Travel insurance: Your safety net

Planning a kayak adventure in Italy with italybykayak.it? Ensure peace of mind with comprehensive travel insurance. Unexpected events can occur, and being prepared is key to a worry-free experience. Discover how travel insurance can safeguard your investment and provide support when you need it most.

Addressing your concerns

Many adventurers share concerns about safety and unforeseen issues during their kayak trips. What if you can't depart for your tour? What if an injury occurs while travelling? At Italy by Kayak, we understand these concerns.

That's why we strongly recommend travel insurance to protect against trip interruptions, medical emergencies, and other unexpected events.

Peace of mind for your adventure

Travel insurance is like packing both a raincoat and sunglasses – it prepares you for anything. It provides a safety net and takes the edge off stressful situations. While you hope you will never need it, you will be grateful to have it if the unexpected happens. Booking a trip with Italy by Kayak is an investment, and every investment deserves protection.

Life can throw surprises our way, from a global pandemic to a simple slip on a wet floor. 

Scenarios where travel insurance is a lifesaver

Imagine this: You're excited to start your Italy by Kayak tour, but a slip on a wet floor results in an injury. Without travel insurance, you could face significant medical bills and trip cancellation costs. With it, you can rest assured that your expenses are covered.

Another scenario: unexpected events force you to cancel your trip. Travel insurance can reimburse your non-refundable deposits and payments, saving you from financial loss.

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance typically refers to three types of coverage that you can buy individually or all together in what is often called comprehensive insurance.

  • Emergency Medical: covers costs for emergency treatment, ambulance, medical evacuation, paramedic and hospital services, bringing someone to your bedside, etc. In Italy emergency medical is covered by the Public Health System, but is always good to have insurance for all the other countries you are passing trough to get to Italy.
  • Trip Cancellation: covers costs incurred if you need to cancel your trip before you leave home
  • Trip Interruption: covers costs incurred because of delays or interruptions once you have started on your journey (flight delays, weather delays, missed connections, etc.)
    Baggage and personal effects (if your checked baggage is delayed and you need necessities, or if your camera is stolen or damaged you’ll be covered)


Some insurance providers offer:
Cancel For Any Reason Coverage: as the name implies, this allows you to cancel for more reasons than traditional cancellation coverage (e.g. your dog is sick, you are called to work, you don’t feel comfortable traveling or you change your mind). 

When should I buy travel insurance?

Cancellation coverage begins the moment you buy your policy.

The simplest rule of thumb is this: once you’ve made a payment on your trip, don’t wait and secure your insurance right away so you’re fully protected from the start.

Why Insurance Matters

We may be adventurous, but we’re not reckless. Having the right insurance means you’re protected if the unexpected happens. Without it, you could face big costs and even bigger regrets, and we don’t want that for you.

All tour companies set minimum insurance expectations, and for good reason. First and foremost, it’s about your safety, your enjoyment, and your peace of mind. Insurance is there to cover the unforeseen: you’re planning your dream trip, and we’d hate for an emergency to disrupt it.

Coverage typically includes medical emergencies and evacuation, cancellation if you need to withdraw before departure, and interruption if you have to return home early. Many providers also offer comprehensive packages that include baggage and personal belongings.

Specialized travel insurers often pay upfront for medical emergencies at your destination, so you can focus on your adventure instead of worrying about logistics.

For the exact details of what’s covered, please review the specific policy you choose.

What is the minimum insurance you require?

We require you to have a minimum of 200,000 USD medical coverage, including evacuation and repatriation coverage, personal injury and all forms of medical expense.

While this is the minimum required (medical coverage, including evacuation and repatriation coverage, personal injury and all forms of medical expense), we highly encourage extending your policy to include cancellation, trip interruption, baggage and personal belongings, and personal injury. With this broader coverage, you’ll be fully protected and can travel with peace of mind knowing you’re prepared for whatever comes your way.

How Travel Advisories Affect Insurance Coverage

If a government travel advisory is already in place when you buy your insurance, you won’t be covered for cancellation or interruption related to that advisory. Similarly, if there’s an advisory for a specific region and you choose to travel there knowing the risks, coverage will not apply in that area.

On the other hand, if no advisory exists at the time of booking and purchasing insurance, and later the advisory level changes to “Avoid Non‑Essential Travel” or “Avoid All Travel,” that can be considered a valid reason for cancellation depending on your policy.

This is why it’s always best to purchase cancellation insurance early—so you’re protected if circumstances shift after you’ve booked your trip.

Is Credit Card Coverage Enough?

Travel insurance offered through credit cards can vary widely. Some plans include cancellation, others may cover medical emergencies but only for a limited trip duration. That’s why it’s important to read the fine print carefully and, if needed, speak directly with your credit card provider to understand exactly what’s included.

For our trips, we require a minimum of $200,000 USD in medical and evacuation coverage.