Finding the Best Travel Insurance for Your Next Adventure

Planning a trip abroad takes work. Between booking flights, hunting down the cutest hotels, and mapping out all the spots you want to hit, it's easy to put off the less glamorous stuff. And nothing feels less glamorous than shopping for insurance.

But here's the thing. You don’t want to end up with a massive medical bill after a minor accident in Europe because you assumed your regular health insurance would cover you. Or get stuck holding the bag when a portion of your trip has to be canceled last minute.

So, let's talk about how to find affordable international travel insurance that actually has your back when things go sideways.

What Are You Looking For When Choosing a Travel Insurance?

Before you start comparing plans, it helps to understand what's out there. When people talk about travel insurance, they're usually referring to a few different types of coverage rolled into one. The big one that often gets overlooked is travel medical insurance. Your domestic health insurance typically won't cover you overseas, or if it does, you might have to pay upfront and wait forever for reimbursement. Travel medical insurance fills that gap, covering doctor visits, hospital stays, and emergency care while you're abroad.

Then there's the broader stuff: trip cancellation, lost luggage, flight delays, and medical evacuation. Medical evacuation sounds dramatic, but it's crucial. If you're in a remote area or a place with limited medical facilities and something serious happens, getting you to a proper hospital can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Good insurance covers that.

The best travel insurance for you depends on your trip. Heading to remote mountains for hiking? You'll want solid medical evacuation coverage. Taking a pricey non-refundable tour? Trip cancellation becomes your best friend. Also, some tours require a certain amount of coverage. I went on our motorcycle tour in Spain and had to show proof of travel insurance before I could head get on the bike.

What the Experts Say About the Best Travel Insurance for 2026

The good news is the insurance industry is competitive, which means more options at better prices.

For 2026, U.S. News & World Report evaluated 45 providers to help travelers pick their insurance coverage. Their top overall picks included names like Travelex, Seven Corners, and World Nomads, with Allianz, Berkshire Hathaway, and Faye also ranking among the top contenders.

For international trips, they highlighted Travelex, Seven Corners, Allianz, and Berkshire Hathaway as the best for overseas coverage. And if affordability is your main concern, Trawick International and Tin Leg were recognized alongside Berkshire Hathaway and IMG for offering budget-friendly options.

A Few Top Contenders Worth Considering

I've looked into quite a few options over the years, and a handful consistently stand out. I wanted to highlight a couple that I think are worth your attention.

Faye

For that motorcycle trip mentioned above, I used Faye. This one's relatively new to the scene, but it's been making waves for a reason. Faye is a digital-first insurance provider, which basically means everything happens through their app. You can get a quote, purchase coverage, file a claim, and even get reimbursed all from your phone.

What I love about them is how proactive they are. Once you plug in your trip details, the app sends you real-time flight alerts for delays, cancellations, and gate changes. It's like having a travel assistant in your pocket.

Their Base Plan covers emergency medical expenses (up to $250,000 for international trips), trip cancellation, lost baggage, and even things like missed connections. And if you're planning something adventurous (like a motorcycle tour), you can add on coverage for extreme sports.

Seven Corners

Another solid option is Seven Corners, particularly their Trip Protection Choice plan. Squaremouth rates this as the best for travel medical insurance, offering up to $500,000 in emergency medical coverage and a whopping $1,000,000 in medical evacuation protection.

It also covers more than 250 sports and activities, so if your itinerary includes things like scuba diving, snowboarding, or surfing, this plan has you covered.

Freely

I used Freely when I took a trip to Guatemala last year. I wasn't planning anything particularly dangerous, mostly just hanging out in Lake Atitlan and exploring Tikal. But I was recovering from a partially torn ACL at the time, and I wanted that extra peace of mind knowing that if my knee decided to act up while I was there, I wouldn't be stuck with a massive medical bill or scrambling to figure out how to get home.

Freely is a very flexible option, their approach is built around a base Explorer plan that covers the essentials, unlimited overseas medical and dental, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation up to $3,000, and lost luggage up to $10,000. But you can add extra cancellation coverage in increments, increase coverage for specific items like expensive camera gear, or even turn on daily coverage for things like adventure activities - if your plans suddenly change.

How to Actually Choose Without Losing Your Mind

So how do you pick? Start by thinking about your specific trip. Are you traveling within the United States or heading overseas? A domestic trip might not need the same level of medical coverage as international travel. If you're going abroad, the CDC recommends looking for at least $50,000 in medical coverage, but higher may be better depending on your planned itinerary.

Check what your existing insurance already covers. Some credit cards offer travel protection benefits, but read the fine print carefully. These benefits vary widely and often require a formal claim process with no guarantee of reimbursement.

Look at the coverage details, not just the price tag. A super cheap plan that excludes the things you actually need isn't a bargain. Pay attention to coverage limits for medical expenses, evacuation, and trip cancellation. Also, check when the coverage kicks in. For things like trip delay, some plans require a 6 or 12-hour delay before you're reimbursed, while others start at 3 hours.

Once you've narrowed it down to a few options, you can get quotes from each. Most providers let you do this online in minutes. Compare not just the price, but what's included at that price. A slightly more expensive plan might include better medical coverage or lower deductibles that could save you money in the long run.

The Bottom Line

Look, I know adding one more thing to your pre-trip to-do list feels annoying. But having the right international travel insurance means you can relax and actually enjoy your trip, knowing that if something goes wrong, you're covered.

Think of it not as an extra expense, but as part of your travel budget, just like your flights and hotels.

Backpack Wanderings

Because everyone deserves to travel

Connect

Get travel updates and more:

© 2025. All rights reserved.

This blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.