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How Does VRBO Trip Insurance Work?

Last Updated: May 3, 2024 May 3, 2024

VRBO trip insurance is very much like travel insurance you might buy from any other provider. It provides financial protection in the event your trip is disrupted by delays, cancellations, interruptions, or medical emergencies. 

Travelers can either buy VRBO’s coverage when they book a vacation rental on the company’s website or add it to their trip later on. 

What Coverage Is Available Through VRBO Trip Insurance?

VRBO offers two main types of coverage : Travel Protection and Damage Protection. You can buy one or the other or both, depending on your situation.

Travel Protection covers:

• Cancellations : VRBO’s trip insurance covers up to 100% of your insured travel costs if you need to cancel your vacation because of a covered event.
• Interruptions : If your trip is interrupted by an unforeseen event, like a serious illness, VRBO’s policy also covers up to 100% of your insured costs.
• Delays : VRBO’s Trip Protection covers $150 per day for reasonable expenses if your travel is delayed by a covered reason.

Their Travel Protection plan also provides services that can help you during your vacation if you experience a medical emergency, need to speak to a doctor via telemedicine, or have your identity stolen.

VRBO’s Damage Protection Plan , on the other hand, covers up to $1,500 in repair costs if you damage either the real property (i.e., the land and anything permanently attached to it) or the personal property (i.e., pretty much anything else) associated with the vacation rental you booked.

What Doesn’t VRBO Cover?

LIke any insurance policy, VRBO’s Travel Protection and Damage Protection plans have coverage limits and exclusions. 

VRBO’s Travel Protection plan won’t cover: 

• Cancellations that happen for an uncovered reason
• Delays less than 12 hours
• Any damaged, stolen, or lost luggage

Damage Protection won’t pay cover damage that is caused by: 

• Bad weather or a natural disaster
• Intentional or negligent acts
• Normal wear and tear
• Any action that is a violation of the lease agreement
• Someone other than you or your traveling companions

Does VRBO Offer Trip Cancellation Insurance?

Yes, VRBO’s Travel Protection plan includes Trip Cancellation coverage as part of its coverage.  This coverage allows you to be reimbursed for prepaid, nonrefundable travel costs if you have to cancel your vacation for a covered event.

Some examples of covered events for VRBO cancellation insurance may include:

• An illness for you or a travel companion
• A natural disaster causes a mandatory evacuation.
• A strike causes your transportation to be canceled.
• You, your spouse, your travel companion, or your travel companion’s spouse is called up to active military duty.

Events usually have to occur before your trip and while the policy is in effect before they trigger coverage.

Is VRBO Rental Insurance Worth It?

VRBO insurance has much to recommend it. For one, it’s provided by CNA and underwritten by Generali , both of which are well-known and financially stable insurance companies.The coverage is also easy to get when you’re booking your rental.

But the best way to know if VRBO trip insurance is right for you is to compare it to other options. That way you can look at the policy details and decide if the coverage provides your vacation with the appropriate amount of protection.

By Virginia Hamill

Insects on vacation: How to spot them and how to avoid them

Insects are coming for your next vacation.

• Climate change is making it easier for bugs to multiply, and more people are traveling.
• If you find an insect during your travels, you may be able to negotiate a full or partial refund.

They had it in for Richard Campbell when he checked into a small hotel in Italy's scenic Cinque Terre area. 

At 2 a.m., he woke up to the sensation of bug bites on his arms and legs.

"I noticed a few bugs on the headboard and wall," said Campbell. "It was bedbugs!"

If it seems like insect encounters with travelers are on the rise, it's because they are. The reasons are simple: Climate change is making it easier for bugs to multiply , and more people are traveling.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Check out   Elliott Confidential , the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone!

"An increase in travel means an increase in bug encounters," said Mike Bentley, vice president of training and technical services for the National Pest Management Association .

That's especially true for bedbug encounters like the one Campell had. Last fall, there was a bedbug scare in Paris . Bedbug infestations have been reported in other major cities, including Hong Kong and Seoul, and on cruise ships. (Some insect experts say these reports are exaggerated and don't suggest that you cancel your travel plans.)

