Timms Travel · Travel Insurance
Travel with genuine peace of mind
One medical emergency abroad can cost more than your entire holiday. Get comprehensive travel insurance from Ekta - quotes in minutes, cover that actually works.
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Policy types
Which cover is right for you?
The right policy depends on how often you travel, who's coming and how long you're going for.
Cover for one trip or holiday.
Best for
Annual holiday, city break, one-off adventure
What's included
- Medical expenses up to £10m
- Cancellation cover up to £5,000
- Baggage and personal effects up to £2,000
- Personal liability cover
- Flight delay compensation
- Missed departure cover
- 24/7 emergency assistance helpline
Coverage breakdown
What travel insurance covers
Understanding exactly what is and isn't covered helps you choose the right policy - and avoid nasty surprises when you need to claim.
Medical emergencies
Hospital treatment, surgery, repatriation and emergency dental care abroad. This is the most important cover to have - a serious illness or accident abroad can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds without it.
Trip cancellation
If you have to cancel your trip before departure due to illness, bereavement, redundancy or other covered reasons, you can claim back your pre-paid costs including flights and accommodation.
Baggage and personal effects
Cover for lost, stolen or damaged luggage and personal belongings. Limits apply per item, so check the policy if you are travelling with expensive electronics or jewellery.
Flight delays and missed departures
Compensation if your departure is significantly delayed, or cover if you miss your flight due to a covered reason such as a public transport failure on the way to the airport.
Personal liability
Covers you if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property while abroad and face a legal claim as a result. Essential for activities and sports.
Curtailment
If you have to cut your trip short and return home early due to a covered emergency, curtailment cover reimburses your unused pre-paid costs.
Pre-existing conditions
Standard policies may not cover pre-existing medical conditions unless declared at the time of purchase. Always disclose conditions - cover can usually be added, often for a small additional premium.
Adventure sports
Skiing, snowboarding, scuba diving and other adventure activities are often excluded from standard policies. A specialist add-on or adventure sports extension is usually available.
Real world
What happens when things go wrong
The real cost of travelling uninsured - and why cover is worth every penny.
Broken leg in the USA
You fall on the first day of your New York trip and break your leg. You need an ambulance, surgery and three nights in hospital.
With insurance
Your insurer arranges and covers everything. You pay your excess (typically £50–£200) and fly home when medically fit.
Without insurance
A broken leg, surgery and hospital stay in the USA typically costs £50,000–£150,000. You are responsible for the full bill.
Travel smarter
Six things every traveller should know about insurance
Buy as soon as you book
The moment you pay for flights or accommodation, buy your insurance. Cancellation cover only applies from the purchase date - not from when your trip starts.
Always declare pre-existing conditions
Failure to disclose a medical condition can invalidate your entire policy - not just the medical claim. Declare everything and pay the extra premium if needed. It is worth it.
Call before you pay medical bills
In a medical emergency, call your insurer's 24/7 helpline before authorising treatment if at all possible. They can liaise directly with hospitals and ensure you receive the right level of care.
Document everything
Photograph your luggage before you check it in. Keep receipts for everything. Get a police report for any theft within 24 hours. Evidence makes claims faster and smoother.
Read the excess before you buy
The excess is the amount you pay towards any claim. A low-premium policy often has a high excess. For smaller losses, this can mean a claim isn't worth making.
Check activity exclusions
If you're skiing, diving, cycling or doing anything more adventurous than sightseeing, double-check your policy covers it. Add a sports extension if needed - it is usually inexpensive.
Traveller stories
Why cover matters
“My flight was cancelled the morning I was supposed to fly to Lisbon. My travel insurance covered the full cost of my hotel and transfers. Sorted within a week.”
Rachel B.
Leeds, UK
“Ended up in hospital in Florida with appendicitis. Without insurance I'd have been looking at over £60,000. The insurer handled absolutely everything.”
Mark S.
Glasgow, UK
“I had always skipped insurance to save money. After losing £1,400 worth of luggage with no cover, I will never travel without it again.”
Amina L.
Bristol, UK
Our partner
Why we partner with Ekta
Quotes in minutes
No lengthy forms, no phone calls. Get a comprehensive travel insurance quote in under two minutes and purchase instantly online.
Comprehensive cover
Ekta policies cover the things that matter most - medical emergencies, cancellations, baggage and more - with clear, plain-English terms.
24/7 emergency support
If something goes wrong while you are abroad, Ekta's emergency helpline is available around the clock to help coordinate care and guide you through the claims process.
Travel insurance is one of those things that feels optional until you actually need it - and then it feels indispensable. Timms Travel partners with Ekta because they make the process of getting properly covered as fast and friction-free as possible.
Whether you are after a straightforward single trip policy for a summer holiday in Spain, an annual multi-trip plan that covers every trip you take this year, or specialist cover for a longer backpacking adventure, Ekta has a policy that fits. Quotes are instant, terms are clear and the cover is comprehensive.
Our advice is simple: sort your insurance the same day you book your flights. It costs very little, and the peace of mind it provides is worth far more than the premium.
Help
Frequently asked questions
When should I buy travel insurance?+
As soon as you book your trip - not the day before you fly. Buying early means you are covered if you have to cancel before departure due to illness, bereavement or other covered events. Buying late only covers you from that point onwards.
Does travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?+
Standard policies may exclude pre-existing conditions unless you declare them at the time of purchase. Always disclose any conditions - cover can usually be added, often for a small additional premium. Failure to disclose can invalidate your entire policy.
Is travel insurance a legal requirement?+
No - travel insurance is not legally required for most destinations. However, some countries and activities do require proof of insurance (certain Schengen visa applications, for example). More importantly, without it you could face life-changing costs if something goes wrong abroad.
Does my bank account or credit card include travel insurance?+
Some premium bank accounts and credit cards include travel insurance as a perk, but the cover is often limited - low medical limits, short trip durations, or exclusions for certain destinations and activities. Always read the policy terms and check it meets your actual needs before relying on it.
What is an excess on a travel insurance policy?+
An excess is the amount you contribute towards any claim before your insurer pays out. For example, if you have a £100 excess and make a £500 claim, you receive £400. Higher excess policies usually have lower premiums - worth considering if you are healthy and mainly want catastrophic cover.
Does travel insurance cover adventure sports?+
Standard policies typically exclude activities like skiing, snowboarding, scuba diving, bungee jumping and other adventure sports. If you are planning any activities beyond gentle walking or swimming, check your policy carefully and add a sports or adventure extension if needed.
Can I get travel insurance if I have already departed?+
Most standard travel insurance policies must be purchased before you leave home. Some specialist providers offer policies for travellers who are already abroad, but cover may be limited and premiums higher. It is always better to sort insurance before you leave.
What is the difference between single trip and annual multi-trip insurance?+
Single trip insurance covers one specific trip from your departure date to your return. Annual multi-trip insurance covers unlimited trips (usually up to 31 days each) within a 12-month period. If you travel twice or more a year, annual cover almost always works out better value.
Does travel insurance cover Covid-19?+
Many travel insurance policies now include some Covid-19 cover - typically for medical costs if you catch Covid abroad, and sometimes cancellation if you test positive before departure. Cover varies significantly between providers, so check the specific policy terms carefully.
What should I do if I need to make a claim?+
Contact your insurer's 24/7 emergency helpline as soon as possible - do not wait until you return home if it is a medical emergency. Keep all documentation: medical reports, police reports for theft, receipts and airline correspondence. Most insurers now accept claims online or via an app.
Don't travel without cover
A single medical emergency abroad can cost more than your entire trip - many times over. Get a quote in minutes and travel with genuine peace of mind.
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