Debenhams Travel Insurance: Are There Good Deals?

Debenhams Travel Insurance: Are There Good Deals?

Good value travel insurance, available through a comparison site or direct from Debenhams Travel Insurance.

Good for

  • Earning a Debenhams gift card (new policies)
  • Buying gadget cover (direct)
  • Buying cruise cover
  • Covering your home insurance excess while travelling (direct)

Bad for

  • No Insolvency of End Supplier (SAFI) Cover
  • Mobile phones not covered
  • No catastrophe cancellation cover

Editor's Rating

3.5/5.0

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.

Debenhams is no longer selling travel insurance. We have left this review up for historical purposes.

Compare Cheap Travel Insurance

Protect your holiday today. Quick quotes from 20 insurers.

{"applyCallToAction":"Get Quotes","defaultSelectedItem":"travel","description":"Protect your holiday today. Quick quotes from 20 insurers.","formType":"Insurance","onCurrent":true,"options":[{"label":"Car Insurance","url":"https:\/\/quote.nimblefins.co.uk\/car-insurance?id=76f4ecd6e1ca7c2f442633593566fdaa","value":"car"},{"label":"Home Insurance","url":"https:\/\/quote.nimblefins.co.uk\/home-insurance?id=76f4ecd6e1ca7c2f442633593566fdaa","value":"home"},{"label":"Motorbike Insurance","url":"https:\/\/quote.nimblefins.co.uk\/bike-insurance?id=76f4ecd6e1ca7c2f442633593566fdaa","value":"motorbike"},{"label":"Pet Insurance","url":"https:\/\/quote.nimblefins.co.uk\/pet-insurance?id=76f4ecd6e1ca7c2f442633593566fdaa","value":"pet"},{"label":"Travel Insurance","url":"https:\/\/quote.nimblefins.co.uk\/travel-insurance?id=76f4ecd6e1ca7c2f442633593566fdaa","value":"travel"}],"title":"Compare Cheap Travel Insurance"}

Debenhams travel insurance includes Personal Belongings cover on all policies, with the option to add Winter Sports, Wedding, Golf, Gadgets and/or Cruise Pack to suit your needs. Insolvency is not covered on Debenhams policies, nor are cancellation claims due to natural disaster. Here's what you need to know about Debenhams travel insurance before you buy.

In This Review

Read our review to learn about features and prices of Debenhams travel insurance—plus we'll explain the main differences between buying direct direct from the Debenhams' site versus buying through a comparison site, 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.

Debenhams Travel Insurance Review: What You Need to Know

Debenhams offers three tiers of travel insurance via comparison sites—Bronze, Silver and Gold—and three tiers direct from their website—Standard, Superior and Luxury. All policies include some level of cover for Emergency Medical expenses, Cancellation & Curtailment (Travel Delay, Missed Departure & Travel Abandonment), Personal Accident and Personal Belongings.

How do prices compare? Our pricing analysis showed that there's more value to be found in Debenham's Annual plans than in their Single Trip plans—but rates can vary significantly from person to person to it's always good to compare prices yourself to see how Debenhams prices your risks.

For those wanting more comprehensive cover, optional extras like Winter Sports, Wedding, Golf, Cruise and Gadget are also available. Gadget cover can be purchased for additional cost to cover between 3 and 7 gadgets, providing up to £1,000 per item (or up to £3,000 for laptops) and total gadget cover between £1,000 and £3,000. However, Debenhams has done away with their Extended Travel Disruption cover so you can no longer get cover for cancelling due to a natural disaster.

How to Buy Debenhams travel insurance plans can be purchased either from a comparison site or direct from Debenhams. There are slight differences to cover limits, excess and prices when you buy direct vs. from a comparison site.

Gadget Cover Mobile phones and smart phones are not covered under the standard Valuables section of cover on Debenhams plans—computer equipment (e.g., laptops) may be covered under Valuables but only up to the limit, which ranges from £200 to £500, depending on the plan. If you need more gadget cover, or want to insure your mobile phone when travelling, then you can buy optional Gadget cover when you purchase Debenhams' travel insurance direct. Details of Debenhams optional Gadge cover below:

Cost of Adding Gadget Cover to Debenhams Travel Insurance

Level of CoverNumber of GadgetsCovered Total Replacement/Repair Value for all GadgetsExcessSingle Trip CostAnnual Policy Cost
LEVEL ONE3 Gadgets£1,000£50£7.43£31.80
Single Article Limit£1,000£50
Unauthorised calls, texts and data use£100£50
Single Article Limit for Laptop£1,000£50
LEVEL TWO5 Gadgets£2,000£50£9.52£40.71
Single Article Limit£1,000£50
Unauthorised calls, texts and data use£100£50
Single Article Limit for Laptop£2,000£50
LEVEL THREE7 Gadgets£3,000£50£11.01£47.24
Single Article Limit£1,000£50
Unauthorised calls, texts and data use£100£50
Single Article Limit for Laptop£2,000£50

Does Debenhams Travel Insurance Cover Trips in the UK? UK holidays are covered under Debenhams policies, so long as you pre-booked at least 2 consecutive nights of accommodation.

