Airbnb Travel Insurance: What Guests Should Know - Insurify (2024)

Table of contents

  • Airbnb insurance
  • What’s covered
  • What’s not covered
  • Filing a claim
  • FAQs

Table of contentsAirbnb Travel Insurance: What Guests Should Know - Insurify (1)

  • Airbnb insurance
  • What’s covered
  • What’s not covered
  • Filing a claim
  • FAQs

Staying in an Airbnb can be more convenient and affordable than renting a hotel room. And now, Airbnb offers travel insurance for guests in certain regions. Travel insurance can offer valuable financial protection if you need to cancel a prepaid trip for a covered reason.

Before you book a short-term rental through Airbnb, you should review and understand the available insurance options. Here’s what you need to know about Airbnb insurance, including what’s covered, what’s not covered, and how to file a claim.

Airbnb travel insurance explained

Airbnb travel insurance is an optional policy that you can purchase when booking a short-term rental. If you need to cancel your Airbnb booking for a covered reason, your insurer will reimburse you for up to 100% of your non-refundable reservation costs. It also provides coverage for things like travel delays and medical emergencies.

Airbnb travel insurance is currently available for customers in the United States, United Kingdom, and some European countries, including Austria, Germany, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.[1]

Good to Know

The cost of Airbnb travel insurance is a percentage of your total reservation cost. When you book your stay, you’ll have the option to add travel insurance to your reservation. The cost is added to the total reservation cost as a line item, and you pay for the policy when you check out online.

AirCover vs. Airbnb travel insurance

Every Airbnb booking includes AirCover, which covers things like last-minute booking cancellations by the host and problems during check-in. There’s also a 24/7 safety line that Airbnb guests can call if they feel unsafe.[2]

In addition, AirCover provides certain protections for hosts, like guest identity verification, $3 million in property damage protection, liability insurance, and loss of income insurance.

AirCover and Airbnb travel insurance are different products. AirCover is free with all bookings and covers significant issues that arise with a booking, like inaccurate listings or missing amenities.

On the other hand, Airbnb travel insurance is optional, and you can add it to your reservation for an additional cost. Unlike AirCover, Airbnb travel insurance will refund you for prepaid booking expenses if you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason, like flight delays or illness.

What Airbnb travel insurance covers

Airbnb travel insurance provides coverage for many unforeseen situations that can arise during travel. Here are some of the things an optional Airbnb travel insurance policy covers.[3]

Trip cancellation

If you need to cancel your Airbnb reservation for a covered reason, you can file a claim and get refunded for up to 100% of your prepaid and non-refundable costs. Covered reasons include illness and injury, flight cancellations and delays, and government mandates for evacuations due to a natural disaster or other inclement weather events.

Travel delays

This part of the policy will reimburse you for additional expenses if your trip gets delayed by more than 12 hours for a covered reason. Some covered situations include delayed flights, bad weather, and stolen passports and travel documents.

Medical emergencies

If you get sick or injured during your trip, an Airbnb travel insurance plan will reimburse you for medical costs, including prescription medication, emergency transportation in an ambulance, and hospital bills.

Delayed baggage

Guest travel insurance from Airbnb will reimburse you for lost, damaged, or stolen baggage. In addition, this policy will cover damaged travel documents and unauthorized credit card transactions that occur while traveling.

24/7 emergency and travel assistance

Airbnb offers 24/7 assistance while you’re traveling. Whether you experience a medical emergency and need to go to the nearest hospital or have questions about booking restaurants on your trip, a representative from Airbnb can provide the appropriate assistance, day or night.

What Airbnb travel insurance doesn’t cover

Airbnb travel insurance doesn’t cover everything, so it’s important to read your policy’s fine print before purchasing coverage. You’ll have the option to review the terms of Airbnb’s travel insurance contract before you add it to your reservation.

For example, for bookings made on or after May 31, 2022, having COVID-19 is no longer considered an extenuating circ*mstance that would allow you to cancel your trip for a refund.

There are also some location-specific restrictions. For UK travelers, Airbnb travel insurance doesn’t cover the cost of travel to and from your Airbnb listing, such as trains and ferries. It also won’t cover treatment for pre-existing medical conditions.[3]

How do you file an Airbnb travel insurance claim?

The insurance company that underwrites the policy handles Airbnb’s travel insurance claims. For U.S. residents, the underwriter is Generali. For UK and EU residents, the underwriter is Europ Assistance.[3]

You can initiate the claim process by visiting the coverage overview page on the Airbnb website and selecting “Start a Claim.” You can also contact the insurance company that underwrites your policy directly to start a new claim.[3]

Airbnb travel insurance FAQs

Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Airbnb travel insurance.

  • How do you add Airbnb travel insurance to your booking?

    When you reserve an Airbnb, you’ll have the option to add travel insurance to your reservation before you check out. The travel insurance premium will already be generated, so you can simply check the box to add the insurance policy to your total reservation cost.

  • Does Airbnb travel insurance cover COVID-19?

    Airbnb travel insurance doesn’t cover COVID-19. If you test positive for COVID-19 and need to cancel your trip, the Airbnb host’s cancellation policy will apply. Additionally, Airbnb travel insurance doesn’t cover unexpected travel disruptions due to COVID-19, like quarantine mandates or border closures.

  • Are hosts covered by Airbnb travel insurance?

    Airbnb travel insurance doesn’t provide any protection for hosts or their Airbnb property. However, AirCover, which is included for free in every booking, does provide protections for Airbnb hosts, such as damage to their rental property.

