Three Tips For Winter Trips

Yearning for the sun? Aching to ski? Check out these tips before booking your break and get prepared for a stress-free time -- and you may just save some cash, too.

You may still have that Christmas tree up, but you might well have moved on to thinking about holidays instead. Indeed, cold weather and dark evenings have got many of us pining for sun -- or the ski slopes of course! So whether you're planning an energetic winter sports trip, a tranquil city break or a week sunning yourself, here are a few things to bear in mind.

1. Book it for less

January is a very popular time to book a break with travel agents clamouring for your cash, so don't forget to shop around. Although heading to the High Street may be your first thought, be sure to check out online deals as well. Companies such as Expedia, ebookers and Travelocity often have some great offers, and allow you to tailor-make your break by choosing when to fly and where to stay (book flight  and hotel together and you'll often make a saving) and you can usually even book car hire, too. And price comparison sites such as Kayak allow you to search for the cheapest deal for you.

Lastminute is often good for city breaks. For flights, check out the budget airlines individually (or you can search using Skyscanner), but do your research as some of the airports they fly to can be 1.5 hours away from the major city - for a weekend away when time is precious you may find it's worth using a main carrier such as British Airways or Air France and paying slightly more. Check out Airline Network and Opodo for great offers on long haul flights.

2. European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If your trip is to Europe, make sure you have your European Health Insurance card (EHIC) (formerly known as form E111). It entitles you to free, or reduced cost State medical treatment in any of the EU countries, plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland (Switzerland also applies the EHIC arrangement through an agreement with the EU).

The easiest way to apply is online, but you can also do so over the phone (tel. 0845 606 2030) or by filling in an application form at the Post Office (it should take between 7 and 10 days to arrive). You can also apply for your spouse and any children under 16 at the same time; just make sure you have all dates of birth and any applicable National Insurance numbers.

Remember, carrying the EHIC card is a requirement for UK citizens in many EU countries. However, the card only entitles you to basic medical care - it won't, for example, pay for repatriation costs or air ambulances should you have an accident skiing, so you should always ensure that you have adequate travel insurance when travelling.

3. Travel Insurance

If you choose to book your trip through a High Street travel agent, they will no doubt try to sell you their travel insurance policy. But watch out - these policies can be hideously overpriced, so shop around first.

Annual travel insurance policies

Have a think about your travel plans for the year. If you'll be taking a couple of holidays, plus maybe a weekend away, an annual travel insurance policy will probably work out to be most cost effective - and there are plenty of options available.

Annual policies can cover European travel only, or worldwide travel for individuals, couples or families -- with kids under 17 (or sometimes up to 23 if in full time education) often included for free. If you're planning a European holiday with the vague possibility of travelling further afield in a few months, it may be worth taking out annual European cover, only, to begin with. You can always add the extra cover later and it usually doesn't cost any more than if you'd simply booked worldwide cover to begin with.

Winter sports

If you're planning a snowboarding holiday, it's clearly essential to take out a policy with winter sports cover (read the small print to check that your activities are included). But on the flip side, if you aren't planning to do any winter sports, be sure to tell your insurer so you don't end up paying for cover you don't need.

Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and Sainsbury's Bank are just three of the High street names that tend to be highly rated by Defaqto. I did a quick search and found that a family of four (two adults, two children under 17) could take out an annual, European travel insurance policy with Debenhams from just £70.20 (adding winter sports cover would increase this to £94.20). Try using a price comparison site to search a number of insurers at once.

Check your benefits

And before doing anything, take a few minutes to check that you're not already covered elsewhere. Many packaged bank accounts (i.e. those that charge a monthly fee) include comprehensive travel insurance as part of their benefits - read the small print and see if the cover is adequate for your needs as you could save yourself a few quid.

Medical conditions

Always ensure you declare any pre-existing medical conditions, or your policy may be rendered invalid, should you try to claim. And make sure you read the small print to check that you and your possessions are adequately covered - especially if you'll be travelling with expensive winter sports equipment. Remember, cheaper is not always better.

So there are just three tips to bear in mind when booking your winter trip. Happy holidays!

More: Find a cheaper travel cover policy by using The Motley Fool Insurance Service.