With so much to arrange in the run up to the festive season, it can be easy to overlook cover. But if you travel without insurance you won't have any financial protection if you need to pay for medical expenses, your baggage is lost or delayed, or if your trip has to be cancelled or cut short.
Bob Atkinson, travel expert at MoneySupermarket, said: "Heading abroad for a much needed break is always exciting but it's essential to make sure you and your family are fully covered before you go.
"Many people leave travel insurance to the last minute and often overlook the finer details such as the varying levels of cover available, only to be caught out later on if a claim needs to be made."
According to MoneySupermarket, a family of four heading to Europe skiing for a week can find single trip travel insurance including winter sports cover for as little as £16. For an additional £20, regular travellers could opt for an annual policy which would provide protection for all trips planned over the year and also includes winter sports cover.
Despite the low cost of cover, worrying research by Sainsbury's Travel Money reveals that 2% of those planning a trip this winter won't take out travel insurance in order to save money.
David Barrett of Sainsbury's Travel Money, said: "Should those not planning to take out travel insurance have an accident and hurt themselves, medical fees could far outweigh the savings they have made on the holiday itself."
Price isn't the only factor
While price is obviously important when choosing travel insurance, don't just go for the cheapest policy you can find. You should choose a policy which provides comprehensive cover.
That means looking for a plan which will provide at least £2million of cover for medical expenses, £1million for personal liability, £3,000 for cancellation - or enough to cover the total cost of your holiday, £1,500 for baggage and £250 for cash.
You should also look for a policy excess - the portion of any insurance claim you must pay yourself - of under £100, and delay cover in case you get held up en route to your destination.
The most comprehensive policies will also provide protection against scheduled airline failure and end supplier failure which is particularly important as many travel companies continue to struggle in these difficult economic times.
Single trip versus annual cover
If you only take one trip overseas a year, then it makes sense to take out a single trip policy. But if you normally travel abroad three times a year, then taking out a single trip policy for each of these trips would typically cost 15% more than an annual plan - even when comparing the cheapest available policies.
MoneySupermarket research also shows that levels of cover, particularly for medical expenses, baggage and cancellation, tend to be more generous on an annual policy.
A family of four heading off to the US for a week, for example, can find comprehensive single trip cover for as little as £26, providing £5,000,000 of medical cover, £3,000 cancellation and £1,500 for baggage.
For just an £13, a family could get an annual policy which provides an additional £5,000,000 of medical cover, giving them £10,000,000 in total. Not only does this cover you for additional trips at no extra cost, it also provides a more comprehensive level of cover compared to the single trip option.
Bob Atkinson said: "Holidaymakers need to think carefully about how often they plan to travel per year and if it is more likely they will travel to a long-haul destination such as the USA, then it is definitely worth paying for an annual policy.
"It also gives flexibility if they decide to go on any last-minute holidays or trips such as weekend city breaks abroad or in the UK, as they will already be covered."
Don't forget the EHIC
If you are heading to Europe for your Christmas break, make sure you get a European Health Insurance Card before you go. This entitles you to state-provided healthcare in European Union member states, but it should not be considered a replacement for travel cover. If you already hold an EHIC card, check it is still in date for your trip.
If your card has expired, or you want to get one for the first time, you can order one free.
Please note: Any rates or deals mentioned in this article were available at the time of writing. Click on a highlighted product and apply direct.
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