Our Pick Of The Best Credit Cards With Travel Insurance

Jo Thornhill
Editor

Published: Jun 26, 2023, 5:50pm

Laura Howard
Editor

Reviewed By

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If you’re a regular traveller, a credit card that comes with year-round travel insurance could be an ideal fit. However, travel insurance offerings vary significantly between credit cards, so it’s important to ensure the cover meets your specific requirements – and that it’s worth any annual fees that the card charges.

Many of the credit cards that offer ‘free’ travel insurance come with high interest rates and fees, which translates into a high APR – annual percentage rate. So, to get the most out of these cards, the balance must be cleared every month.

We carried out some research (June 2023) to uncover what we found to be the top credit cards that come with travel insurance perks. Find more in our methodology.

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  • Market-wide survey of leading credit card companies
  • Rigorous assessment of card features and benefits
  • Thorough analysis of pros and cons

Our pick of the best credit cards with travel insurance

FEATURED PARTNER OFFER

American Express The Platinum Card

American Express The Platinum Card
5.0
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Representative APR

704.6% (purchase rate 31%)

Travel insurance

Worldwide annual travel insurance for cardholder and family.

Annual fee

£650

Representative Example

The representative APR example gives you an estimate of how much it might cost if you borrowed a certain amount of money. This helps you compare products and provides a guide on how much carrying a balance could cost. Your personal offer may vary from the representative APR example.

If you spend £1,200, at a purchase rate of 31% p.a. (variable), with a fee of £650 per year, the representative APR is 704.6% (variable). Credit available subject to status.

American Express The Platinum Card
Apply Now

Representative APR

704.6% (purchase rate 31%)

Travel insurance

Worldwide annual travel insurance for cardholder and family.

Annual fee

£650

Representative Example

The representative APR example gives you an estimate of how much it might cost if you borrowed a certain amount of money. This helps you compare products and provides a guide on how much carrying a balance could cost. Your personal offer may vary from the representative APR example.

If you spend £1,200, at a purchase rate of 31% p.a. (variable), with a fee of £650 per year, the representative APR is 704.6% (variable). Credit available subject to status.

Why We Picked It

Although this card comes with a hefty annual fee at £650 it offers a range of excellent perks and rewards for cardholders – who are committed to clearing the balance each month to avoid interest charges.

Currently, there is a 30,000 Membership Rewards® points for new cardholders who spend at least £10,000 in the first six months of card membership.

The card’s worldwide travel cover is comprehensive and covers the cardholder and their family. Underwritten by Chubb Insurance, the cover includes up to £2 million for emergency medical costs and £7,500 for cancellation, plus £2,000 of cover for baggage, cash and travel documents.

Among the card’s other perks are membership reward points on spending, free airport lounge access and hotel discounts.

Pros & Cons
  • High cover levels on insurance
  • Card offers a range of other perks
  • High annual fee
  • High interest rate on card balances
  • 2.99% overseas usage fee
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER

Yonder Credit Card

Yonder Credit Card
5.0
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Representative APR

64% (purchase rate 27.71%)

Travel insurance

Worldwide annual travel insurance for cardholder and family.

Annual fee

£0 for the first six months (then £15 p/m)

Representative Example

The representative APR example gives you an estimate of how much it might cost if you borrowed a certain amount of money. This helps you compare products and provides a guide on how much carrying a balance could cost. Your personal offer may vary from the representative APR example.

If you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 27.71% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £15 per month, your representative rate is 64% APR (variable).

Yonder Credit Card

Representative APR

64% (purchase rate 27.71%)

Travel insurance

Worldwide annual travel insurance for cardholder and family.

Annual fee

£0 for the first six months (then £15 p/m)

Representative Example

The representative APR example gives you an estimate of how much it might cost if you borrowed a certain amount of money. This helps you compare products and provides a guide on how much carrying a balance could cost. Your personal offer may vary from the representative APR example.

If you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 27.71% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £15 per month, your representative rate is 64% APR (variable).

