Best Travel Insurances in 2025

Travel insurance matters because it provides peace of mind and financial protection when the unexpected happens on the road. Whether it's a medical emergency, stolen belongings, or a canceled flight, having coverage ensures you're not left dealing with the costs on your own.

The Best Travel Insurance Companies

Every traveler is different. Some carry pricey gear and need strong coverage for valuables, while others take part in adventure sports and require extra protection for high-risk activities. Your ideal insurance also depends on how long you’re traveling and which countries you’re visiting — some providers have regional restrictions or limits on trip duration. For some the overall coverage amount is all they need — especially for medical emergencies or trip cancellations. 

Check out the pros and cons of the companies below to find the travel insurance that fits your trip best.

Heymondo - Best for Holidays

PROS

  • Policy options: for on one-time holidays or multi-trips in a year

  • Maximum value, minimal cost

  • Worldwide coverage except for armed conflict zones

  • Sign up before or after your travels start

  • 24/7 phone assistance and assistance app with an actual doctor & incident management

  • Covers lost luggage, travel delays & natural disaster evacuations

  • Medical & dental emergencies covered up to US$10,000,000

  • Rental car damage up to US$500

  • Covers personal liability and accidental death or disability

CONS

  • US coverage, electronics, cruise, adventure sports & deductible are an add-on

  • annual travel insurance covers a maximum of 60 days per trip

Exclusive 5% Discount for The Real Traveler Readers:

Single Trip InsuranceGet covered for your next adventure with Heymondo

Annual Multi-Trip InsuranceTravel worry-free all year long with Heymondo

Heymondo - Best for Long-Term Travelers

PROS

  • Big coverage, small price

  • Worldwide coverage except for armed conflict zones

  • Sign up before or after your travels start

  • 24/7 phone assistance and assistance app with an actual doctor & incident management

  • Covers lost luggage, travel delays & natural disaster evacuations

  • Medical & dental emergencies covered up to US$2,500,000

  • Covers personal liability and accidental death or disability

CONS

  • purchase for a minimum of 90 days

  • US coverage, electronics & adventure sports are an add-on

BUY | Get your Heymondo’s Insurance (exclusive 5% discount for The Real Traveler readers)

SafetyWing - Best for Digital Nomads

PROS

  • Exceptional coverage at an affordable price

  • Global coverage in 180+ countries.

  • Sign up before or after your travels start

  • 24/7 live chat human support with specialists

  • Covers lost luggage, travel delays & emergency evacuations

  • Complete Coverage: includes maternity care, cancer tests & treatments, wellness therapies, routine check-ups, doctor & specialists visits.

  • Monthly renewal or cancellation of your policy

CONS

  • limited coverage in home country: up to 30 days

  • US coverage, adventure sports & electronics theft insurance are add-ons

  • limitations for US citizens or people over 70 years old

BUY | Get covered with SafetyWing

TIP | Compare their Essential and Complete Coverage

Sven from The Real Traveler is getting back in to the water holding a surf board at his surfing classes in Varkala India
Lifeguard is laughing at his phone at the beach in Varkala India.

Why Do You Need Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance protects you financially from surprises!

Anything can happen while traveling such as accidents, illnesses, or injuries. Travel insurance can cover your medical bills and the costs of emergency medical care, hospital stays, medication and sometimes even medical evacuation back to your home country.

Travel insurance also covers unexpected costs like last-minute trip cancellations, flight delays, or evacuations due to natural disasters. It can protect your phone or camera if they're stolen or damaged, and it should also include liability coverage—say, if you accidentally break the bed at your accommodation.

You can be the healthiest and most careful person on Earth, but nothing prepares you for food poisoning, a coconut falling on your feet or a car accident. With the insurance covering unexpected costs, you don’t have to worry if anything goes wrong.

How to Choose The Best Travel Insurance?

The price should not be the only factor to consider when booking a travel insurance. In fact, the most expensive or cheapest one might or might not cover what you actually need. Here are some important aspects to consider.

1. Where are you going and for how long?

Traveling for a month, three or a year? Are you going to only one country? You can tailor your travel insurance depending on your length and destinations. Most travel insurance have a worldwide coverage, excluding high-risk countries or an additional fare for those traveling to the U.S. Heymondo offers single-trip, multiple-trips (up to 2 months per destination) & long-stays (up to 3 months) insurances. Are you a digital nomad? SafetyWing has the best insurance, including routine check-ups, maternity and wellness.

2. Are my planned activities covered?

A travel insurance is there to protect you, in case of an emergency such as falling off your scooter in India. But, they normally exclude high-risk activities like diving in Bali. If, you are planning on going horse-back riding, paragliding, or any kind of adventure sport go for an insurance company that allows you add that extra coverage.

3. Are my valuables protected?

From water damage, broken or stolen phones, laptops, drones and luggage to armed-robbery or accomodation’s break-ins, we’ve heard it all. We advice you to roughly estimate how expensive your gear is, the countries you are visiting and to decide whether is worth it to choose an insurance that covers them or to pay an extra fee for this protection.

4. Are trip cancellations and delays covered?

For those who book several flights by different airlines, you might need to pay close attention to this one. As backpackers and budget-friendly travelers, we buy separate flights with Skyscanner and go for the cheapest option. This might turn into a nightmare, if you end up losing your connecting flight and pay out of your pocket for a new one. Or simply, you break a leg and have to cancel your travel spontaneously. 

5. How is the travel insurance’s deductible policy?

This is the amount you have to pay before the insurance helps you out. For instance, your hospital bill is US$1000 and the insurance’s deductible is US$100. The insurance will cover $US900 and you will have to pay out of your pocket the remaining US$100.

Sven from The Real Traveler is driving around with a bicycle in Munroe Island India

The Checklist:

  • What does it cover? Ex. injuries, sudden illnesses, pre-existing conditions

  • How much would the insurance cover? More than US$100,000?

  • Are your dream destinations covered?

  • Are the your favorite activities covered?

  • Are your valuables covered?

  • Does it cover travel cancellations or unforeseen events for you and your family members?

  • What type of assistance is provided during emergencies 24/7? App, e-mail, call centers?

  • How is the claim process and duration? Is it online?

  • Can you extend the insurance while traveling?

  • Are political unrest or natural disasters covered?

  • Does it cover emergency evacuation and transportation? Even back to your home country?

Our Personal Experience

We have been through it all!

During our travels we have gotten sick a couple of times. Ingrid had to get medical assitance in Thailand for getting a “tropical virus” and Sven got a horrible food poisoning in Guatemala. Luckily, the insurance covered the doctor appointments, blood testing & medication. 

Ingrid’s camera screen stopped working out of the blue during our Jeju stay and turned green! We had no other option than to get it repaired in South Korea.

We also used the liability coverage when Sven broke the fin of rental surf board back in Nicaragua.

Was the insurance worth a couple of bucks a year? ABSOLUTELY! The bills we received were always higher than the annual cost of the insurance.

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