About Star Holidays
StarHolidays exists to make travel insurance easier to understand, for travelers from any country, before they spend money or get stuck with the small print.
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Why this site exists
Most of what you find when you search for travel insurance is written to sell it. That isn't necessarily dishonest, and plenty of sellers publish useful material. But it does make it hard to get a straight answer to questions like "do I actually need this?" or "does this destination really require it, or is that list out of date?"
We started StarHolidays to answer those questions in plain English. We publish guides on how cover works, destination entry rules, what different home countries' health systems do and don't pay for abroad, and how to compare and claim.
What we are, and what we aren't
We are an independent information website.
We aren't an insurance company, broker, agent or financial adviser. We don't sell policies, provide quotes, recommend a specific policy for your circumstances or handle claims. Nothing on this site is an offer of insurance, or advice tailored to you.
That matters. Insurance is regulated in most countries, and only properly authorized firms can sell it or give personal advice about it. If you need a personal recommendation, speak to a licensed broker or adviser in your country.
Who we write for
We write for travelers everywhere. That includes people applying for a visa who need proof of cover, retirees working out what Medicare won't pay for, families planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip and backpackers looking at a long stretch on the road.
Travel insurance is sold differently around the world, so we try to flag where a rule or number applies only to one market. A percentage rule of thumb from the US, for example, may not help you in the UK.
How we work
Every guide lists the sources we've checked. We lean on governments, regulators and legal texts wherever we can, then use reputable market sources for things governments don't publish, such as average prices. When sources disagree or we can't confirm something, we tell you. You'll see this on several destination pages, and we think it's more useful than a falsely confident answer. Read our editorial policy for the details.
How we make money
We plan to fund the site through display advertising, such as Google AdSense. Ads are labeled, and advertisers don't get a say in what we write. We don't accept payment for favorable coverage, and we'll tell you clearly if that arrangement ever changes. See our advertising disclosure.
Tell us what we've missed
Travel rules change quickly, and we would rather be corrected than wrong. If you've seen a newer official notice, or you think we've made a mistake, please contact us. We read every message, and we'd particularly like to hear which country or topic you'd like us to cover next.