Getting your travel insurance sorted for your holidays

Although many of us wait until summer before taking our annual holiday some of us decide to jet off abroad a little earlier in the year, such as half term or Easter time.

The doom and gloom of British weather means that an increasing number of people head for sunnier destinations earlier in the year, or in some cases decide to take a winter break to enjoy exciting sports such as skiing or snowboarding.

One thing to remember is that if you are heading off on your holidays, whether it is on a winter sports holiday or to enjoy some sunshine abroad, you need to make sure that you arrange adequate travel insurance cover.

Some people think that they already have travel cover through their bank or credit card, but often this cover is not adequate. For example, the travel insurance that you get through your credit card often only covers you when you are travelling on transport that you have booked via the credit card.

You need to read the small print relating to the cover to see what you are actually covered for, and if you do not have adequate cover you should make sure that you take out a separate policy to cover you and your loved ones whilst you are away.

Ideally, when you book travel insurance cover, you want a comprehensive policy that covers you for loss of belongings, delays and cancellations, medical emergencies, and theft.

You can get travel insurance cover at a very reasonable cost these days, although if you are aged over 65 you may find it far more difficult to get cover that is affordable. However, by doing some research and comparing a range of policies from a variety of providers you can hunt out the most suitable deal for your needs.

Do bear in mind that whilst price is an important aspect of getting good value travel insurance cover it is also important that you check just how suitable the cover is for you, as there is little point in paying slightly less for insurance cover that offers far fewer benefits that a slightly higher priced policy.

Many people that have either failed to take out cover or have taken out inadequate cover have suffered huge financial losses as a result of this, so putting in a little extra thought and effort to find the right policy could really pay off in the long run.

Remember that there are a number of different policies and travel insurance types available these days, and you should make sure that you choose the one that best suits your needs.

For example, if you are heading off on a winter sports holiday you should look for specialist cover that provides protection for high risk activities and also covers your expensive equipment – if you simply take out standard cover you will find that you are not eligible to claim if something untoward happens on the piste!

You can choose from a range of different travel insurance options, and this includes:

Group travel cover or family travel insurance

If you are travelling as part of a large group or you are travelling with your family you can get insurance that covers all of you, and this can work out far cheaper than having to take out individual policies.

Make sure that you hunt around and compare different group policies so that you can get the best deal and the most suitable policy.

Single trip cover

If you do not tend to travel very often then single trip cover is ideal for one off trips. You will find that single travel cover is competitively priced and by comparing different policies you can find a policy that offers a high level of protection for yourself, and where applicable, the person that you are travelling with.

Multi-trip cover

Some people travel abroad several times or more each year, and if this is the case then you may find that multi-trip cover offers the best value for money, as this will cover all of your trips abroad and will save you the hassle of having to arrange separate policies each time you travel.

Winter sport cover

If you are heading on a winter sports holiday, as so many people like to do these days, then it is vital that you take out appropriate cover that provides protection for higher risk activities as well as providing cover for your expensive equipment.

Gap year cover

Many students decide to travel or work abroad during their gap year, and if this is the case then you will find some flexible and comprehensive gap year insurance policies available that are specifically designed to meet the needs of students.