Travel Insurance Quotes: A Complete Guide to Comparing Travel Insurance in 2026

Why Getting Multiple Travel Insurance Quotes Matters

Travel insurance pricing varies significantly from one provider to the next, even for identical trips. A policy covering a $5,000 international vacation might cost $180 from one company and $340 from another, and the cheaper option might actually offer better medical limits. The only way to know you’re getting the best travel insurance for you is to get travel insurance quotes from several providers and compare them side by side.

The price of travel insurance isn’t the only thing that changes between providers. Coverage limits, exclusions, add-on availability, and the claims experience all differ in ways that matter when something actually goes wrong. Two policies that look similar on a comparison chart can behave very differently when you’re trying to file a claim from a hospital in Bangkok or rebook a cancelled flight in Rome.

The travel insurance market has also become more competitive in recent years, which benefits consumers. Companies like Faye have pushed the industry toward better digital experiences and faster claims. At the same time, providers like Battleface have introduced fully customizable plans that let you pay only for the coverage you need. This competition means there are genuinely good options at every price point, but you have to shop around to find them.

What Information Do You Need Before Getting Quotes

Before you start requesting travel insurance quotes, gather a few key details about your trip. Every provider will ask for the same basic information, and having it ready makes the process much faster.

You’ll need your trip dates, including the departure and return dates. You’ll need your destination, since international coverage is priced differently from domestic. You’ll need the total cost of your trip, including non-refundable, prepaid expenses such as flights, hotels, and tours. Providers use this figure to calculate your trip cancellation coverage and, in most cases, your premium.

You’ll also need the ages of all travelers. Age is one of the biggest factors in travel insurance pricing. A 30-year-old and a 65-year-old taking the same trip will see very different premiums because older travelers statistically file more claims. If you’re traveling with children, some providers like Allianz cover kids 17 and under for free on certain plans, which can make a meaningful difference in overall cost.

Finally, know your state of residence. Travel insurance is regulated at the state level, and not every provider is licensed in every state. Your state also affects which plans and add-ons are available to you.

What to Look for When Comparing Travel Insurance

Once you have travel insurance quotes in hand, the real work is comparing them on the details that matter. Price is important, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Here are the key factors to evaluate when comparing travel insurance policies.

Emergency medical coverage is arguably the most critical benefit for international travelers. Most U.S. health insurance plans, including Medicare, provide limited or no coverage overseas. Look for policies with at least $100,000 in medical coverage for international trips. Providers like Travel Insured International offer up to $500,000 on their Platinum plan. At the same time, HTH Travel Insurance provides primary medical coverage with a Direct Pay option that lets the insurer pay providers directly, so you never have to front the cash.

Medical evacuation limits can be the difference between a manageable situation and financial ruin. Emergency helicopter transport or a medical flight home can cost $50,000 to $100,000 or more. The best policies offer evacuation coverage of $500,000 to $1,000,000. If you’re traveling to remote areas or developing countries, this should be near the top of your list of priorities.

Trip cancellation and interruption protection reimburses your non-refundable costs if you have to cancel or cut your trip short for a covered reason. Most policies cover the standard list: illness, injury, death of a family member, job loss, jury duty, and severe weather. The keyword is “covered reason” — standard policies won’t reimburse you because you changed your mind or found a cheaper flight.

Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) is the upgrade that solves that problem. CFAR travel insurance coverage lets you cancel for literally any reason and get back 50–75% of your non-refundable costs. It typically adds about 40% to your premium and has specific purchase windows, usually within 14–21 days of your initial trip deposit. If you’re booking far in advance or there’s any uncertainty about whether your trip will happen, CFAR is worth serious consideration.

Claims speed and process vary dramatically across the industry. Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has built its entire brand around claims efficiency, paying up to five times faster than the industry average with same-day electronic payments through their BHTP Burst system. On the other end, some budget providers can take weeks or months to process reimbursements. If fast claims matter to you, factor this into your comparison, not just the premium.

How to Actually Get and Compare Quotes

There are two main approaches to getting travel insurance quotes, and ideally, you should use both.

The first is going directly to individual providers. Companies like Faye, Allianz, Berkshire Hathaway, and Generali all offer instant online quotes on their websites. This gives you the most accurate pricing and lets you see the full range of plan options and add-ons each company offers. It also lets you experience their digital tools firsthand, which is a useful preview of what the claims process might feel like.

The second approach is using a comparison marketplace. Sites like TravelInsurance.com, SquareMouth, and InsureMyTrip aggregate quotes from multiple providers so you can see them side by side. These tools are excellent for quickly identifying which companies are competitive for your specific trip. Just be aware that not every provider participates in every marketplace, so you may want to spot-check a few direct quotes as well.

When comparing travel insurance quotes, don’t just sort by price. Create a simple checklist of the coverage areas that matter most for your trip and compare policies against those criteria. A family heading on a Caribbean cruise has very different needs than a solo traveler going on a trekking expedition in Nepal, and the best policy for each looks completely different.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistake travelers make is buying the cheapest policy without reading the coverage details. A $50 policy that excludes adventure sports, has a $5,000 medical limit, and requires a 12-hour delay trigger before travel delay benefits kick in might technically be “coverage.” Still, it won’t help much when something goes wrong.

Another frequent mistake is waiting too long to buy. Many of the best benefits, including pre-existing condition waivers and CFAR eligibility, are only available if you purchase your policy within 14 to 21 days of making your first trip deposit. The earlier you buy, the longer you’re protected and the more options you have.

Don’t forget to check what coverage you already have. Some premium credit cards include trip cancellation, trip delay, and rental car coverage. Your domestic health insurance may offer some international coverage. Homeowners or renters insurance may cover stolen belongings. Understanding your existing coverage helps you avoid paying for duplicative protection and focus your travel insurance budget where it actually fills gaps.

Finally, don’t assume all adventure activities are covered. Standard travel insurance policies typically exclude skiing, scuba diving, mountain climbing, and other active pursuits. Providers like Battleface include adventure sports coverage automatically in all plans, but most others require a paid add-on. If your trip involves anything more adventurous than a pool, verify that your activities are covered before you buy.

Match Your Policy to Your Trip

The best travel insurance policy is the one that matches your actual trip, not the one with the highest rating or the lowest price. A budget traveler taking a domestic weekend trip has completely different needs than a family of four heading on an international cruise. The point of getting multiple travel insurance quotes and comparing options is to find a policy that covers your specific risks at a price that makes sense.

For domestic trips with refundable bookings and good health insurance, you may not need much coverage at all. For expensive international travel, prioritize medical and evacuation limits. For adventure trips, make sure your activities are explicitly covered. For family travel, look for providers that offer free child coverage or household annual plans.

The travel insurance industry is more competitive and transparent than it’s ever been. Providers are investing in better digital tools, faster claims, and more flexible plan structures. Take advantage of that competition. Get quotes from multiple providers, compare them on the factors that actually matter for your trip, and buy early enough to get the full range of benefits. A few minutes of comparison shopping can save you hundreds of dollars on premiums and, more importantly, thousands of dollars if something goes wrong on your next trip.