Compare cheap travel insurance from leading NZ insurers without the frills. Cover for the essentials without paying for what you don't need.
the benefits
A medical emergency overseas can derail even the most carefully budgeted trip. Hospital treatment, surgery, overnight stays, and medications can cost thousands of dollars and without insurance, those costs come straight out of your travel wallet making a cheap trip the exact opposite.
Loosig all your belongings in a single bag can be devastating. A cheap travel insurance policy still covers loss, theft, and damage to your luggage and personal belongings, helping you replace what you’ve lost without blowing your budget.
Unforeseen events – including illness, natural disasters, political unrest, and family emergencies – can force you to cancel or cut short your trip. Travel insurance covers the cost of pre-booked flights, accommodation, and tours if you need to cancel, so you’re not left out of pocket when plans change unexpectedly.
Your passport is the most important document you carry while travelling, and losing it overseas can be a stressful and costly experience. Most mid-range policies cover the cost of replacing a lost or stolen passport, as well as other essential travel documents (subject to the conditions of your policy).
Budget trips often still include a range of adventure activities, from scuba diving and trekking to motorbikingand sailing. Standard backpacker travel insurancepolicies may exclude higher-risk activities, so it’s important to check the specific activity inclusions of your chosen policy before you travel. Some activities require an optional add-on pack, while others – such as competitive sports and mountaineering – may be excluded regardless of cover level.
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Key Considerations
The right level of travel insurance depends on what you’re planning to do. If your trip is relatively low-key (think beach holidays, city breaks, and sightseeing) a mid-range policy is likely to provide adequate cover. But if your itinerary includes scuba diving, trekking above 3,500 metres, skiing, cruising, or motorbiking, you’ll need to check that these activities are specifically covered under your policy or add the relevant optional packs before you travel.
Travel insurance comes with important exclusions worth understanding before you depart. Claims will generally not be paid if you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident, if you were engaged in reckless or illegal behaviour, or if you were travelling against a government Do Not Travel warning. Riding a moped, scooter, or motorcycle without a valid New Zealand licence is also typically excluded, as is sailing more than 10 nautical miles from shore or scuba diving without an open water certification or licensed instructor. Always read the Policy Wording carefully before purchasing.
Most policies can be purchased for trips of up to 12 months at a time. If you’re planning a longer trip – such as an extended working holiday or a multi-year backpacking expedition – you may need to look into a long-stay or two year travel insurance policy instead. Always check the maximum trip duration of any policy you’re considering against the length of your planned journey before purchasing.
Pre-existing medical conditions must be declared when purchasing. Given the length and physical demands of many trips, it’s particularly important to ensure your cover is valid for any relevant conditions. Some conditions may be covered automatically, while others require a medical assessment or attract an additional premium. Failing to declare a condition could result in a claim being rejected when you most need support.
If your plans include multiple trips throughout the year rather than one continuous journey, an annual multi-trip policy may offer better value than a single trip policy. However, if you’re heading off on one extended trip, a single trip policy is almost always the more appropriate choice. It’s worth comparing both options before purchasing though, as the right choice depends on how long you plan to be away and whether you intend to return home between trips.
Staying in hostels and shared accommodation face a higher risk of theft than those staying in private rooms. Most travel insurance policies cover theft of personal belongings, but cover may not apply if items were left unattended or unsupervised in a public or shared space. Always use the lockers or safes provided by your accommodation, keep your most valuable items secure, and never leave belongings unattended, even briefly.
further reading
Expert guides to help you make an informed decision about your travel cover.
Missed a flight? Find out exactly when travel insurance covers it, what's excluded, and how to claim, plus tips to avoid missing your next flight.
Read full guideget answers
Travel insurance typically covers emergency overseas medical expenses, trip cancellation and curtailment, lost or stolen luggage and personal belongings, passport and travel document replacement, and 24/7 emergency assistance. Some policies also include cover for travel delays and personal liability. The specific inclusions and limits vary between insurers and policy levels, so it’s important to compare policies carefully and read the Policy Wording before purchasing.
It really depends on where you're going and how long for, age is also a big factor affecting how much a policy can cost. These days lots of policies come with optional add-ons, so you only pay for the cover you need, not the extras that you don't which helps keeping costs low. When you look at the cost of medical fees overseas, compared to the cost of cover, it's really a no brainer.
"Cheap" doesn't neccesarilty mean lack of cover. When you compare on our site you'll see the prices vary a lot between providers. Some medical-only policies seem a lot cheaper than the comprehensive ones, simply for the fact that have less benefits, but it doesn't mean they are not a reputable company. All the insurers we compare, whether low cost or expensive are legitimate, leading insurers in the market.
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