Travel Insurance For A Trip To Austria – Forbes Advisor

A trip to Austria can be the experience of a lifetime, but not all trips go as planned. That’s why it is a smart move to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

What to Look for in a Travel Insurance Plan for Austria

Whether you’re planning to ski the Kitzbühel, stroll through Graz or hike the magnificent trails of the Zillertal Alps, protecting your investment in a trip to Austria means finding the best travel insurance policy.

Here are some key coverage components of a travel insurance plan:

Consider each type of coverage when shopping for travel insurance to make sure you are adequately protected from financial loss if unforeseen events derail your dream vacation.

No Sound of Music: Trip Cancellation Insurance for Austria

Trip cancellation insurance can reimburse you for 100% of any prepaid, non-refundable deposit you made on your trip, as long as you cancel for a reason listed in your policy.

Covered reasons typically include:

• Illness or injury to you, a travel companion or immediate relative
• Serious family emergencies
• Sudden job loss
• Military deployment
• Jury duty

Plans and coverage vary, so it’s important to thoroughly review a travel insurance plan before purchasing.

“Going to Austria requires a long-haul flight. No doubt you’ll be spending a good amount of money on transportation, not to mention accommodations,” explains Lisa Cheng, a spokesperson with travel insurance company World Nomads. “That’s why considering a travel insurance plan with solid trip cancellation coverage can come in handy when you have a lot of pre-paid trip expenses.”

If you or your traveling companion has a heart attack three days before your trip to Vienna and you need to cancel, trip cancellation insurance can reimburse any non-refundable, pre-paid trip expenses, like your flight and that pre-paid tour of the Fortress Hohensalzburg.

It’s important to know that not all reasons for cancellation will be covered by a standard travel insurance plan. If your friends didn’t get off the waiting list for the tour you’re booked on and you don’t want to go without them, you won’t be able to leverage your trip cancellation insurance.

There are, however, options to increase the flexibility of your travel plans.

“Cancel for any reason” coverage

If you want the freedom to cancel your trip for whatever reason you want, consider adding “cancel for any reason” coverage to your standard travel insurance plan.

This gold-standard upgrade will increase your policy price by about 50% but will give you the flexibility to cancel for whatever reason, as long as you do so no later than 48 hours before your scheduled trip.

Reimbursement is usually 75% of your prepaid trip costs.

Yodel Delayed: Trip Delay Insurance for Austria Trips

Transatlantic flights can be rife with delays due to weather, air traffic control issues or staffing problems. One flight cancellation in Philadelphia could trigger a series of delays that cause you to miss your connecting flight to Vienna, leaving you hunting for a place to spend the night in Zurich.

Trip delay insurance can cover the cost of a hotel room, meals and some personal care items to tide you over until your new flight. Bear in mind that most insurance plans have a waiting period—often six to 12 hours—before your benefits begin, so check your policy.

If your delay causes you to miss your first night’s hotel stay in Salzburg or a prepaid cooking workshop in Vienna, you can file a claim to recover these losses as well.

It’s also common to include Austria as part of a multi-destination escape. “If you’re passing through Austria on a longer European itinerary, trip delay coverage could be useful too,” Cheng says.

“When transiting between cities, your train or your plane could be held up and you may be spending money on things you might not have—such as a night in a hotel, a dinner at the airport or a subway ride to the city center.”

Travel insurance could reimburse you for these types of expenses and other essentials if you’re inconvenienced by a delay covered by your policy.

Ski You Later, Austria: Trip Interruption Insurance

The premise of travel insurance is financial safeguarding your trip investment against unforeseen and unexpected events while you travel. Depending on the circumstances, that may also mean cutting your trip short.

Consider if you were skiing in Söll and received a call that a sibling was in a serious, life-threatening car accident. Due to this tragedy, you would need to depart Austria early and return home to be with your family.

Your travel insurance carrier can step in and cover the cost of a last-minute economy fare ticket home. It will also reimburse you for any unused and non-refundable trip expenses, like tickets for a concert at Wiener Konzerthaus or a stay at a charming Salzburg inn.

