European Travel Insurance
With so much to see and do across Europe, it’s no wonder it’s the biggest travel destination for UK tourists.
And despite many of Europe’s most-loved tourist attractions being just a short flight or train ride from home the UK, the unexpected can still happen, so it pays to have the right cover in place should you need it.
And don’t just take it from us, the Government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) recommends you buy travel insurance for every trip you take abroad, including any within Europe.
So, what do you get for your money?
European travel insurance covers you in the event of the unexpected, for things like:
- Having to cancel or cut your trip short
- Your personal belongings being stolen
- The airline losing your luggage
It also protects you and your family if you need medical help – more on European travel health insurance and the EHIC below.
Choose from three levels of cover
Admiral |
Admiral |
Admiral |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Excess |
£100 | £75 | £50 |
Emergency medical treatment & repatriation (Limits up to) |
10M | 15M | 20M |
Cancellation or cutting short your trip (Limits up to) |
£1K | £2.5K | £5K |
Personal belongings (Limits up to) |
£1K | £1.5K | £2.5K |
Money & documents (Limits up to) |
£300 | £400 | £500 |
Read the full list of benefits in the policy summary booklet.
Do I need travel insurance if I’m holidaying in Europe?
Unlike car insurance, travel insurance isn’t compulsory, and being so close to home you may be tempted to skip the cover. But you’ll want it in place if things don’t quite go to plan – luggage can get lost and people do get ill abroad.
Take France, for example, a favourite for us Brits, with 17 million of us visiting each year. It’s not just the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the yachts on St Tropez people flock to, snow-lovers flock to France for the hundreds of ski resorts on offer.
And if you were unlucky enough to break an arm while on the slopes of one of the many French ski resorts, you could be looking at costs of up to £1,000 for:
- First responder treatment
- First responder treatment
- Ambulance, Xrays and cast
If it’s a severe break you may need to be taken to the public hospital where you’ll be treated under the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which covers 80% of costs. The rest will be covered by your Admiral Winter Sports Travel Insurance, or out of your own pocket if you choose to travel without cover.
Take a look at the true costs of getting ill abroad including how much hospital treatments cost across Europe and worldwide.
Do I need European Travel Insurance if I have an EHIC card?
Carrying the EHIC – sometimes called the European travel insurance card - means you can get state-level medical cover in the country you’re travelling in – if they accept the card.
Each country’s healthcare system is different and might not include the things you’d expect at home, or even cover you at all.
In Cyprus, for example, the EHIC is only valid in southern Cyprus. It isn’t accepted in the Republic of Cyprus (north) where the government doesn’t have effective control; it’s run by Turkey.
The EHIC isn’t valid in Turkey at all.
In the countries where it is valid, it only covers medical emergencies. It won’t cover all medical or repatriation costs if you need to be brought home for treatment, which is why travel insurance is so important.
It’s free to get an EHIC from the NHS online so get one before setting off on your next holiday and carry it at all times.
If you'll be travelling in Europe after Brexit, take a look at our EHIC after Brexit page to get an idea of how much it could cost to get treatment in Europe if EHIC is no longer available.
Where does European Travel Insurance cover?
Different insurers define ‘Europe’ in different ways, which can make buying the right cover for your holiday confusing.
In Admiral’s case, we cover 50 European countries, and our policies stretch the boundaries of Europe to include places like:
- Egypt
- Morocco
- Tunisia
- Turkey
Some insurers may have a smaller definition of Europe, while others may describe their policy as covering ‘Schengen’ countries. The Schengen Area is made up of 26 countries that have abolished border controls at their mutual borders.
For other providers who don’t define Europe in this way, or if you’re planning multiple holidays spanning Europe and further afield then worldwide travel insurance could be better suited to your needs.
Admiral Travel Insurance breaks down travel into three zones:
- Europe
- Worldwide excluding USA, Canada and Caribbean
- Worldwide
Then three tiers of cover with increasing coverage and product benefits are available. You can choose between Admiral, Admiral Gold or Admiral Platinum to suit your needs best.
Do I need single or annual European Travel Insurance?
Whether you’re planning one European jaunt in a year or multiple holidays to the continent, we have the cover you need.
Our single trip insurance is best for those who are not frequent holidaymakers, and covers you for one trip for up to 365 days.
If you plan on travelling more than once throughout a year, annual European travel insurance is for you.
You’ll be covered no matter how many times you choose to travel (up to 31 days at a time, but this may be extended upon request), and could be perfect for people with a house-share across the channel or those who frequently travel.
Your questions answered
Can I travel anywhere in Europe?
You won’t be covered if you travel to a country which the Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) has advised ‘against all travel’ or ‘against all but essential travel’.
Can I buy travel insurance to Europe from the UK?
Yes - you must buy travel insurance while you're still in the UK; you can’t take out Admiral cover one you’ve gone through Customs.
Will my travel insurance cover skiing or snowboarding in Europe?
If you’re planning a ski or snowboarding trip to any of Europe’s spectacular mountain resorts, you’ll need to add our Winter Sports upgrade onto your policy.
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Looking for something different?
Admiral offers great value with flexible options across all our travel products