  • Should you get insurance for Airbnb?

    Airbnb travel insurance can be beneficial if you’re spending a lot of money on non-refundable bookings or want to ensure coverage for unexpected issues, like travel delays and lost baggage. However, if you’re driving a short distance to stay in a vacation rental for the weekend, this policy may not be worth the added cost.

Related articles

  • Does Travel Insurance Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?
  • What Is Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) Travel Insurance?

Sources

  1. Airbnb. "Understanding Travel Insurance." Accessed September 15, 2023
  2. Airbnb. "Aircover for guests." Accessed September 15, 2023
  3. Airbnb. "Travel insurance through Generali." Accessed September 15, 2023

Airbnb Travel Insurance: What Guests Should Know - Insurify (2)

Elizabeth Rivelli

Elizabeth Rivelli is a freelance writer covering insurance and personal finance. She has extensive knowledge of various insurance lines, including property and casualty, health, and life insurance. Her byline has been featured in dozens of publications, including Investopedia, Forbes, Bankrate, NextAdvisor, and Insurance.com.

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Airbnb Travel Insurance: What Guests Should Know - Insurify (3)

Edited byDanny Smith

Airbnb Travel Insurance: What Guests Should Know - Insurify (4)

Danny Smith

  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 4+ years in content creation and marketing

As Insurify’s home and pet insurance editor, Danny also specializes in auto insurance. His goal is to help consumers navigate the complex world of insurance buying.

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Airbnb Travel Insurance: What Guests Should Know - Insurify (2024)

FAQs

Airbnb Travel Insurance: What Guests Should Know - Insurify? ›

Airbnb travel insurance explained

What are the covered reasons for Airbnb travel insurance? ›

Covered reasons typically include illness, injury (to yourself or a travel companion), natural disasters at your destination or unexpected work obligations. Trip interruption: Imagine having to cut your Airbnb stay short (due to a covered reason).

What does Airbnb insurance cover for guests? ›

Trip cancellation: Get reimbursed for up to 100% of your Airbnb reservation cost if you need to cancel for a covered reason, such as illness or a flight cancellation due to weather. Note that events that have already happened or are foreseeable when you purchase the policy, such as a named hurricane, aren't covered.

Is Airbnb insurance sufficient? ›

AirCover provides damage and liability protection, plus loss of income coverage if you need to cancel a listing due to guest-related damage. However, Airbnb's AirCover plan may not be enough on its own to fully financially protect your home.

What is a covered reason for trip cancellation? ›

Here are some examples: The unexpected death, sickness or injury of you, a travelling companion, or a family member. You need to attend the birth of a family member's child. Travel carrier cannot get you to your destination due to a natural disaster or severe weather.

Does credit card travel insurance cover Airbnb cancellation? ›

Many credit cards include basic travel coverage that may sufficiently cover an Airbnb cancellation. Also, consider the individual host's cancellation rules. Some have strict cancellation policies where you must cancel within 48 hours of booking to get a refund.

What does travel insurance cover? ›

So, what does travel insurance cover? Here's the very short answer: Cancellations, medical expenses, evacuations, loss or delays, and 24/7 assistance. These are the 5 basic types of coverage provided with vacation insurance.

Does Airbnb insurance pay out? ›

Host liability insurance covers you if you're found legally responsible for: Bodily injury to a guest (or others) Damage to or theft of property belonging to a guest (or others)

Is Airbnb insurance expensive? ›

About Host liability insurance

There is no cost to Hosts for them to be insured under the HLI program. The HLI program does not insure Hosts for damage or loss to their own property or Accommodation. For damage to a Host's property, learn about Airbnb's Host damage protection program.

How does Airbnb protect guests? ›

Every booking comes with AirCover for guests. If there's a serious issue with your Airbnb that your Host can't resolve, we'll help you find a similar place, depending on availability at comparable pricing. If a similar place isn't available or you'd prefer not to rebook, we'll give you a full or partial refund.

What cancellations are covered by travel insurance? ›

If you have trip cancellation insurance, you'll be able to get your entire prepaid, nonrefundable trip cost back (as long as the entire amount was insured), since injuries that necessitate medical treatment and prevent you from taking your trip qualify as a covered reason.

Why are travel insurance claims denied? ›

The most common reasons for a denied claim include: There's insufficient documentation or evidence to support a claim. These include a lack of receipts, proof of payments or proof of the incident that you're making the claim for, such as a cancellation, necessary medical care or anything else that cost you money.

What is considered trip interruption on travel insurance? ›

Trip interruptions are when you need coverage for a trip unexpectedly cut short, and you return home for several covered reasons. Trip delay insurance covers travel plans that have been delayed, such as a late or canceled flight, which created a domino effect on other travel plans and reservations.

Do I need vacation rental insurance for Airbnb? ›

Do Airbnb hosts need extra insurance? While Airbnb does offer its own form of coverage, it recommends that hosts carry additional coverage in the form of an endorsem*nt or commercial policy. If you are using another platform, such as VRBO, this is something you'll want to research before you list your property.

What is the cancellation policy for Airbnb? ›

Cancellation fees

If the reservation is canceled 48 hours or less before check-in, or after check-in, the fee is 50% of the reservation amount for the nights not stayed. If the reservation is canceled anytime between 48 hours and 30 days before check-in, the fee is 25% of the reservation amount.

What does Airbnb air cover? ›

AirCover for guests provides support if your Host cancels within 30 days of check-in, you're unable to check-in, or the listing is significantly different than advertised and your Host can't fix it or you feel unsafe in your Airbnb.

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