Admiral Travel Insurance Review: Top Tiers Include Catastrophe Cover
Admiral Travel Insurance Review: Top Tiers Include Catastrophe Cover
Good for
- Can add £1,000 of Gadget cover
- Covering Personal Belongings/Baggage on all plans
- Trip Delay/Cancellation/Curtailment
- Long single trips
- Catastrophe cover for ash clouds, storms, etc. (Gold and Platinum Plans)
Bad for
- Covering Insolvency of End Supplier
The guidance on this site is based on our own analysis and is meant to help you identify options and narrow down your choices. We do not advise or tell you which product to buy; undertake your own due diligence before entering into any agreement. Read our full disclosure here.
Admiral offers three tiers of travel insurance cover, all for very competitive prices and including Personal Belongings protection (including Delayed Baggage on all plans). If you want cover for catastrophes (e.g., volcanic ash cloud and storms) then choose one of the top two tiers—Gold or Platinum. Policyholders also have the option to buy extras like Winter Sports, Gadget, Golf and Cruise (included on Platinum). End Supplier Failure is not covered on Admiral plans, however.
In This Review
- Overall Review
- Policy Limits and Coverage Options
- Comparing Admiral to the Competition
- Policy Wording and Claims
Read our review to learn about features and prices of Admiral travel insurance—plus we'll explain the main differences between buying direct direct from the Admiral site versus buying through a travel insurance comparison engine, to help you decide where to buy. Choosing the best travel insurance for you will depend on factors like price points and features that you might find valuable. Please use the information in this review to help you narrow your choices.
Admiral Travel Insurance Review: What You Need to Know
Admiral offers three levels of Annual and Single Trip travel insurance—Admiral, Admiral Gold and Admiral Platinum. All policies include some level of cover for Trip Cancellation, Emergency Medical, Trip Delay/Missed Departure, Legal Assistance, Personal Accident and Personal Belongings. Mid-tier (Gold) and top-tier (Platinum) policies also include Catastrophe cover; top-tier plans include Hijack cover and Cruise cover as well. But there's no cover for financial failure of suppliers like airlines or hotel operators.
As for optional extras, Winter Sports can be added to all tiers of insurance for an additional cost. Gadget and Golf cover are optional add-on features available for the top two tiers for an additional cost—Admiral Gold and Admiral Platinum. You can't add these features to the lowest tier Admiral plan. Cruise cover is included as standard on Admiral Platinum policies, or available for an extra cost on the lower tiers.
Those going on a cruise can get optional cover for cabin confinement, emergency airlift to hospital, missed port and unused excursions. To learn more about market prices please see our article Average Cost of Cruise Travel Insurance UK.
How to Buy Admiral travel insurance plans can be purchased either via a comparison engine or direct from Admiral. The basic limits are the same, regardless of where you buy your policy. Differences between buying direct and buying from a comparison site mostly relate to excess and price: generally speaking, plans from a comparison site typically cost less (around 20% less, in fact, for Annual, Multi-trip policies according to our pricing analysis) BUT they have a higher excess for the same cover levels. A higher excess means you contribute more towards any claims. Those buying direct are sometimes offered a 10% discount for buying online, so it's good to check the website to see what discounts are offered today.
Are Gadgets (e.g., Mobile Phones) Covered? Gadgets including mobile phones are covered to some extent on all plans through the Valuables section of cover. However, the standard Valuables limit may be too low for you—it's only £200, £300 or £400, depending on which plan you choose. If you travel with multiple gadgets or more expensive gadgets, you might want to consider adding Admiral's Optional Gadget Cover to an Admiral Gold or Admiral Platinum policy. (Optional Gadget Cover is not available as an add-on to the lowest tier of cover, Admiral plans.) You're able to add this to your policy whether you buy direct or from the comparison site.
