Best Travel Insurance | Quotes 2025

Did you know that the cost of hospitalisation in the United States can reach €10,000 per day? A medical emergency, lost luggage or a cancelled flight can quickly turn your trip into a nightmare. Taking out travel insurance means peace of mind in the face of the unexpected.

Whether you're going on holiday, moving abroad, travelling around the world or studying overseas, it's essential to choose a policy that suits your needs. But how does travel insurance work? What exactly does it cover? How can you make sure you pay the right price and only for what you truly need?

At HelloSafe, we help over a million travellers each month compare travel insurance. Our experts have analysed 67 travel insurance policies in Ireland to bring you a detailed comparison and advice tailored to the Irish market.

Travel insurance: what to remember

• Mandatory? Travel insurance is not mandatory in Ireland, but it may be required for entry into certain countries (such as China or the USA). It is strongly recommended to protect yourself from unforeseen events abroad.
• Why get it? It covers emergency situations while traveling, such as medical expenses, repatriation in serious cases, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and personal liability.
• Price: The cost of travel insurance depends on the destination, length of stay and selected benefits. It usually ranges between €10 and €50 for a short trip, and €100 to €500 for annual coverage.
• Credit card: Some credit cards include travel insurance, but with limited cover and stricter conditions. It’s often less comprehensive than a standalone policy.
• Private health insurance required for some policies: Certain Irish insurers, like Vhi or AIG with Medicare Extra, only offer specific travel plans if you already hold private medical insurance covering you abroad​​.

What are the essential travel insurance benefits?

Here is a list of the main benefits typically offered in travel insurance policies. We’ve categorised them based on whether they are essential, important, or optional. We also highlight how much each benefit can impact the overall price of your insurance, to help you better understand which covers may raise the cost.

1. Emergency medical expenses and hospitalisation abroad - 🛑 Essential

• Description: covers urgent healthcare abroad such as doctor visits, hospital treatment, surgery and prescribed medication
• Excess: from €0 to €200
• Reimbursement limit: from €1,000,000 to €20,000,000 depending on destination and policy
• Common exclusions: undeclared pre-existing conditions, non-urgent care, pregnancy over 26–28 weeks, risky activities without optional cover
• Impact on price: 🔺 High – this is the most expensive component of travel insurance; higher limits and worldwide cover increase the premium
• ⚠️ Actor to avoid: AIG Extended Stay – low medical cap (€1,000,000), age limit of 35, and strict exclusions on valuables and medical history​

2. Repatriation assistance – 🛑 Essential

• Description: covers the cost and coordination of returning you to Ireland in case of serious illness, accident or death abroad
• Excess: usually none
• Reimbursement limit: often unlimited or included within the medical cover; varies by insurer
• Common exclusions: non-medical repatriations, trips against medical advice, risky behaviour (alcohol/drugs), or lack of prior authorisation
• Impact on price: 🔻 Low – although vital, it has little effect on overall price since it’s usually bundled in standard policies
• ⚠️ Actor to avoid: InsureandGo – vague conditions around when and how repatriation is approved, with limited clarity on decision-making process in urgent cases​

3. Personal liability abroad – 🟠 Important

• Description: covers accidental bodily injury or property damage caused to others during your trip
• Excess: varies – typically between €150 and €350
• Reimbursement limit: between €500,000 and €4,500,000 depending on the insurer
• Common exclusions: intentional damage, motor vehicle use, risky sports, harm to family members or personal belongings
• Impact on price: 🔻 Low – this benefit is inexpensive to insurers and has minimal impact on your premium
• 💡 Expert tip: opt for a policy with at least €2,000,000 coverage, especially for travel to countries with high legal compensation costs.

