It can be stressful trying to get the British Consulate to help you, or loved ones, when things go wrong on holiday. Paperwork, dealing with local Police or medical centres, language barriers, flights home outside of the package schedule. But you can avoid all that simply by taking out travel insurance from as little as £35 per head, per trip. Here’s the word;
British travellers needed help from British Consulates abroad more than 30,000 times in the past 12 months — with Spain, Thailand and the United States topping the list of crisis hotspots.
The data, obtained by travel insurance provider Holidaysafe from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) under Freedom of Information laws, also shows more than a third of the cases involved accidents, illness and fatalities.
The new figures were released at peak booking time for Brits planning their summer holidays. They show that UK nationals required help abroad 30,735 times between November 2024 and November 2025. Incidents ranged from medical emergencies, hospitalisations and lost passports to arrests, repatriations and deaths overseas.
Meanwhile, new analysis of claims data shows that the cost of falling ill abroad continues to rise — with the single most expensive claim topping £543,000 for medical treatment in the United States.
According to the FCDO, the top six countries where Brits needed the most emergency support were:
- Spain (5,940 cases)
- Thailand (2,308)
- United States (2,257)
- Greece (1,492)
- France (1,209)
- Turkey (1,045)
These are also the countries that generated the most medical travel insurance claims with Spain and the United States responsible for almost half of them. It’s an overlap that travel experts warn creates a “perfect storm” of high demand, rising hospital costs and vulnerability for uninsured travellers.
The claims data analysed by the insurer also shows:
- The top five most expensive claims last year all occurred in the United States, with costs exceeding £200,000 in multiple cases.
- The single highest claim — for a severe illness requiring intensive care — reached £543,250.
- Even the average claim for the most popular holiday spots, including Spain, Greece, Thailand and France is around £1,000
Amber Moon, Holidaysafe brand manager said: “We’re coming up to the busiest time of the year for booking holidays and people will be looking forward to their summer trips. But these figures show just how important it is to have the right travel insurance in place.
“From unexpected hospital stays to accidents and bereavements, thousands of Brits needed help abroad last year. Without travel insurance, many of these costs may not be covered.
“We encourage travellers to choose comprehensive cover that meets their needs – and to check the policy wording carefully, as exclusions and limitations apply.
“Our message is simple: buy your travel insurance the same day you book your trip and declare all existing medical conditions. It’s the easiest way to make sure you’re covered for the unexpected.”
Top tips for travellers include:
- Buy cover as soon as you book, not days before departure
- Declare every medical condition, medication and treatment — even minor or stable conditions
- Check that their policy covers cruise travel, sports, and any planned activities
- Carry the insurer’s emergency medical number at all times
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