If you are amongst the increasing number of British holidaymakers opting for skiing and snowboarding trips then it is essential that you get the right type of insurance to cover you for all possible risks. As these types of holidays are generally much more hazardous than traditional beach holidays and require expensive specialist equipment, standard travel insurance policies do not provide the necessary cover.
Most insurance providers, however, offer a winter sports package (for both single trip and annual multi-trip policies) which, though it may cost a few pounds extra, is vital for your safety - both financial and physical. Be warned though, as with standard insurance policies, different winter sports policies offer different levels of cover - so make sure you are sufficiently covered by reading the small print.
To ensure that you are sufficiently covered on your holiday follow the simple tips below...
Get cover for the appropriate activities
You should make sure that the activities you will be engaging in are covered by the policy. All winter sports policies cover skiing and snowboarding on recognised paths, but not all offer standard cover for other winter sports activities such as:
- Cross-country skiing
- Dry-slope skiing
- Off-piste skiing
- Off-piste snowboarding
- Heli-skiing
- Glacier skiing
- Snowblading
- Ice-skating
- Sledging
- Snowshoeing
- Snow-mobiling
If you require cover for any of the activities above you will need to tell your insurer, and it is likely that you will have to pay extra.
Get sufficient cover for standard winter sports risks
As well as essential features such as medical expenses and baggage cover, you should ensure that a policy provides sufficient cover for other potential winter sports eventualities including:
- Lost ski passes.
- Unused tuition expenses due to accident or sickness.
- Piste closure.
- Damage or loss to your equipment and/or hired equipment.
- Avalanche benefit - where delays or cancellations to your lessons occur.
- Unused ski pack allowance - including ski/lift passes, ski lessons, etc.
- Search and rescue - should you be unfortunate enough to need it.
Most of these risks are unique to winter sports holidays, and cover should be provided as standard on any winter sports travel insurance policy.
Be safe on the slopes
And finally, while you are enjoying yourself on holiday - whether you are confidently whooshing down the mountain or repeatedly falling over on the nursery slopes - you need to make sure that you are doing everything you can to ensure your own safety, otherwise any claim you make may be invalidated.
Therefore, follow the advice and rules of guides, instructors and local authorities, take appropriate safety precautions such as carrying first aid kits and transceivers, and do not participate in any activities that are not covered by your policy.
To compare travel insurance policies from leading UK providers please click here.
Author: KYM Editor
knowyourmoney - company information