Why We Picked It

Yonder’s card offers worldwide annual travel cover, underwritten by Axa, for the cardholder and their family. It offers up to £1 million of medical cover, £7,500 for cancellation and up to £1,000 for stolen baggage, among its cover.

Yonder is also a rewards credit card. Customers receive one point for every £1 spent on the card and points can be redeemed against London-based rewards, such as meals out and events.

The purchase interest rate is high at 27.7% so cardholders should aim to pay off their balance in full each month. There is also a £15 monthly fee, which adds up to £180 over the course of a year.

Pros & Cons
  • Worldwide travel insurance for the family
  • £0 monthly fee for first six months
  • Zero fees on overseas use
  • High purchase rate
  • Only £1 million cover for medical costs
  • Points can only be redeemed with restaurants and events in London
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
4.0
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Representative APR

75.2% (purchase rate 30.7%)

Travel insurance

Travel accident and inconvenience cover only

Annual fee

£0 in year one (then £160 p/a)

Representative example

The representative APR example gives you an estimate of how much it might cost if you borrowed a certain amount of money. This helps you compare products and provides a guide on how much carrying a balance could cost. Your personal offer may vary from the representative APR example.

If you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a with an annual fee of £160 then the representative APR is 75.2% p.a. (variable). Credit available subject to status.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
Apply Now

Representative APR

75.2% (purchase rate 30.7%)

Travel insurance

Travel accident and inconvenience cover only

Annual fee

£0 in year one (then £160 p/a)

Representative example

The representative APR example gives you an estimate of how much it might cost if you borrowed a certain amount of money. This helps you compare products and provides a guide on how much carrying a balance could cost. Your personal offer may vary from the representative APR example.

If you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a with an annual fee of £160 then the representative APR is 75.2% p.a. (variable). Credit available subject to status.

Why We Picked It

The Amex Preferred Rewards Gold card offers a range of benefits for cardholders which include a travel insurance offering.

This takes the form of travel accident cover – up to £250,000 for loss of life, limb, sight, speech or hearing while travelling on a public vehicle – and where the ticket was purchased using the card.

In addition, cardholders get travel inconvenience cover. This provides up to £200 for missed departure due to accident or breakdown, travel delay, overbooking, or missed connection; up to £200 for baggage delayed by airline for four hours or more; and additionally, up to £200 for extended baggage delay by airline.

Again, the travel has to be booked using the credit card to be eligible.

Pros & Cons
  • Travel accident and inconvenience cover
  • Earn points on all spending
  • High annual fee
  • Limited travel insurance cover
  • 2.99% overseas usage fee
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER

British Airways Amex Credit Card

British Airways Amex Credit Card
3.0
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Representative APR

30.7% (purchase rate 30.7%)

Travel insurance

Travel accident cover

Annual fee

£0

Representative Example

The representative APR example gives you an estimate of how much it might cost if you borrowed a certain amount of money. This helps you compare products and provides a guide on how much carrying a balance could cost. Your personal offer may vary from the representative APR example.

If you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a then the representative APR is 30.7% p.a. (variable). Credit available subject to status.

British Airways Amex Credit Card
Apply Now

Representative APR

30.7% (purchase rate 30.7%)

Travel insurance

Travel accident cover

Annual fee

£0

Representative Example

The representative APR example gives you an estimate of how much it might cost if you borrowed a certain amount of money. This helps you compare products and provides a guide on how much carrying a balance could cost. Your personal offer may vary from the representative APR example.

If you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a then the representative APR is 30.7% p.a. (variable). Credit available subject to status.

Why We Picked It

The British Airways Amex charges no annual fee and offers Avios points towards BA flights each time you spend on the card. However, its travel insurance offering is limited to travel accidents only. It covers up to £75,000 for loss of life, limb, sight, speech or hearing while on a public vehicle – and only where the ticket was purchased using the credit card.

Pros & Cons
  • Travel accident cover
  • No annual fee
  • Limited travel insurance cover
  • 2.99% overseas use fee

Methodology

Forbes Advisor compared credit cards offering travel insurance benefits. However, we found the definition of travel insurance between cards varied significantly, ranging from full worldwide travel cover – that you might buy as a standalone policy – to covering just accidents on public transport. For this reason, our rankings are for illustrative purposes only.

