With the winter sports season approaching fast, now seems like a good time to remind all you travellers out there that, even for a weekend break, a cheap travel insurance policy is the one aspect of your trip that you can’t afford to neglect. Jack Frost is already nipping at our heels, and many snow enthusiasts are beginning to look around for their first short break of the winter. In the sometimes spontaneous excitement of booking a snowy sports break to a fabulous European resort, it is possible that one of the more mundane purchases for your holiday – an insurance policy – can get forgotten.
But a word to the wise; even a cheap travel insurance policy could mean the difference between peace of mind, or a slew of crippling bills if something goes wrong. In fact, your travel insurance should be put into place even before you pay off the balance of your booking. It is such an important precaution to take, and for the relatively small cost of a cheap travel insurance policy you can be sure that even if something unexpected does happen, you won’t end up out of pocket.”
There are many things that can go awry even before you set a ski-booted foot on the snow, and a winter sports holiday can be a slippery slope in more ways than one. Winter, by its very nature, brings with it all kinds of inclement weather conditions, and travel arrangements can go wrong at any time. Flights can be cancelled or delayed and even getting to the airport can become a problem. A cheap travel insurance policy can cover some, or all, related costs incurred in these circumstances. Insurance cover for expensive equipment is also a component of a winter sports holiday, and an up-to-date and realistic assessment of your gear is vital before you purchase a policy.
Whilst excessive planning may seem a tad pessimistic, there are some aspects of your trip that you may need to consider before you leave. It is great to be able to be spontaneous and have a go at something new on a whim, but does your insurance policy cover you for injuries incurred off-piste skiing, heli-skiing, cross-country- skiing or glacier snowboarding? Research your destination well and, if there is any chance at all that you may want to try something a little more out of the ordinary, get the right cover. Better to be safe than very, very sorry.
Planning for the worst and hoping for the best is definitely the way to go when it comes to shopping for a cheap travel insurance policy. Nobody wants to spend too much time worrying about what could, or might happen. But remember, with both annual and single trip policies, winter sports are nearly always an extra option. Don’t necessarily assume that your existing cover will be enough. The good news though, is that with a plethora of insurance companies now offering a diverse range of options, you can still manage to find a low-cost premium that will provide you with appropriate cover.
So what are you waiting for? Start planning that winter weekend getaway! But the motto is, as always – be prepared.