Travel insurance if travelling from another country

LJC1968

Hi, I just got a good quote (£35) for annual travel insurance (Holidaysafe) inc. travel in the US but they said my insurance was only valid if I started and finished my holidays in the UK. I said I had already booked a flight starting and finishing in Paris going to Malaysia but they said they wouldn't cover travel if it originated in another country. Anyone know of this limitation to travel insurance? Any travel insurance companies recommended where it's not a problem if you start your travel outside of the UK? Many thanks.

Moto2

How are you getting to and from Paris?
Is that not part of the trip? i.e. you're getting a connecting flight in Paris

2gorgeousgirls

I live in NI but usually fly from Dublin so have the same problem.

I have used Globelink and Columbus in the past. This time I have bought insurance through Santander (I bank with them). Insurance companies which sell gap year/backpackers insurance cover this. I believe M&S do also.

agrinnall

It's perfectly normal for UK travel insurance providers to require the trip to be covered to start in the UK. If you are actually starting from France (i.e. not travelling there from the UK as part of your trip) then you'll either need to get cover from a French insurer or find one of the few UK insurers who will allow cover to start (or be extended) elsewhere, although the latter will be a lot more expensive than the premium you've found (which to be honest sounds very cheap for US cover, are you sure it's right?).

LJC1968

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to Paris by Eurostar for work so no connecting flights from the UK. The Holidaysafe quote is very cheap but includes a discount as I've insured with them before. I can't get French insurance as on other trips I'll probably go from London. I'll try the insurance companies suggested. Many thanks!

LJC1968

Just as an update, I tried around a dozen insurance companies, all of whom said no to my travelling from France, before being recommended True Traveller Insurance who have said that they will cover travelling from European starting points (not just from the UK) for a single-trip insurance. I can also get an annual policy if I upgrade to cover up to 70 days travelling so long as within that time I start and finish in the UK at some point, i.e. it would include my getting Eurostar to France and spending time in France before flying off from a French airport on holiday, as long as within the 70 days I then travelled back to the UK. Thankfully it's not astronomically expensive either so a good travel insurance provider for my situation. Thanks again for the help on this thread.