Single Trip Travel Insurance

Home > Travel Insurance > Single Trip

How does a single trip travel insurance policy work?

If you're only going away once this year, a Single Trip travel policy could be your cheapest option.Our Single Trip policies can provide cover for a maximum trip duration of 365 days, or for trips as short as one day. Just enter the dates you’ll be leaving Australia and arriving back. There are a range of cover levels and options to choose from, so your policy will perfectly fit your trip.

Benefits of our single trip insurance include:

We can cover trips ranging from one to 365 days.
You’re able to choose from two levels of cover to suit your needs - and your budget.
We’ll provide up to $25 million cover for overseas medical expenses.
Your baggage and belongings are covered up to $10,000.
Kids go free! When named on the policy, up to three children (aged 2-18) and up to two infants (under 2 years) go free when travelling with their parent or grandparent. (Excludes any optional cover for pre-existing medical conditions)
You don't need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident to get covered; we only require that you have lived here for the past three months.
Short scheduled stop-overs (up to 24 hours) in countries outside your destination are covered.
Got a pre-existing condition? Don’t worry - we cover plenty. Simply complete our free online medical screening to see if you’ll be able to receive cover.
We cover certain events during pregnancy (please see our cover description for details and conditions).
Cruises are covered as standard (however, please read our Note On Cruises).
We cover a wide range of sports and activities at no extra cost. Simply add one of our Sports/Leisure Activities Packs for certain higher-rick activities (as listed). We also cover Winter Sports.
We offer a 19 days cooling-off period in case you decide that the policy isn't right for you (as long as your trip hasn’t started and you haven’t lodged a claim).

Our travel insurance is designed to take some of the most common risks away, so you can focus on the important stuff - like enjoying your holiday!

With so many different policies to choose from, it can be daunting to find the cover that’s right for you. Our easy-to-use website is designed to help you compare prices and cover levels of our policies at a glance. If you're unsure about anything, just ask our friendly customer service team - they’ll be able to help you find the policy that’s right for you.

Want to see a Quote?

Please note that the benefits we’ve listed below are just a summary – to really understand what you’re covered for it’s important that you read our full policy wording including terms, conditions and exclusions.

24hr Medical Assistance Services: Included
- 24hr multilingual staffed medical emergency helpline in case you need to arrange emergency medical treatment (including hospital guarantees) or need to be repatriated home.
Overseas Medical Expenses & Emergency Repatriation: $25 million
- Dental Expenses Limit: $500 - $1,000
  
  Emergency medical, surgical, dental and hospital treatment (including doctor’s fees), ambulance costs and, when arranged through our emergency assistance, emergency repatriation to your home.
  
  We also cover travel and accommodation costs for someone to stay with, visit or escort you home if medically advised.
  
  Cover for overseas funeral costs in that country or costs for repatriation of bodily remains is also included.
Cancellation and Curtailment: $10,000 - $20,000
- Covers the loss of irrecoverable deposits and payments made in advance for unused travel and accommodation if you need to cancel or curtail your trip. Your claim must relate to one of the events listed in our PDS.
  
  Events listed in our PDS include serious illness or injury, redundancy and being called as a witness to court. Our PDS also lists the illness, injury or death of an immediate family member. The family member must be under 85 and living in Australia. Please note that there is no cover for claims related to the pre-existing medical condition of a family member.
Personal Baggage: $7,500 - $10,000
- Single Article Limit: $750
  
  Valuables Limit (in total): $750
  
  Total and per Article Limit for Personal Computers, Video Recorders or Cameras: $3,000
  
  You are covered for accidental loss and theft of and damage to your personal belongings.
Delayed Baggage: $500 - $1,000
- We cover the reasonable costs to buy replacement necessities if your checked-in baggage is delayed on your outward journey by at least 12 hours from your time of arrival at your destination.
Personal Money & Travel Documents: $2,000 - $3,000
- Cash Limit: $250 - $500
  
