Appealing to both young and old, Thailand draws in over a million British tourists every year.
Whether it’s party-goers waiting for sunrise at the Ko Phangnan’s Full Moon Party or food-lovers seeking healthy street food at affordable prices, Thailand’s tropical beaches and party towns remain a popular choice for Brits.
Covid-19 - what our travel insurance covers
Our travel insurance now covers you for certain events related to Coronavirus (COVID-19), provided you have proof of a positive Covid-19 test and your cover is active at the time of the event.
What we cover
We provide cover for some costs related to Covid-19: please see Section 1 'emergency medical costs and repatriation' and Section 2 'cancelling or cutting short your trip' in your policy book for full details on what's covered.
We'll cover you if:
- you were diagnosed with Covid-19 before your trip was due to start
- a close relative died or became seriously ill as a result of Covid-19 before your trip was due to start
- you weren't allowed to board your pre-booked outbound travel due to symptoms of Covid-19
- an insured person or a close relative died during the trip because of Covid-19
- you couldn't take part in an excursion due to you self-isolating after getting Covid-19
What we don’t cover
You won't be covered if:
- you had reason to believe your trip may be cancelled, postponed or cut short when you booked it, purchased your policy or started your trip
- any government or public authority imposes travel restrictions or quarantine on a community, location, or vessel because of Covid-19 (this includes, but is not limited to, local lockdowns, entry requirements, being denied entry and airspace closures)
- you have to quarantine after arriving in the UK or abroad
- the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) change their advice to avoid ‘all travel’ or ‘all but essential travel’ to your destination because of Covid-19
For more information about how Coronavirus (COVID-19) affects your travel cover, see our FAQ page. And remember to check the policy booklet carefully before you buy to make sure our cover meets your needs.
Travel Insurance Thailand
Travel insurance is broken down into four zones:
- UK
- Europe
- Worldwide excluding USA, Canada, Caribbean & Mexico
- Worldwide
For Thailand, you’ll need worldwide excluding USA, Canada, Caribbean and Mexico cover.
When you’re looking for the best travel insurance for Thailand, you’ll want a policy which protects you against.
- Having to cancel or cut your trip short
- Your personal belongings being stolen
- The airline losing your luggage
At Admiral, we offer three levels of cover – Admiral, Gold and Platinum – depending on your budget and needs.
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) |
£1.5K | £3K | £5K |
Personal belongings (Limits up to) |
£1K | £2K | £2.5K |
Money & documents (Limits up to) |
£300 | £400 | £500 |
Read the full list of benefits in the policy summary booklet.
And you can decide if you want cover for just one holiday – Single Trip Insurance – or if you plan on going abroad more than once a year, you may find our Multi Trip Insurance is more cost-effective.
When it comes to activities – and there are loads that’ll tickle your fancy in Thailand – Admiral covers a whole host of adventure sports as standard. Looking for some inspiration? These popular choices are all covered by us:
- Wakeboarding in Bangkok
- Surfing in Phuket
- Ziplining in Krabi
Healthcare in Thailand
While Thailand has some excellent private hospitals, they can be expensive. Public hospitals do not meet the same standards as UK healthcare, and many require payment upfront.
In case you do need to seek medical treatment, travel insurance is an essential addition to your Thailand holiday checklist.
If you think of getting around Thailand, there’s a good chance a moped will come to mind – they are ubiquitous with both tourists and locals alike. But if you suffer a ‘Koh Samui tattoo’ – when someone rests their leg calf on the moped’s hot exhaust pipe - you could be forking out thousands of pounds for treatment if you don’t have holiday insurance. Bear in mind you’ll need extra cover if you plan to drive a moped with an engine size above 125cc.
Admiral Travel Insurance’s Cost of Getting Ill Abroad revealed you could pay up to £15,000 in medical costs if the wound isn’t treated immediately. Thailand’s humidity can quickly lead to infection, so you could be looking at paying anything between £3,000 and £15,000 for hospital admission and antibiotic treatment.
Zika and dengue fever
Mosquitoes in Thailand have been identified as carrying the Zika (ZIKV) and dengue viruses. Both are viral infections, with dengue causing a flu-like illness.