Pre-Existing Conditions: Debenhams may be able to offer cover for pre-existing medical conditions, likely for an added cost. If Debenhams is not able to offer cover for your pre-existing conditions, then claims arising as a result of those existing conditions would not be covered. On page 6 of Debenhams' Policy Wording is a list of a few hundred waived conditions that are covered as standard, provided there are no other pre-existing conditions, you're not awaiting surgery and you've been fully discharged from any post-op follow up.

Over 65s: There are higher age limits on plans bought direct—the upper age limit is 74 for multi-trip policies and 84 for Single Trip policies, with optional Winter Sports cover available to those under 65. Bought from a comparison site, however, the upper age limit is only 55 for multi-trip policies and 70 for Single Trip policies to the UK or Europe/55 for other destinations, with optional Winter Sports cover available to those under 55.

Debenhams Price Comparison

According to pricing data, Debenhams Annual Trip travel insurance premiums are quite good value relative to the average cost of travel insurance, in particular the plans available from the comparison site.

Please use these charts for informational purposes only—market and Debenhams prices may vary significantly from day to day or from person to person; your quotes may reflect a large degree of variation.

chart showing Debenhams multi-trip travel insurance prices compared to market averages
Debenhams Multi-Trip Travel Insurance Prices vs. the Market

As you can see in the chart below, Single Trip prices came in a bit on the expensive side. We also analyzed policies for single trips of 7 days to France (as an example of Europe travel insurance cover), South Africa and America.

chart showing Debenhams single-trip travel insurance prices compared to market averages
Debenhams Single Trip Travel Insurance Prices vs. the Market

A significant reason that comparison site prices are noticeably cheaper than direct prices is the excess. Plans bought via a comparison site have a higher excess, which means you'll contribute more towards any claims should they arise.

chart showing Debenhams travel insurance excess
Debenhams Travel Insurance Excess

According to our data analysis of direct plans, the travel insurance cost for a family of four is around 50% more than the cost of an individual policy. In the table below you can see how prices change across geographical locations like Europe and America and policy types for larger groups.

How much more expensive is travel insurance for a family of 4?


Type of Policy
Geographical Cover AreaDebenhams PolicyPremiumPremium
IndividualFamily of Four
Annual, Multi-TripEuropeStandard£31£50
Superior£41£67
Luxury£50£81
Worldwide excl. USA, Canada & Carib.Standard£78£76
Superior£105£102
Luxury£125£122
WorldwideStandard£54£88
Superior£72£117
Luxury£87£141
Single TripUK & N IrelandStandard£9£10
Superior£12£13
Luxury£14£16
FranceStandard£9£18
Superior£13£24
Luxury£17£31
South AfricaStandard£24£44
Superior£31£58
Luxury£38£70
AmericaStandard£55£101
Superior£73£135
Luxury£87£162

Cost of Winter Sports Add On

Winter Sports cover may be added for an extra cost to all tiers of Debenhams travel insurance plans. We've gathered quotes across geographies and types of policies for plans bought direct to give you an idea of the travel insurance add-on costs. Quotes were gathered for a 30-year-old individual traveller and for a family of four.

Added Cost of Winter Sports Cover

Type of PolicyGeographical Cover AreaDebenhams PolicyIndividualFamily of Four
Winter Sports Add OnTotal Premium Incl. Winter SportsWinter Sports Add OnTotal Premium Incl. Winter Sports
Annual, Multi-TripEuropeStandard£6£37£61£111
Superior£8£50£81£148
Luxury£10£60£97£178
Worldwide excl. USA, Canada & Carib.Standard£16£94£15£92
Superior£21£126£20£122
Luxury£25£151£24£147
WorldwideStandard£11£65£18£106
Superior£14£87£23£141
Luxury£17£104£28£169
Single TripUK & N IrelandStandardn/an/an/an/a
Superiorn/an/an/an/a
Luxuryn/an/an/an/a
FranceStandard£9£19£17£34
Superior£12£25£22£46
Luxury£13£30£24£55
South AfricaStandard£26£49£47£91
Superior£34£65£63£121
Luxury£41£79£76£145
AmericaStandard£59£114£109£210
Superior£79£152£146£281
Luxury£95£182£175£337

Notable Features

Here are some highlights of features available on Debenhams travel insurance policies. Standard features like Medical and Personal Liability are also included on Debenhams policies, limits for which can be found below in the Policies. For more complete details like inner limits (e.g., the Valuables limit within Personal Belongings) and exclusions, please see the policy documents. For cover limits see limits.

