One of the great travel regions of the world, Europe has something for everyone. From natural wonders to beautiful cities there’s no shortage of adventures to be had! Whether you’re skiing in Switzerland, hiking the Via Ferrata in Italy or sailing the seas of Croatia, World Nomads has cover available for you.

What’s Covered

World Nomads offers coverage (up to the policy limits) for:

• Emergency overseas medical: if you become sick or injured during your trip your policy may cover you for overseas medical expenses, up to the policy limits and when agreed by us. 
• Medical evacuation and repatriation: if you need emergency transport home due to a serious illness or injury. With our coverage, you can get transported to the medical facility best for your care, subject to approval from us. 
• Travel delays/interruption: if your trip is interrupted due to an insured event. Depending on your plan, you may be able to recover your travel expenses.
• Baggage and valuables: if your belongings are stolen, accidentally damaged, delayed or lost. Terms and conditions apply. You’ll need official reports, supporting documentation and copies of your receipts if you need to make a claim.
• Family plans: add your children and grandchildren to our policies at no extra cost. Our cover includes 2 adults and up to 8 dependents on the one policy.
• Adventure, activities and sports: we cover more than 150 activities, sports and experiences across land, sea and sky. Check before you buy that your adventure is covered and find out what policy upgrade options may be available.
• Cover for some Coronavirus-related events: Both our plans offer cover for coronavirus-related events. Our Explorer Plan also has a Coronavirus Travel Costs benefit for certain events. You can check out our Coronavirus cover article which has more details, including terms and conditions, benefit limits and exclusions. 

What to look out for when travelling around Europe

Multi-Destination Trips

If you’re backpacking your way around Europe, staying in hostels, going out on the town, and adventuring whenever you can, travel insurance may provide cover for medical emergencies and evacuation, stolen items, and more than 150 adventures, sports and activities including volunteering and working.

Families

Travelling as a family can be an incredibly rewarding experience and what better place to have a family adventure than Europe! Our policies can help cover for medical emergency, pregnancy, coronavirus, trip interruption and provide 24/7 worldwide emergency assistance. Cover includes two adults and up to eight dependents on one policy. You can find more information on family cover by checking out our family travel insurance article.

Winter Activities

Winter activities in Europe are like a fairy tale. From hiking in the Swiss Alps, to Husky sledding in Finland, and snowboarding in Cervinia in Italy, our travel insurance offers more than 150 activities, sports and experiences.

Summer Adventures

An adventure-lovers dream, you can enjoy your European summer odyssey knowing our policies may cover you for a range of activities including hiking trips, road trips, kayaking and rafting and sailing.

We offer two plans for New Zealand residents – Standard and Explorer. Each policy provides different levels of coverage depending on what you need:

• The Standard Plan covers a range of benefits and certain adventure activities and has lower coverage limits.
• Our level of activities and sports cover starts at Level 1 and goes all the way up to level 3 for some more extreme activities. The Explorer Plan will come in handy if you want to be covered for certain activities and sports that are only covered at level 2 or 3. You must select all your activities and sports and pay the additional premium. The selected activities as well as the highest level of cover will be shown on your Certificate of Insurance. 

How do the levels of activity and sports cover work?

Level 1 - Automatically covers Level 1 sports, activities & experiences in the Standard Plan and Explorer Plan. Low-risk adventure sports and activities listed as Level 1.

Level 2 - Upgrade required - Also includes Level 1 sports, activities & experiences. Higher-risk adventure sports and activities listed as Level 2.

Level 3 - Upgrade required - Also includes Level 1 & 2 sports, activities & experiences. Highest-risk adventure sports and activities listed as Level 3 (including snow sports).

Simply specify all the activities you have planned for your trip when you get your quote, as you can’t add them afterwards. Terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions apply, check your Policy Document for details or contact us.

What to look out for when travelling around Europe

• Severe weather: some parts of Europe can experience four seasons in one day, and some destinations are prone to natural disasters. If your trip is interrupted or cancelled as a result of severe weather you may be able to claim. 
• Keep an eye on your gear 24/7: It’s very important that you NEVER leave your valuables unsupervised. If you're after travel insurance cover for your tech gear and other high value items read more here. You should also make copies of all key documents you’ll be traveling with — passport, ID, travel insurance, receipts, vouchers, addresses, transportation tickets — and keep them separate from the originals while abroad so you’ll have backups and proof of purchase if anything happens.
• Baggage theft or loss: if you’re on a European road trip and your rental car gets broken into, or your airline loses your bags, you may be able to claim to replace the item or claim for essential clothing and toiletries while you wait for your bag to be returned. Our Explorer plan can also offer cover for your rental vehicle insurance excess.
• Pickpockets: While most countries in Europe are amongst the safest to travel to there is always the chance that you might end up being pickpocketed in many top tourist hotspots. If your items are stolen travel insurance could help replace them.