But there are other insect issues that could affect your next trip. And if you are bugged on your vacation, you have rights that you need to know before you go.

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What happens when you're bugged on vacation?

Campbell, who runs an adventure tour business , is no stranger to difficult traveling conditions. But when he told the proprietor about the unwanted bug encounter the next morning, he didn't know what to expect.

"They were horrified when they saw me and the bed bugs," he said. "Almost immediately, the innkeeper started yelling at her husband. I guess she had told him that she didn’t like the last group of travelers – and now look what happened. It was a bit like George Constanza’s parents arguing from 'Seinfeld.' "

The owners went out of their way to fix the problem. They moved Campbell to a different room, laundered his clothes, gave him medication for his bug bites, and fumigated the room the same day.

They also refunded his room and gave him 40 euros (about $43.70) in cash as compensation for the trouble.

"They also asked me not to post a negative review online since it would ruin their business," he said.

He didn't, but plenty of other people do. You can read their misfortunes online in places like the Bedbug Report . 

Most people freak out when they see an insect on vacation. They lose their minds and make the most outrageous demands, like asking for all their money back plus reparations and an apology from the general manager. Sometimes they get it, sometimes not. But nothing makes people lose their minds like creepy crawlies in their bed at night. Nothing.

What kind of bug encounters can you expect when you travel?

Bedbugs are hardly the only insect encounters you can expect when you're on the road. Here are just a few ways travelers are getting bugged:

◾ Ants. They've always been there, but increased tourism has meant the ants are more active because people are leaving crumbs in their rooms and rental apartments. I've heard about more ant encounters in vacation rental properties and apartments, although they can also happen in hotels that aren't cleaned as frequently as they should be.

◾ Bees. If you're hiking somewhere, you might run into bees. They're usually harmless, although I've had some encounters with Africanized honeybees on a recent visit to Barbados that would make you extra cautious. "If you step on a nest, they will come out in force to defend their home," said Jeff Weinstein. a paramedic and a medical operations manager for Global Rescue. "That’s when you need to get away as quickly as possible. There's a risk of a deadly allergic reaction to a bee sting." 

◾ Mosquitoes. They're not just annoying and ever-present in the woods and near rivers. Higher rainfall means these insects are everywhere. "Mosquitoes are known for spreading diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever," said Bob Bacheler, managing director of Flying Angels , a medical transport service. "They can also carry several infectious diseases like malaria and Dengue fever."

◾ Roaches. Also a favorite of vacation rentals, they have been popping up in all kinds of places – and making travelers wish they'd stayed home.

By the way, this is hardly a comprehensive list. Don't even get me started on spiders. I'll never forget the enormous tarantula I found in the kitchen of my vacation rental in Sedona, Arizona. I turned the light on, and it scurried away.

The point is that many bugs can get you when you're traveling. And what are your rights? I'm glad you asked.

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What are your rights when you find an insect during your travels?

Keith Robinson, the vice president for pest control at expense management company Fine Tune US, said hotels typically send guests to a new room in a different area when they encounter bedbugs. 

"They may also upgrade you to a better room as an apology, or refund your stay," he said.

There are no hard-and-fast rules for other insect encounters. 

If you experience severe ant infestation in, say, a vacation rental booked through Airbnb or Vrbo, you may be able to negotiate a full or partial refund. I've personally negotiated refunds on behalf of customers through my consumer advocacy organization . But there are no published policies – or even regulations – that would require a full refund when you find a bug in your apartment.

When it comes to your consumer rights, the best advice is to negotiate. There may be no rules for refunding a bedbug-infested rental, but there are consequences. A promise to post your encounter online might persuade a manager or host to fix the problem, but it's always better to ask politely. If they don't believe you, show them the pictures you took when you first found insects.

You're better off avoiding insects altogether.

Try these pro bug travel strategies

Some places are buggier than others, experts say.

"If you want to avoid insects as much as possible, don’t go to beaches, lakes, or any place with water really," said Dini Miller, an urban pest management specialist for the state of Virginia who teaches at Virginia Tech. 

