martin moneysaver travel

Compare Cheap Travel Insurance Quotes

Peace of mind while you travel.

For such an important product, travel insurance is often all too easy to overlook. As with most kinds of insurance, you always hope to not need it, but on the off chance that you do fall ill or injure yourself on your travels, you could find yourself facing huge bills if you don't have adequate cover.

Travel insurance is for more than just medical bills though - the right policy will also pay out if your flight is delayed, or if your baggage goes missing, for example.

Arguably the most important thing you'll need travel insurance for is to cover you should you fall ill or injure yourself while abroad. Medical treatment can be very expensive in other countries, as can travel in ambulances should you need to be transported to a hospital from far away. Travel insurance policies will typically cover you for a huge amount of expenditure on medical bills for a relatively low up front cost.

It's not just for medical bills though. Many policies will also cover you for:

Often, travel insurance providers will refuse to cover you for treatment related to any pre-existing medical conditions. This includes anything that you've had treatment for in the past.

Just Travel are different. They have a large panel of specialist insurers so that they can get you a tailored policy that gives you exactly the kind of cover you need, regardless of your medical history.

The following quotation is offered in partnership with ME Expert LTD and SEOPA LTD, in order to effectively offer this service information may be passed between both providers, all information in handled in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2016. Both parties act as licenced Data-Controllers as defined by the ICO and act as such. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, please be aware that information entered may also be subject to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service of SEOPA LTD.ME Expert is an appointed representative of Money Expert Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN679652

Weekdays 10am-12:30pm

Martin Lewis: How to get the best travel insurance on the market

As many of us set upon our annual summer holidays, we all want the best currency deal. But where do we find it? Martin Lewis gives us the lowdown - plus the best cards, their rates and how to avoid the dreaded pitfalls of holiday currency.

THE VALUE OF THE POUND: A few years ago, before the EU referendum vote, a pound bought €1.43 – since it's dropped significantly and hasn’t recovered much. Last summer it bought €1.14, and today it’s hovering around the €1.12 mark. Against the dollar, the rate is just $1.32 – about a decade ago it bought roughly $2. It’s similar with most other currencies.This has hit imports and the cost of living. Yet that’s an indirect cost to most. The most obvious effect is more expensive holidays.

APPLY FOR A SPENDING CARD: Apply now for a cheap overseas spending card. The easiest and cheapest way to spend abroad is on the right card, but they can take a couple of weeks to arrive, so early planning helps. Normally spend abroad on cards and it adds a 'non sterling exchange fee' of 3% ish, meaning £100 of euros costs you £103. Plus there are cash withdrawal fees on top. Yet specialist cards don't do that. These cards give you near-perfect rates every time you spend, on every trip to every country.

MARTIN’S TOP TRAVEL CARDS:

Top for cheap spending, reliability and a free £20.

The Halifax Clarity card gives near-perfect rates on spending everywhere, plus apply before 31 August, and spend abroad on it by the end of September and you get £20 cashback. The card’s been around a long time, and has very good feedback. It's better to spend on the card than withdraw cash, and of course, as it’s a credit card repay in full so there's no 18.9% rep APR interest. If you do withdraw cash, there's interest even if you repay in full (about £1.50 per £100 per month), but even that's usually better than bureaux de change.

2. Cheap spending & cash withdrawals, plus no credit check.

The debit card from app-only Starling Bank has no charge for spending abroad and no cash withdrawal fee. Plus unlike a credit card there’s no credit check, (unless you want an overdraft) so anyone can get it - though it does do ID checks) Technically it's a current account, but you can just add cash to it for spending abroad as you needn't switch to it or make a min pay-in.

3. Top card if you want it for spending abroad and at home.

The Tandem credit card also gives near-perfect exchange rates on spending worldwide, plus 0.5% cashback on spending in the UK and abroad. So if you want to trouser just one card to pay off IN FULL and spend everywhere, this is a good option. Like the Halifax Clarity, its 18.9% rep APR for spending and cash withdrawals, but it's app-only (though has some poor reviews) and a new deal, so I don't know how long it will last.

