Is Airbnb Travel Insurance Worth It?
It can be. Airbnb's plan covers the reservation. A standalone plan covers more if you've prepaid flights, are going abroad, or want to cancel for any reason.
The short answer
Airbnb's travel insurance is a reasonable buy when the rental is the main thing you'd lose by cancelling, especially on a trip within the US. A standalone travel insurance plan covers more when you've also prepaid flights or tours, when you're traveling abroad, or when you want the option to cancel for any reason.
What Airbnb's travel insurance covers
Airbnb offers Guest Travel Insurance to US residents at checkout, or after booking with the "Add to your trip" button. It's underwritten by Generali U.S. Branch and offered by Airbnb Insurance Agency, LLC. According to Airbnb's Help Center (checked October 2026), the plan pays up to:
- 100% of the reservation cost if you cancel for a covered reason
- 150% of the reservation cost for unused nights if you cut the trip short, and Airbnb says certain transportation expenses may also be covered
- $750 per person for travel delays
- $50,000 per person for emergency medical care
- $100,000 per policy for emergency medical transportation
- $1,000 per person for lost or damaged baggage
It covers you and up to nine people staying with you, and it covers pre-existing conditions if you buy within 15 days of booking and are medically able to travel. Airbnb doesn't publish the price; it's shown at checkout.
Airbnb's plan vs. a standalone travel insurance plan
| Benefit | Airbnb Guest Travel Insurance | Travel Protection Standard plan |
|---|---|---|
| What a cancellation pays back | Up to 100% of the Airbnb reservation cost | Up to 100% of the prepaid, non-refundable trip cost you insure, flights and tours included, up to $100,000 |
| Trip interruption | Up to 150% of the reservation cost, and certain transportation expenses | Up to 100% of trip cost, up to $100,000 |
| Emergency medical | Up to $50,000 per person | Up to $25,000 |
| Medical evacuation | Up to $100,000 per policy | Up to $250,000 |
| Trip delay | Up to $750 per person | Up to $600, after a 6-hour delay |
| Baggage | Up to $1,000 per person | Up to $1,000 ($300 per item) |
| Baggage delay | Up to $250, after 24 hours | Up to $1,000, after 12 hours (not on your way home) |
| Pre-existing conditions | Covered if bought within 15 days of booking and medically able to travel | Covered if bought within 14 days of your first trip payment and medically able to travel |
| Cancel for any reason | Not listed in Airbnb's Help Center | Separate CFAR plan: 60% back if you cancel at least 48 hours before departure (not sold in every state) |
| Price | Shown at checkout | 7% of trip cost (CFAR plan 10.8%) |
Airbnb figures are from Airbnb's Help Center as of October 2026. Standard plan figures are from the policy's Schedule of Benefits. Limits can vary by state, and the policy documents govern.
When Airbnb's plan is enough
- The Airbnb is your biggest prepaid expense, and your flights are refundable or not booked yet.
- You're staying in the US, where your own health insurance may still apply (check your plan).
- You're sharing one rental with a larger group: Airbnb's plan covers up to nine people staying with you.
On medical coverage alone, Airbnb's plan has the higher limit: $50,000 against $25,000 on our Standard plan.
When a standalone plan covers more
- You've prepaid more than the rental. Airbnb's plan pays back up to the reservation cost when you cancel; a flight cancelled by weather is one of its covered reasons, but its Help Center doesn't say it reimburses the flight itself. A standalone plan insures the whole prepaid, non-refundable trip cost you insure, so non-refundable flights, tours, and event tickets are covered along with the stay.
- You're traveling abroad. Medical evacuation is the benefit that matters most far from home. Our Standard plan covers up to $250,000; Airbnb's covers up to $100,000.
- You want to be able to cancel for any reason. A Cancel For Any Reason plan reimburses 60% of your prepaid trip cost whatever the reason, if you buy it within 14 days of your first trip payment and cancel at least 48 hours before departure. It isn't sold in every state. Read more on CFAR →
- Your trip isn't only Airbnb. One plan covers a trip that combines an Airbnb with a VRBO, a hotel, or a cruise.
AirCover isn't travel insurance
AirCover comes free with every Airbnb stay. It helps when the host cancels, when you can't get into the property at check-in, or when the listing is significantly different than described. It doesn't reimburse you when you have to cancel, and it doesn't cover medical emergencies, trip delays, or baggage. See the full AirCover vs. travel insurance comparison →
If a natural disaster, vandalism, or burglary makes your rental uninhabitable, our plans can cover it as a Trip Interruption, subject to the policy's conditions, including buying within 14 days of your first trip payment: you're reimbursed for the unused portion of the trip. More on the uninhabitable rental scenario →
How much does a standalone plan cost?
Our Standard plan costs 7% of the trip cost you insure, and the CFAR plan 10.8%. On a $4,000 vacation rental booking, that's about $280 for Standard and about $432 for CFAR. Compare that with the price Airbnb shows at checkout, and with what each plan would actually pay back on your trip.
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Get a QuoteFrequently asked questions
Is Airbnb travel insurance worth it?
It's worth it when the Airbnb is the main thing you'd lose by cancelling: it reimburses the reservation for covered reasons and includes up to $50,000 in emergency medical. If you've also prepaid flights or tours, are traveling abroad, or want Cancel For Any Reason, a standalone plan that insures your whole trip covers more.
What does Airbnb travel insurance cover?
According to Airbnb's Help Center, its Guest Travel Insurance for US residents is underwritten by Generali U.S. Branch and covers trip cancellation up to 100% of the reservation cost, trip interruption up to 150%, travel delay up to $750, emergency medical up to $50,000, emergency transportation up to $100,000, and baggage up to $1,000, for covered reasons.
Does Airbnb travel insurance cover flights?
Airbnb's plan reimburses up to the reservation cost when you cancel. A flight cancelled by weather is one of its covered reasons, and its interruption benefit may cover certain transportation expenses, but its Help Center ties the cancellation benefit to the reservation cost and doesn't say it reimburses the flights themselves. A standalone plan insures the full prepaid, non-refundable trip cost you insure, flights and tours included, up to $100,000.
Is AirCover the same as travel insurance?
No. AirCover is Airbnb's free booking protection for host cancellations, check-in problems, and listings that aren't as described. It doesn't reimburse you when you cancel for your own reasons, and it doesn't cover medical emergencies or trip delays.
Can I buy travel insurance after booking my Airbnb?
Yes. Airbnb lets you add its plan after booking, and a standalone plan can be bought after booking too. Buy a standalone plan within 14 days of your first trip payment if you want the pre-existing condition waiver or a Cancel For Any Reason plan.
Can I add CFAR to a vacation rental booking?
Yes, but you must purchase CFAR within 14 days of your first trip deposit (this is the plan's eligibility window). CFAR is sold as a separate plan, not an add-on, and reimburses 60% of your prepaid trip cost when you cancel for any reason at least 48 hours before departure. It isn't sold in every state.
What if Airbnb refunds me, am I double-paid?
No. Travel insurance is a secondary payer for the same loss. If Airbnb (or AirCover) refunds part of your booking, the insurance pays only the remaining unrefunded amount up to your covered limit.
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