In our view, travel insurance is non-negotiable. It provides invaluable peace of mind for any traveller, whether for a quick city trip in Europe or a months-long journey around the world.
Without insurance, the smallest mishap can cost a fortune: hospitalisation abroad, a doctor’s visit, lost luggage, a stolen bag or a cancelled flight… these unexpected costs can quickly add up to thousands of euros. A good policy, on the other hand, gives you peace of mind, assistance, and cover tailored to your needs.
Health cover Repatriation Cancellation Luggage Liability
Travelling in Europe: the EHIC and bank card cover
If you’re an EU citizen staying within the European Union, request the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) at least 15 days before departure. This card proves your entitlement to public health cover and allows urgent medical care to be covered in the country you’re visiting, under its local rules.
Many banks also already include travel insurance in their card contracts (especially premium cards like Visa Premier or Mastercard Gold), usually valid for trips under 90 days. Often you just need to pay for the trip with the linked card to be covered: contact your bank to check the exact guarantees (health, cancellation, liability, repatriation assistance).
Travelling outside the European Union: dedicated insurance is a must
As soon as you leave the EU, travel insurance becomes essential, and mandatory for any stay longer than 3 months. Your home country’s public health cover no longer applies abroad after about 90 days, and medical costs can be extremely high (a hospital stay in the US, for instance, can exceed €10,000 a day).
Key points to check in your policy:
- Liability cover abroad.
- Trip cancellation / interruption cover.
- Medical assistance and repatriation.
- Lost, stolen or destroyed luggage.
- Legal assistance.
Tip
Keep the receipts for your travel gear and make a precise list of your valuables (laptop, camera, etc.) with their serial numbers. This will make reimbursement much easier if something is lost or stolen.
Which insurer should you choose?
During our research, two insurers stood out for their reputation among travellers:
ACS, best for short stays in Europe
Recommended for short trips, tighter budgets and travel within Europe: attractive pricing, simple and effective cover for hospitalisation, assistance and repatriation, and a solid overall reputation on Trustpilot. In short: for a short trip in Europe, ACS offers solid cover without unnecessary extra cost. That said, its cover is more limited outside Europe and its policies are designed for trips of a few weeks, not necessarily several months.
Chapka, for long-term trips outside Europe
Designed for long-term, multi-destination trips outside Europe (South America, Asia, Oceania): excellent cover for extended stays, with health/assistance/repatriation/sports-activity guarantees that are often broader than short-stay plans, and a large community of long-term travellers who have chosen it (over 3,000 Trustpilot reviews). In practice: if you’re leaving for several months, whatever the continent, Chapka offers more robust cover, built for the kind of mishaps that come up often on the road; it is however pricier than ACS for a short European trip.
Between the two, most needs are covered. For extreme sports (diving, mountaineering, etc.), you may need to add a specific extension to your policy.
Insurance is essential – but hopefully you’ll never need to use it!
Our advice: a well-stocked first-aid kit rounds out your preparation. You can put one together yourself or buy a ready-made kit.
Plan B
Always keep a digital copy (cloud + offline) of your insurance policy and your assistance hotline number. If you lose your belongings, this is often the only way to prove you’re covered and get help quickly.
Taking out travel insurance isn’t a wasted expense – it’s a genuine investment in travelling safely. Whether in Europe or beyond, make sure you pick cover that matches your trip’s length, your planned activities and your personal needs.