What’s not covered

Our policies aren’t designed to cover everything and there are some important general exclusions you should be aware of, including:

• Existing medical conditions – see the Policy Document for details.
• Traveling to, planning to travel to, or choosing to remain in a country or region that is subject to a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning issued by the New Zealand Government (see safetravel.govt.nz)
• Participation in a sport or activity not listed or failing to adhere to the terms of coverage for listed sports or activities.
• Unsupervised baggage or personal items, including any items left in a locked car overnight.
• If you don’t follow your doctor’s instructions or what we or the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team advise you to do.
• Being intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.
• Any pregnancy-related illness after the 26th week of gestation. *Childbirth; regular antenatal care; care of a newborn child.

Be sure to read the Policy Document and General Exclusions for other scenarios and expenses we don’t cover so there’ll be no surprises if you need to use your cover.

New Entry/Exit System (EES) starts October 2025

If you’re travelling to any EU countries, you need to be aware of a new system being rolled out. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is coming to 29 European countries from October 12, 2025.

The EES is a new automated border control system designed to modernize and enhance how travellers enter and leave the Schengen Area.

Countries that are taking part in the EES are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

ETIAS delayed until 2026

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) travel authorisation system has been postponed to late 2026.

Non-EU citizens planning a holiday to Europe will need to check if they need a ETIAS travel permit before they go. 

The ETIAS will apply to travellers from 59 visa-exempt countries and territories, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.

While an official date hasn’t been announced yet, ETIAS is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2026.

Learn more about the ETIAS by checking out our Travel Wiser article.

Handy tips for travelling in Europe

• Always check the Visa requirements – some countries require you to have at least 6 months validity on your passports and some may require Visas that can take several weeks to organise.
• Pack light – especially if you’ll be travelling around Europe using public transport.
• Check for discounts – many cities offer tourist discount cards which may give you discounts on attraction entry fees, transport and even restaurants.
• Book attraction tickets in advance – if you know your plans then consider booking ahead for popular tourist sites such as the Vatican, London Eye and Eiffel Tower as tickets can sell out and some attractions require pre-booking.

This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your Policy Document in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

The information provided is of a general nature and is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice in any form and should not be relied on as a substitute for obtaining professional advice that is specific to your circumstances. You should seek advice from a financial advice provider if you would like further information about whether a particular product is appropriate for you and your circumstances.

From mountainous rainforests and volcanic calderas to its dramatic coastline and iconic surf beaches, Hawaii is great for travellers looking for adventure and relaxation.

Whether you’re looking to get some sun and pure relaxation or aiming for thrills and seek an action-packed adventure, it’s important to choose the right level of coverage. Read the policy wording, browse the World Nomads’ Help Centre, or contact our customer service team to see if what you’re planning to do is covered under your plan.

• What am I covered for?
• Coverage if bags are stolen, damaged or delayed when visiting Hawaii
• What to look out for when travelling around Hawaii?
• Do I need any documents when travelling to Hawaii?
• What's not covered?

What am I covered for?

The USA’s 50^th state is a safe and friendly place but the unexpected can still happen. Travel insurance can help if your bags are lost or stolen, if your transport is delayed or if you suffer an injury that lands you in hospital.

World Nomads offers coverage (up to the policy limits) for:

• Emergency overseas medical: the surfing in Hawaii is impressive but not if it ends in an accident. Emergency medical coverage can help when you need urgent medical treatment. Get to a doctor for treatment and medication and you can submit a claim to recover the costs (up to your benefit limit).
• Evacuation: the mountain hikes on Oahu might take you far away from medical facilities. With our coverage, you can get transported to the medical facility best for your care, subject to approval from us. 
• Activities cover: we cover more than 150 sports and adventure activities, from ocean kayaking to mountain biking the forest trails on Maui. If your favourite sport isn’t on the list get in touch with our Customer Assistance Team and they will let you know if we cover it. An upgrade for certain activities and sports may be required.
• Trip cancellation: has a sick or injured traveling buddy put a stop to your tropical adventure? Depending on your plan, you may be able to recover your travel expenses.

If you’ve already arrived in Hawaii and you forgot to buy travel insurance before leaving New Zealand, don’t panic. You can visit the World Nomads website at any time of the day or night and purchase a policy.