BEWARE OF OVERSEAS DEBIT CARDS: Beware of the overseas debit cards from hell. Not only do these debit cards add around 3% to the exchange rate and an ATM fee, they also add charges every time you use them overseas. They are the standard card from:

- Bank of Scotland (50p fee per transaction)

- Halifax (50p fee per transaction)

- Lloyds (50p fee per transaction)

- Santander (£1.25 fee per transaction)

- TSB (£1 fee per transaction)

- Clydesdale/Yorkshire (no spending fee but minimum £1.50 exchange fee per transaction) - NatWest/RBS (no spending fee but minimum £1 exchange fee per transaction, though waived till Sep for most customers) Any other card, including a credit card (if repaid in full), is cheaper to spend on than these.

DON’T EXCHANGE MONEY AT THE AIRPORT: Want travel cash – think about it sooner and don’t leave it until the airport. Never wait until you get to the airport or ferry station to get cash, rates there are hideous. For example it can cost you nearly £1,050 to get €1,000 at the airport (not pre-ordered) compared to £900 via the cheapest online bureau and less if you spend on the cheapest overseas card. Ignore such marketing spiel as ‘commission free’ that just means they load the cost into the exchange rate. Instead just compare by simply asking how many dollars, euros or whatever you’ll get for your cash after all fees. Use an online travel money comparison site to do it for you is the easiest way.

WILL BREXIT AFFECT MY EUROS? Many who are going away later in the summer are asking “with the Brexit discussions should I buy euros now or wait?” Currency moves are unpredictable. If you're worried, buy half now (either via cash or a prepaid card - both of which effectively lock you in at today’s rate – the top rates tend to come from Revolut though it charges £5 to get direct, though search online and you can find it for free) and the rest using the best specialist credit cards once there (as they give you the rate on the day you spend).

DON’T BUY CASH OR LOAD A PREPAID CARD: Don't buy cash or load a prepaid card with a credit card. Most credit card providers count buying foreign currency as a cash withdrawal - and they usually charge a fee for those, and interest even if you repay in full. Some (including Santander and Virgin Money) do the same when loading up prepaid cards. So it's better to pay on a debit card, as they can't charge fees for it.

DON’T PAY IN POUNDS: Opt to pay in the foreign currency not pounds if they ask. If you’re paying on plastic and they ask you whether you want to pay in pounds or euros (or the local currency of where you are). Pay in euros. Then your card does the exchange rate, if not they do it, it’s usually worse.

UK Edition Change

• UK Politics
• News Videos
• Paris 2024 Olympics
• Rugby Union
• Sport Videos
• John Rentoul
• Mary Dejevsky
• Andrew Grice
• Sean O’Grady
• Photography
• Theatre & Dance
• Culture Videos
• Fitness & Wellbeing
• Food & Drink
• Health & Families
• Royal Family
• Electric Vehicles
• Car Insurance Deals
• Lifestyle Videos
• UK Hotel Reviews
• News & Advice
• Simon Calder
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America
• C. America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• Politics Explained
• News Analysis
• Today’s Edition
• Home & Garden
• Broadband deals
• Fashion & Beauty
• Travel & Outdoors
• Sports & Fitness
• Sustainable Living
• Climate Videos
• Solar Panels
• Behind The Headlines
• On The Ground
• Decomplicated
• You Ask The Questions
• Binge Watch
• Travel Smart
• Watch on your TV
• Crosswords & Puzzles
• Most Commented
• Newsletters
• Ask Me Anything
• Virtual Events
• Betting Sites
• Online Casinos
• Wine Offers

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Martin Lewis issues ‘must-know’ travel warning for holidaymakers

Tv consumer guru stresses importance of sorting easily-overlooked detail when booking holidays, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts

Get simon calder’s travel email, thanks for signing up to the simon calder’s travel email.

