Martin Lewis: A warning for anyone who's booked their holiday this year
If you've booked a holiday and haven't sorted your travel insurance yet, do it NOW. Many leave it until the last minute, but if something happens that stops you going, you won't be able to get your money back, as MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis warns in the latest episode of ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show Live.
ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show Live – Tuesday 4 March
From The Martin Lewis Money Show Live on Tuesday 4 March courtesy of ITV. All rights reserved. Watch the full episode on ITVX.
Below we've listed the cheapest no-frills, Financial Conduct Authority-regulated options we can find that meet our minimum cover levels, judged purely on price, NOT feedback. The exact price depends on your age and circumstances, so we given you a few of the cheapest options – do check at least a couple.
For stronger feedback or higher cover levels (for example, covering airline failure, natural disasters and so on), go straight to our Travel Insurance Finder tool.
Annual policies – for those holidaying more than once this year
If you'll go away at least twice, even just for weekends, annual cover usually works out cheapest. It covers virtually all trips away, though often has a duration limit, for example, 30 days per trip.
For under-66s: From £11 for singles in Europe, from £93 for a family worldwide. Check Coverwise (Bronze)*, Admiral* (use discount code MSE15), Leisure Guard Flexi (Bronze) and A to Z Insurance (Essential). Full info: Cheap travel insurance.
For over-65s: Costs rocket with age, so we've put a lot of work into our Over-65s' travel insurance guide. Annual prices are from £39 a year if you're aged 66, and from £123 a year if aged 76. Check Admiral* (use discount code MSE15), Leisure Guard (Standard), Avanti (Classic)* and Staysure (Comprehensive)*. There are couples' policies available too, though family policies are trickier unless you have a child at home who is under 18 (or in full-time education).
Already have an annual policy? Make sure you get another one to start as soon as the current one ends – see our Annual travel insurance guide for further info.
Single-trip policies – to cover a one-off holiday
For those not choosing an annual policy, or who need special cover, enter the dates you are travelling (even if months ahead) and you'll be covered for cancellation from the moment you pay.
For under-66s: For a week, from £7 for individuals in Europe, or from £63 for a family worldwide. Check Coverwise (Bronze)*, Leisure Guard Flexi (Bronze) and CoverForYou (Silver)*.
For over-65s: Full info and options in Over-65s' travel insurance, but it can be from £26 a week for an individual in Europe (£64 worldwide). Check Coverwise (Bronze)*, Leisure Guard Flexi (Bronze), Avanti (Classic)*, Admiral* (use discount code MSE15) and Staysure (Comprehensive)*.
Got pre-existing conditions? There are too many variables to summarise the options, so please jump straight to our Medical conditions travel insurance guide.
Transcript of what Martin said on the show
Martin Lewis: "Travel insurance is not just to cover you while you're away. It's also very important to cover you in case something happens before you go that stops you going. So I have a rule that, you'll hear why I'm taking a deep breath in a moment...
"I have a rule: you should get your travel insurance ASAB - as soon as you book. ASAB..."
Audience: "As soon as you book."
Martin: "We trained them beforehand to do that. But right now, many people have already booked. If you don't have your travel insurance and if your holiday's booked, do it right now.
"Now, the reason I do this is every year someone asks me a question something like, 'I've been diagnosed with cancer. We can't go on the holiday. They're saying we can't have our money back. What do I do?' And I'm impotent.
"Because the answer is, you get on your travel insurance. And they say, 'Well, I haven't got my travel insurance yet'. Do not get your travel insurance the day before you go. You get your travel insurance ASAB."
'Get travel insurance ASAB – as soon as you book'
Martin: [He turns to face Jeanette Kwakye, his co-host] "You're looking at me."
Jeanette: "Yeah, I'm looking at you because you asked me to read this one out from last year as well. 'C' got in touch..."
Martin: "This is what I had a year ago. But I want you to read..."
Jeanette: "'I booked a holiday for Christmas last year but I was then medically advised not to fly. The holiday was already paid for and I hadn't taken out any travel insurance. I'm now being told I've lost all the money for the holiday. Is there anything that can be done?'"
Martin: "Please don't be the person this summer who asks me that question. If you're going to get travel insurance, ASAB.
"The answer [to whether something can be done] is no. I mean, look, very simply, just think about it for a second. If you bought a tennis racket and you broke your arm, you can't say to them, I want a refund because my arm's broken. The tennis racket still works. The flights still work, the hotel still works. It's not them that's got the problem. It's you. That's the logic. That's what you have insurance for."
What the * means above
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You shouldn't notice any difference and the link will never negatively impact the product. Plus the editorial line (the things we write) is NEVER impacted by these links. We aim to look at all available products. If it isn't possible to get an affiliate link for the top deal, it is still included in exactly the same way, just with a non-paying link. For more details, read How this site is financed.
Duplicate links of the * links above for the sake of transparency, but this version doesn't help MoneySavingExpert.com:
Coverwise (Bronze), Admiral, Avanti (Classic), Staysure (Comprehensive), CoverForYou (Silver)
MoneySupermarket.com Financial Group Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 303190). The registered office address of both MoneySupermarket.com Group PLC and MoneySupermarket.com Financial Group Limited (registered in England No. 3157344) is MONY House, St. David's Park, Ewloe, Chester, CH5 3UZ. MoneySavingExpert.com Limited is an appointed representative of MoneySupermarket.com Financial Group Limited.
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18 March 2025
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