WARWICK, R.I., Jan. 25, 2021 — The new Biden administration issued an executive order last week promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel that includes new mask mandates and quarantine requirements. The administration also announced plans to block a previous executive order, scheduled to take effect on January 26, 2021, that would lift travel bans for Brazil, Ireland, the UK, and the Schengen Area.
This comes days after the new negative COVID-19 test requirement, issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for all air passengers entering the U.S. starting January 26, 2021.
InsureMyTrip is tracking the latest COVID-19 travel requirements and providing insight on how travel insurance may or may not apply. Here are some answers to the most common questions:
Q: I’m concerned about government travel restrictions. What travel insurance can help cover the costs in the event I must cancel a trip?
A: Cancel For Any Reason coverage is the best option for potentially getting a portion of your expenses back. Also, check with travel suppliers if they offer any refund or travel vouchers.
Q: If I get sick with COVID-19 during a trip, does emergency medical coverage cover me?
A: It may. Some travel insurance plans do offer emergency medical benefits in the event a traveler gets ill during a trip and must visit a doctor or hospital.
Q: Does travel insurance cover new COVID-19 testing requirements for air passengers?
A: No. According to travel insurance experts at InsureMyTrip, travel insurance will not cover the cost of a general COVID-19 test that may be required for travel.
However, some medical plans may cover testing in the event a policyholder becomes ill during a trip and a test is ordered by a physician.
Q: If a traveler does not obtain a COVID test and therefore does not have any results to show prior to their flight back to the U.S., would there be any coverage for additional expenses while they wait for negative test results?
A: A: In this case there would be no coverage for lost days or flights and the policy would not automatically extend.
Travelers seeking coverage for future trips can use the “COVID-19 recommendation tool” to see plans best suited to cover COVID-19-related travel concerns.
Note: Traditional travel insurance does not offer cancellation coverage for fear of travel, whether related to COVID-19 or not. Cancel For Any Reason is required.
It’s simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. InsureMyTrip is the global authority on travel insurance. We are committed to empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise. InsureMyTrip is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.
2020 was a unique year for travel. Unprecedented travel disruptions, anxiety and frustration were common themes, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were felt worldwide.
Looking back to 2019, vacation rental services like Airbnb & Vrbo were close to peak popularity and changing the way many people traveled. In 2020, contactless key pickups, improved cleanliness measures and the ability to distance from other people became incredibly important, and even more travelers found themselves opting for vacation rentals instead of traditional hotels.
Using performance analysis sites we were able to review data on how properties featured on the websites Airbnb and Vrbo have fared across the entire year. We were specifically interested in comparing this information for the world’s most popular tourist cities.
Curious about the locations of the most economical Airbnb or Vrbo options for your next vacation? Intrigued to see the most popular destinations during the pandemic? Look no further as we have the answers on this (and more) below!
Price
Popularity
Review Score
Rental Size (Guests Per Bedroom)
Active Listings Per Month
Percentage with Flexible Cancellations
Cleanliness Score
Rank
City
Country
1
Hanoi
$34.67
29%
4.65
2.56
9871
62%
4.63
2
Chennai
$37.84
35%
4.51
2.58
677
64%
4.44
3
Istanbul
$41.74
39%
4.56
2.73
17070
59%
4.53
4
Ho Chi Minh City
$41.83
41%
4.65
2.71
12126
62%
4.66
5
Jaipur
$42.43
30%
4.67
2.62
1195
57%
4.68
6
Agra
$43.06
16%
4.47
2.25
203
68%
4.42
7
Johor Bahru
$44.38
31%
4.56
3
2661
44%
4.59
8
Johannesburg
$45.76
41%
4.65
2.2
5053
53%
4.74
9
Bangkok
$46
50%
4.62
2.69
14568
40%
4.72
10
Moscow
$46.56
52%
4.59
3
10873
56%
4.6
11
Kuala Lumpur
$47.2
42%
4.49
3.13
9575
46%
4.51
12
Delhi
$47.87
40%
4.55
2.55
2095
51%
4.52
13
Cairo
$50.76
23%
4.58
2
2013
62%
4.52
14
Pattaya
