Family Travel Insurance: Why We Chose Columbus (and a 10% Discount Code)
When travelling as a family with young children, especially to non-EU destinations or on road-trip itineraries in countries where private healthcare is extremely expensive (like the US, Asia or the Caribbean), taking out comprehensive travel insurance isn’t optional — it’s the first pillar of travelling with real peace of mind. Among the many companies on the market, our choice for family trips has beenColumbus Assicurazionifor years. In this article we explain why, what to check before buying, and how to use our dedicated discount code.
🎁 Exclusive 10% Discount Code for Our Readers
Thanks to our partnership with Columbus Assicurazioni, you can get a10% discounton any policy (Medical Assistance, Baggage and Cancellation, for both single trips and annual multi-trip cover).
👉 Use discount code:GTB038when getting your quote, or calculate the already-discounted price byclicking this dedicated link.
Transparency note: if you purchase through our code or affiliate link, we earn a small commission that helps keep the blog free, at no extra cost to you (in fact, you save 10%!).
1. Why Health Insurance Is Essential for Families
As every parent knows, kids are unpredictable: a sudden fever before boarding, an ear infection from air conditioning, a sprain during a hike or acute gastroenteritis can happen even on the best-planned holidays. Outside Europe, a simple emergency paediatric visit or an overnight stay in a private clinic can cost thousands of euros.
- Medical expenses and hospital stays:Direct cover for hospital, surgical and pharmaceutical costs at your destination.
- 24/7 Italian-speaking operations centre:Having a native-speaking operator available at any hour to arrange hospital admission or send a doctor to your hotel removes language barriers exactly when you need it most.
- Medical repatriation:The guarantee that, in the most serious cases, the insurer organises safe transport home for the whole family.
2. Columbus’s Strengths for Families Travelling with Kids
Among the various options we’ve evaluated over the years, here’s specifically why we keep relying on Columbus for our trips with the girls:
🏥 Unlimited Medical Expenses
Columbus policies offerunlimited capsfor medical expenses abroad in their main packages. This guarantees full cover without the risk of hitting a ceiling in countries with very expensive healthcare, like the US.
👶 Free or Discounted Children
On family policies, children under 18 get heavily discounted rates or free inclusion depending on the policy type, making the final quote for a family of 4 extremely competitive.
💳 Direct Payment
In case of hospitalisation or a procedure, Columbus pays the medical facility directly, without requiring the family to front large sums of money.
💻 100% Online Management and Quotes
Issuing a policy takes less than two minutes on the website, and the policy documents arrive immediately by email, ready to save to your phone before the flight.
3. Single Trip or Annual Multi-Trip: Which to Choose?
Columbus lets you choose between two main options depending on how often you travel:
- Single Trip Policy:Perfect if you organise 1 or 2 clearly-dated trips a year. Covers the exact duration of the holiday (from departure to return).
- Annual Multi-Trip Policy:Ideal for families who travel often throughout the year (long weekends, summer holidays, bank-holiday getaways). Covers an unlimited number of trips within 365 days (each trip generally capped at 31 continuous days). If you take 3 or more trips a year, the annual policy is almost always better value!
4. Useful Tips Before You Buy
- Add Cancellation cover at the time of booking:If you want protection against not being able to travel (for example, due to a child’s sudden illness), buy the policy including Cancellation cover at the same time as booking your flights, or within the terms set out in the policy conditions.
- Check the “Zero Excess” option:Columbus offers the option to remove the excess on medical expenses for a small extra fee. For family trips we strongly recommend it, to avoid paying fixed amounts out of pocket for minor visits.
- Call the operations centre straight away if needed:Save the assistance centre’s phone number in your contacts before departure. In a medical emergency, contact them immediately before seeking independent care, to arrange a partner facility.
Ready to get a quote for your trip?
Remember to enter discount codeGTB038on theColumbus Assicurazioniwebsite to get an instant10% discounton your family policy!
And to finish your preparations, don’t forget to check our guide on what to pack in yourchildren’s travel first-aid kitand browse our#QuokkaAdviceguides for individual destinations!