TV money-saving expert Martin Lewis has urged people booking their summer holidays this January to act now on travel insurance and avoid a common pitfall.

Writing in his latest Money Saving Expert subscriber newsletter, the personal finance guru stressed the importance of sorting your insurance early and not leaving it to the last minute or allowing it to become neglected altogether.

“Each spring without fail, someone asks me a heartbreaking question,” he told his readers. “Usually they’ve been diagnosed with cancer or another serious condition that needs long-term treatment, and they won’t be able to go on their summer holiday.

“Yet the airline won’t refund them – within its rights as the ticket is not faulty.

• Martin Lewis warns broadband prices are about to go up – here’s what you need to know
• Martin Lewis issues bill warning to anyone who lives in a flat
• Martin Lewis issues warning to anyone who uses a debit card

“I say, ‘That’s what travel insurance is for’. Sometimes though, they tell me they haven’t got round to getting it yet.

“My heart sinks as I have to tell them there’s no recourse. Half the point of the cover is to protect you if things happen that stop you going, so get it ASAB – As Soon As You Book.”

He also advised his fans to ensure they have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or its replacement, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), before they depart, as these permits entitle you to medical treatment in state-run hospitals and GPs practises across Europe for the same price as a local.

The GHIC was a last-minute element of the Brexit trade agreement to continue reciprocal healthcare between the UK and the EU.

The deal includes medically necessary treatment such as kidney dialysis, oxygen therapy and chemotherapy – allowing people with chronic conditions to continue to travel.

But rather than continuing with membership of the Ehic scheme, the UK’s chosen departure from the European Union means British travellers will have access to free or reduced-rate medical treatment only in the EU27 – not the associated countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

A separate agreement has been reached with Norway.

Anyone who has a valid Ehic need not apply for the new card, as the European document will continue in effect until its expiry date. Both cards will offer equivalent protection for emergency and medically necessary health care when in the EU on a temporary stay, which includes holiday, study and business travel.

The card is available free of charge by phone (0300 330 1350) or from nhs.uk/Ghic .

Following a Christmas break after topping the festive charts with a charity single he recorded with LadBaby, Martin Lewis is back on his customary media blitz, recently advising his audiences across various platforms on how to save money on cinema tickets , broadband and water bills .

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Want an ad-free experience?

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

• My Independent Premium
• Account details
• Help centre

• Cambridgeshire
• Privacy policy
• Cookie Policy
• Print advertising
• Website advertising
• What’s on
• East of England Guide

Martin Lewis: Check Your Holiday Insurance, Save Money

Every year, for the past few years, someone with cancer or another similarly serious diagnosis, has contacted me via social media to ask something akin to, ‘I’ve just been diagnosed, I was due to go on holiday in six weeks, but now need chemo. The airline won’t refund my ticket, what are my rights?’

I find these messages both distressing and frustrating. The honest answer is, you usually have no legal rights unless the ticket is flexible. After all if you buy a tennis racket, then break your arm, the racket isn’t faulty. So if you buy an airline ticket, but you can’t go, the airline’s not at fault.

This is exactly what travel insurance is for. Yet many people leave it until the last minute to buy it. This defeats half the purpose of the cover – to protect you in case something stops you going away. So get a policy as soon as you book. And if you’re reading this, and have booked, but have no insurance, you’re financially naked, cover up now!

And that’s not the only travel insurance need-to-know…

Can you believe drink and holidays don’t mix!

When it comes to insurance anyway. If you plan to drink on your holiday, do note if something happens when you’re not fully with it, many insurers won’t pay out. And it isn’t just a case of taking care of your health, don’t take valuables out with you if you drink; if they’re nicked (or lost), you’re likely stumped.

Go away two or more times in a year?

Get an annual policy from just £9. In almost every case if you go away two or more times in a year an annual policy is cheaper than single trip. Even if one is just a weekend break. The only exception is if one of those trips needs specialist cover – such as for off-piste skiing.