ZIKV shows no symptoms in most infected people. Holidaymakers are advised to take extra precautions against mosquito bites when in Thailand, particularly between dusk and dawn.
Due to the risk of ZIKV, pregnant women are advised against travelling to Thailand.
Prescription medication
If you need to take medication with you to Thailand, make sure you read up on its legality before you pack it. Some over the counter medicines in the UK are considered controlled substances in Thailand. You can read more on the Royal Thai Embassy website.
Family travel insurance Thailand
If you’re hitting Thailand’s beautiful beaches or visiting the tranquil temples with your loved ones, take a look at Admiral Family Insurance. A family policy can have a maximum of two adults and up to five children (up to the age of 24).
It covers the following family members living at the same address:
- Parents
- Step-parents
- Grandparents
- Aunts and uncles
- Cousins
What if I have a pre-existing condition?
A pre-existing condition is a short or long term illness or injury you have or have had before you buy travel insurance. This includes having symptoms, tests, diagnosis or medical treatment for a condition.
You can declare your pre-existing conditions during the quote process to see if we can offer cover. If you’re unsure what needs to be declared or if you're unable to find your condition on the medical conditions list, please contact us on 0333 234 9913.
Your pre-existing conditions won’t be covered unless you’ve:
- Declared them all on your policy
- Received written confirmation that we’ll cover your medical condition
- Paid any additional premium in full
Policy terms and conditions apply. Please note, if you’ve had a positive diagnosis of Covid-19 and been prescribed medication, received treatment, or had a consultation with a doctor or hospital specialist for any medical condition in the past two years, this needs to be declared on your policy.
If you don’t tell us about your pre-existing conditions or give us incorrect information, your policy may be invalid, and we may refuse all or part of any claim you submit.
For a quote with us, click the green button above.
The MoneyHelper directory
If you require cover for more serious medical conditions, MoneyHelper may be able to help you find specialist travel insurance through their medical directory.
If you wish to get in touch with them you can call them on 0800 138 7777 or find them online. (Monday to Friday 8:00-18:00, closed on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.)
Your questions answered
What vaccinations do I need for Thailand?
When it comes to jabs for Thailand, you should be up-to-date with your routine vaccinations and tetanus is usually recommended. For a full list of suggested jabs for Thailand and worldwide, check out our guide to travel vaccinations.
Do I need a visa for Thailand from UK?
If your holiday is for less than 30 days, you don’t need a visa
Is terrorism covered?
Terrorism is excluded from all sections of the policy except for the Emergency Medical and Repatriation, Personal Belongings, Personal Accident and Hijack sections (where cover is provided as part of the platinum tier only).
Terrorism is any act or threat of action by a person or group intended to influence a government or to frighten the public or any section of it.
Acts of terrorism can include:
- violence against a person
- damage to property
- putting life in danger
- creating a health risk to the public
- interfering with or seriously disrupting computer systems or transport services including cyber terrorism
- biological, chemical or nuclear force or contamination
Do I need travel insurance for Thailand?
It’s not compulsory to have travel insurance in Thailand but it’s a good idea to make sure you’re covered if you fall ill or have an accident. If you break a leg and need assistance getting back to the UK, it could cost £17,000 – find out more about medical costs in Thailand in the cost of getting ill abroad.
What's the best kind of travel insurance for Thailand?
Whether you need a single trip policy or annual multi-trip policy, you’ll need to choose at least worldwide excluding USA, Canada, Caribbean and Mexico if you’re visiting Thailand. You can then choose from one of our three tiers depending on the level of cover you might need.
Will my travel insurance cover scuba diving in Thailand?
If you’re a qualified scuba diver, Admiral Travel Insurance covers you for personal accident and personal liability when diving to a depth of 30m. If you’re not a qualified diver, the limit is 18m.
Getting the most out of your trip
Going anywhere nice?
Off to one of the destinations below? Take a look at our guides for some hints and tips on what you need to remember.
Travel insurance that suits you
Whether you're travelling solo, with your family, or with a little one on the way, read our guides to make sure our cover is right for you.
Travel Insurance upgrades
Whether you want the adrenaline rush of a skiing holiday, or fancy taking to the seas on a cruise, you'll need to add extra cover to your policy.