Debenhams Travel Insurance Features
GadgetsOptional gadget cover is available for Single trip policies up to 90 days long and Multi-trip policies for trips up to 31 days in length on plans bought direct; covers repair due to damage, or replacement at the insurer's discretion, theft, breakdown, liquid damage and unauthorized calls, text or data use; cover of £1,000, £2,000 or £3,000 with a per item limit of £1,000 (laptops up to £3,000)
Personal Effects/BaggagePersonal belongings and baggage cover is included on Debenhams policies
Winter SportsOptional extra cover for up to 17 days of winter sports (direct) or 21 days (comparison site)
GolfOptional extra cover on direct plans for up to 31 days on single trip policies and 21 days on annual, multi-trip policies
WeddingOptional cover on direct plans for wedding cancellation, plus rings, gifts, attire, photos and videos, cars, cake and flowers
Mobility CoverCover for walking aids, wheelchairs and mobility scooters on direct plans
Scuba DivingCovered up to a depth of 18 metres
Trip CancellationCover for unused travel and accommodation expenses under circumstances including unexpected illness, redundancy, jury service, abandonment of trip after a 24 hour delay/cancellation due to strike, mechanical breakdown, adverse weather, etc. (Travel Delay, Travel Abandonment, Missed Departure)
CruisesOptional Cruise Pack on direct plans to provide financial protection in case of a missed departure, unused cruise excursion (if you are cabin-bound due to illness), cruise itinerary change and cabin confinement; be sure that you have cover for all the destinations you're going to visit on the cruise

Types of Debenhams Travel Insurance Policies

Debenhams offers three tiers of travel insurance from comparison sites—Bronze, Silver and Gold—and three tiers direct from their website—Standard, Superior and Luxury. They all have the same level of Emergency Medical cover (£10,000,000), but differ on cover for Cancellation, Baggage, etc. In general, the higher tier policies offer both higher limits and lower excess amounts. Winter Sports cover can be added for an additional cost.

Bought direct, maximum trip lengths are lower, with Single Trip travel insurance for trips up to 31 days abroad and Multi-Trip policies for any number of trips a policy year, up to 31 days each. For an added fee, those under age 65 can extend the maximum trip length to 90 days on Single Trip policies. Those under age 65 can extend the maximum trip duration to 45 or 60 days for an extra charge on Annual policies.

Bought from a comparison site, the maximum trips length is greater, covering longer trips. Single Trip Policies cover trips up to 365 days; Annual Multi-trip Policies cover any number of trips in the policy year but limited to 42 days per trip.

Debenhams Bronze

Bronze is the lowest level of cover from a comparison site, with £1,000 of Cancellation and £2,000 of Baggage.

Debenhams Silver

Silver is the comparison site mid-tier offering, with £2,000 of Cancellation and £2,500 of Baggage.

Debenhams Gold

Silver is the comparison site top-tier offering, with £5,000 of Cancellation and £3,000 of Baggage. Interestingly, this plan offers higher levels of cover than their top-tier direct plan (Luxury).

Debenhams Standard

Standard is Debenhams direct's entry-level travel insurance plan. You get £10 million in Emergency Medical expenses (as with all Debenham's travel cover), plus £1,000 for Trip Cancellation, £25/day for Travel Delay and £1,000 for Luggage are included. You can pay extra for Gadget cover, up to £1,000, £2,000 or £3,000 (as you can on all Debenhams plans). The standard excess is £175 on Standard plans, meaning the policyholder contributes £175 towards a claim.

Debenhams Superior

As Debenhams' direct mid-tier offering, Superior policies include higher levels for Luggage and Cancellation cover (£1,500 and £3,000, respectively). The standard excess is £50 on Superior plans.

Debenhams Luxury

Debenhams Luxury is the top-tier travel insurance plan with higher levels of cover than their Superior plan, across most categories. The Luxury plan provides for £5,000 of Cancellation and £2,500 for Luggage. The standard excess is £0 on Luxury plans.

