Comparison of the best travel insurance for a single trip in 2025/26

After traveling long-term for years (and therefore opting for long-term / backpacker travel insurance), we’ve lately been taking shorter trips ranging from two weeks to three months. But a shorter trip doesn’t mean you shouldn’t purchase travel insurance all the same.

In this post, we’ve decided to take a closer look at when you really need a travel insurance for a short trip (less than 3 months). We’ll look specifically at what credit cards might cover and what additional coverage travel insurance offers. Finally, we have put together a comprehensive comparison table of the best single trip travel insurance policies (in our opinion, of course) to help you make the right choice for your needs.

Alright, let’s tackle this big chunk. We promise we’ll do our best to make it as easy to digest as possible ;).

Top 3 single trip travel insurance policies (under 3 months)

If you don’t feel like scrolling to the end of this post and just want to know which are the best single trip travel insurance policies, you’ll find them right below. If you want to understand how we selected these policies, we obviously recommend you to read the detailed comparison and the coverage details.

The cheapest single trip travel insurance

I’d say that if you’re under 35–40 years old, it’s hard to beat Yupwego and its Ready to go international (AXA) coverage, which offers prices starting at €21 for two weeks of solo travel. At that price you’ll get decent medical expense coverage (€80,000 in Europe and €500,000 elsewhere in the world), good personal liability coverage (aside from the cap on property damage, which is a bit low: €46,000). Despite the deductibles to pay, you’ll be covered for the essentials if something goes wrong, and that’s what matters most.

It’s also the insurance coverage that offers the best prices for couples or family trips :). So if you’re on a tight budget, you know which travel insurance to choose!

What’s more? They’ll even give you an extra 5% off if you use the code NOVO5 when you sign up :).

Note: ACS’s Globe Partner coverage is still an excellent, low-cost option for people under 40.

Holiday travel insurance with the best value for money.

If you want slightly higher coverage limits, we recommend you to take a look at Chapka’s Cap Assistance coverage (for solo travelers) or Truetraveller insurance, which also offers great prices for couples and families. In both cases, the coverage limits for medical expenses and liability are higher (and the prices, although a bit higher than Yupwego, remain reasonable).

But if you want to get a clear idea, you can simply use our comparison table below, selecting only the travel insurance coverages that interest you.

The best short-term travel insurance for seniors

Eh, yes, you may have guessed it but the rates for single trip travel insurance can quickly rise depending on your age. Fortunately, some insurers still offer reasonable rates for seniors.

You are under 65 years old.

I’d say it’s a toss-up between ACS’s Globe Traveller coverage, which offers great prices for this age group (no price increase with age), Yupwego, and Chapka. It will depend a bit on your destination and whether you’re traveling as a couple or not. So, here as well, I recommend using our comparison table to help you make your choice.

You are between 65 and 75 years old.

In that case, your best options will be with Chapka or Heymondo.

You are over 75 years old.

You can still subscribe to Chapka Cap Assistance up to age 80, but beyond that, only IMG will still be able to insure you (and it’s gonna be expensive).

Comparison of the best single trip travel insurance (Less than 3 months)

When you search the web on this topic, it’s often the same travel insurance names that come up (Worldnomads, Safetywing, IMG… the ones with the biggest marketing budget I guess, but not necessarily the best or the cheapest). But what is it really?

In the table below, we’ve compared for you the best short-term travel insurance (< 3 months). We deliberately left out coverages that were much more expensive to focus on those offering the best value for money. We hope this will be useful in helping you find the best travel insurance based on your trip plans and personal situation.

How to use our travel insurance comparison table?

The table below is interactive and allows you to compare the single trip insurance coverages you are most interested in. Here’s how to use it:

• Check the travel coverages you want to compare (for better readability, check no more than 4-5 on desktop and 2-3 on mobile)
• You can remove all the lines you are not interested in by clicking on the crosses and hide some parts you don’t need by clicking on the sub-headings
• To reset the comparison table, simply refresh the page.

If you have any suggestions or remarks, do not hesitate to leave us a comment.

