When booking a reservation through Airbnb, you may notice an option to add travel insurance and assistance services for an additional cost.
While it comes as an added expense for your trip, travel insurance is a valuable safeguard that can help protect you in unforeseen situations, such as having to cancel your trip or having a medical emergency away from home.
But is Airbnb travel insurance a good investment, and what exactly does it cover? Let’s dive deeper into Airbnb travel insurance and whether you should consider it as an add-on to your booking.
What Is Airbnb Travel Insurance?
Airbnb travel insurance is a form of travel protection for your Airbnb booking. It is designed to protect against emergencies and unexpected trip occurrences which could otherwise cause you to lose out on nonrefundable costs or medical expenses.
Essentially, Airbnb travel insurance will cover the nonrefundable portion of your prepaid Airbnb reservation expenses if a covered cancellation or trip interruption were to occur, as well as some other added benefits like medical coverage and lost luggage reimbursement.
Airbnb travel insurance is offered by Airbnb Insurance Agency LLC but is underwritten by Generali US Branch.
What Does Airbnb Travel Insurance Cover?
Airbnb travel insurance offers coverage for the following:
- Up to 100% reimbursement for your nonrefundable Airbnb reservation cost for trip cancellation (for covered reasons)
- Up to $750 per person travel delay coverage, including meals or accommodations (for covered reasons)
- Emergency medical expenses up to $50,000 per person
- Coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage up to $1,000 (excludes laptops and cell phones)
- Baggage delay reimbursement of up to $250 per person for necessary items if baggage is delayed for more than 24 hours
- Reimbursement for lost, stolen, or damaged sporting equipment up to $1,000
- Reimbursement up to $1,000 per person for delayed sporting equipment
- Up to 150% reimbursement of your Airbnb reservation cost if your trip is cut short or delayed (for covered reasons)
- Coverage of $100,000 for emergency medical evacuation
This plan also covers pre-existing conditions as long as you buy the insurance policy within 15 days of booking your reservation, and if you are medically able to travel.
Airbnb AirCover vs Airbnb Travel Insurance
If you are booking a stay through Airbnb, you might notice two types of coverage that Airbnb provides for guests: AirCover and Airbnb Travel Insurance. How do they differ exactly? Here is a list that provides what each service does and its coverage:
AirCover
- Automatically applies to your booking at no extra cost
- Helps when something goes wrong with your stay itself, such as the place wasn’t as described or if you can’t check in to your Airbnb
- Airbnb may help you with finding a new place to stay or get either a full or partial refund depending on your circumstances
Airbnb Travel Insurance
- An optional add-on for a cost
- Offers broader coverage for your Airbnb stay, such as trip cancellations or interruptions and emergency medical coverage
- It is additional, yet limited protection for part of your trip, not just your Airbnb
While Airbnb’s Aircover protection can help if the Airbnb itself was not the way it was described or if you can’t check in, Airbnb’s travel insurance can help financially up to a limited amount with broader portions of your trip such as trip cancellations or delays.
How Much Is Airbnb Travel Insurance?
The cost of Airbnb travel insurance will depend upon the cost of your Airbnb reservation cost and your destination.
On average, you can expect to pay an additional 6-7% of your total Airbnb reservation cost.
Is Airbnb Travel Insurance Worth the Cost?
There’s no doubt that adding on another cost to your trip expenses is a big decision, especially if you are traveling on a budget.
However, travel insurance can come in handy in a variety of situations, and protect you from financial loss much greater than the cost of your insurance if an unexpected event were to occur.
It is highly recommended to travel with insurance, especially if you are venturing internationally where your home country health insurance likely won’t cover you. While travel insurance definitely is worth the expense for an added layer of protection on your journey, you may want to consider other avenues rather than the Airbnb travel insurance add-on option.
What Are the Alternatives to Airbnb Travel Insurance?
Before you decide to select ‘yes’ on adding travel insurance protection to your Airbnb reservation, it is important to understand your other options.
While Airbnb travel insurance can be convenient as it is embedded in the checkout process, getting your own travel insurance is likely the better option.
When you venture out and purchase a travel insurance plan on your own, you can choose and customize your coverage and have broader protection overall.
Why Purchasing Your Own Travel Insurance is the Better Option
There are several reasons why getting your own travel insurance policy outside of Airbnb is a better option for travelers.
- Travel insurance policies purchased independently can offer broader, more comprehensive coverage than the Airbnb travel insurance policy.
- You have the option to compare plans and pricing to find coverage that is suitable for you and your budget.
- Airbnb travel insurance only covers the cost of your Airbnb reservation is the event of a trip cancellation or interruption, while independent travel insurance will cover the nonrefundable expenses of all aspects of your trip such as flight, transportation, and tours in addition to your accommodations.
- Travel insurance purchased through a marketplace like VisitorsCoverage provide much higher limits for emergency medical expenses and evacuation, and include other key benefits such as rental car damage coverage, accidental death and dismemberment, and repatriation of remains.