4. Trip cancellation insurance – 🟡 Optional

• Description: reimburses non-refundable costs if you cancel your trip for valid reasons (illness, death in the family, unexpected work issues, etc.)
• Excess: around €75 to €100 or 10% of cancellation costs depending on the insurer
• Reimbursement limit: from €750 to €10,000 per person, depending on the cover level​
• Common exclusions: cancellations for personal reasons, undeclared pre-existing conditions, expired passport/visa, non-extreme weather
• Impact on price: 🔺 Moderate to high – adds significant cost for expensive trips (about 3–5% of total travel cost)
• ⚠️ Actor to avoid: Allianz Travel – excludes weather events and natural disasters as valid cancellation reasons​

5. Travel delay – 🟡 Optional

• Description: reimburses meals or accommodation costs in case of flight or transport delay beyond a set time (typically 4–6 hours)
• Excess: generally none, but a minimum waiting time applies
• Reimbursement limit: between €100 and €500, depending on the policy and delay length​
• Common exclusions: delays announced 24h in advance, pre-booked strikes, missed departures without proof of cause
• Impact on price: 🔻 Low to moderate – often included in standard plans, minimal price impact
• ⚠️ Actor to avoid: InsureandGo – unclear delay conditions, limited compensation (€10 for the first 12 hour period), and vague delay definitions in policy wording​

6. Loss, theft or damage to baggage – 🟡 Optional

• Description: compensates you for lost, stolen or damaged personal belongings during your trip
• Excess: typically between €50 and €100 depending on the insurer
• Reimbursement limit: between €500 and €2,500, often capped per item (e.g. €100–€300) and for valuables​
• Common exclusions: unattended items, valuables not in hand luggage, lack of police report, damage not reported at delivery
• Impact on price: 🔻 Low to moderate – affordable unless you add valuable item cover
• ⚠️ Actor to avoid: AIG Extended Stay – very low limits (€500 total, €100/item), strict rules on unattended luggage, and exclusions on many personal items​

7. Legal assistance abroad – 🟡 Optional

• Description: covers lawyer fees if you face legal action abroad; bail cover may apply in some cases
• Excess: varies depending on the insurer, often none
• Reimbursement limit: between €5,000 and €30,000, depending on the provider and level of cover​
• Common exclusions: criminal offences, fraud, deliberate wrongdoing, fines or financial penalties
• Impact on price: 🔻 Very low – this cover is often bundled and has minimal impact on the total premium
• 💡 Expert tip: in countries like the US or Australia, legal costs can be high — look for cover with at least €3,000 in defence fees and bail if available

8. Extreme sports and high-risk activities – 🟡 Optional

• Description: coverage for accidents or injuries related to the practice of high-risk sports (off-piste skiing, scuba diving, paragliding, mountaineering…), which are often excluded from standard insurance policies.
• Excess: same as medical expenses
• Reimbursement limit: generally same as medical cover, up to €20,000,000 for top-tier plans​
• Common exclusions: activity not declared or not listed in the optional cover, competitive sports, reckless behaviour
• Impact on price: 🔺 High – this option can significantly raise the price due to the elevated risk involved
• 💡 Expert tip: if you're planning to try any extreme activity, don’t rely on standard cover. Always check if your sport is listed and confirm the optional extra is added.

Good to know

In a travel insurance policy, insurance covers financial losses (such as medical expenses, cancellations, or lost baggage), while assistance handles the coordination and payment of emergency services (like repatriation or hospital admission). Insurance reimburses you, assistance acts immediately.

How can I reduce the cost of my travel insurance?

Travel insurance can be a significant expense, but there are several ways to optimise your premium without compromising on essential cover. Here are some smart strategies to lower your costs while staying well protected.

1. Compare offers to find the best value for money

Not all insurers offer the same prices for similar cover. Using a travel insurance comparison tool helps you quickly identify the best deals based on your destination and trip duration.

2. Tailor your cover to your actual needs

Don’t overinsure if your trip doesn’t require it. Here are some ways to adjust your travel insurance and reduce the cost:

3. Take advantage of promotions and group discounts

 Some insurers offer discounts for:

✅ Families or groups travelling together

✅ Early bookings (taking out insurance well before departure)

✅ Long-term policies (if you travel multiple times a year, annual cover may be more cost-effective)

Also, don’t forget to use the promo code HelloTravel to get a discount on all travel insurance plans listed on our comparison tool.