The single trip travel insurance comparison table

	Subscribe	Subscribe	Subscribe	Subscribe (-5%)	Subscribe	Subscribe (-5%)	Subscribe (-5%)	Subscribe	Subscribe	Subscribe	Subscribe
Price / 2 weeks trip (less than 35-40 years old)
Solo traveler (Out of USA / Canada)	depends on the bank	29,5€	37,5€ / without options (54€ with Asia)	21€	46€ (Europe), 58€ (World out of USA, Canada, Thaïlande…)	50€ (Europe), 68€ (world out of USA, Canada)	54€ (Europe), 83€ (world out of USA, Canada)	22,5€ (Europe), 49€ (world out of USA, Canada)	28€ (Europe), 61€ (world out of USA, Canada)	21€	28€
Solo traveler (USA / Canada included)	depends on the bank	42€	59€ / without options	21€	68€	76€	97€	57€	71€	29€	53€
Couple (out of USA / Canada)	depending on the bank	59€	75€ / without options (108€ with Asia)	42€	87€ (Europe), 110€ (World out of USA, Canada, Thaïlande…)	100€ (Europe), 136€ (World out of USA, Canada)	110€ (Europe), 166€ (World out of USA, Canada)	45€ (Europe), 98€ (World out of USA, Canada)	56€ (Europe), 122€ (World out of USA, Canada)	43€	56€
Couple (USA / Canada included)	depending on the bank	84€	119€ / without options	42€	129€	152€	194€	113€	142€	58€	106€
Family of 4 (out of USA / Canada)	depending on the bank	118€	135€ / without option (194€ with Asia)	85€	156€ (Europe), 197€ (world out of USA, Canada, Thaïland…)	200€ (Europe), 271€ (world out of USA, Canada)	218€ (Europe), 332€ (world out of USA, Canada)	56€ (Europe), 122€ (world out of USA, Canada)	70€ (Europe), 153€ (world out of USA, Canada)	84€	112€
Family of 4 (USA / Canada included)	depending on the bank	168€	216€ / without option	85€	231€	303€	388€	141€	177€	116€	213€
Price / 2 weeks trip (over 35-40 years old)
Solo traveler (out of USA / Canada)	depending on the bank	not available	37,5€ / without option (54€ with Asia)	47€ if less than 60 years old, 113€ if less than 75 years old	46€ / 50€ if more than 65 years old (Europe), 58€ / 64€ if more than 65 years old (world out of USA, Canada, Thaïland…)	50€ (Europe), 68€ (world out of USA, Canada) if less than 70 years old	54€ (Europe), 83€ (world out of USA, Canada) if less than 70 years old	not available	31€ to 42€ (Europe), 67€ to 92€ (world out of USA, Canada) depending on the age	38€ to 197€ depending on the age	57€ to 398€ depending on the age
Solo traveler (USA / Canada included)	depending on the bank	not available	59€ / without option	50€ if less than 60 years old, 123€ if less than 75 years old	68€ / 75€ if more than 65 years old	76€ if less than 70 years old	97€ if less than 70 years old	not available	78€ to 106€ depending on the age	46€ to 217€ depending on the age	80€ to 854€ depending on the age
Couple (out of USA / Canada)	depending on the bank	not available	75€ / without option (108€ with Asia)	93€ if less than 60 years old, 227€ if less than 75 years old	87€ / 96€ if more than 65 years old (Europe), 110€ / 121 if less than 65 years old (world out of USA, Canada, Thaïland…)	100€ (Europe), 136€ (world out of USA, Canada) if less than 70 years old	110€ (Europe), 166€ (world out of USA, Canada) if less than 70 years old	not available	62€ to 84€ (Europe), 134€ to 184€ (world out of USA, Canada) depending on the age	77€ to 395€ depending on the age	115€ to 797€ depending on the age
Couple (USA / Canada inclus)	depending on the bank	not available	119€ / without option	100€ if less than 60 years old, 246€ if less than 75 years old	129€ / 142€ if more than 65 years old	152€ if less than 70 years old	194€ if less than 70 years old	not available	156€ to 212€ depending on the age	91€ to 435€	160€ to 1708€
Details of the insurance policy
Max Age	no limit	less than 40 years old	less than 66 years old	less than 75 years old	less than 80 years old	less than 70 years old	less than 70 years old	less than 40 years old	less than 65 years old	less than 120 years old	less than 120 years old
Country of residency for the coverage	World	World	World	World	Europe	World	World	Europe	Europe	World	World
Subscription during the trip	–	waiting period of 8 days	waiting period of 8 days	waiting period of 7 days	not possible	waiting period of 72h	waiting period of 72h	waiting period of 48h	waiting period of 48h	effective the next day	effective the next day
Refund of unused months	–	not possible	not possible	not possible	possible	not possible	not possible	not possible	not possible	not possible	not possible
Language of the insurance policy	depending on the bank	French & English	French & English	French & English	French & English	English	English	English	English	English	English
Medical coverage
Medical expenses abroad (max per person/year)	100% of the costs up to 155’000€	100% of the costs up to 300’000€	100% of the costs up to 150’000, 300’000 or 500’000€ depending on the options (except USA Canada 500’000€)	100% of the costs up to 80’000€ in Europe, 500’000€ in the rest of the world	100% of the costs up to 100’000€ in Europe, 500’000€ World (except USA, Canada, Thaïland…), 1’000’000€ in USA, Canada, Thaïland…	100% of the costs up to 5’000’000€	100% of the costs up to 10’000’000€	100% of the costs up to 10’000’000€	100% of the costs up to 10’000’000€	100% of the costs up to 100’000€ (up to 1’000’000€ as an option)	100% of the costs up to 2’000’000€ (up to 8’000’000€ as an option)
Excess	50€	no excess	no excess	30€	no excess	no excess	no excess	150€ (0€ as an option)	90€ (0€ as an option)	no excess but you can save money if you decide to pay one	no excess but you can save money if you decide to pay one
Emergency medical expenses in your country of residence	No	No (except for students, Max 15’000€)	No (except for students, Max 15’000€)	No	No	No	No	NO	No	Yes for a max of 14 consecutive days	Yes for a max of 14 consecutive days
Daily amount in case of hospitalization	not included	not included	not included	not included	not included	not included	not included	12€/day (max 240€)	20€/day (max 360€)	not included	not included
Emergency dental care	700€	300€	300€	300€	300€	300€	500€	300€	420€	260€	260€
Dental expenses following an accident	700€	600€	600€	300€	300€	300€	500€	300€	420€	260€	260€
