot of people.

Komsomolskaya metro

The yellow ceiling seems to go on forever

Yellow ceiling and artwork

One of the ceiling mosaics

Elektrozavodskaya

When you are ready to leave Komsomolskaya metro station behind, then get back on the circle line and go one stop to Kurskaya and change to the blue line (line 3) and go to two stops to the Elektrozavodskaya station. This station gets it’s name from a nearby electric light bulb factory and has a somewhat industrial but also futuristic style, with 6 rows of circular lamps (there are 318 lamps in total). I think this is one of the most beautiful stations on the Moscow metro for how unique it is. The station was opened in 1944 after a delay because of the 2nd World War and features 12 marble bas-reliefs of the struggle on the home front during the war.

The Komsomolskaya metro station

The struggles of war at home

Fixing machinery

Hard at work

Making weapons

Building a tank

Even the station sign is elaborate

Ploschad Revolyutsii

Back on the metro line 3 (but in the other direction), getting off at the 3rd stop – Ploschad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). This is located underneath the square in Moscow of the same name and is a short walk from Red Square in the city centre. It is the perfect place to end a visit around Moscow’s metro. The station features red and yellow marble arches with a total of 76 sculptures in between each arch. The sculptures are supposed to represent the people of the Soviet Union and include soldiers, farmers, industrial workers, children etc… I noticed a lot of people touching the golden chicken in the photo below as well as the show of the woman. I am assuming that this is for good luck.

Industrial worker

Touch the chicken for good luck

Sculpture of the people of the Soviet Union

Woman reading a book – touch the shoe for good luck

In education

Parent and child

These are some of what I think are the most beautiful stations on the Moscow metro. Which ones are your favourite? Would you add any to this list?

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19 comments.

Kievskaya definitely caught me off guard. Didn’t know Moscow metro stations were THIS extravagant! Mayakovskaya is gorgeous too with the marble walls and mosaics. I might just need to book a flight over to admire all of these!

Do it! Kievskaya was my first introduction to the Moscow metro as I got an overnight train from Kyiv.

You know, in the States, all we ever hear is bad stuff about Russia. It’s nice to see other (and lovely!) dimensions of such a controversial place.

It’s the same in the UK which is why I prefer going to see somewhere and making up my own mind. It’s all ‘politics and bullshit’ as I say

I went to Moscow about 13years for Christmas and went to train stations, so I can see these amazing mosaics and chandeliers. I agree with you that are beautiful Stations for sure and I could of wandered around for days. I think Kievskaya is definitely my favourite out of them all and I even have some similar pictures as you.

I imagine Moscow would have been a little different 13 years ago but these stations have probably always looked beautiful

Food and Footprints

You chose some great stations for this write up! Beautiful details in these stations and would love to visit them sometime. Particularly like the Komsomolskaya station with that yellow ceiling!

Thank you very much. Komsomolskaya seems to be a lot of peoples favourite stations too

Sumit Surai

Wow! Without the text I would have thought them to be some museum or gallery.

I know exactly what you mean!

Rosie Fluskey

Wow, it is just stunning! How does anyone get to work with so much to look at. I’m surprised at the very bourgeois-looking Komsomolskaya station. I would have thought it was all too Tzarist looking, but then I haven’t been to Russia yet lol. This has just made me want to go more!

Wow, that’s a lot of artwork. I wonder how old some of these pieces are?

Generally most of the stations are from 1940-1960 approximately. The later stations are more functional than style.

My mother-in-law was in Moscow fifty years ago and still raves about the metro stations. So far, I could not imagine much. But now! The pictures are great and I think it’s almost a pity that this splendor is underground. But for every user of the Metro can enjoy a free trip to the world of art. Susanne

True. It is like having a free trip to an art museum/gallery. I hope that you can one day visit Moscow and see for yourself.

Oh wow, I would never have known that these were metro stations. The ceilings remind me of how you need to look up sometimes, even in the commuter rush!

It is true about life in general, we just go from A to B looking directly in front of us instead of around us

Wow, I would have never guessed that these were stations. The decor is so pretty and not one I’m used to seeing at metro stations. Love the ceiling at The Komsomolskaya metro station.

They certainly don’t look like metro stations. The ceiling there is one of my favourites too!

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