From the seaside to historical castles, learn how travel insurance can benefit Americans traveling to Portugal.
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For information relating to policies purchased prior to October 23 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For plans purchased after October 23 2024, please see below.
Whether you want to listen to Fado music and sip ginja in Lisbon, wander the medieval streets of Coimbra, lounge at the beach on the Alentejo Coast, island hop in the Azores, or take a road trip through the wineries of the Duoro Valley, Portugal welcomes thousands of Americans each year.
While a vacation to Portugal is an amazing opportunity, there are some things to be aware of when you’re visiting from the US. Our nomads have experienced everything from lost baggage to natural disasters. We’ve learned quite a bit in our travels, and we encourage you to consider investing in travel insurance* to protect your adventure to Portugal.
International travel can bring all kinds of unexpected surprises - like the roaring waterfalls you can find on the island of Madeira.
Some surprises are not as great. Nobody wants to think about things like canceled trips, delayed baggage, and medical emergencies, but these things can happen unexpectedly. If you get injured while trying to surf a major swell in Nazare, you may then wish that you had travel insurance for Portugal.
World Nomads has four plans to select from, and when you get a quote you can compare the options to determine the best international travel insurance for your needs.
From its wild coast to its jagged mountains, Portugal has many fun adventures awaiting travelers. World Nomads covers more than 250 activities for Americans traveling to Portugal and includes things like cycling around Portugal, hiking through the vibrant terrain of Parque Natural da Arrábida, and taking a journey inside a dormant volcano on Terceira Island in the Azores.
Before you get a quote for your travel insurance for Portugal, it’s a good idea to have an idea of which activities you’d like to do. Each insurance plan covers different activities so with a rough itinerary, you can select the best insurance for your adventure.
Scuba diving in the subtropical waters around Madeira and surfing in the Algarve will be covered by all insurance plans, including the Standard Plan. If your daredevil side is itching to go cliff-jumping off some of Portugal’s amazing cliffs – such as at Praia do Carvalho, Benagil – you’ll want to upgrade to the Explorer or Epic Plan.
Accidents are never anticipated or fun, but they’re a reality of travel. What if you’re on day three of your multi-day trek on the Madeira Island Ultra trail and you lose your footing and sprain your ankle? There’s a good chance you’ll need to seek medical attention.
If you have a medical emergency when traveling to Portugal, you can call the 24/7 emergency assistance team and they can help refer you to a place that offers the level of care that you need. They can also help communicate with your Portuguese medical team if there are language barriers.
If your attending physician (and the 24/7 emergency assistance team) determines that it’s best for you to go home to the US to get medical care, the repatriation coverage that is included in your travel insurance for Portugal may cover the costs to get you there.
To streamline your experience seeking medical treatment in Portugal, we recommend signing up for FootprintID before your trip. This non-insurance service is a portable personal health record where your documents, prescriptions, test results, and emergency contacts are accessible in one place anywhere in the world. Whether you need to refill a prescription or deal with a more serious injury, FootprintID expedites the process.
Nobody plans for lost bags, but it happens. It’s less than ideal to arrive in Lisbon and realize that the airline lost your bag, including your swim suit that you brought to master waves in Ericeira – Portugal’s surfing capital. Your travel insurance for Portugal may reimburse you for the cost to replace your suit and other belongings (up to plan limits, conditions and exclusions apply).
If you’re lucky, your bags just took a detour and will eventually make their way to you. Even a delayed bag can be stressful. If your bag is delayed by more than 12 hours, you may still be reimbursed for a change of clothes and toiletries until you and your bag are reunited.
The first step is to contact the airline. If the airline isn’t able to help you locate your lost bag, the second step is to contact Blue Ribbon Bags, our non-insurance service partner that will track and expedite the return of your undelivered baggage by the airline. Make sure to have the file reference or record locator number and Property Irregularity Report on hand when you call Blue Ribbon Bags so you can file a lost luggage claim.
You may have planned every detail to your Portuguese vacation, down to hotel and car bookings, a road trip itinerary, and your excursions. Nonetheless, you can’t predict every element of your trip. Things happen that can cancel, interrupt, or delay your trip so it’s important to find an insurance plan that covers trip cancellation and delays.
Sometimes unexpected situations happen that can derail your plans. What happens if you get sick a few days before leaving for Portugal? If your doctor tells you not to travel at that time, you could be forced to cancel your trip. A travel insurance plan for Portugal that includes cancellation coverage could reimburse you for those non-refundable flights, hotels, and activities you paid for in advance.
Travel insurance could help if you’re already on your trip and something happens. For example, you may need to go back to the United States early if an immediate family member has an unexpected medical emergency or dies.
The Explorer and Epic Plan also covers for a number of travel inconveniences that may arise during your trip to Portugal if you purchased your plan during the time sensitive period. You might be on a week-long cruise around the Azores and your port call at Sao Miguel gets canceled due to a storm. World Nomads travel insurance may compensate you for this inconvenience.
If you want an additional safety net for your trip, consider purchasing CFAR (cancel for any reason) as an add-on benefit to your Explorer or Epic Plan during the time sensitive period. Whether you simply change your mind or need to cancel your vacation for any reason not covered by the insurance plan, CFAR allows you to cancel and get back a portion of your prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses, whether that be a cruise or a cultural excursion.
Before you leave the U.S., we encourage you to check out the U.S. government’s safety warnings for Portugal. Weather, safety, and political situations can change at any time, and this is where they list any current advisories.
If you purchase travel insurance for Portugal, it’s a good idea to save the 24/7 Emergency Assistance phone number and your plan number in your cell phone so you don’t have to search for that if an emergency happens.
Portugal is typically a welcoming country known for its hospitality. Having a sense of awareness and an eye on your belongings is always a good idea, especially in more crowded destinations like the palaces in Sintra or a busy nightclub in Lisbon.
It is helpful to learn a few Portuguese phrases so you can communicate with and connect to locals. While you’re at it, check out our team’s tips on things to know before you visit Portugal. Don’t be afraid to veer from the typical tourist spots, either. Portugal is famed for its coastal cuisine, vinho verde and Port wines (among other varietals), windy coasts, rolling farmland, and historic centers—have fun!
*All information we provided here is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your state specific plan documents for a full description of coverage. Travel insurance is included as part of your travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services. Material included on this page does not represent, nor is it specific to, United States Fire Insurance Company or travel insurance benefits provided on United States Fire Insurance Company’s travel protection plans.Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
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Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Wherever you are, we’re here 24/7 to help you in any emergency.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Contact Generali Global Assistance:
Telephone:
+1 954-334-8143 (Collect outside the US)
+1 877-289-0968 (Toll-free in the US and Canada
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.