In ranking the cards, we considered the travel insurance element first and foremost – followed by any other benefits, such as rewards, cashback and the cards’ interest rate and fees.

Should I get a credit card with travel insurance?

If you want a credit card with added benefits and perks, such as earning bonus points when you spend, then many of the credit cards that offer travel insurance could suit your needs.

But be aware that these types of rewards cards tend to suit cardholders who pay off their balance in full each month, so they don’t end up paying any high interest charges on their borrowing. The interest rates on rewards cards tend to be high, typically at around 29% on purchases.

If travel insurance is a perk you’re interested in and you know that you and your family will make use of the cover, remember to read the small print of the insurance policy to ensure the cover is adequate for your needs before you travel.

Some of the travel benefits on offer do not constitute full travel insurance. For example, they may only offer cover for accidents you have overseas, or compensation for lost and stolen bags. Many do not include emergency medical cover, so you could be leaving yourself at risk if you travel without proper travel insurance.

Do credit cards with travel insurance require high eligibility?

Some of the credit cards that offer travel insurance or travel perks will have high eligibility criteria, this means you’ll usually need a good to strong credit history and score to be accepted for a card.

That said, it may still be possible to be accepted for a credit card with travel cover benefits. The best way to check is to use an eligibility checker service. This can show you your chances of getting the card without it leaving a mark on your credit report.

What’s included with the travel insurance on credit cards?

This will vary between providers. As mentioned previously, while some credit cards will offer a comprehensive annual multi-trip policy for cardholders and their family members, other cards are offering travel accident cover, or cover only for stolen baggage, which is not the same thing.

How do I find the best credit card for my needs?

When you’re in the market for a new credit card it’s important to shop around and compare the different deals on offer to find the right one to suit your needs.

We’ve compared different deals, taking the leg work out of the search. So whether you’re after a cashback or rewards card or a 0% balance transfer card to transfer an existing card balance, we can help you with your decision.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is travel insurance on my credit card enough for my holiday?

That depends on the cover you have through your credit card. Very few card providers offer full travel insurance, with emergency medical cover and repatriation, cancellation and curtailment and cover for baggage.

Some of the travel accident and travel inconvenience cover offered through many credit cards is more of an additional extra perk, rather than travel insurance.

Always read the small print of the travel policy attached to your credit card. If the cover is not adequate for your needs you may need to buy a standalone travel policy.

How do I claim on travel insurance on my credit card?

When you take out your credit card, your card provider will give you details of the travel insurance benefits attached and levels of cover. There should also be details about how to claim and the emergency claims phone line and email address of the insurer.

It is important to take these contact details with you when you travel, so you can make contact with your insurer in an emergency.

Is my holiday insured if I pay with my credit card?

This is a slightly different thing. Although it isn’t strictly speaking insurance, when you pay for a flight or holiday using your credit card, provided the purchase was for more than £100 and less than £30,000, then you do have some consumer protection under Section 75 of the consumer credit act.

It means you can apply to get your money back if things go wrong – subject to certain conditions and criteria. For example, if

  1. The airline goes bust
  2. The holiday company goes bust
  3. Or the holiday isn’t as described.

Even if you only paid the holiday deposit on your credit card and then paid the rest in a different way, you are still covered under section 75. This is why it can be a prudent move to pay for your holiday with a credit card, even if you pay it off immediately.

What are the alternatives?

If you are looking for worldwide travel insurance as part of another financial product, you might be better off looking at packaged bank accounts, which can offer more choice and more comprehensive coverage.

You can also buy annual or single trip travel insurance as a standalone policy by inputting your destination and requirements into a travel insurance comparison service.

Find The Best Credit Card
Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

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Jo Thornhill Editor

I am passionate about personal finance issues and helping consumers navigate the world of insurance, credit, savings and pensions. I have been a money journalist for almost two decades, including ten years on the award-winning personal finance desk at the Mail on Sunday.