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With the clocks set to go back this weekend, dark, miserable nights are drawing in for most of us.
Our only hope for escape (aside from the seasonal depression-busting daylight lamps) is an actual escape for a spot of winter sun.
Imagine you go all that way in search of Vitamin D and to swim in the sea only for it to rain the entire time. Heartbreaking.
It would undoubtedly feel like a waste of money (why didn’t I just stay at home?) – but this new announcement from Airbnb could lessen the blow somewhat.
The holiday home rental company is now offering optional weather protection insurance that will payout travellers on days it rains during their trip.
“Rain can cast a shadow over a trip guests have been looking forward to, but it shouldn't define it,” Justin Brouse, Airbnb’s director for strategic partnerships, AirCover and insurance, said.
“We're excited to work with Chubb to introduce weather protection, so guests can get value back when it rains spending less time dealing with a disruption and more time enjoying their trip.”
How Airbnb’s weather protection works
Airbnb guests who live in Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain or Sweden will have the option to add on weather protection when booking.
The policy covers both domestic and international trips, although it isn’t available for trips in every country.
Underwritten by Chubb, the policy will have a daily payout of between €50 and €1,000 if there is rain of at least 1.5 mm in an hour between 8 am and 8 pm at your Airbnb stay’s location for the minimum number of hours shown in your insurance policy. The number of hours, and payout, will vary from country to country.
The rain monitoring is automatic and is taken from sources such as NASA, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), so you won’t need to submit evidence for a claim, you’ll just be notified if you can make one.
Other options for weather-related insurance
Founded in 2022, WeatherPromise also offers insurance that covers your trip if it rains.
Working on a similar premise, the policy will payout automatically if it rains more than the specified amount agreed upon.
All you need to do is enter the hotel address where you are staying, the dates of the trip, and the covered amount, i.e. the cost of the trip.