Coverage if bags are stolen, damaged or delayed when visiting Hawaii

Baggage that’s been delayed, lost or stolen is never a fun thing to deal with when travelling. If you’ve arrived in Honolulu but your bags haven’t or if they’ve been damaged or stolen on public transport, World Nomads baggage insurance can offer you cover for:

• Bags stolen or damaged: as soon as you’ve realised your bags have been stolen or damaged please report it to the relevant authority (carrier, tour operator, accommodation provider). You’ll need their Property Irregularity Report or similar to submit with your claim as well as a police report if stolen. You may be able to get compensation from the transport carrier if your bags were lost in transit and you’ll need to show you’ve attempted this if you decide to put in a claim. Where there is no compensation by the carrier, there is cover for the value of your belongings after allowing for wear, tear and depreciation.

• Bags delayed: if your checked-in baggage is delayed for more than 12 hours, there is cover to replace those essential items and toiletries while you wait for your bags to arrive.

What to look out for when travelling to Hawaii?

If you want to visit historic Pearl Harbour on Oahu and also tackle Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii Island, you’ll have flights and transports to navigate between islands.

While mostly idyllic, sometimes Hawaii experiences severe weather, flash flooding and volcanic activity. If adverse weather affects your connecting transport, or a natural disaster  occurs and you cannot use your booked accommodation, you may be covered for the related expenses to find other transport or accommodation.

Hawaii offers plenty of ocean-based activities like windsurfing, scuba diving or kayaking. But you don’t want to be left out of pocket if you have an accident and need medical help or even worse, if you have to be repatriated back home to New Zealand.

For injuries where treatment costs are not expected to exceed NZD$2,000, you can submit your receipts for reimbursement. If you are hospitalised or if your treatment expenses as an outpatient are likely to go above NZD$2,000, you must call our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team first to confirm cover and they will liaise with the hospital on your behalf to arrange payments.

There are many outdoor activities, sports, and experiences that are automatically covered and available on the Standard Plan. But, if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can upgrade your level of cover for adventure sports and activities.

Do I need any documents when travelling to Hawaii?

You may need to apply for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) travel authorization system when travelling to Hawaii. The ESTA is an automated system that assists in determining eligibility to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and whether such travel poses any law enforcement or security risk. Upon completion of an ESTA application, a traveller is notified of his or her eligibility to travel to the United States under the VWP.

Please refer to the ESTA website to confirm your visa requirements as they are subject to change.

Our travel insurance plans include emergency medical and repatriation cover if you get sick with Coronavirus while travelling (benefit limits apply and vary between plans). It’s always a good idea to wear a face mask when visiting any of Hawaii’s popular hotspots but if you do get sick, contact the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team so they can help direct you to local medical facilities if needed and help you understand your options.

Our Explorer Plan also has a Coronavirus Travel Costs benefit for certain events. You can check out our Coronavirus cover article which has all of the details, including terms and conditions, benefit limits and exclusions. 

What's not covered?

Travel insurance is not designed to cover everything. Some things we don’t cover include:

• Unattended baggage or personal items, including any items left in a locked car overnight.
• Any existing medical conditions which are not listed as an automatically covered pre-existing medical condition as per your Policy Document. Check your Policy Document carefully.
• If you do not use a professional, qualified and licensed guide and operator for activities where required.
• If you don’t follow your doctor’s instructions or what we or the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team advise you to do.
• The policy excess per person per insured event where applicable (check the Summary of Benefits in your Policy Document).

This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your Policy Document in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

The information provided is of a general nature and is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice in any form and should not be relied on as a substitute for obtaining professional advice that is specific to your circumstances. You should seek advice from a financial advice provider if you would like further information about whether a particular product is appropriate for you and your circumstances.

About World Nomads

World Nomads polices are designed by travelers for travelers to provide simple and flexible travel insurance. Featuring coverage for more than 150 activities, you can get a quote, claim, or extend your policy online at www.worldnomads.com. All the information we provide about travel insurance is a brief summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Coverage may not be available for residents of all countries, states or provinces. Please carefully read your policy wording for a full description of coverage.

There’s so much more to Hawaii than its world-renowned surfing and tropical beaches, including dramatic scenery and untouched rainforests. Take in the views from a helicopter or try scouting for humpback whales in an outrigger canoe, but no matter what you have planned, it might be worth considering travel insurance.

• What am I covered for?
• Why should I consider travel insurance when visiting Hawaii
• What to look out for when travelling around Hawaii
• Do I need any documents when travelling to Hawaii
• What's not covered?

What am I covered for?

The USA’s 50^th state is a safe and friendly place but the unexpected can still happen. Travel insurance can help if your bags are lost or stolen, if your transport is delayed or if you suffer an injury that lands you in hospital.