Who the cheapest insurer is depends on your age, yet prices start at £9 for an individual policy for an 18 year old in Europe; while the cheapest for someone aged 50 travelling worldwide with their family is £39. There’s a wide-range of options, so see my full best-buys at  www.mse.me/travelinsurance .

If you’re looking for single trip policies, then just do a quick comparison at  www.moneysupermarket.com  or  www.comparethemarket.com .

Is your EHIC still valid? Over 5 million are out of date.

The free European Health Insurance Card means if you go to a GP or state run hospital within the EU, you are treated like a local. So if it’s free for them, it’s free for you. Everyone, including children, travelling to the EU should have one with them.

Yet check the date on yours to see if it’s still valid. And if you need to renew DON’T GOOGLE IT, you’ll find official looking shyster sites that’ll charge you for ‘fast tracking’, or some other nonsense. EHICs are always free, you should never pay, go direct to  www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC .

An EHIC should be seen as an extra to travel insurance not a replacement. Travel insurance covers far more scenarios, as well as possessions, delays, repatriation and more. Plus, even when using an EHIC you may need to pay, and travel insurance will cover that (and often using the EHIC means you don’t pay the excess).

Equally many travel insurance exclusions don’t apply with EHICs. So If you’ve been drinking you’ll still be treated (not an excuse to push it), or if you’ve got a pre-existing conditions, it still works. Though medical tourism – going abroad to get treatment – is prohibited.

Worldwide family travel insurance, breakdown cover and family mobile phone cover for £120/yr.

The  www.nationwide.co.uk  Flexplus bank account costs £10 a month (set to increase to £13 in September with some changes), yet account holders get worldwide family travel insurance for those up to age 74, European breakdown and mobile phone insurance for the whole family. The cover levels are good too – separately this could cost £600/year. So providing you’d be buying this cover anyway, this can be a bargain.

Over 65s cheap cover is possible.

Prices rise heavily as you get older. Though cheap annual policies are still possible especially if you’re under 75, I’ve put a full list at  www.mse.me/over65travel .

The Nationwide Flexplus account above is also worth considering, and if you’re over 75 (with no major pre-existing conditions) you can pay an extra £50 and still be covered by it.

Had past medical problems? Trial and error helps.

If you’ve had past medical problems, regardless of age, it can be a major barrier to getting cover. The real key here is to try a lot of different specialist insurers and hope one has underwriters that see you as a lower risk. I’d start with the two specialist comparison sites  www.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk  and  www.allcleartravel.co.uk , then add in some they miss like  www.miatravelinsurance.co.uk ,  www.staysure.co.uk  and  www.insurancewith.com .

I got a tweet from someone recently who went through this list and managed to cut their initial quote from an unaffordable £2,000, to just a horrid £450.

An annual policy usually covers you for holidays even after it’s finished.

I’m often asked something akin to: “My annual travel insurance policy runs out in October, but I’ve booked to go away for Christmas – am I covered?” Well if something happens before October that means you can’t go at Christmas, yes you’re covered – but you’ll need a new policy to start the day after the current one ends to be covered after that.

Sometimes Europe isn’t Europe.

European cover is generally defined geographically, and not just for the EU. Yet quite a number of insurers also include Turkey and the North African Mediterranean coast – so Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia. It’s worth checking. And bizarrely a very small number DON’T include Spain, so check.

Martin Lewis is the Founder and Chair of  MoneySavingExpert.com . To join the 12 million people who get his free Money Tips weekly email, go to  www.moneysavingexpert.com/latesttip

Martin Lewis

Martin Lewis is the Founder and Chair of MoneySavingExpert.com

Top historical attractions for the summer holidays in East Anglia 2017

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Dog-friendly Attractions in Norfolk

10 of the Best Essex Villages to Visit

Christmas Markets in Cambridgeshire

A walk around Saffron Walden and Audley End Park

The best ghost tours in east anglia.