$50.85
32%
4.47
2.63
8996
40%
4.57
15
Guangzhou
$55.38
29%
4.68
3.13
17850
47%
4.72
16
Athens
$61.24
48%
4.66
2.8
7149
37%
4.79
17
Shenzhen
$63.23
29%
4.67
2.1
11799
56%
4.7
18
Mumbai
$65.81
45%
4.5
2.95
1562
47%
4.51
19
Seoul
$66.46
67%
4.62
3.29
12180
25%
4.58
20
Shanghai
$67.66
39%
4.71
2.78
29997
50%
4.75
21
Taipei
$68.65
63%
4.59
3.07
3960
25%
4.58
22
Antalya
$74.83
30%
4.41
2.35
9766
49%
4.6
23
Cancun
$75.18
45%
4.59
2.84
8293
49%
4.68
24
Prague
$77.8
57%
4.67
3.29
6216
37%
4.72
25
Osaka
$81.8
40%
4.63
3.59
7926
27%
4.69
26
Vienna
$97.88
55%
4.67
3.08
7174
41%
4.7
27
Berlin
$102.72
64%
4.72
2.92
8520
42%
4.66
28
Hong Kong
$103.82
52%
4.62
3.2
1646
37%
4.62
29
Milan
$110.21
57%
4.55
2.92
10537
43%
4.68
30
Phuket
$110.77
39%
4.5
2.26
12424
30%
4.68
31
Toronto
$113.28
61%
4.64
2.6
10022
33%
4.66
32
Madrid
$115.03
58%
4.54
2.8
13289
43%
4.65
33
Tokyo
$119.5
52%
4.61
3.57
10924
22%
4.65
34
Rome
$120.4
48%
4.61
2.76
19994
40%
4.72
35
Florence
$121.14
42%
4.6
2.75
8237
43%
4.76
36
Singapore
$131
65%
4.39
2.53
3643
25%
4.46
37
Paris
$132.45
63%
4.57
2.92
25979
46%
4.56
38
London
$139
60%
4.53
2.53
39886
37%
4.59
39
Macau
$144.78
52%
4.44
3.46
287
43%
4.39
40
Dubai
$151.36
60%
4.38
2.69
7543
41%
4.46
41
Sydney
$156.25
62%
4.57
2.32
13310
39%
4.58
42
Barcelona
$156.74
45%
4.46
2.33
13607
39%
4.56
43
Venice
$157.86
35%
4.59
2.44
7140
38%
4.73
44
Los Angeles
$167
68%
4.57
2.81
9406
36%
4.59
45
Miami
$174
57%
4.56
2.83
8517
36%
4.65
46
Orlando
$176
56%
4.41
2.87
6064
33%
4.71
47
New York City
$179
57%
4.62
2.93
22543
34%
4.62
48
Dublin
$184.45
63%
4.62
2.39
2648
36%
4.64
49
Las Vegas
$194
57%
4.61
2.95
7915
30%
4.7
50
Amsterdam
$215
63%
4.74
2.06
5166
36%
4.73
The Cheapest (and Most Expensive) Vacation Rental Cities
With a staggering $216 a night, Amsterdam is home to the most expensive vacation rentals on average. Research has shown that when Airbnb listings rise in an area, so do actual housing prices. And there is certainly a correlation with Airbnbs/Vrbos and house prices, as 2020 saw the largest increase in rent prices in Amsterdam.
Despite the most expensive city being in Europe (Amsterdam), the top 10 is dominated by American cities. 50% of the results are in the U.S. as compared to the 40% located in Europe.
As an alternative, when identifying more economical options, travelers won’t necessarily need to compromise on quality. Hanoi in Vietnam is the cheapest vacation rental destination at $34 per night. However, 22% of these listings include a swimming pool, which is a perfect amenity for a vacation in tropical climate.
The Most (and Least) Popular Vacation Rental Cities
Not all cities are created equal from a tourist point of view. While there are traditionally clear leaders and universal favorites, some of these regular destinations were heavily affected by the events of 2020. See our map below to view the most popular cities for Airbnbs and Vrbos.
According to this, cities are well distributed across the globe, with obvious omissions in South America, Africa and The Middle East.
Los Angeles, California is the most popular vacation rental spot, as properties operated with an average of almost 70% occupancy across 2020. This correlates with a high average review of rentals (4.61 out of 5) and high cleanliness score (4.59 out of 5).
The least popular city was Agra in India. Occupancy levels operated at an average of just 16% across 2020. The prolonged closure of tourist hot spots due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has drastically reduced the number of visitors to the area, could be an explanation for these low occupancy levels.
The Most Extravagant Vacation Rental Cities
If money is no object, then be sure to check out the most extravagant rental cities. This is an index based on the following data points: ‘Price per Night’, ‘Percentage of Rentals with 5+ rooms’, ‘Percentage with a Hot Tub’, ‘Percentage with a Pool’.
Yet again the U.S. dominates, with all bar one of the top 5 being an American city. Las Vegas, NV leads the way with extravagance; 51% of all properties listed on Airbnb and Vrbo have hot tubs. However, if you are more interested in swimming pools, consider Orlando, FL, as 72% of properties there have them.
Best Places to Rent Out Your Property
We couldn’t conduct our analysis without considering the benefit to property owners. If you consider our popularity and price analysis, it’s likely you already have some idea about the highest performing cities in terms of average revenue per property.
