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Travel insurance when in France

What you need to know about travel insurance for a trip to France

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France! A destination that’s high on many travellers’ bucket lists – and with good reason! With many famous historical sites to visit, outdoors activities to enjoy, art to appreciate, and food and wine to enjoy, you’ll soon be saying Vive la France!

Aerial view of Paris streets and Eiffel Tower at sunset
Aerial view of Paris streets and Eiffel Tower at sunset. Photo credit: Getty images / Alexander Spatari

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.
  • Travel delays/interruption: if your trip is interrupted due to an insured event. Depending on which plan you’ve selected you may be covered for your non-refundable, pre-paid transport and accommodation expenses.
  • Baggage and valuables: we may offer cover 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. 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.
  • Adventure activities and sports: we cover more than 150 activities, sports and experiences across land, water 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 COVID-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 all of the details, including terms and conditions, benefit limits and exclusions.

If you’ve already arrived in France 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. Policies purchased while overseas may have a waiting period that applies.

France is Europe’s 3rd largest country, which means there is a lot to see and do. In most cases, travelling goes without a hitch, but having the right travel insurance for you can take the added stress out of travel if things don’t go to plan.

Families

Travelling as a family can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and France is the perfect destination with plenty of family-friendly locations and activities on offer. Our policies can help cover for medical emergency, pregnancy and Covid, trip interruption and provide 24/7 worldwide emergency assistance. Cover includes two adults and up to eight dependents on one policy.

Multi-Destination Trips

If you’re making your way around Europe and visiting France on your travels, travel insurance can cover medical emergencies and evacuation, stolen items, and more than 150 adventures, sports and activities including volunteering and working.

If you’re travelling to multiple European countries, World Nomads can help with:

  • Translation and interpreting services in case of an emergency
  • Physician referrals
  • Pre-trip information

Summer Adventures

You can enjoy your summer travels around France knowing our policies may cover you for a range of activities including hiking trips around the foothills of Chamonix, road trips in the Rhone Valley, kayaking & rafting and even sailing the waters off Monaco.

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

  • The Standard Plan covers a range of benefits and has lower coverage limits.
  • The Explorer plan covers all the benefits of the Standard plan, with larger coverage limits, more benefits.

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

Winter Travel

From taking the family ice-skating on the rink at Champs-Elysees, to hunting for black truffles in the snow-dusted forests of Perigord, or sipping hot chocolate in between ski runs in the French Alps, our travel insurance can cover you for more than 150 adventures, snow and winter sports and activities, medical emergencies and extended stays if you are enjoying your winter escape to France too much!

Note: our travel insurance plans are different. Cover will vary, depending on what you are claiming for, the plan you choose and any options or upgrades you buy.

French Riviera
The French Riviera. Photo credit: Getty images / Pierre Longnus

What to look out for when travelling around France

  • Keep an eye on your gear 24/7: It’s very important that you NEVER leave your valuables out of sight. You should make copies of all key documents you’ll be travelling 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 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.
  • Rental car coverage and road safety – France is the perfect place for a road trip, with so many different regions to explore. Available on our Explorer plan, we may cover your rental vehicle insurance excess, or the cost of repairing the rental vehicle if you’re involved in a motor accident or your rental vehicle is damaged or stolen.
  • Pickpockets: Whilst France is amongst the safest countries to travel to there is always the chance that you might end up being pickpocketed in a tourist hotspot. 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:

  • Pre-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 – www.safetravel.govt.nz
  • Unattended 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.
  • Participation in a sport or activity where you fail to adhere to the terms of coverage for listed sports or activities.
  • Being intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.

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.

The River Seine walkway
The River Seine walkway. Photo credit: Getty images / James O'Neil

Handy tips for traveling in France

  • Pack light – especially if you’ll be travelling around France using public transport.
  • Book attraction tickets in advance – if you know your plans then consider booking ahead for popular tourist sites such as the Eiffel Tower, Palace of Versailles and the Louvre as tickets can sell out and some attractions require pre-booking. Consider purchasing the Paris Pass.
  • Learn some basic French phrases – just in case you get into a jam, and locals often appreciate it when you try to speak their language.

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.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Cancellation

Protect your trip from unexpected cancellation.

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
  • Unexpectedly hospitalized?
  • Travel buddy unfit to travel?
  • Close relative suddenly dies?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Overseas

Take the pain out of medical costs.

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $5,000,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Need meds quick?
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Transport

We'll get you to hospital in a flash

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $500,000
Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Banged up abroad?
  • Need a hospital urgently?
  • Medevac home?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Cover your stolen or damaged gear and tech.

  • Explorer Plan: $10,000
  • Standard Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
  • Passport or tech stolen?
  • Airline lost your gear?
  • Bags delayed?

Help starts here.

  • Overseas Medical Expenses
  • Emergency dental treatment
  • 24 hour assistance
  • Emergency medical transport & repatriation
  • Cancellation costs
  • Trip interruption costs
  • Compassionate emergency visit home
  • Resumption of trip
  • Theft or accidental damage to baggage and personal items
  • Baggage delay over 12 hours
  • Funeral expenses overseas or repatriation of remains
  • Personal liability
This is a general summary for New Zealand residents only. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Benefit limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Check the policy documents for full details.

24/7 emergency assistance

If you need medical assistance or emergency medical evacuation our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.

Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?

From New Zealand & Overseas:
+61 2 8263 0470 or
+61 2 8292 1470
(reverse charges via an operator from anywhere in the world)

Within Australia (Free call): 1800 611 210

Travel insurance. Simple & flexible.

Travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families. Nobody wants to think about all the things that could go wrong on their trip, but these things can and do happen. So be prepared and get your travel insurance today.