In other words, if you're squeamish about insects, you might want to skip that airboat ride in the Everglades. Ditto for the Caribbean in the rainy season. Insects live everywhere, so there's no guarantee you'll escape them on vacation – but you can make an educated guess.

◾ Take a close look. " Inspect the area where you are staying," said Eric Braun, a technical services manager at Terminix. "If you notice any activity, bring it to the attention of the front desk and ask to be moved." Pro tip: Take photos of the insects before you ask for a transfer – that way, you'll have proof of insect life.

◾ Keep a clean apartment. If you're in a vacation rental, make sure you keep the place tidy, especially the kitchen. On a recent visit to Santiago, Chile, during the middle of the summer, I found the ants immediately attacked anything I left on the counter. Solution: Don't leave anything on the counter.

◾ Don't take any bugs home. Remember, insects can hitch a ride – and sometimes do. "When I arrive home, I leave my luggage outside my house," said Kathy Lopez, a frequent traveler and author from Prescott, Arizona. "I unpack my clothes, put them in a bag, dump them in the washer, wash and dry them before putting them away. I hose down my suitcase before I stash it and spray it with Lysol."

If you travel, you'll probably encounter an insect or two. Don't lose your cool – and remember that you have certain rights, even if they're not in writing.

Christopher Elliott  is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded  Elliott Advocacy , a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes  Elliott Confidential , a travel newsletter, and the  Elliott Report , a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can  reach him here  or email him at  [email protected] .

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

Experts say travel insurance is crucial: Here's how it actually works

Whether illness or weather derails plans, policies can cover a range of issues.

Whether you're a frequent traveler or setting plans for an upcoming vacation, unexpected circumstances such as bad weather can cast a cloud over a trip, which is why experts suggest investing in travel insurance.

Recently, Hurricane Beryl marked an "early and violent start" to the typical storm season. NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad confirmed in a mid-season update earlier this month that Beryl was "the earliest category-5 Atlantic hurricane on record" -- and peak storm season is right around the corner.

With increased risk of disruptions during hurricane season through November and more people opting for shoulder season getaways after avoiding summer crowds , travelers should prepare for such worse-case scenarios to avoid losing money on hotels, activities and other bookings.

Everything you need to know about travel insurance

With an array of options in the market and various individual reasons to invest in a plan that protects your purchases, "Good Morning America" tapped top industry experts to provide insights to help ensure that even if your next getaway gets rained out, your bank account won't be drained as well.

"Things can go wrong in ways that you can't begin to imagine. And if you're unlucky and unfortunate enough to be in that position, you don't want to come back from your trip with a debt to pay off as well," Daniel Green, trip insurance expert and co-founder of Faye Travel Insurance, told "GMA."

Understand the basics before you buy bespoke coverage

Katy Nastro, spokesperson for Going.com, formerly known as Scott's Cheap Flights, told "GMA" that first and foremost, folks need to "understand all the ways in which you are already protected before dishing out for things you don't need."

"When it comes to flight insurance, under federal law, you are already protected to get a full refund or rebooked on a significantly delayed flight or cancellation, regardless of the reason," she said. "With new regulations that airlines must comply with by the end of October, seeing your refund back to your payment method will get a lot faster and more seamless."

Nastro said "many travel credit cards already have built-in trip insurance that can protect you when the unexpected happens," citing perks from the Chase Sapphire Reserve card that provide "reimbursements up to $10,000 per person for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses when an interruption happens."

You should always buy insurance for one simple reason -- when you start thinking -- 'I hope we have insurance,' it's one minute too late

"These cards often pay sooner than the airlines do for expenses due to misplaced bags," she added.

Nastro also suggested to check on coverage across state lines with any existing medical or car insurance policies, which could help cut down on costs.

"Specifically, when it comes to medical insurance, medical care around the world is generally a fraction of the cost compared to what it is in the U.S. So, while it could be good to have if you need stitches in Vietnam, it probably won't break the bank," she said.

Because travel insurance is subjective, Nastro said "it's worth considering when you exhaust your existing coverages to see where you might have some gaps."

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"A great example is when you have a trip with multiple components that aren't purchased together, like a flight and cruise," Nastro told "GMA." "The cruise won't wait when your flight has been rebooked for the next day, so in this scenario, it might be worth looking at insurance on the cruise portion. You can typically add insurance after the fact, but reading the fine print is critical."