Beach Huts just got Cool

A Guide to Punting in Cambridge

Get Creative this Half Term

Eastlife Spring 2023 edition

Review: New Vegan Menu – Giggling Squid, Cambridge 

La Bohème is Coming to Alive Corn Exchange – Kings Lynn

East of England’s essential guide for what’s on around the region! Allowing you to make the most of where you live. Read more

• All Counties
• All Sections
• Around the Region
• Beds, Bucks & Herts
• Competitions
• Dog-Friendly
• Featured news
• Food & Drink
• Little East
• Publications
• Uncategorized

Recent News

© 2020 Local Media Publishing - Site managed by Doug Dawson Creative .

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Remember Me

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Insurance servicing

• Life insurance (opens in a new window)
• Home insurance (opens in a new window)
• Travel insurance (opens in a new window)
• Car insurance (opens in a new window)

Internet Banking

• Sign in to internet banking (opens in a new window)
• Register for internet banking (opens in a new window)

Travel insurance

M&S Travel Insurance offers a choice of single or annual multi-trip policies which include * :

Travel disruption cover

• Protection against your transport or accommodation provider going insolvent so you can recover your costs
• 10% discount for new policies purchased online †

Get a quote

Retrieve a quote

M&S Travel Insurance is underwritten by Aviva Insurance Limited.

Features and benefits

Medical emergency.

If you’re ill or have an accident abroad, your medical expenses could be covered up to £10 million.

M&S Travel Insurance will cover you for emergency medical expenses if you catch Covid-19 during your trip abroad.

Subject to policy terms and conditions. Please read the ‘Your health’ section in the policy booklet on existing medical conditions.

Cancelling or coming home early

Claim for unrecoverable costs up to £6,000 if you need to cancel your trip or come home early.

Claim for cancelling your trip if the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advise against travel to your destination in the 31 days leading up to your holiday.

Subject to policy terms and conditions.

Medical screening

You’ll be asked questions about your medical conditions when you complete your quote.

You’ll need to tell us if, in the last 12 months, any traveller has been prescribed medication, received or is awaiting medical treatment, tests or investigations, or have been admitted to hospital for any illness, injury or disease, including Covid-19.

All policies include travel disruption cover as standard. This offers additional protection for non-refundable travel costs.

Insolvency of transport or accommodation provider

This cover offers protection against your transport or accommodation provider going insolvent so you can recover your costs.

Enhance your policy

Baggage – protection if your bags go missing or get damaged.

Winter sports – cover for winter sports and the loss or damage of your sports equipment.

*M&S Travel Insurance is underwritten by Aviva Insurance Limited. Terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations apply. In addition there are important conditions relating to health which may affect your cover.

Annual multi-trip age limit of under 80, with no age limit for single trip policies.

Existing travel insurance customer information

Instant help

Ask our Virtual Assistant

Important documents

M&S Travel Insurance Product Information Document

M&S Travel Insurance policy booklet

M&S Travel Insurance Summary of Cover limits

M&S Travel Insurance - Important Information

You may require Adobe PDF reader to view PDF documents. Download Adobe Reader

How do I make a claim?

To make a claim you will need to contact Aviva.

• For medical emergency claims please call Aviva on 0800 051 6561 or +44 160 360 4906 if calling from abroad.
• If you don’t need urgent medical attention you can make a claim online or by calling Aviva on 0800 051 4780 or +44 160 360 3783 from abroad.
• You’ll need to provide the following information when making a claim:
• Your personal details, plus details for anyone else claiming on this policy.
• Details about your trip, for example, date of travel and airline (if it’s relevant).
• Your bank account details so that Aviva can settle your claim as soon as a decision is made.
• You can also make a claim if you do not require urgent medical attention by calling 0800 051 4780 or +44 160 360 3783 from overseas. Lines are open 8am-8pm Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm Saturday and public holidays.

What's a policy excess?

This is the amount of money you have to pay if you make a claim.