World Nomads offers coverage (up to the policy limits) for:

• Emergency overseas medical: the surfing in Hawaii is impressive but not if it ends in an accident. Emergency medical coverage can help when you need urgent medical treatment. Get to a doctor for treatment and medication and you can submit a claim to recover the costs (up to your benefit limit).
• Evacuation: the mountain hikes on Oahu might take you far away from medical facilities. With our coverage, you can get transported to the medical facility best for your care, subject to approval from us.
• Activities cover: we cover more than 150 sports and adventure activities, from ocean kayaking to mountain biking the forest trails on Maui. If your favourite sport isn’t on the list get in touch with our Customer Assistance Team and they will let you know if we cover it. An upgrade for certain activities and sports may be required.
• Trip cancellation: has a sick or injured traveling buddy put a stop to your tropical adventure? Depending on your plan, you may be able to recover your travel expenses.

If you’ve already arrived in Hawaii and you forgot to buy travel insurance before leaving Australia, don’t panic. You can visit the World Nomads website at any time of the day or night and purchase a policy.

Why should I consider travel insurance when visiting Hawaii?

We know how much of a pain baggage that’s been delayed, lost or stolen can be while on a holiday. If you’ve arrived in Honolulu but your bags haven’t or if they’ve been damaged or stolen on public transport, World Nomads baggage insurance can offer you cover for:

• Bags stolen or damaged: as soon as you’ve realised your bags have been stolen or damaged please report it to the relevant authority (carrier, tour operator, accommodation provider). You’ll need their Property Irregularity Report or similar to submit with your claim as well as a police report if stolen. You may be able to get compensation from the transport carrier if your bags were lost in transit and you’ll need to show you’ve attempted this if you decide to put in a claim. Where there is no compensation by the carrier, there is cover for the value of your belongings after allowing for wear, tear and depreciation.

• Bags delayed: if your checked-in baggage is delayed for more than 12 hours, there is cover to replace those essential items and toiletries while you wait for your bags to arrive.

What to look out for when travelling around Hawaii?

If you want to visit historic Pearl Harbour on Oahu and also tackle the Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii Island, you’ll have flights and transport to navigate between islands.

While mostly idyllic, sometimes Hawaii experiences severe weather, flash flooding and volcanic activity. If adverse weather affects your connecting transport, or a natural disaster occurs and you cannot use your booked accommodation, you may be covered for the related expenses to find other transport or accommodation.

Hawaii offers plenty of ocean-based activities such as windsurfing, scuba diving or kayaking. But you don’t want to be left out of pocket if you have an accident and need medical help or even worse, if you have to be repatriated back home to Australia.

For injuries where treatment costs are not expected to exceed AUD$2,000, you can submit your receipts for reimbursement. If you are hospitalised or if your treatment expenses as an outpatient are likely to go above AUD$2,000, you must call our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team first to confirm cover and they will liaise with the hospital on your behalf to arrange payments.

There are many outdoor activities, sports, and experiences that are automatically covered and available on the Standard Plan. But, if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can upgrade your level of cover for adventure sports and activities.

Do I need any documents when travelling to Hawaii?

You may need to apply for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) travel authorization system when travelling to Hawaii. The ESTA is an automated system that assists in determining eligibility to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and whether such travel poses any law enforcement or security risk. Upon completion of an ESTA application, a traveller is notified of his or her eligibility to travel to the United States under the VWP.

Please refer to the ESTA website to confirm your visa requirements as they are subject to change.

Our travel insurance plans include emergency medical and repatriation cover if you get sick with Coronavirus while travelling (benefit limits apply and vary between plans). It’s always a good idea to wear a face mask when visiting any of Hawaii’s popular hotspots but if you do get sick, contact the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team so they can help direct you to local medical facilities if needed and help you understand your options.

Our Explorer Plan also has a Coronavirus Travel Costs benefit for certain events. You can check out our Coronavirus cover article which has all of the details, including terms and conditions, benefit limits and exclusions. 

What's not covered?

Travel insurance is not designed to cover everything. Some things we don’t cover include:

• Unattended baggage or personal items, including any items left in a locked car overnight.
• Any existing medical conditions which are not listed as an automatically covered pre-existing medical condition as per your PDS. Check your PDS carefully.
• If you do not use a professional, qualified and licensed guide and operator for activities where required.
• If you don’t follow your doctor’s instructions or what we or the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team advise you to do.
• The policy excess per person per insured event where applicable (check the Summary of Benefits in your PDS).

Travel insurance doesn't cover everything. All the information we provide is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your PDS for a full description of coverage. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

About World Nomads

World Nomads polices are designed by travelers for travelers to provide simple and flexible travel insurance. Featuring coverage for more than 150 activities, you can get a quote, claim, or extend your policy online at www.worldnomads.com. All the information we provide about travel insurance is a brief summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Coverage may not be available for residents of all countries, states or provinces. Please carefully read your policy wording for a full description of coverage.