Repatriation / Assistance abroad
Medical Repatriation – Emergency Medical Transportation	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs
Medical repatriation in case of Covid (Outbreak)	Yes	Yes	Yes	As an option	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Return of accompanying policyholders	Return ticket	not included	Round trip ticker	Return ticket	Return ticket	Return ticket	Return ticket	Return ticket	Return ticket	not included	not included
Presence of a family member in case of hospitalization	Round trip tickets plus 125€/night (max 10 nights)	Round trip tickets plus 80€/night (max 8 nights from the 7th day)	Round trip tickets plus 80€/night (max 8 nights from the 6th day)	Round trip tickets plus 200€/day (max 10 days)	Round trip tickets plus 80€/night (max 10 nights)	Round trip tickets plus living expenses from the 3rd day	Round trip tickets plus living expenses from the 3rd day	Round trip ticket plus accommodation costs	Round trip ticket plus accommodation costs	Round trip ticket (max 1300€)	Round trip ticket (max 1300€)
Non-medical repatriation (natural disaster, terrorism, war)	not included	not included	Transfer to a neighbouring country or home country (only in case of unstable political situation)	not included	not included	not included	not included	as an option	as an option	yes up to 21’500€	yes up to 21’500€
Accidental death / repatriation	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs), 800€ coffin costs and 310’000€ accidental death benefits	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs) and 8’000€ accidental death benefits	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs) and 10’000€ accidental death benefits	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs) 2’500€ coffin costs	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs), 2’300€ coffin costs and 10’000€ accidental death benefits	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs) and coffin costs	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs) and coffin costs	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs) and 6’000€ accidental death benefit	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs) and 12’000€ accidental death benefit	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs), burial / cremation costs max 4’300€ and 43’000€ of accidental death benefit	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs), burial / cremation costs max 4’300€ and 43’000€ oc accidental death benefit
Early return in case of death or hospitalization of a family member	Round trip ticket for 1 person	Return ticket in case of death only	Return ticket in case of death only	Round trip ticket (max 10’000€)	Return ticket	Return ticket	Return ticket	Return ticket (round trip as an option)	Return ticket (round trip as an option)	Return ticket (up to 8’6000€)	Return ticket (up to 8’6000€)
Search and rescue expenses	Actual costs	3’000€	5’000€	5’000€	10’000€	–	10’000€	–	18’000€	–	–
Legal expenses	3’100€ lawyer’s fee and 16’000€ criminal deposit	3’000€ lawyer’s fee and 7’000€ criminal deposit	3’000€ lawyer’s fee and 7’000€ criminal deposit	20’000€ per case	max 20’000€ per case	60’000€	60’000€	9’000€	18’000€	included in personal liability	included in personal liability
Personal liability
Bodily injury	1’525’000€	4’500’000€	4’500’000€	4’500’000€	4’500’000€	60’000€	60’000€	1’000’000€	2’000’000€	21’500€	21’500€
Property damage	1’525’000€	450’000€	450’000€	46’000€	300’000€	60’000€	60’000€	1’000’000€	2’000’000€	21’500€	21’500€
Excess	no excess	100€	100€	150€	no excess	no excess	no excess	150€ (0€ as an option)	90€ (0€ as an option)	85€	85€
Baggage / valuables
Theft, loss or destruction of baggage	800€ (during the round journey and in addition to the carrier insurance)	1’150€ (during the round journey and in addition to the carrier insurance)	2’000€	2’000€	3’000€	1’700€	2’500€	as an option (1’200€)	as an option (2’500€)	430€ (only if lost by a carrier during transport)	430€ (only if lost by a carrier during transport)
Max refund per valuable item	max 250€ / item	1’150€	2’000€	max 1’000€ / item	max 1’500€ / item	max 850€	max 1’250€	as an option (180€)	as an option (360€)	max 43€ / item (only if lost by a carrier during transport)	max 43€ / item (only if lost by a carrier during transport)
Exclusions for valuables	none	camera, phone and laptop not covered	phones are not covered	none	none	Electronics are included as an option	Electronics are included as an option	none	none	you can cover your phone as an option	you can cover your phone as an option
Delayed luggage delivery	400€	not included	150€	300€	300€	300€	500€	as an option (30€ every 12h up to 90€)	as an option (40€ every 12h up to 120€)	not included	not included
Included / excluded activities
Motorbikes less than 125cm3	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no	yes	yes	yes	yes
Trekking / Hiking	yes	yes	yes	yes (up to 4000m without gear)	yes (up to 4000m)	yes (below 3000m), 5000m as an option	yes (below 3000m), 5000m as an option	yes (less than 3000m, higher as an option)	yes (less than 3000m, higher as an option)	yes (less than 4500m)	yes (less than 4500m)
Mountaineering	yes (below 3000m)	no	as an option	no	no	no	no	as an option	as an option	no	no
Surf	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
KiteSurf	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	as an option	as an option	yes	yes	as an option	as an option
Rafting / Kayaking	yes	yes	yes	as an option	yes	as an option	as an option	yes (more dangerous as an option)	yes (more dangerous as an option)	yes less than class VI	yes less than class VI
Diving	yes (with professionals)	yes	as an option	yes up to 18m (up to 40m as an option)	yes up to 40m	as an option up to 20m	as an option up to 20m	yes up to 18m (deeper as an option)	yes up to 18m (deeper as an option)	yes up to 40m	yes up to 40m
Parachute	no	no	yes	no	no	no	no	as an option	as an option	as an option	as an option
paragliding / hang-gliding	no	no	as an option	no	no	no	no	as an option	as an option	as an option	as an option