  Provides cover for theft of your personal money as well as loss and theft of and damage to your passport or other travel documents (as defined) whilst on your person or in a locked safe. Please note that there is no cover for credit cards.
Personal Accident Benefit: $50,000 - $75,000
- A lump sum benefit is payable in case you sustain accidental bodily injury that, within 12 months of the date of the injury, is the sole and direct cause of death, loss of sight, loss of limb(s) or permanent total disablement, as defined.
Personal Liability: $2.5 million - $5 million
- Covers your legal liability if you cause accidental injury to other person(s) or damage to their property.
Legal Advice and Expenses: $50,000 - $75,000
- Provides cover for legal advice and expenses related directly to legal proceedings seeking compensation and /or damages following your injury or death.
Hospital Cash Allowance: $3,000 - $6,000
- Daily Amount: $50 - $100
  
  A daily cash benefit paid to cover incidental expenses (e.g. magazines, food, WiFi etc.) if you are hospitalised for more than 24 hours.
Travel Delay: $1,500 - $2,000
- We will offer you compensation if you need to incur additional expenses for food, accommodation and transport should your scheduled carrier be delayed by at least 6 hours due to certain circumstances. In case of a covered delay on your homeward journey, the period of insurance is automatically extended (up to a maximum of 7 days).
Trip Abandonment: $10,000 - $20,000
- You are covered for the final invoiced paid and irrecoverable trip costs if you decide to abandon your trip due to it being delayed by 12 hours or more because of certain specified events (e.g. a strike, mechanical breakdown or adverse weather conditions)..
Missed Departure / Connection: $2,000
- You are covered for reasonable additional travel and accommodation costs to reach your booked destination if your trip is disrupted due to certain circumstances (e.g. if there is a failure of public transport services due to strike or if the vehicle in which you were travelling to your departure point has a mechanical breakdown).
Rental Vehicle Excess Waiver: $4,000 - $5,000
- Covers the excess you are required to pay for damage caused during a motor vehicle accident whilst you were the driver, malicious damage to, and loss or theft of a vehicle you have rented from a licensed rental agency.
Hijack: $7,500
- Daily Amount: $250
  
  A daily cash benefit should your means of transport be hijacked for more than 24 hours during your trip.
Catastrophe: $1,250
- You are covered for certain additional travel and accommodation expenses should you be forced to move from your pre-booked accommodation as the result of specified catastrophes (e.g. flood, tsunami or medical epidemic).
Winter Sports Cover: Optional
- Piste Closure: $500
  
  Daily Amount: $50
  
  Covers the cost of travel to and from, and a daily ski pass for, the nearest open ski resort if the piste at your resort is closed due to adverse weather conditions.
  
  Delay due to Weather Conditions: $750
  
  You are covered for reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses in case your arrival at or departure from your resort is delayed due to adverse weather or an avalanche at the resort.
  
  Ski Equipment: $500-750
  
  Covers the loss or damage to ski equipment owned or hired by you.
  
  Ski Hire: $500
  
  The cost of hiring ski equipment due to the loss or damage of personal ski equipment or the delay in its arrival by more than 12 hours on the outbound journey.
  
