Travel insurance: SafetyWing vs EKTA
Two solid options, built for slightly different trips — pick based on how you're travelling, not just price.
| Plan | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| SafetyWing | Long trips, digital nomads | Subscription-style Nomad Insurance you can start or cancel anytime, even after you've already left home. |
| EKTA | Fixed-length trips | Traditional single-trip travel insurance — buy coverage for exact dates before you go. |
SafetyWing
Nomad Insurance — flexible month-to-month coverage that works well if your travel dates are loose or your trip is open-ended.
Reader bonus: use code TRIPEH for 8 weeks of free electronics theft cover (new Nomad Essential members).
Get a Nomad Essential quote Compare Nomad CompleteEKTA
Standard travel insurance for a set departure and return date — a straightforward fit for a booked round-trip.
Get an EKTA quoteWhat to check before you buy
The most important part of any travel insurance policy is emergency medical cover, including getting you home if you're seriously ill or injured. Treatment abroad can be very expensive, especially in countries without public healthcare for visitors, so check the medical limit before anything else.
Then check the policy covers the way you're actually travelling: the countries you're visiting, the activities you plan to do (skiing, diving and motorbike riding are often excluded), and any medical conditions you already have. Declare those conditions honestly when you buy, as undeclared conditions are one of the most common reasons claims are refused.
If you've paid for flights or tours you can't get back, make sure cancellation cover is included. And if you're relying on cover from a credit card, read its policy document, as it often only applies when the trip was paid for with that card.
More detail: Do you need travel insurance?
Travel insurance checklist
- Emergency medical limit: is it high enough for the countries you're visiting? Costs vary a lot by country.
- Repatriation: does it pay to get you home if needed?
- Cancellation and curtailment: what happens if you have to cancel or cut your trip short, and for which reasons?
- Baggage and belongings: what are the per-item limits? Phones, laptops and cameras often have low limits.
- Activities: are the activities you plan covered, such as hiking, diving, skiing or riding a scooter?
- Pre-existing conditions: do you need to declare them, and are they covered?
- Excess: how much do you pay on each claim?
- Trip length and age limits: does the policy cover how long you'll be away, and does it apply to your age?
Frequently asked questions
When should I buy? Generally as soon as you've booked, because cancellation cover usually only applies to events after you buy the policy.
Is my credit card cover enough? Sometimes, but conditions apply, such as paying for the trip with that card, and limits can be lower than a dedicated policy. Read the card's policy document.
What do I do in an emergency? Contact the insurer's emergency line as soon as you can, before you agree to expensive treatment where possible, and keep all receipts and reports.
How do I make a claim? Keep evidence (receipts, medical reports, police reports for theft) and follow the insurer's claim process and deadlines.
This is general information, not advice. Policy terms, exclusions and eligibility differ between providers and countries, so read the policy wording before you buy.