Trip interruption insurance won’t pay your way home for every reason. If you have a fight with your traveling companion and want to say auf wiedersehen a few days early, trip interruption won’t cover your expenses or losses.

“Interruption for any reason” coverage

For the flexibility to cut your trip short for any reason, some travel insurance companies offer “interruption for any reason” coverage.

This premium add-on typically adds 3% to 10% to the cost of your travel insurance but lets you head home early for any reason. It will generally reimburse you for 75% of any pre-paid, non-refundable expenses you forfeit by leaving early.

You usually need to buy “interruption for any reason” coverage within 15 to 20 days of making your first trip payment.

Travel Medical Insurance for Alpine Accidents

Medical facilities in Austria are generally excellent and widely available, but if you do need medical attention, your U.S. health insurance is unlikely to offer much help with the cost of care abroad. That’s especially true if you have Medicare, which is only accepted domestically.

To be best prepared for any type of international travel, be sure to check with your health insurance company about any global coverage.

Accidents, illness and injuries can happen on vacation. Buying a travel insurance policy that includes travel medical insurance can help you be financially prepared for the unexpected.

Say you are taking in the Austrian views by bike and have a minor accident. In this case, your travel medical benefits will cover the cost of a visit to the doctor, medicine, X-rays and even a hospital stay if needed. Without coverage, you would be required to pay out of pocket for medical treatment.

Emergency Medical Evacuation During an Austria Trip

If you are hiking in the Alps and suffer a more serious injury like head trauma due to a fall, your travel insurance company can arrange and cover the cost of an air ambulance to transport you to the nearest adequate medical facility.

A travel insurance policy with emergency medical evacuation coverage is a small price to pay for the peace of mind of this potentially life-saving service.

Scott Adamski, vice president of Travel Guard, points out that travel insurance providers—with on-staff doctors and medical coordinators—are invaluable in assisting with medical needs in foreign countries and coordinating with airlines to get injured travelers back home. They can even help with translation services if needed.

Baggage Insurance for a Trip to Austria

If your checked baggage decides to skip Austria and wants to vacation in France instead, you can file a claim with your travel carrier to recover losses. Just be sure to get a report from the airline so you can provide documentation when you file a claim.

Baggage insurance also extends to cover theft while you are exploring all Austria has to offer, though per-item limits typically apply and some items, like cash, will not be covered. Be sure to check the limitations and exclusions outlined in your policy.

Overall, Austria is a safe country to visit. “It has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe and violent crime is rare,” says Meghan Walch, a spokesperson with InsureMyTrip, a travel insurance comparison site. However, you should be aware of pickpockets and petty theft crimes in tourist areas.

If you are riding public transit, touring city centers or shopping, be sure to keep your belongings close. Should your coat be taken off the back of your chair while at a concert or your camera is stolen, you can file a claim with your insurer. Just be sure to report the theft to a hotel manager, venue manager, your tour guide or the police. You will need documentation of the theft to file a claim.

Other Considerations: It’s not all Mountain, Music and Chocolate

Natural disasters

According to Walch with InsureMyTrip, natural disasters are possible in Austria.

“Remember, travel insurance will not cover a ‘known’ issue or disaster, so if a landslide, avalanche or earthquake impacts your trip, but happens before you purchase a travel insurance policy, you will not find coverage,” cautions Walch. “If a natural disaster happens after you have already purchased a policy, you may find coverage. Every policy is different, so read carefully.”

Alpine adventure sports

Austria, home of the Alps, offers a variety of outdoor activities in all seasons.

“In the winter, you can enjoy some of the best skiing or snowboarding in the world,” attests Walch. “There is also winter hiking, snowshoeing and ice skating.”

If you purchase basic travel insurance, some policies exclude adventure activities and sports, or have limited coverage, says Walch.

“So, if you’re planning an adventurous activity, it’s important to check the wording in your policy and ask your licensed travel insurance agent for help.”