What are the most important insurance coverage benefits for a short trip?

To be honest, the coverage is very similar for a short stay as for a long-term backpacking trip. So if you want the details of all the coverages that these insurance policies may include, you can take a look here.

But in our opinion, there are protections you absolutely need when you travel, and others that aren’t necessarily as important. We’ll therefore outline for you those that, in our opinion, are essential for all trips, and those that aren’t necessarily required for everyone.

Medical expenses abroad / hospitalization

Medical expenses are the coverage most travelers rely on, and it is, of course, included in all travel insurance coverages compared above (with different coverage limits). Whether it’s a doctor’s visit, antibiotics, a hospital stay, a surgical operation, or ambulance transport… the bill can quickly rise to several thousand euros (even tens of thousands) depending on your situation and the country you find yourself in.

Obviously, you don’t really want to think about this kind of situation when you’re planning a trip, but that’s exactly why you should get insurance: to travel with peace of mind while knowing that in case of problem, you won’t have to pay out astronomical sums (reimbursement from the first euro and not in addition to Social Security) and that there will be someone to help you (you’ll be in contact with your insurance for choosing the hospital, the doctor, the treatment, etc.).

Moreover, most travel insurance will also arrange for a family member to be by your side in the event of a prolonged hospitalization.

Repatriation

That happens very rarely (and we all hope it will never happen), but if something happens to you that is serious enough that you cannot be treated in the country you are in, your insurer may decide to repatriate you to your home country.

Personal liability

Imagine that you injure someone (during a sport activity, for example) or accidentally damage someone else’s property (like you spill coffee on your neighbor’s computer, lol); it’s your travel insurance’s liability coverage that would cover the costs.

The coverage limits are different for bodily injury (since these are medical expenses, they can add up quickly) and for property damage. But in any case, don’t travel without personal liability insurance.

Coverages that aren’t necessarily essential

In our opinion, medical expenses, repatriation, and personal liability are the three most important types of coverage! You absolutely need to be covered for these things because the consequences of bad luck could be dramatic (and possibly leave you in debt for a long time).

On the other hand, travel insurance also offers many other coverages, which, while interesting in some cases, aren’t necessarily as important. So ask yourself this question: what could happen in the worst-case scenario?