Property owners residing in one of these five cities may find this information advantageous if considering converting their home into a vacation rental. In Las Vegas, your property could be earning an average of $2,378 a month. It’s important to note that cleaning fees, service fees, and other costs will need to be considered and are not factored into this revenue.
Summary
2020 was an unprecedented year for travel. But among the uncertainty, it’s been interesting and uplifting to see new trends emerging for resilient travelers. Hopefully you can use this data moving forward to help inform you on your next vacation rental destination in 2021 and beyond.
WARWICK, R.I., Jan. 15, 2021 — InsureMyTrip is tracking the latest COVID-19 travel requirements and providing insight on how travel insurance may or may not apply. This week, travel insurance agents reported a high number of inquiries from would-be travelers regarding the latest negative COVID-19 test requirement, issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for all air passengers entering the U.S.
InsureMyTrip has issued the following explanation regarding testing requirements and how it relates to travel insurance:
Q: Does travel insurance cover new COVID-19 testing requirements for air passengers?
A: No. According to travel insurance experts at InsureMyTrip, travel insurance will not cover the cost of a general COVID-19 test that may be required for travel.
However, some medical plans may cover testing in the event a policyholder becomes ill during a trip and a test is ordered by a physician.
On January 12, 2021 the Centers for Disease Control issued an order requiring all air passengers arriving to the U.S. from a foreign country to get tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs. Proof of a negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 will be required before boarding the flight. This order will go into effect on January 26, 2021. (Source: CDC)
Pandemic Travel Insurance Coverage
During the coronavirus pandemic, more traditional travel insurance companies are now expanding or adapting coverage for travelers. Here are some general examples:
Reimbursement for covered medical treatment during a trip due to a COVID-19 illness
Get sick with COVID-19 and must cancel a trip by physician’s order
Physician orders a quarantine before trip
Lost a job during the coronavirus pandemic by no-fault of your own
InsureMyTrip recommends travelers strongly consider a Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) upgrade. This upgrade offers the most trip cancellation flexibility and is the only option available to cover fear of travel. Full terms of coverage will be listed in state-specific policy. If eligibility requirements are met, reimbursement is up to 50-70 percent of the insured pre-paid non-refundable trip cost.
Note: Traditional travel insurance does not offer cancellation coverage for fear of travel, whether related to COVID-19 or not. Cancel For Any Reason is required.
The unbiased travel insurance comparison site also released a groundbreaking “COVID-19 recommendation tool” to guide travelers towards plans that may be best suited to cover COVID-19-related travel concerns.
It’s simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. InsureMyTrip is the authority on travel insurance. We are committed to empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise. InsureMyTrip is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.
WARWICK, R.I., Jan. 12, 2021 — Last year, millions of Americans had to put travel plans on hold due to the pandemic. While travel bans and restrictions continue to remain in place, there are signs of growing optimism for an eventual travel rebound. This week, InsureMyTrip reports a slight uptick in travel insurance purchases for trips abroad. Those international trips are scheduled to be taken later this year.
Summary
Travelers more likely to visit close-to-home international destinations like Mexico and the Caribbean
Higher demand for destinations with warmer climates
Slight increase in travel insurance plans sold for farther away destinations like Italy, Aruba, and United Kingdom
Travelers more apt to consider travel insurance for COVID-19 related travel concerns
“For those who decide to travel this year, travel insurance remains top of mind. Travelers are more informed than ever about the value of emergency medical coverage and other key benefits designed to better protect families during the pandemic,” says InsureMyTrip Director of eCommerce Cheryl Golden.
2021 Travel Insurance Demand For International Destinations
Travel insurance demand is highest for close-to-home international destinations, like Mexico and the Caribbean. Based on InsureMyTrip data, here is the list of top destinations, based on the number of policies sold.
As travelers consider future travel plans, more traditional travel insurance companies are now expanding or adapting coverage for travelers during the coronavirus pandemic. Here are some general examples:
Reimbursement for covered medical treatment during a trip due to COVID-19 illness
Get sick with COVID-19 and must cancel a trip
Physician orders a quarantine before trip
Lost a job during the coronavirus pandemic by no-fault of your own
InsureMyTrip also recommends travelers strongly consider a Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) upgrade. This upgrade offers the most trip cancellation flexibility and is the only option available to cover fear of travel or government/country border lockdowns. Full terms of coverage will be listed in state-specific policy. If eligibility requirements are met, reimbursement is up to 50-70 percent of pre-paid non-refundable trip cost.
Note: Traditional travel insurance does not offer cancellation coverage for fear of travel, whether related to COVID-19 or not. Cancel For Any Reason is required.
The unbiased travel insurance comparison site also released a groundbreaking “COVID-19 recommendation tool” to guide travelers towards plans that may be best suited to cover COVID-19-related travel concerns.
It’s simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. InsureMyTrip is the authority on travel insurance. We are committed to empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise. InsureMyTrip is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.