M&S Travel Insurance has an excess of £100 per person per claim and you can choose to reduce the excess to £50 which will increase your premium.

Are there any charges to change or cancel my policy?

To make sure that you have the right cover in place, please let us know of any changes during the annual policy term. We do not make any charges for mid term changes.

If you cancel your policy within 14 days of receiving your policy documentation we will refund all premiums paid provided you have not travelled or made a claim, and there has been no incident which may result in a claim being raised.

If you wish to cancel the policy after the 14 days then there will be no cancellation charge and no refund of premium will be made.

Will I have to declare any medical conditions?

You need to tell us if you, or anyone else on your policy, have had any illness, injury or disease within the last 12 months where they have:

• Been prescribed medication and/or
• Received or are awaiting, medical treatment, tests or investigations and/or
• Been referred to, or had a follow up with, a specialist and/or
• Been admitted to hospital or had surgery

You may also want to

Find out more about single trip travel insurance

Find out more about multi-trip travel insurance

View exchange rates for M&S Travel Money

Get a car insurance quote

Get a pet insurance quote

Get a home insurance quote

Compare travel insurance cover options

Cover you can rely on.

We offer a choice of cover options so you can tailor your travel insurance to meet your needs. You can compare the level and types of cover in the table below. Whether you decide to add any cover options to your policy or not, you can relax knowing we'll deal with any claim quickly and fairly if something goes wrong with your travel plans.

Cover options

Available for single trip and annual multi-trip travel insurance policies. All cover levels are per person.

What's not covered

• Known events; there is no cover in relation to any event, circumstances or incident you knew about (or were reasonably expected to know about) at the time you booked your trip or purchased your policy (whichever is later) and could reasonably be expected to affect your travel plans.
• Costs which are recoverable from your travel and/or accommodation provider/agent, your debit/credit card provider, PayPal, ABTA, ATOL or similar.
• Travelling against Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice. This includes advice or measures put in place by governments and local authorities in the UK or abroad.
• Travelling with the intention of seeking medical treatment or advice abroad, for example to have cosmetic surgery or dental treatment.

Please ensure you read the policy booklet for full details on what is and isn’t covered, in particular the Exclusions which apply to the policy.

Get a quote for M&S Travel Insurance

Apply over the phone: 0800 051 3263

Retrieve your saved quote

Lines are open 8am - 8pm Monday to Friday, 9am - 6pm Saturday, and 10am - 2pm Sunday. Calls are recorded.

† Discount is available for new policies only and excludes renewals or amendments to existing policies

We do the planning for you so you can just enjoy your trip

Let's book the vacation of your dreams and within your budget.

Experience the Best with Money Saver Travel Agency

Get ready to embark on the journey of a lifetime with Money Saver Travel Agency. Our team of travel experts has handpicked the best destinations and activities for you to enjoy. From stunning beaches to historic landmarks, we've got you covered. Book now and let us take care of the rest!

Referral Bonus ask for details

For every referral you send me that books a trip o

Disney World Money saving tips

I have been going to Disney since I was 10 years o

About Money Saver Travel Agency

At Money Saver Travel Agency, we're passionate about travel. Our team of experts have years of experience and have traveled extensively to give you the best recommendations and advice. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or a first-time explorer, we're here to help you plan your next adventure.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

Our services.

We started Money Saver Travel Agency with a simple goal: to help people explore the world. Our team of experienced travel experts work tirelessly to craft unique and unforgettable experiences for our clients.

Whether you're looking for a cruise, plane tickets, accommodations, or the whole package, we have you covered. Simply tell one of our specialists where you want to go, and we'll help you figure out the rest. We work directly with other companies to get the best deals.

While working with us, we want you to be completely happy with the experience. If you have questions about us, our services, get in touch! We hope you continue to book with us for many years to come. 

Join Our Mailing List

Discover the unseen corners of the world with money saver travel agency, find out what our clients say about us.

Check out this great video

Copyright © 2024 Money Saver Travel Agency - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by GoDaddy

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.