  Ski Pack: $500
  
  The value of any ski pass, ski equipment hire or ski tuition fee that is unused following an accident which renders you unable to ski or the theft of your ski pass.
Sports/Leisure Activities Pack: Optional
- The following sports/activities are included with every policy as standard:
  - Sports/Adventure Activities: Aerobics, Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Ballooning (as a passenger)*, Baseball, Basketball, BMX (on‐road, no tricks or jumps), Bungee jumping (up to 2 jumps)*, Cycling (not touring), Dance, Elephant or Camel rides/trekking (1 day), Canoeing/kayaking/white water rafting (inland, grades 1‐5), Fishing/Angling (inland or coastal waters within 10km), Go karting*, Golf, Gym training, Gymnastics, Hiking/trekking/camping (up to 2000m), Horse riding using protective head gear (excluding eventing, jumping or equestrian competitions), Jet boating* , Light aircraft/helicopter/gliding (passenger only)* , Moped / Scooter biking**, Motorbiking (on road, to 125cc)**, Netball, Paddle boarding/Stand‐up Paddle boarding, Parasailing/parascending*, Rollerblading/In‐line skating, Running (half marathon distance or less), Pilates, Scuba diving (to 30 metres, qualified**; or unqualified with qualified instructor*), Safari tours*, Sailing/boating/yachting (inland or coastal waters within 10km), Sea Canoeing/kayaking (in coastal waters within 10km), Snorkelling, Squash, Surfing, Tennis, Water polo, Water skiing (excluding jumps), Windsurfing, Yoga, Zorbing
  - Work Activities: Work (paid or voluntary) in the following areas excluding manual work that requires the use of power tools, operating machinery or working at heights, or hazardous work of any kind (eg. working with animals, offshore rigs etc.): Office (clerical/administration), Hospitality, Tourism, Retail, General farm work, Childcare, Teaching (classroom), Volunteer instructor or guide (Basketball, Cricket, Golf, Gym training, Gymnastics, Martial Arts (non‐contact) and Yoga only).
  The following sports/activities are included with our Sports/Adventure and Work Activities Pack A (in addition to the activities covered as standard):
  - Pack A - Sports/Adventure Activities: Abseiling, Black Water Rafting/Cave Tubing (grades 1‐5)*, Boxing training (no contact), Bungee jumping (more than 2 jumps)*, Canyon Swing*, Cricket, Cycling touring (up to 2000m in elevation), Elephant or Camel trekking (more than 1 day), Fishing/Deep sea fishing (in coastal waters within 20km) Glacier walking*, Gliding*, Hang gliding*, Hockey, Ice Skating (indoor rink only), Jet skiing (adults only)*, Kite surfing, Lacrosse, Martial Arts (non‐contact), Motorbiking (on road)**, Polo, Sailing/boating/yachting (in coastal waters within 20km), Sea Canoeing/kayaking (in coastal waters within 20km), Mountain biking (off road/cross country to 2000m), Rock climbing (indoor)*, Rugby (Union or League), Running (marathon distance), Soccer/Football, Wakeboarding (excluding jumps), Weightlifting
  - Work Activities Pack A: Volunteer instructor or guide ‐ American Football/Gridiron, Australia Rules Football, Soccer/Football, Rugby Union or Rugby League only.
  The following sports/activities are included with our Sports/Adventure and Work Activities Pack B (in addition to the activities covered under Pack A):
  - Pack B - Sports/Adventure Activities: American Football/Gridiron, Australia Rules Football, Mountain biking (off road/cross country to 6000m) Cycling/cycle touring (up to 6000m), Hiking/trekking/camping (up to 6000m), Quad biking (adults only)*, Rock climbing (outdoor)*, Skydiving (1 jump)*, Triathlon (not ultra‐distance)
  - Work Activities Pack B: Volunteer instructor or guide – any other covered activity as listed**, volunteer manual work (involving the use of power tools or working at a height of less than 5m)**.
  * you must be with a professional, qualified and licensed guide or operator; ** you must have the appropriate certification or licence to do this sport or activity.
Pregnancy Cover: Some Included, Optional Extension Available
- Standard Cover for Pregnancy:
  
  This insurance provides certain cover as standard for unexpected medical complications with a pregnancy (excluding childbirth at any gestation and care of a newborn) providing all of the following conditions are met:
  - Your trip does not extend beyond the 25th week of pregnancy;
  - You are not travelling against doctor’s advice, have not been given a terminal prognosis and are not planning to get medical treatment or convalescent care on your trip;
  - No complications exist with the pregnancy at the time the insurance is purchased or the Trip is booked, whichever is the later;
  - The pregnancy did not result from assisted reproductive programmes;
  - It is not a multiple pregnancy.
  Pregnancy Extension Option:
  
  By selecting this option and paying the additional premium, this policy extends to provide certain cover for unexpected medical complications with a pregnancy (including childbirth and care of a newborn born after your 25th week) provided all the following conditions are met:
  - Your trip does not extend beyond the 30th week of pregnancy;
  - You are not travelling against doctor’s advice, have not been given a terminal prognosis and are not planning to get medical treatment or convalescent care on your trip;
  - No complications exist with the pregnancy at the time the insurance is purchased or the Trip is booked, whichever is the later;
  - The pregnancy did not result from assisted reproductive programmes;
  - It is not a multiple pregnancy.
Cover for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions: Subject to Screening
- This is how we define pre-existing medical conditions:
  
  Any medical or dental condition, illness, injury, defect or disease (other than common colds or flu):
  - for which advice or treatment (including medication), or investigation has been received or prescribed in the 12 months prior to the issue of the policy (for Single Trip), or in the 12 months prior to booking your Trip (for Annual Multi-Trip); and/or
  - which is of a recurring or ongoing nature or any complication directly attributable to it; and/or
  - of which you are aware, or the symptoms of which you are aware, or could reasonably be expected to have been aware at the time of applying for this insurance.
  Please note: Pregnancy is not considered a medical condition so you do not need to tell us about this unless you are currently pregnant and have had any complications of pregnancy.
  