- If you are traveling internationally and you don’t have many nonrefundable trip costs and are mainly worried about emergency medical coverage, you can opt for a travel medical insurance plan rather than a trip-protection based plan.
Below, we have compared the Airbnb travel insurance benefits to those of one of our top-selling trip insurance plans, iTravelInsured Travel LX.
| Benefit | Airbnb Travel Insurance Coverage | iTravelInsured Travel LX Coverage |
| Trip Cancellation | Up to 100% of Airbnb reservation cost | Up to 100% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses |
| Travel Delay | Up to $750 per person, after 24 hours | Up to $250 per day, $2,500 maximum |
| Emergency Medical Expenses | Up to $50,000 per person | Up to $500,000 |
| Lost Baggage and Valuables | Up to $1,000 | Up to $2,500, $250 per item |
| Baggage Delay | Up to $250 per person | Up to $500 |
| Trip Interruption | Up to 150% of Airbnb reservation cost | Up to 150% of overall trip cost |
| Emergency Medical Evacuation | Up to $100,000 | Up to $1,000,000 |
| Pre-existing Medical Conditions | Covered if purchased within 15 days of booking | Covered if purchased within 14-21 days of trip deposit |
| Rental Car Damage | None | Up to $40,000 |
Opt for a Comprehensive Travel Insurance Plan
While the convenience of simply adding the Airbnb travel insurance at checkout is appealing, it is important to know that there are limitations to what the insurance covers that don’t fit the needs for every traveler. Meanwhile, digging a little deeper to learn more about different travel insurance plans can give you the realization that travel insurance offers much broader and personable coverage. In addition to protecting your flights, accommodations, medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and luggage, you can also customize your insurance plan to fit your financial and personal needs.
Investing in travel insurance ensures a greater confidence while traveling, financial protection, and flexibility for when unexpected situations occur. By purchasing a travel insurance plan, you can secure better coverage for your money, and enjoy a much broader and more comprehensive range of benefits than Airbnb travel insurance.
Compare our available top-rated travel insurance plans or reach out to our Customer Success Team with any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If my Airbnb host cancels at the last minute or the property isn’t as described, will Airbnb’s travel insurance cover the extra costs of finding a new place?
If the host cancels or the property isn’t as described, Airbnb’s Aircover protection would help cover these circumstances by either finding an alternative place to stay or providing a full or partial refund if there isn’t any availability near you or if you prefer not to rebook. The Airbnb Aircover is already added to your stay as a guest.
However, if the cancellation causes you to cancel your entire trip, travel insurance can help recoup up to 100% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs like flights, tours, or any accommodations, which Airbnb generally does not cover.
What is the difference in price for an outside travel insurance plan versus Airbnb’s travel insurance protection?
Travel insurance plans can cost about 4-10% of your trip’s total cost, while Airbnb’s travel insurance is about 6-7% of the Airbnb reservation’s total. While the Airbnb travel insurance sounds like more of a reasonable price, the coverage is very limited versus a travel insurance plan that you can customize for your financial budget. Even if a standard travel insurance plan sounds slightly more expensive up-front, it will save you what can be a lot of money through its side range of benefits including rental car damage, trip interruption, and baggage loss.
Who do I contact if something goes wrong: Airbnb or the 24/7 assistance service provided by my travel insurance plan?
Who you would need to contact varies case by case. Airbnb should be contacted if your host cancels your trip, or just a general issue about your reservation. The 24/7 assistance service provided by a comprehensive travel insurance plan can help with any event that relates to your trip. If you are needing translation services or help with how to go about a medical situation, the travel assistance service can give you relief knowing that there is someone on the line who can help you in any aspect of your trip.
Is Airbnb’s travel insurance enough for international trips?
No, Airbnb typically does not cover medical situations for international trips the way other outside travel insurance plans do. The general coverage of a medical emergency from Airbnb may be low for international travelers and it may not cover the cost if you need to interrupt your trip due to a medical reason. In many countries, medical emergencies can be very expensive, and it is important to have stronger coverage like international travel insurance to ensure that substantial medical bills can be covered.
What affects the price of travel insurance?
Factors that determine the price of your travel insurance plan typically are your cost of trip, age, trip duration, destination country, number of travelers, and any optional add-ons such as Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance or pre-existing medical condition waivers. Generally, travel insurance costs about 4% to 10% of your total prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses. For example, for a $5,000 trip, you can expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $500 for a policy.
How do I file an insurance claim and what documents do I need to have?
- Contact your travel insurance provider as soon as possible.
- Gather all necessary documentation, such as receipts, medical records, or proof of cancellation.
- Submit a completed claims form with supporting documents online or by mail.
Keep in mind that each provider may have slightly different steps, so check your policy or reach out to the insurer’s customer service team for guidance. Keeping copies of everything and acting quickly can help the process go smoothly.
For any questions along the way, our Claims Assist Specialists are also available to help you navigate throughout the process.