4. Avoid unnecessary add-ons

Some insurance policies automatically include costly extras (extreme sports, valuables, premium assistance) that you may not need. Read the terms carefully and ask to remove any non-essential options.

How do I find the best travel insurance for me?

Your ideal travel insurance depends on your profile and the kind of trip you're planning. Here are a few tips tailored to Irish travellers to help you make the right choice.

What cover do I already have (credit card, private health insurance and public healthcare)?

When travelling, it’s important to understand what is already covered by public healthcare schemes, private health insurance, and your credit card. This helps avoid overlapping coverage — or worse, travelling uninsured. Here’s a practical guide to help Irish travellers assess what protection they may already have.

1. Public healthcare (HSE & EHIC): limited cover abroad

👉 What you need to know:

• In Europe, Irish residents benefit from the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which entitles them to public healthcare on the same terms as residents of the country they’re visiting. However, it does not cover private treatment, repatriation, or extra costs like mountain rescue or extended hospital stays.
• Outside of Europe, the HSE (Health Service Executive) offers no financial support for medical care abroad — you must pay for treatment yourself or rely on travel insurance.

📌 Expert tips:

• Always carry your EHIC and check the host country’s public healthcare rules before you travel.
• If you're heading outside the EU/EEA, especially to the USA or Canada, private travel insurance is essential to cover emergency medical costs.

2. Private health insurance: often incomplete for travel

👉 What you need to know: Some Irish private health insurers (like Vhi, Laya Healthcare, or Irish Life Health) offer limited overseas cover, but this is usually short-term and only includes medical expenses — not things like cancellation, baggage loss, or repatriation.

For example:

• Vhi offers MultiTrip Travel Insurance as an add-on, with annual trip limits and exclusions.
• Irish Life Health may reimburse emergency treatment abroad, but only within strict limits.
• Laya sometimes covers emergency treatment while travelling, but non-medical guarantees (e.g. legal cover, baggage) are not included.

📌 Expert tips:

• Always check with your private health insurer if overseas cover is included and request a certificate of cover before travelling.
• For trips over a month or to high-cost destinations, dedicated travel insurance offers far more comprehensive protection than private health plans alone.

3. Credit card: useful but limited travel cover

👉 What you need to know: Some Irish premium credit cards include built-in travel insurance — but the coverage is often limited and subject to strict conditions:

• The trip must be paid in full with the card for the insurance to apply.
• Coverage usually lasts a maximum of 90 consecutive days per trip.
• Medical cover and cancellation benefits are typically limited and exclude pre-existing conditions.
• Most standard debit cards, like those issued by AIB, Bank of Ireland or Revolut Standard, offer no travel insurance at all.

Examples from Irish banks and providers:

• Bank of Ireland Platinum Credit Card: includes travel insurance, but requires full prepayment and excludes many medical conditions.
• AIB Gold Credit Card: provides basic cover for medical emergencies and cancellation, but medical limits are capped and there’s no cover for longer trips.
• Revolut Metal or Premium (as an e-money provider): includes travel insurance via third-party underwriters, but only for short trips and with strict exclusions.
• An Post Money Credit Cards: do not include any travel insurance.

📌 Expert tips:

• Carefully read your card’s terms — most Irish card insurers cap medical cover around €250,000–€500,000, too low for North America or Asia.
• Going away for more than 90 days? Card insurance won’t apply — take out separate long-stay travel insurance.
• With a basic Visa or Mastercard, or any debit card, assume you are not covered at all — independent travel insurance is

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A. Fruchard

Insurance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and an experienced entrepreneur in the insurance and personal finance sector, Antoine uses his experience and in-depth knowledge of the market to help Internet users make the right choices. With an MBA in economics, he is a committed expert whose mission is to make personal finance and insurance issues simple and understandable. With a rich career marked by the creation of innovative companies, Antoine's ambition has always been to bring transparency to complex issues and to give power back to consumers. With HelloSafe, he continues to translate this vision by providing accurate advice, impartial comparisons and detailed explanations of travel insurance. He has analysed hundreds of contracts to reveal the best options available on the market.