Most travel insurance policies have optional extras, and adding too many can push up the price. The right add-ons depend on your trip. Here’s how to decide which ones are worth paying for.
Winter sports cover
Usually worth it if you ski or snowboard. Standard policies often exclude winter sports, so you could be uninsured on the slopes. Add-ons can cover medical costs, piste closure, lost skis and ski pass. Check whether off-piste or racing is excluded.
Cruise cover
Worth it for cruises. Cruise add-ons can cover missed ports, cabin confinement, onboard medical costs and missed departure. See cruise travel insurance.
Gadget cover
Worth considering if you take expensive items. Standard baggage cover often has a low single-item limit. If you travel with a laptop, camera or high-value phone, check the limit and whether the add-on raises it. Also check whether your home insurance already covers them. See home insurance cover abroad.
Excess waiver
Depends on your risk and budget. It reduces or removes the excess on some claims. It can be useful if you’d struggle to pay an excess, but check the extra cost against what you’d save. See excess explained.
Car hire excess cover
Worth it if you hire a car. It can reimburse the excess on a rental car’s insurance if the car is damaged or stolen. It’s often cheaper than the rental company’s own waiver, but you may have to pay first and claim back.
Business cover
Needed if you travel for work. Standard leisure cover may exclude work trips or manual work. Check what your employer provides first. See business travel insurance.
Cancel-for-any-reason cover
Rarely available and limited. It’s more flexible than standard cancellation cover, but reimbursement is usually a percentage, and conditions apply.
Add-ons you may not need
- Cover that duplicates what you already have, such as packaged account or credit card benefits. See bank account travel insurance.
- Extras for activities you aren’t doing.
- Higher limits for items you won’t be carrying.
How to decide
- List what you’ll actually do and take on the trip.
- Compare the add-on’s cost with the likely loss.
- Read the exclusions and limits for each add-on.
- Compare policies with the add-on included, not just the base price.
Our exclusions guide shows what basic policies often leave out.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need winter sports cover to ski?
Yes, in most cases. Standard policies often exclude skiing and snowboarding, so you’d need an add-on or a policy that includes it.
Is gadget cover worth it?
It can be if you carry expensive items and your standard single-item limit is low. Check whether other insurance already covers them.
Is excess waiver worth it?
It depends on the cost and your excess. It helps if you’d struggle to pay an excess, but compare the extra premium.
Can I add cover after buying a policy?
Sometimes, but it may cost more or not cover events that have already happened. Ask your insurer.
Related travel insurance guides
- How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance: A 10-Point Checklist
- Allianz Travel Insurance UK: What You Need to Know in 2026
- Annual vs Single Trip Travel Insurance: Which Should You Buy?
- What Does Travel Insurance Cover? A Plain-English UK Guide
- How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost in the UK in 2026?
This article is general information, not financial or insurance advice. Always read the policy documents before you buy.