What is the cost of adding gadget cover to Admiral travel insurance? We checked in November 2023 and were quoted £4.30 for £1,500 of additional cover for a single trip for the loss, theft or damage of gadgets. Prices may vary.
To see a list of other companies that offer a gadget travel insurance add on please see our article, Travel Insurance Companies with Optional Gadget Cover.
Does Admiral Travel Insurance Cover Trips in the UK? Holidays in the UK are covered under Admiral policies, so long as you pre-booked at least 2 consecutive nights of commercially-operated accommodation more than 25 miles from your home.
Pre-Existing Conditions: Admiral may be able to offer cover for some pre-existing medical conditions, for which you'll pay a higher premium. Pre-existing conditions are only covered if they've been declared by you, Admiral has given written acceptance and you've paid an additional premium.
As part of the online quote process you can declare your conditions to see if cover can be offered, and for what added cost. Or you can call Admiral's Medical Screening number (0333 234 9913) to discuss your particular situation.
Over 65s: Now, the latest policy documents don't specify upper age limits. Previously, they said that the age limit for travellers on Admiral's Annual Multi-Trip policies was 75 years or under or 79 years or under for a Single Trip. Cover for Winter Sports was subject to an age limit of 65 years. Now they say 'the cover we can offer you will vary depending on our age limits, underwriting criteria, the cover you need and the details you provide.'
Covid Cover: You're covered for emergency medical treatment and repatriation if you contract Covid-19 abroad; for cancelling your trip if you are diagnosed with Covid-19 within the 14 days prior to your trip departure or the hospitalisation or death of a close relative within the 14 days prior to your trip departure, as a result of Covid-19 (Cover is subject to your policy being active at the time of the event and proof of a positive Covid-19 test.)
Admiral Price Comparison
According to our data research in February 2018, prices of Admiral Travel Insurance were noticeably lower than the average cost of travel insurance in the UK. In fact, even Admiral's top-tier Platinum policies come in below average, as you can see in the following chart of Annual, Multi-trip plans by geography.
According to data we gathered, prices of Annual, Multi-trip policies from comparison sites were around £5 to £10 cheaper than policies bought direct from Admiral, depending on geography and type of plan, representing a savings of approximately 20%.
Insurance quotes can vary significantly from day to day and according to your individual details, so please just use the following data for general educational purposes only; your quotes may reflect a large degree of variation.
We also gathered quotes for Admiral plans for a family of four from the Admiral website—they'll pay on average 2X the cost of an individual policy (basically, kids go free). Below you can see how prices change across geographical locations like Europe and America and policy types for a family of four. Plans bought from a comparison site would be expected to cost less.
How much more expensive is travel insurance for a family of 4?
| Type | Geography | Admiral Plan | Family of Four Premium | Winter Sports Add-On Cost | Family of Four Total Premium, incl. Winter Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Multi-trip | Europe | Admiral | £43 | £11 | £54 |
| Gold | £56 | £14 | £70 | ||
| Platinum | £64 | £16 | £81 | ||
| Worldwide ex USA, Canada & the Caribbean | Admiral | £67 | £20 | £87 | |
| Gold | £87 | £26 | £113 | ||
| Platinum | £100 | £30 | £130 | ||
| Worldwide | Admiral | £81 | £28 | £110 | |
| Gold | £106 | £37 | £143 | ||
| Platinum | £122 | £43 | £164 | ||
| Single Trip | Europe | Admiral | £22 | £18 | £40 |
| Gold | £28 | £24 | £52 | ||
| Platinum | £33 | £28 | £60 | ||
| Worldwide ex USA, Canada & the Caribbean | Admiral | £39 | £39 | £77 | |
| Gold | £50 | £50 | £101 | ||
| Platinum | £58 | £58 | £116 | ||
| Worldwide | Admiral | £52 | £57 | £109 | |
| Gold | £68 | £73 | £142 | ||
| Platinum | £79 | £85 | £163 |
Cost of Add-On Extras
Winter Sports, Cruise, Gadget and Golf cover may be added for an extra cost to some of Admiral's travel insurance policies. We've gathered quotes across geographies and types of policies for a 30-year-old individual to give you an idea of the cost of travel insurance add-ons—these prices reflect policies bought directly from the Admiral website.