Cover Limits (Single & Annual Multi-Trip) per Insured Traveller^


From Comparison SiteDirect From Debenhams Travel Insurance

Policy Type
BronzeSilverGoldStandardSuperiorLuxury

LimitLimitLimitLimitLimitLimit

MEDICAL
£10,000,000£10,000,000£10,000,000£10,000,000£10,000,000£10,000,000

CANCELLATION AND CURTAILMENT
£1,000£2,000£5,000£1,000£3,000£5,000

Travel Delay
£35 per day up to £210£35 per day up to £315£35 per day up to £350£25 per day up to £200£25 per day up to £300£25 per day up to £500

Travel Abandonment
£750£2,000£5,000£750£3,000£5,000

Missed Departure
£200£1,000£1,500£500£750£1,500

PERSONAL LUGGAGE
£2,000£2,500£3,000£1,000£1,500£2,500

Delayed Baggage
£25/day up to £200£25/day up to £250£25/day up to £300£25/day up to £200£25/day up to £300£25/day up to £500

PERSONAL MONEY
£200£250£300£200£300£500

PERSONAL ACCIDENT
£10,000£20,000£30,000£10,000£20,000£30,000

^For full details and inner limits, please see the policy documents.

Debenhams Direct OPTIONAL Wedding Extension

Cover Limits per couple
Wedding Rings£1,000 per ring (mas 2)
Wedding Attire£2,000 per couple
Cancellation Cover£2,000

Debenhams Direct OPTIONAL Cruise Cover

Cover Limits per person
Missed Departure£1,000
Cabin Confinement£1,000 (£100 per 24 hours)
Cruise Itinerary Change£500 (£100 per port)

Debenhams Direct OPTIONAL Gadget Cover Limits

Level of CoverNumber of GadgetsTotal Replacement/Repair Value for All GadgetsExcess
Level 13 gadgets£1,000up to £50
Single Article Limit£1,000
Single Article Limit for Laptop£1,000
Level 25 gadgets£2,000up to £50
Single Article Limit£1,000
Single Article Limit for Laptop£2,000
Level 37 gadgets£3,000up to £50
Single Article Limit£1,000
Single Article Limit for Laptop£2,000

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 Debenhams Travel Insurance Compare to Competitors?

To better understand the value of Debenhams 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.

Debenhams Travel Insurance vs AXA Travel Insurance

In our opinion, AXA travel insurance offers solid cover for reasonable prices, offering good value for money. Insolvency, Baggage, Cancellation/Delay/Curtailment and Catastrophe are included on all plans. If you're looking for a cheaper Worldwide cover option, you may want to consider an AXA policy.

Bottom Line: If you really want cover for End Supplier Failure and Baggage included as standard, then AXA might be a more comprehensive travel insurance option for you—especially for Worldwide cover.

Debenhams Travel Insurance vs AA Travel Insurance

AA travel insurance is another provider offering good value. In particular, we like their higher-tier Standard plan as it offers higher limits plus includes Abandonment and Financial Failure, may cover pre-existing conditions and you can add extended Travel Disruption protection. Personal Belongings and baggage are covered on all policies, although cover limits may be too low for some travellers. When purchased online, customers can lock in a 20% online discount for the first year.

Bottom Line: If you want a larger online discount, AA offers 20% off to new customers.

Debenhams Travel Insurance vs Insure & Go Travel Insurance

Insure & Go travel insurance is another travel specialist provider offering some economical holiday cover. Cancellation cover ranges from £1,000 to £10,000 and Baggage from £750 up to £3,000, with prices starting from around £5 for a single trip to Europe. Emergency Medical starts at £5 million and goes up to unlimited cover on top tier plans. The Valuables extension upgrade may be useful if you want more cover for gadgets like mobile phones, laptops, etc. to provide £1k or £2k of valuables cover, starting at a cost of £5.90.

Bottom Line: Insure & Go is another reliable option for travel cover with the option to add more cover for gadgets.

Debenhams 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.

Other Useful Information

According to 585 reviews on feefo.com, Debenhams travel insurance is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars. Many comments remark on the ease of use of the website. The most common negative feedback that we noticed related to the length of time to receive the free voucher. Apparently you may have to wait a while to receive it.

Debehmans Travel Insurance Claims
For all queries about claims on policies purchased from 21 October 2014 please contact Global Response on:
Claims Telephone:00 44 (0) 343 658 0374
Medical Assistance:00 44 (0) 343 658 0373 or 00 44 (0) 2920 474226
For all queries about claims and assistance on policies purchased before 21 October 2014 please contact Insure&Go on:
Claims Telephone:00 44 (0) 207 748 8906
Medical Assistance:00 44 (0) 207 748 0060
Erin Yurday

Erin Yurday is the Founder and Editor of NimbleFins. Prior to NimbleFins, she worked as an investment professional and as the finance expert in Stanford University's Graduate School of Business case writing team. Read more on LinkedIn.

Comments

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.

Travel Insurance

Get Quotes

  • 4.8 out of 5 stars**
  • Quotes from 20 providers