Why Trust MoneySmart?Planning for your next Europe trip? It’s time to sort out the best travel insurance for your next journey! Whether you’re looking to ski in Switzerland or take a pre-wedding photoshoot in France, read on to find out more about the travel insurance you should get for your Europe trip!
TLDR? Here’s Your Summary!
High Medical Costs: European healthcare can be expensive for visitors. Medical emergencies and repatriation costs can easily reach hundreds of thousands of dollars
Petty Crime: Europe's major tourist cities are known for pickpocketing and scams. A good policy should cover lost and stolen items and documents.
Trip Disruptions: Be prepared for potential flight delays or cancellations from strikes or other disruptions. Comprehensive trip cancellation coverage is highly recommended.
Adventure Sports: Many standard policies exclude sports like skiing. If you plan to participate in these activities, make sure your plan includes an add-on or a specific benefit for them.
When to Buy: You must buy your travel insurance before leaving Hong Kong. Coverage is not valid if purchased after your trip has started.
Why Travel Insurance is a Must for Europe Trips
1. Medical Costs Can be Expensive
European healthcare can be very expensive for visitors. While a major incident like a hospital stay could cost between €600 and €1,200 per night , even minor issues can be expensive. For example, a standard doctor's consultation in France can cost between €20 and €150 , with an emergency room visit costing upwards of €220.
2. Petty Crime and Theft Are Getting Common
Petty crime such as pickpockets are common in major European tourist hubs like Paris and Rome, especially in crowded areas, including metro stations and popular landmarks. A robust travel insurance policy with coverage for lost baggage, personal effects, and stolen travel documents is a crucial line of defense against financial loss.
3. Frequent Travel Delays and Disruptions
Travel in Europe can be susceptible to trip delays or disruptions due to a variety of factors. For instance, a transport strike in France could cause you to lose your flight and incur irrecoverable expenses. Comprehensive trip cancellation and delay coverage is vital to protect the significant financial investment of a European trip.
4. Terrorism and Security Concerns
It is not uncommon for travel providers to exclude terrorism in the travel insurance, meaning that no compensation will be provided as a result of terrorism. So it’s worth checking before taking out your travel insurance. If you want to be sure, you can also call the insurance provider to confirm.
What to Look for in European Travel Insurance (for HongKongers)
1. Comprehensive Medical and Hospitalisation Coverage
Look for a plan with a high medical coverage limit (HK$1 million above). The best plans offer benefits for emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, and a daily cash benefit for hospital stays. Some plans even cover traditional Chinese medical practitioner treatments upon your return to Hong Kong if necessary.
2. Trip Cancellations and Delays Protections
This coverage is vital to protect the money you spend on your trip. It can reimburse non-refundable expenses if your trip is canceled or interrupted due to a covered event. Some premium plans also offer "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage, which can refund a portion of your costs for reasons not typically covered, currently on Allianz and FWD offer such an option.
3. Baggage and Personal Belongings Protection
With the risk of petty crime, coverage for lost or stolen belongings is essential. Check if the policy covers high-value electronics like mobile phones and laptops. Some providers may only cover certain items, like AXA only covers mobile phones and laptops, but not cameras; while STARR only covers laptops, but not smartphones or cameras.
4. Adventure Sports and Specialized Add-Ons
If you plan on activities like skiing or scuba diving, you need a policy that covers them. Some travel insurance policies may provide coverage if it's on an amateur, leisure basis. Though they often come with exclusions such as altitude limits for trekking, skiing off-piste, or diving beyond certain limits. Always read the fine print to make sure.
5. Multilingual 24/7 Assistance
In an emergency, especially with a time difference, having access to a 24/7 hotline in Cantonese / English is invaluable. AIG, for example, offers an in-house medical team to provide expert support.
Top Europe Travel Insurance Plans for Hong Kong Travellers
Here’s a breakdown of policies popular with Hong Kong residents traveling to Europe in 2025.
Travel Insurance Plan
| Medical Coverage | Trip Cancellation | Personal Baggage | Premium (14-day trip)* | Highlights |
Allianz Travel - Gold Plan (Single Trip) | HK$2,000,000 | HK$40,000 | HK$25,000 | HK$395.4 | "Cancel for Any Reason" of up to 75% of costs for non-covered reasons. |
AXA SmartTraveller Plus Privilege Plan
| HK$1,000,000 | HK$50,000 | HK$15,000 | HK$516.1 | Free coverage for children traveling with parents on the same policy, |
FWD | MyTravel Insurance - Superior | HK$1,500,000 | HK$50,000 | HK$20,000 | HK$640.9 | "Cancel for Any Reason" of up to 50% of costs for non-covered reasons. |
MSIG iTravel Plus (Single Trip) Plan A | HK$1,000,000 | HK$50,000 | HK$20,000 | HK$353.65 | Earn loyalty points, such as Asia Miles through bookings with Cathay Pacific. |
Avo Worldwide Restful Travel Protection - Plus Plan (Area 2) | HK$1,200,000 | HK$60,000 | HK$21,000 | HK$357.7 | Personal accident payout for sport injuries |
*The discounted rates are applicable only to bookings made via MoneySmart.
👉 All prices shown are for individual travellers departing from Hong Kong to France for 14 days.