  Medical screening:
  
  We only cover medical conditions that we've accepted via a written endorsement on your insurance schedule. To find out if your medical condition/s can be covered, and to include them in your policy, you need to complete our free medical screening questionnaire (online or over the phone).
  
  Cover for some medical conditions will increase the insurance premium, but we'll tell you the exact difference before you buy your policy. You can always choose to exclude cover for your medical conditions and pay the normal insurance premium after you've been screened.
  
  Important to know: There's no cover for pre-existing medical conditions of people on whom your trip may depend (e.g. close relative, business colleague etc.).
Terms & Conditions / Excess
- Some of the benefits offered are subject to an excess. This is the amount each insured will be responsible for paying as part of the claim. Medical Expenses, Cancellation & Curtailment, Personal Baggage, Personal Money & Documents, Personal Liability, Trip Abandonment, Rental Vehicle Excess Waiver and the equipment-related benefits under our Winter Sports cover have an excess of $100-$150 applied. All benefits are subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the policy, all of which can be found in our Policy Disclosure Statement (PDS).
Note on Cruises
- Good news: We don't charge any extra premium when you're going on a cruise.
  
  However, it's important that you select a destination area that covers the international waters your ship may be travelling into. For instance, if your cruise takes you around the East Coast of Australia, the destination area of your policy will likely need to be 'South Pacific', even if the boat only docks in Australian ports.
  
  Your policy will then provide cover in case you need medical treatment or need to be repatriated from the ship while it is sailing in international waters. However there will be no medical cover while you're in Australia (ie ashore or at a port whereby Medicare services apply).

Latest from our blog View more

ALERT: Global Coronavirus Outbreak

The current outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was first reported from Wuhan, China, on 31st December 2019. This outbreak has since been reported widely in the media and by authorities such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), and it continues to make headlines around the world. The deta... Read more

ALERT: Protests in Hong Kong

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is warning travellers about continuing protests in several locations across Hong Kong. This includes rail stations and the Hong Kong International Airport. These protests pose an extra risk to travellers and have the potential to disrupt travel plan... Read more

Why Columbus Direct?

24/7 emergency medical assistance helpline
Sydney Customer Care Team
19 day money back guarantee*
No credit card surcharge
Secure online purchase process

*Provided you haven't travelled or claimed.

2013: Travel Insurance Intermediary of the year award by the ITIJ

2011: Best Travel Insurance Provider award from the Personal Finance Awards

2012: Best Travel Insurance Provider award from the Your Money Direct Awards

Best Online Travel Insurance Provider award from the Your Money Direct Awards

Customer reviews

Columbus Direct is rated 4.5 / 5 based on 296 Trustpilot customer reviews.

Let us protect you on your adventure.

Single trip

Annual Multi-trip

Winter Sports

How does a single trip travel insurance policy work?

Benefits of our single trip insurance include:

24hr Medical Assistance Services: Included

Overseas Medical Expenses & Emergency Repatriation: $25 million

Cancellation and Curtailment: $10,000 - $20,000

Personal Baggage: $7,500 - $10,000

Delayed Baggage: $500 - $1,000

Personal Money & Travel Documents: $2,000 - $3,000

Personal Accident Benefit: $50,000 - $75,000

Personal Liability: $2.5 million - $5 million

Legal Advice and Expenses: $50,000 - $75,000

Hospital Cash Allowance: $3,000 - $6,000

Travel Delay: $1,500 - $2,000

Trip Abandonment: $10,000 - $20,000

Missed Departure / Connection: $2,000

Rental Vehicle Excess Waiver: $4,000 - $5,000

Hijack: $7,500

Catastrophe: $1,250

Winter Sports Cover: Optional

Sports/Leisure Activities Pack: Optional

Pregnancy Cover: Some Included, Optional Extension Available

Cover for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions: Subject to Screening

Terms & Conditions / Excess

Note on Cruises