| Type | Geography | Admiral Plan | Golf | Gadget | Cruise | Winter Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-trip | Europe | Admiral | n/a | n/a | £6.35 | £5.29 |
| Gold | £13.74 | £49.92 | £8.24 | £6.88 | ||
| Platinum | £15.85 | 50 | included | £7.93 | ||
| Worldwide ex USA, Canada & the Caribbean | Admiral | n/a | n/a | £9.86 | £9.86 | |
| Gold | £21.36 | £49.92 | £12.82 | £12.82 | ||
| Platinum | £24.65 | £49.92 | included | £14.80 | ||
| Worldwide | Admiral | n/a | n/a | £11.98 | £13.97 | |
| Gold | £25.94 | £49.92 | £15.56 | £18.16 | ||
| Platinum | £29.93 | £49.92 | included | £20.95 | ||
| Single Trip | Europe | Admiral | n/a | n/a | £11.40 | £14.53 |
| Gold | £14.82 | £13.92 | £14.82 | £12.60 | ||
| Platinum | £17.09 | £13.92 | included | £9.70 | ||
| Worldwide ex USA, Canada & the Caribbean | Admiral | n/a | n/a | £11.98 | £20.33 | |
| Gold | £25.94 | £49.92 | £15.56 | £26.42 | ||
| Platinum | £29.93 | £49.92 | included | £30.49 | ||
| Worldwide | Admiral | n/a | n/a | £15.53 | £29.66 | |
| Gold | £20.18 | £13.92 | £20.18 | £38.56 | ||
| Platinum | £23.29 | £13.92 | included | £44.48 |
Buying Direct vs Using a Comparison Site
Generally speaking, you'll pay less for an Admiral travel insurance policy if you purchase it through a comparison engine (try ours here). Of course, there is a trade off. Policies—which are otherwise nearly identical—differ on a few points. First, the excess is higher on the comparison site policies. Second, the upper age limit is lower on policies via a comparison site.
Differences between Direct and Comparison Site Policies
| Direct from Admiral Website | From Comparison Site | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admiral | Admiral Gold | Admiral Platinum | Admiral | Admiral Gold | Admiral Platinum | |
| Upper Age Limit—Single Trip | 79 | 79 | 79 | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| Upper Age Limit—Annual, Multi-Trip | 75 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| Days per Trip—Annual | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 |
| Upper Age Limit—Winter Sports | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
You'll notice that the upper age limit for Winter Sports is the same regardless of where you buy (65 years), as is the maximum trip length on Annual, Multi-trip policies (31 days).
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Buying Admiral Direct from the Admiral Website
Those in their 70s or older may find more success buying direct, due to the higher upper age limits discussed above.
For an extra cost you can add golf cover to plans bought direct, if needed.
Notable Features
Here is a brief recap of some features available on Admiral travel insurance policies. Standard features like Medical and Personal Liability are also included on Admiral policies, limits for which can be found below in the Policy Limits section. For more complete details including inner limits and exclusions, please refer to the policy documents.
