November is the start of the winter sports season. Here are some tips for peace of mind.
This time of year sees the start of both the fireworks and winter sports seasons. Hopefully, no one's trying to celebrate both at the same time; snowy mountains and big bangs don't usually go too well together. But even when you remove the explosions, there are still significant risks with skiing and snowboarding.
So you'll want to make sure you're properly insured for all the little things that could go wrong on your winter sports holiday. The AA says that travel insurance is the third most complained about sector. Since we normally have cause to complain only when we want to make a claim, this means that we should pay particular attention to the small print.
I recommend that the minimum cover you'll need is:
- Medical: £2,000,000 (or perhaps even £5m, as it'll only cost you a few extra pounds)
- Personal liability: £1,000,000
- Cancellation: £3,000
- Baggage: £1,500
Clearly winter sports cover is also vital for your holiday. If you have annual travel cover, make sure winter sports are included, as it's usually an optional extra. There are some other extras you should strongly consider:
- Sports equipment in transit
- Replacement or repair of sports equipment
- Loss or damage to hired equipment
- Compensation for unused pre-booked ski packs
- Avalanche and piste closure cover
- Protection for off-piste skiing and snowboarding
Some insurers offer these as standard, but others don't offer them at all. As always, you should read the small print to find out!
You should also check what your responsibilities are. Don't rely on your provider to point them out, as this often doesn't happen. For example, you're quite often obliged to declare any pre-existing medical conditions. In theory, insurers can reject your winter sports claims even if it has nothing to do with the condition! If they choose not to reject your claim, any omissions on your part could still cause stressful delays.
The cheapest places to get travel insurance are through independent brokers and online. It is expensive to buy it through travel agents or tour operators, so get your cover separately.
> Compare insurance quotes through The Fool.