High levels of cover for medical emergencies plus allowances for pre-existing medical conditions, subject to screening, make Southdowns travel cover worth considering if you’re a traveller with health concerns.
Pros
- Competitive pricing
- High limit for medical emergencies
- Cancellation cover available up to £6,000
Cons
- Gadget cover not included
- No app option
Who are Southdowns?
Based in West Sussex, Southdowns is an insurer which provides travel cover for holidays and business trips. It offers standard policies through to specialist cover such as for travellers with pre-existing medical conditions.
Southdown policies are underwritten by AXA, one of the five largest travel insurers to serve UK customers. It’s the underwriter who provides the nuts and bolts of the actual insurance on offer.
What does Southdowns travel insurance cover?
Southdowns offers single trip and annual multi-trip travel insurance for individuals, couples, families and even groups of up to nine people travelling together.
It can be a good option for holidaymakers with pre-existing conditions as the insurer aims to provide cover in these circumstances subject to a medical screening process.
Single trip policies cover travellers up to the age of 75, while annual policies cover travellers up to the age of 65. All levels of cover offer a generous £20 million for emergency medical claims while the excess is low, at either £50 or £100 depending on your level of cover. The excess is the first part of any claim payout which is deducted by the insurer and the part which policyholders must cover.
Policies cover more than 100 sporting and leisure activities as standard, including horse riding, jet skiing and bungee jumping. These activities are often excluded from many insurers’ standard travel cover. There is also cover for certain Covid-related claims.
Cover for cruises and for certain types of work overseas, such as admin and clerical, hotel, and fruit picking (where there is no heavy machinery or climbing ladders) are included as standard.
Southdowns covers trips in the following areas:
- Europe (including Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Iceland)
- Worldwide (excluding the US, Canada and the Caribbean)
- Worldwide (including the US, Canada and the Caribbean).
Shopping around using a comparison service will unearth competitively-priced travel policies, but always ensure you’re getting the protection you need. Check cover limits and exclusions, and answer every question accurately and in full. That way you know you’re getting maximum value – and you’re fully covered
– Kevin Pratt, editor Forbes Advisor
Southdowns travel insurance pros and cons
Pros
- Up to £20 million for emergency medical claims
- 100+ sports and leisure activities covered
- Cover for pre-existing conditions, subject to medical screening
- Group policies available for parties of up to nine people
- Covers cruises and some types of work overseas
Cons
- No longer-trip or backpacker policies
- Annual policies auto-renew after one year, so remember to cancel if you want to shop around and go with another provider next time
- Winter sports, such as skiing and snowboarding, not covered as standard
- No cover for airline failure
Why should I consider Southdowns?
Southdowns offers both single trip and annual multi-trip policies with varying levels of covers to suit needs and budgets.
Its policies cover Covid-related emergencies such as falling ill with the virus abroad, or having to cancel a trip due to contracting the virus before departure.
Cover extends to travel that is against Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice, so long as any claim does not relate to Covid.
As of January 2025, Southdowns has over 5,000 reviews on Trustpilot, with 4.3 stars and an overall rating of ‘excellent’. Its Silver Plus, Gold and Platinum policies are all rated five stars by Defaqto.
How to contact Southdowns
Southdown travel policies can be bought online or you can call its customer service team to purchase insurance, or with any queries, on 01903 255 659, Monday to Friday, from 9am until 5pm and on Saturdays from 9am until 2pm.
You can also send queries to: [email protected].
You can submit messages and claims via the insurer’s website.
If you prefer, you can write to:
Southdowns Sales and Service
4th Floor, Southfield House
11 Liverpool Gardens, Worthing
West Sussex, BN11 1RY
How to find the best cover for you
While price is a key consideration when comparing travel insurance policies, you’ll also want to compare cover levels as they should suit your needs.
This is vital, or you could find yourself left out of pocket if something were to go wrong.
The staples of cover are for medical emergencies, cancellation, and lost baggage and belongings.
According to the government’s MoneyHelper website, there should be at least £1 million of medical cover included for travel in Europe and £2 million or more for the US, £2,000 in cancellation cover (it should cover the cost of your trip) and at least £1,500 for lost or stolen baggage and belongings.
You’ll also want to make sure that you add additional cover to your policy, or take out specialist cover, if you are going on a winter sports trip, or have pre-existing medical conditions.
Comparing products and providers
Whether you’re purchasing a new policy or your annual travel insurance is due for renewal, it’s useful to compare a range of policies, looking at factors such as price, but also limitations and exclusions to your cover, as they differ between policies.
For example, annual travel insurance will have a maximum limit on the number of days you can travel per trip, as well as how many trips you can make within a 12-month period.
Also, look out for exclusions in cover for Covid-related risks. For instance, some providers won’t pay out if you need to cancel your trip due to falling ill with Covid, while others will.
Most insurers do not cover travel against FCDO advice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Southdowns travel insurance good?
Southdowns travel cover is a worthy contender when it comes to the search for a travel insurance policy.
It also covers pre-existing conditions, subject to medical screening. The provider offers generous limits for medical claims, cancellation cover and baggage, with a relatively low excess (between £0 and £200 depending on the policy).
The cover also includes a broad range of sports and activities as standard. Southdowns currently (February 2025) holds a high customer satisfaction rating on Trustpilot (4.3 out of 5) and its Silver Plus, Gold and Platinum Select policies have a 5 star rating from Defaqto.
What extras are offered?
Southdowns aims to offer a comprehensive travel policy for holidaymakers so there are no add-on extras. But it includes around 100 different sporting activities as standard (although not winter sports such as skiing).
Gadget cover worth up to £1,000 is also included on all policies as standard. It is possible to opt for ‘no excess’ on some claim types such as medical, baggage and cancellation under the Platinum policy, although this will cost more upfront.
Does Southdowns travel insurance cover Covid-related claims?
Southdown policies cover a range of Covid-related emergencies such as falling ill with the virus abroad, or having to cancel your trip due to contracting the virus before departure.
If you make a Covid related claim you will be required to provide evidence, through medical records or a positive Covid test result, for example.
How do I make a claim on my Southdowns travel insurance?
To make a claim policyholders can call Southdowns on 0345 873 4425 or claim online through the AXA claims portal. This is for all claims except gadget related claims.
For claims relating to lost, stolen or damaged gadgets under your travel cover you’ll need to refer to your policy documents to see where you need to claim.
This will either be through AXA’s claims portal or Davies Group, depending on when you purchased the cover. If in doubt, contact the insurer directly.
