Nearly 2million Brits are planning to go skiing or snowboarding in the coming months according to ICM Research, an independent market research company. The weak pound coupled with the impact of the credit crunch means that many of us are choosing to head off to cheaper resorts in countries such as Poland and Bulgaria, or are taking a weekend, rather than week-long break. But one thing you can't afford to cut back on is travel insurance.
Why insurance is essential
Not only are you more likely to have to make a claim if you go skiing due to the risks involved, but the costs of claims also tend to be higher other travel insurance related claims.
Broken bones and twisted knees are common injuries among skiers and snow boarders but if you fall on the slope and have to be airlifted off, the cost could easily run into the thousands and that's before you've received any medical treatment.
It's not only accidents and injuries which make travel insurance a must-have. If you're taking your own equipment, think about the cost of replacing it if it gets lost or stolen. And what about if you get to your resort and find the slopes are closed? Often this is due to lack of snow, but too much snow can also be a cause. Many travel insurance policies will compensate you if you are unable to ski or snow board due to piste closures.
Despite the increased likelihood of skiers and snowboarders having to make a travel insurance, recent research from insurer esure, found that nearly one in five - 18% - said they would go away without insurance. Yet the cost of having protection and peace of mind isn't high - in fact not purchasing travel insurance could well prove to be a false economy.
Can you get cover for a decent price?
Travel insurance needn't be expensive, although you should avoid buying it from a travel agent as you will probably pay more than you need. Standalone policies tend to offer better value, and in many cases, better levels of cover.
If your ski trip will be the only holiday you're taking and you're heading off to Europe, a single trip policy is all you need. However, if you'll be going on more than two holidays over the next 12 months, or will be skiing in the US or Canada an annual multi-trip policy is likely to be more cost-effective, regardless of whether you'll be going away again. This is because medical costs are higher in the US than Europe and because most ski-related claims are for medical treatment.
Research from moneysupermarket.com shows that for a family heading to the US an annual worldwide multi-trip policy can provide better value than single-trip cover and often the annual policy has similar or better levels of cover providing further reassurance. For example, an annual policy from Marcus Hearn would cost £60, yet a single trip policy to the US could cost from £76 upwards.
Insurance for a two-week skiing holiday in France would cost a family of four £27.65 with Primary Insurance, yet they could get an annual policy for £59.52 with Premier Travel Insurance.
Our travel insurance comparison tool enables you to compare more than 450 policies from stand-alone providers.
What level of cover should you go for?
While price is important when looking for travel insurance, it is not the only factor to consider. You also need to look at the level of cover you are getting. At moneysupermarket.com we recommend the following levels of cover no matter where you're travelling to:
- £2 million for medical expenses
- £1 million personal liability
- £3,000 cancellation - or enough to cover the cost of your holiday
- £1,500 for baggage
- £250 for cash
If you are planning to get away for a skiing trip you'll also need adequate winter sports insurance as according to the Ski Club of Great Britain one skier in 100 is likely to suffer an injury on a typical five-day holiday, with the risk to snowboarders rising to one in 50.
So here are our top five tips to ensure your winter sports cover is suitable:
- Ensure you're covered for all activities - Always check with the insurer to ensure all the activities you wish to participate in are covered, including tobogganing for your children and off-piste skiing.
- Look out for cancellation and no-snow clauses - There is normally a specific period of time for which you can claim for no-snow, or the piste may have to be closed for a set period before you can make a claim. Some insurers will cover the costs of travelling a reasonable distance to another resort or you could receive payments of up to £20 a day for being unable to ski. You should check your policy terms as it may be necessary to get a signed and dated report from the resort manager to verify that you are unable to ski.
- Liability insurance - Make sure you are covered if you hurt someone else. Aim for liability insurance in the region of £2million for skiing trips in Europe. You may need to set the bar much higher due to legal, medical and repatriation costs in the USA and Canada however - a policy with £10million of cover is more appropriate.
- Theft - Having skiing equipment stolen is commonplace so check your policy beforehand to see what is and isn't covered. Also make sure you understand the definition of 'unattended goods' - for example, can you leave your skis on a roof rack or outside a bar? Also look to see if your ski lift passes are covered.
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