One of the aspects that makes travelling so exciting is the fact that you never know quite what will happen from day to day. When you are at home, you have your daily routine meaning unexpected events are less likely to occur, whereas when you’re travelling things tend to be more up in the air. However, while unexpected events can be interesting and enrich your travelling experience, they can also have negative consequences, particularly if associated with injury, or property that becomes lost, damaged or stolen. That’s where travel insurance comes in. Catering for individuals, couples and families, travel insurance should be considered an essential part of any traveller’s trip, particularly for those who know they will be participating in risky activities or going away for a significant period of time. They often cover unforeseen circumstances, such as last minute flight cancellations, as well as emergency medical expenses and protection for all your gear.

That being the case, we have compiled a list of the top websites for finding travel insurance, whether planning a trip away or already on the move. Insurance should never be overlooked as you never know what’s round the corner when travelling, especially when you’re abroad, meaning that should you fail to adequately prepare for unwanted outcomes you may face substantial costs later down the line which could have been avoided. Each one was thoroughly assessed to ensure that only the best platforms were selected, with each review containing a brief summary of the service, its highlights, what makes it unique and its potential drawbacks, while the pros and cons of each one are listed in an easy-to-read set of bullet points below each review. There are hundreds of services all promising to offer you the best insurance for your trip, however we’ve chosen only the ones that most suitably fit our criteria by considering a number of factors outlined below.

One of the first factors that was considered when reviewing each travel insurance site was its user interface and how easy it was to find a quote. A good, user-friendly interface with simple aesthetic is an obvious, yet often underrated, aspect of many websites, and something that can ultimately influence the entire experience for customers trying to get an insurance quote. While a website may offer a vast array of options and added features, an overcrowded and confusing homepage can make using even the platform’s most simple function difficult for many users. More often than not, the best sites are those with a simple, minimalistic aesthetic that make no attempt to over complicate the booking process by adding too many extra features, while they also seem to be the ones with the fastest loading speeds. Those that have an abundance of pop-up adverts and promotions can also make searching for a quote a more stressful process than it needs to be. Therefore, we made sure that, when reviewing the various travel insurance sites, we considered the overall aesthetic and how easy it was to find what you were looking for before assessing anything else.

The next factor that was assessed was the coverage and general pricing of each available package. While most of the sites offered the most basic coverage, such as for lost or stolen property, medical expenses and unanticipated cancellations, not all included extreme sports in their coverage, meaning that if an injury was sustained while quad biking or bungee jumping, for example, the insurance company would not pay for the associated costs. Allianz Global Assistance is one company that will not pay out for accidents as a result of partaking in extreme sports, meaning although it offers other benefits, it would not be the first choice for those who are planning more than simply relaxing on a beach and taking in the sights. World Nomads, on the other hand, does offer coverage for this, however their overall plan is considerably more than similar alternatives. Although it would undoubtedly be worth paying the extra money if you think there is even a slight chance you may get injured while paragliding off a mountain or kayaking down a fast flowing river, the cost should also be factored in as it does not always directly correspond to the added benefits. Hence, we made sure to look at both coverage and price to determine the travel insurance sites that offered the best value for money when reviewing each one.

A significant feature that was assessed was the level of customer service offered by the sites. Included in this was the range of options for actually getting into contact with customer service in the first place, as just one form of contact can feel limited, especially when abroad and making a phone call has the potential to be expensive. The presence of an live online chat was considered a great addition, where customers are quickly put in contact with a travel agent who is on hand to clear up any queries they may have without the need to login to their email or wait in line on the phone. Insuremytrip is one site that offers such a feature, with the chance to quickly get in contact with a ‘live expert’ via their instant messaging box, while True Traveller included Facebook and Twitter as well as the live chat as means in which to get in contact with their customer support team. Once in contact, the level of attention is important, as there is little use in having instant messaging capability without someone quickly responding to your queries on the other end. Each one was therefore tested to see how prompt the agents were at replying and how fast they could get you an answer.

Although perhaps not as crucial as customer support, yet still a feature worth noting, was whether the travel insurance sites offered a blog on their website. Articles contained on the blogs can range from inspiring travel ideas, to itineraries from people who have been there, while also providing a useful resource for gaining tips, advice and general information on a variety of travel-related topics. Allianz Global Assistance, for example, offers a blog featuring dozens of articles, with a wide-range of content on offer, from travel tips to how to settle into a new country as an expat. If unsure of exactly where to go or what to do once you have arrived in a destination, these blog entries can be a fantastic resource, much like an informal guidebook, that can be accessed completely free of charge before, during and after your trip. Many are particularly focused around travel insurance, meaning they are relevant and may help you decide precisely which package would be best suited to you.

Overall, this list provides the best selection of travel insurance sites from among hundreds, combining all of the above features to single out only the top seven. While travel insurance may feel like a nonessential expense, you can never be too careful, even for a weekend away, and it could end up saving you thousands should you get injured or have something of value lost or stolen. For that reason, we’ve taken into account a number of factors in order to bring you only the top companies and insurance comparison sites so that you can quickly and easily find the most appropriate one for you. Finding travel insurance does not need to be a time consuming or stressful experience, and with this list you have all the information you need in one convenient place.