Latest official figures have prompted a reminder for people to ensure they have travel insurance, particularly for holidaying abroad.

The Central Statistics Office says Ireland’s residents took 3.1 million overnight trips outside of Ireland in the first three months of the year, marking a 5% increase compared with the same time last year*. 

Having travel insurance is now a vital part of holiday planning, particularly if the destination is in another country. Research** from Multitrip.com and carried out by Opinium recently showed 66% of people feel more at risk of travel disruption now than they used to, and so the team at Multitrip.com has prepared this guide to help holidaymakers select the right travel insurance for them: 

Don’t Delay 

It’s a good idea to purchase your travel insurance policy as soon as you book your trip, particularly as some policy features can take a number of days to kick in. If you wait until closer to departure to arrange travel insurance, you run the risk of something disrupting your travel and not being covered. 

Research the market 

Ireland has a varied and competitive travel insurance market and it’s worth looking into each provider to find the best rate and package for your needs.  

Choose your level of cover 

Make sure your travel insurance matches your needs, and those of your family. Review your cover each year, or each time you buy it, if you purchase single-trip policies, to check it still fits your circumstances and planned trips.  

Check whether the baggage and cancellation limits are high enough to cover your belongings and plans. If you’re worried about things like strikes, airline delays, or other unexpected disruptions, consider adding travel disruption cover. It can offer extra peace of mind and financial protection if your trip doesn’t go as planned. 

Single- or multi-trip cover 

Think about how often you’ll travel in the next 12 months. If you're planning just one holiday, a single-trip policy may be the most cost-effective choice. But if you’re likely to take two or more trips, an annual multi-trip policy could save you money and hassle by covering all your travel under one plan. 

Trip duration 

Be aware that policies often include time limits on trip duration. These limits depend on several factors, including the type of policy you choose (like single-trip or multi-trip), the maximum cover allowed, and the age of the person insured. Always make sure the trip you’ve planned is within the limits. 

Health cover 

People with an existing health insurance policy that covers overseas inpatient treatment may save money on their travel insurance, so it’s worth reviewing the details of any policies you have currently and mention them when purchasing cover for a holiday. 

A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives you access to public healthcare in EU/EEA countries—often for free or at a reduced cost. But it only covers emergency medical treatment and doesn’t include things like air ambulance, repatriation, or non-urgent care. It also won’t cover things like lost baggage, trip cancellations, or travel delays. That’s why it’s essential to have travel insurance for more comprehensive protection. Some policies even offer extras like online GP access and virtual consultations and prescriptions.  

If you have any concerns about pre-existing conditions, the best thing to do is speak to a provider directly to get the best information.  

Check the excess 

If you’re taking out a family policy, remember that the excess usually applies per person, not per policy—which can add up if more than one person needs to claim. In some cases, paying a bit more for a higher-tier plan can reduce or remove the excess entirely, offering greater peace of mind. 

Do you need any extras? 

Insurance providers will offer a range of optional extras that help tailor your policy to your needs, so consider all options that might apply. For example, are you a thrill-seeker planning lots of extreme sports? Are you packing your clubs for a golfing trip? If the answer is ‘yes’ to any of these, you may benefit from relevant add-ons to your policy. 

Two weeks out - review your policy 

It’s worth revisiting and double-checking your policy in advance of travel, to refresh your memory about what is and isn’t covered. If you decide you do need some additional cover, there may still be time at that stage to do so. 

Keep your details safe 

When travelling, keep your travel insurance documents saved on your phone, or in a separate email folder with your holiday details, so that they’re easy to find if you need them. Your provider will have given you all the contact details you need to reach them, day or night.  

Jason Whelan, MD of Multitrip.com said: "It’s really important to do your research when buying travel insurance to make sure that you put in place the right cover for you. We urge all holidaymakers to get a policy as soon as they purchase their trip to ensure cancellation protection.  

The cost of travel insurance doesn’t get any cheaper if you leave it to the last minute, so there’s really no benefit to delaying, in fact you are missing out on essential protection. Travel insurance is too important to be an afterthought. 

At Multitrip.com, we offer 3 levels of cover with optional add-ons so customers can tailor the cover to suit their needs. It’s important for customers to review the policy they choose carefully, paying attention to the various coverage limits, excess, and key add-ons such as Winter Sports, Excess Waiver and Travel Disruption coverage”.

*Household Travel Survey Quarter 1 2026

**Survey of 1,000 holidaymakers from Ireland who go on holiday abroad at least once a year, carried out online between 27th March and 1st April 2026