| Admiral Travel Insurance Features | |
|---|---|
| Trip Cancellation | Cover for unused travel and accommodation expenses if you have to cancel a trip before you leave home or cut a trip short in case of emergency; covers expenses such as car hire, excursions and activities, car parking fees, deposits/package holiday cancellation fees, accommodation and travel costs, cancellation charges for professional pet sitters; valid reasons include death or illness, redundancy, home damage, passport or visa theft, court cases, etc.; £1,500, £3,000 or £5,000 of cover |
| Travel Delay/Abandonment | Cover for every full 12 hour delay should you eventually go on the trip; cover should you decide to abandon a trip after a 24 hour delay (of pre-booked aircraft, ship or train); International trips only |
| Baggage Delay | Up to the policy limits if your personal belongings are missing for more than 12 hours following your arrival at your destination. This is to assist you with the cost of replacing essential toiletries, medication and clothing (or the temporary hire of replacement sports equipment, if included in your policy). |
| Missed Departure | Cover for travel and accommodation expenses for missed international departure of aircraft, ship or train resulting from public transport failure/delay (excluding taxis but including connecting flights), vehicle breakdown or accident, breakdown or accident ahead of you on the motorway causing delays, strike, industrial action or adverse weather conditions |
| Catastrophe | Included on top two tiers—Gold and Platinum; cover for fire, storm, lightning, avalanche, landslide, explosion, hurricane, earthquake, volcanic activity (included ash cloud), flood, tidal wave, tsunami, medical epidemic or pandemic; cover for additional travel or accommodation, pre-paid accommodation plus missed excursion costs; not available on "Admiral plans," the lowest tier of cover |
| Golf | OPTIONAL cover for Admiral Gold and Admiral Platinum plans; £1,500 for damaged, lost or stolen clubs and equipment; hired replacement equipment covered up to £500 (£50/day); green fees up to £500 (£50/day) |
| Gadgets | OPTIONAL cover for lost, stolen or damaged gadgets such as mobile phones, cameras, tablets, laptops, kindles, etc.; can only be added to Admiral Gold and Platinum policies; you can claim for at most 3 gadgets, up to £500 for any single item and £1,000 overall |
| Cruise | Included on Platinum plans, OPTIONAL cover for lower tiers; cover includes Missed Port Departure, Cabin Confinement, Unused Excursions and Cruise Interruption; purchasing this optional Cruise cover is necessary for your travel insurance to be valid on any trip involving a cruise; no claims of any kind will be covered for a trip involving a cruise, unless you have purchased the optional Cruise cover |
| Winter Sports | OPTIONAL extra cover available on all plans for up to 17 days per policy term; age limit 65 years; purchasing this optional Winter Sports cover is necessary for your travel insurance to be valid on any trip involving Winter Sports |
| Personal Belongings/Baggage | Personal belongings and baggage cover included on all policies, up to £1,000, £1,500 or £2,500; limits on single items (e.g., mobile phones)/valuables of £200, £300 or £400; winter sports and golf equipment is not covered (but can be covered through Winter Sports or Golf pack add ons); belongings left in a car are not covered |
| Scuba Diving | Covered up to a depth of 30 metres (qualified divers) or 18 metres (unqualified) |
| Insolvency | Not covered |
Types of Admiral Travel Insurance Policies
Admiral offers three tiers of travel insurance—Admiral, Admiral Gold and Admiral Platinum. All are available for Single Trips or as Annual, Multi-Trip policies. Admiral Single Trip travel insurance covers trips up to 365 days abroad. Admiral Annual Multi-Trip policies cover any number of trips a policy year, up to 31 days each. You may be able to extend the maximum trip duration for an extra charge, subject to the underwriter's approval. The following limits and plan details are consistent across policies purchased from the Admiral website and a comparison site.
Admiral Travel Insurance
The "Admiral" plan is their entry-level travel insurance offering. Emergency Medical expenses are covered up to £10 million and you get up to £1,000 of cover per insured person for Travel Delays, Trip Cancellation/Curtailment and Personal Belongings.
You can add Winter Sports or Cruise cover to Admiral's cheapest plans, but Golf and Gadget cover are not offered as add ons.
Admiral Gold Travel Insurance
As Admirals's mid-tier offering, Gold policies include higher limits and the addition of Catastrophe cover (e.g., volcanic ash, earthquake, storm, flood, tsunami, etc.). Cruise, Winter Sports, Golf and Gadget cover may be added for a cost.
