We explain the risks many of us are facing by going on winter sports holidays uninsured.
If you’re planning to jet off to colder climes and indulge in a little winter sport in the next couple of months you’d do to well to make sure you are adequately covered or your holiday could cost you a whole lot more than you bargained for.
While we may complain about it, here in the UK we are lucky to have medical care provided free on the NHS. However, once you venture out of Britain this is no longer a given. In fact, most countries will require you to pay for any medical treatment you receive and we’re not talking small amounts either; a broken leg alone could set you back thousands.
An astounding1 in 7 of us go skiing or snowboarding without protecting ourselves with a comprehensive travel insurance policy and many more rely on their standard travel cover or European Health form alone; something that is not exactly a wise move as neither are able to provide you with the protection you need.
When booking your winter sports holiday you should shop around for a specialist winter sports policy that not only covers medical treatment but also adequately protects your belongings against damage, loss or theft. According to insurer Direct Line, claims for misplaced ski passes, skis, snowboards and electrical equipment are most frequent from those who take a winter sports holiday. As the average ski outfit costs £1200 this certainly represents an amount worth protecting.
Additionally, to avoid disappointment you should make sure that your winter sports policy covers you for holiday cancellation as well as provide you with compensation if the resort runs are closed or if there is no snow.
By shopping around for your cover (something that’s incredibly simple to do) rather than buying it directly from your travel agency of holiday company, you’ll be able to protect yourself with a policy that covers all of the activities you’ll be taking part in (including on and off piste skiing, snowboarding and more adventurous winter sports activities). What’s more, you’re likely to save a bundle too – meaning much more fun après ski!
Compare travel insurance via money.co.uk
