Direct Travel travel insurance review

Direct Travel travel insurance overview

Direct Travel is listed in the Travel Adviser Directory compiled by the Money Advice Service and the Financial Conduct Authority as specialising in covering serious medical conditions.

Direct Travel's insurance policy is arranged by Chaucer Insurance Company DAC

•  Find out more: the best and worst travel insurance

How good is Direct Travel travel insurance?

Policy name	Policy type	Max trip length	Max age	Policy score	Covid rating   (What's this?) How well a policy covers you for typical coronavirus-related disruption. Ratings run from basic (worst) to low, superior and complete (best).
Direct Travel Budget	Annual and single-trip	17 days (annual) / 66 - 365 days depending on age (single)	65 years old		Basic
Direct Travel Standard	Annual and single-trip	21 days (annual) / 66 - 365 days depending on age (single)	70 years old		Low
Direct Travel Premier	Annual and single-trip	31 days (annual) /  66 - 365 days depending on age (single)	75 years old		Low
Direct Travel Premier Plus	Annual and single-trip	31 days (annual) /  66 - 365 days depending on age (single)	75 years old		Low

Should you buy Direct Travel travel insurance?

We've rated hundreds of policy details to come up with a combined expert policy score. Members can log in to read our full policy analysis.

If you're not already a member, join Which? and get full access to these results and all our reviews.

In detail: every part of Direct Travel's travel insurance rated

Medical expenses coverCancellation and delay coverPersonal belongings coverPersonal accident and liability coverExcesses and admin

		Budget		Standard		Premier		Premier Plus
Weighting	Policy element	Details	Rating	Details	Rating	Details	Rating	Details	Rating
Most Important	Medical expenses - limit per claim
Most Important	Medical repatriation - limit per claim
Most Important	Private healthcare covered in an emergency (if no alternative)?
Secondary	Pre-existing medical conditions covered?
Secondary	Dental treatment - limit per claim
Other	Hospitalisation cover - limit per claim
Other	GHIC excess waiver

		Budget		Standard		Premier		Premier Plus
Weighting	Policy element	Details	Rating	Details	Rating	Details	Rating	Details	Rating
Most Important	Cancellation and curtailment - limit per claim
Most Important	Costs for cancellation due to change in FCDO advice (non-COVID-19 related)
Secondary	Cancellation due to death of person staying with?
Most Important	Abandonment - limit per claim
Most Important	Bankruptcy of the holiday supplier included?
Most Important	Bankruptcy of an airline included?
Secondary	Industrial strike included?
Secondary	Volcanic ash included?
Secondary	Terrorism included?
Secondary	Civil unrest included?
Secondary	Missed departure - limit per claim
Secondary	Missed departure - flights covered
Secondary	Travel delay - first 12 hrs
Secondary	Travel delay - each additional 12 hr period
Secondary	Travel delay (Total) - limit per claim

		Budget		Standard		Premier		Premier Plus
Weighting	Policy element	Details	Rating	Details	Rating	Details	Rating	Details	Rating
Most Important	Baggage & personal belongings - limit per claim
Most Important	Valuables - unspecified single item limit
Most Important	Cash - limit per claim
Secondary	Traveller's cheques - limit per claim
Secondary	Passport replacement costs - limit per claim
Secondary	Delayed baggage - limit per claim

		Budget		Standard		Premier		Premier Plus
Weighting	Policy element	Details	Rating	Details	Rating	Details	Rating	Details	Rating
Secondary	Personal liability - limit per claim
Other	Personal accident (Death) - limit per claim
Other	Personal accident (Disability) - limit per claim
Other	Legal expenses - limit per claim
Other	Legal expenses - covered for taking action against holiday providers?

		Budget		Standard		Premier		Premier Plus
Weighting	Policy element	Details	Rating	Details	Rating	Details	Rating	Details	Rating
Most Important	Medical Expenses Excess
Most Important	Cancellation excess
Most Important	Personal Belongings / Valuables Excess
Most Important	Money Excess
Most Important	Documents Excess
Other	Legal Expenses Excess
Other	Personal accident Excess
Secondary	Cancellation refund after cooling off period
Most Important	Medical emergency helpline
Secondary	Emergency Helpline

Table last updated in June 2021. Next update in June 2022.

To see how Direct Travel's travel insurance compares with other policies, check out our guide on the best and worst travel insurance.

Is Direct Travel's travel insurance coronavirus-proof?

We contacted 86 travel insurers and quizzed them on whether their policies cover coronavirus-related incidents.

Specifically, we wanted to know if four scenarios would be covered: needing treatment for coronavirus abroad, having to cancel because of a positive test, having to cancel because of self-isolation or having to cancel because of government advice.

We've rated insurers' coronavirus cover, and explained what they offer, including any relevant exclusions.

Members can log in to read our full policy analysis. If you're not already a member, join Which? and get full access to these results and all our reviews

Direct Travel travel insurance: how can I claim?

For emergency medical assistance and curtailment claims from abroad, call +44 (0)203 472 2388.

To make a claim call 01702 553 443.

If you need to cancel your trip, you should contact your travel agent and/or airline about refunds or rebooking before contacting your insurer.

You'll need your policy document when you call.

• Find out more: how to claim on your travel insurance.

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