With the three points above, the worst-case scenario could clearly put you in a complicated situation, whereas for the points below, that’s not necessarily so obvious.

Early return

Early return is, unfortunately, one of the most commonly used benefits for long trips, more so than for short stays (the chances that something will happen to a family member are higher if you travel for a very long time). This coverage covers your return transportation costs (sometimes round-trip) in the event of the death or hospitalization of a family member.

Please note that the definition of “close relatives” varies depending on the insurance company. In general, policies with a broader definition (including grandparents, for example) and that cover the cost of a return ticket are more expensive. So it’s up to you to decide whether it’s worth it.

Legal assistance

Legal assistance is also generally included in all travel insurance coverages (with different coverage limits depending on the offers). It covers potential attorney fees or a bail bond in the event of a dispute abroad.

Luggage / valuables (theft, loss, delay)

Coverage for loss, theft, or delay of luggage and valuables can sometimes drive up the cost. Indeed, some insurance companies offer higher limits as an option if you’re willing to pay a little more.

But even there, ask yourself: is it really worth it? You’ll quickly buy again a new camera or a computer, or even the contents of your suitcase… In our opinion, travel insurance should cover only the truly serious or urgent matters. If, unfortunately, your camera gets stolen, it’s not the end of the world either 😉

Trip cancellation / modification

These are the benefits that cover all or part of the costs incurred if your trip is canceled (before or during your trip) for any reason. Not all insurance companies cover cancellation (and if they do, they may have different limits available).

But again, even though it’s not necessarily pleasant to cancel a trip (or part of it), it’s not the end of the world either (you’ll just lose the costs you’ve already incurred). So, in our opinion, we think it’s not really necessary to be insured for that.

Death / Disability

These are the benefits that cover the costs of a coffin and repatriation of the body in the event of death (and possibly the sum paid in the event of death or permanent disability). It’s a bit creepy to think about this before you leave, but most insurance policies cover the costs of a coffin and repatriation of the body up to different limits. But we don’t really see the point in paying more for better coverage in this area (the goal is to stay alive, after all 😉 ).

Included / excluded sport activities

Travel insurance covers you for accidents that occur during the trip and while engaging in activities deemed “not too risky.” If you are going mountaineering, diving, paragliding etc… you may sometimes need to purchase an additional coverage option to be covered when participating in these higher-risk sports.

Most frequent exclusions

Now that we’ve talked about the main coverages of your travel insurance, in order of importance, it’s also useful to know the situations where you won’t be covered. If you read the general terms and conditions of the various travel insurance coverages (which we recommend you do), you’ll see that there are many exclusions that are worth keeping in mind before you go. Here are the ones we think you should know about:

• Pre-existing conditions: most travel insurance policies will not cover medical expenses related to conditions that existed before you left on your trip.
• Accidents while driving a motorcycle with an engine capacity of more than 125cc.
• Bodily injury or property damage caused while driving a motor vehicle. As you can see, when renting a motor vehicle, you will often need to take out additional insurance to be covered.
• High-risk sports such as mountaineering, paragliding, skydiving, deep-sea diving, etc.
• Non-emergency dental care and optical expenses.
• Gear purchased during the trip.
• Theft not involving a break-in (or items not placed in a secure location).
• Accidents caused under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Damage caused intentionally.
• Claims resulting from a natural disaster, civil war, terrorist attack, nuclear disaster, etc.

Am I covered by my debit / credit card?

First, let’s start by excluding the entry level Visa and Mastercard cards that offer truly inadequate coverage (ridiculous medical expense caps, no liability coverage). So, below (and in the comparison table), when we talk about a credit card, we’re referring to premium cards like Mastercard Gold and Visa Premier. If you don’t have this kind of card, your coverage is probably insufficient.

Now that that’s been said, if you have or you’re considering a premium card to benefit from the travel insurance that comes with it, here’s what you need to know:

• The insurance is valid for a maximum of 90 days (not really a problem for short stays).
• You must have paid for your entire trip with the credit card in question.
• It is essential that you read the terms and conditions of the insurance coverage as, depending on the card and bank, there are many more exclusions than with standard travel insurance.
• Reimbursement of medical expenses in addition to social security (which involves paying in advance and additional paperwork).

So it’s up to you to decide 😉 . But if you want more details on the coverages offered by the travel insurance that comes with credit cards, we recommend you to read our article dedicated to this topic.

So I think you now have all the information you need to choose the right single trip travel insurance. If you have any questions or additional comments, please feel free to leave us a comment below.

And if you’re planning a round the world trip (backpacking) or a Working Holiday Visa, we recommend you to read our comparison posts dedicated to these specific cases:

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