Admiral Platinum Travel Insurance
Admiral Platinum is the top-tier travel insurance plan with the highest cover limits per person. If the Platinum premium fits in your budget, you'll get the highest coverage levels with this plan. In addition to features of the Gold plans, Cruise cover is included as standard on Platinum policies.
Cover Limits (Single & Annual Multi-Trip)
| Admiral | Admiral Gold | Admiral Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancellation or cutting short your trip | £1,500 | £3,000 | £5,000 |
| Emergency medical treatment & repatriation | £10 million | £15 million | £20 million |
| Personal belongings | £1,000 | £2,000 | £2,500 |
| Missed departure | £500 | £750 | £1,000 |
| Travel delay; abandonment | up to £250 (£25/12 hrs); £2,500 | up to £250 (£25/12 hrs); £2,500 | up to £300 (£25/12 hrs); £5,000 |
| Money & documents | £300 | £400 | £500 |
| Personal accident | £5,000 | £7,500 | £12,500 |
| Personal liability | £3 million | £3 million | £3 million |
| Legal assistance | £20,000 | £20,000 | £30,000 |
| Catastrophe | n/a | £1,000 | £1,500 |
| Hijack | n/a | n/a | £1,000 |
| Cruise | Optional | Optional | Included |
| Winter Sports | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Golf Cover | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Gadget Cover | Optional | Optional | Optional |
Please read some of our Travel Insurance Guides if you're trying to decide between Single Trip or Multi-Trip policies, learn about What May Not be Covered by Travel Insurance or decide if you Need Travel Insurance or Not.
How does Admiral Travel Insurance Compare to Competitors?
To better understand the value of Admiral travel insurance you need to look at it in the context of other available options. We compared it to other plans in the market so you can see which may be more suitable for you.
Admiral Travel Insurance vs Direct Line Travel Insurance
Direct Line travel insurance plans include cover for End Supplier Failure and Natural Disasters, plus cover for the replacement cost of used points or miles in case of Cancellation/Curtailment for a trip bought with air miles or another rewards structure. While prices are a bit higher than average, according to our analysis, you are getting these extra cover features. One surprising extra is Baggage—you'll need to pay extra to cover your personal belongings as they're not included as standard.
Bottom Line: If you really want cover for End Supplier Failure or Natural Disasters, or if you book trips with miles, then Direct Line might provide more comprehensive travel insurance for you.
Admiral Travel Insurance vs AXA Travel Insurance
AXA travel insurance offers good value for money, with all plans including Insolvency, Baggage, Cancellation/Delay/Curtailment and Catastrophe. Those who ski or snowboard will get longer Winter Sports cover with AXA (over 30 days, depending on the plan).
Bottom Line: If you really want cover for End Supplier Failure and Baggage included as standard, or you spend more than 17 on Winter Sports trips per year, then AXA might be a more comprehensive travel insurance option for you.
Admiral Travel Insurance vs Sainsbury's Travel Insurance
Sainsbury's travel insurance offers solid travel cover at decent prices, especially when purchased through a comparison site. All plans include Baggage, Cancellation and Emergency Medical, but you also get Scheduled Airline Failure, Delayed Departure and Trip Abandonment. Extended Gadget cover can be added to all plans, to cover mobile phones, iPads, etc. Trip lengths are longer than average (notably up to 92 days on top-tier plans bought direct).
Bottom Line: Those needing cover for longer trips might find more suitable travel insurance from Sainsbury's Bank.
Other Useful Information: Policy Wording and Claims
Admiral's 24-hour Emergency Assistance Helpline can be reached on +44 (0)292 010 7777. Use this number if you have a medical emergency while you're abroad or you're injured, become ill or have to cut your trip short. If you need medical treatment, you're supposed to call this number before you seek medical treatment.
For other non-emergency claims on Admiral travel insurance, call their claims team on 0333 234 9914 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, or between 9am and 4pm Saturday (closed Sundays and Bank Holidays).