"Trip or travel insurance tends to be cheaper to buy, but is restricted to what is actually covered and often has red tape in terms of getting that reimbursement. For example, if you have an illness and need to cancel your trip, policies might require a doctor's note," she continued.

She added, "Travel insurance with 'cancel for any reason' policies tends to be more expensive to purchase, but more inclusive in terms of what is considered a 'covered' reason. The biggest caveat is that they offer a partial refund -- 50% to 75% of nonrefundable expenses."

When it comes to weather, she reiterated that reading the fine print is critical, because "the coverage typically offered is for extreme weather and scenarios where the operator cannot operate for 24 hours or more, so a typical summer thunderstorm won't make the cut."

Green added that, generally, if a customer buys travel insurance from an airline provider, since the carrier "doesn't know all the details of your trip" beyond the price and date of the flight, "if you're renting a car and traveling around -- or staying in a $4,000 hotel, you might only have $1,000 worth of insurance because at the checkout screen of American or United or Delta, they just didn't know about those costs."

"That's why I think it makes a lot more sense to buy insurance directly from either a website portal or an agent that can show you the main limits, so you know all the things you spent are covered as part of the policy," he said.

As Nastro pointed out, payment for claims can become a sticky situation, which is why Green helped craft an more seamless way to alleviate issues by providing the reassurance of immediate reimbursement: "If you have Apple Pay or Google Pay, you can access that money instantly after the claim is settled," he told "GMA."

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Green co-founded Faye just before the COVID-19 pandemic sent the travel industry into a tailspin, but said now, "the concern on the American mind more than anything is who's gonna pay for this? Especially in these days of inflation, if you're paying significant amounts of money for travel, and something goes wrong, you'd like to at least be made whole."

3 categories to consider for travel insurance coverage

Green explained that travel insurance can generally be broken into three categories: your investment in the trip, your belongings such as luggage and passports, and your health.

For anyone booking travel on their own, without a travel agent or adviser, Green highlighted the difference between buying travel insurance directly versus clicking "yes" on an app or checkout screen.

"You're not always being offered insurance that's in your best interest if you're just hoping that whatever your credit card comes with, or whatever your airline gives you at the end of the checkout is going to provide everything you need," he said.

He noted that one important tip for any type of travel coverage purchase is "the earlier you tell your insurance company that something has gone wrong, the more likely it is that they can help you while you're on your trip -- and helping sometimes means paying for expenses so that you don't have to be out of pocket and get reimbursement."

Weather-specific products for travel inconveniences

Products like Sensible Weather offer more specific elements to cover scenarios such as rain during a beach vacation or lack of snow for a ski trip, which may derail plans.

"The idea of travel inconvenience payments, it just takes the sting out of things," Green said. "In those scenarios, you just get a fixed, agreed amount of money -- sort of no questions asked -- You just have to prove that you actually experienced the loss in question, and then you get the full amount."

"You should always buy insurance for one simple reason -- because usually at the point when you start thinking to yourself, 'Wow, I hope we have insurance,' it's one minute too late," Green said. "Hurricane season is the perfect example of that. Once a hurricane is named, you generally can't make any claims related to the hurricane if you didn't already buy a policy."

"What we're learning about the current hurricane season is the weather is becoming unpredictable all the time," Green said. "We've heard about days where the weather was so hot in Phoenix that airplanes couldn't take off from the tarmac, hurricanes coming sooner than expected, or power failures causing an airport to not be able to operate -- and because those things are so unpredictable, playing the game of wait and see before buying your insurance rarely make sense versus justbuying it around the time you buy your trip and not having to worry about that aspect again."

How much plans cost and limitations

"There is no one size fits all when it comes to travel insurance," Green noted.

However, he said "there are rules of thumb" that industry experts often follow: "You should be willing to spend up to 10% of the cost of your trip on your insurance."

"The two biggest factors that usually affect the cost of your insurance is your age at the time of purchase, not at the time of travel, and the value of your trip," he said, adding that "every company is different."

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