Making the Most of a Precious Annual Holiday - Insurance Is a Must

If you only take one annual holiday, insurance can help make sure this once a year break won't go to waste. Make sure your getaway is protected.

Like Christmas, it comes but once a year; a very much-anticipated event that you've saved up for, worked hard for and painstakingly planned to ensure perfection. We're talking about your annual holiday! Insurance may be the last thing on your mind while pondering this long-awaited event, but you really ought to give it more than a passing thought.

Just as there are grinches to spoil your Christmas, there are things that can happen to spoil your annual holiday. Insurance may not be quite as interesting as where you'll go and what you'll do - but it is just as important.

Here are just a few ways to make sure you're adequately covered.

Protection for package tours

One of the biggest worries of travellers is having the company they booked with go bust after having paid for their annual holiday. Insurance policies covering what is known as "supplier failure" and "scheduled airline failure insurance" or SAFi can help alleviate these fears.

By UK law, all companies offering package tours are required to guarantee complete and total refunds via the ATOL bond system, but this only covers the time after have left for your annual holiday. Insurance coverage helps makes sure that if the supplier folds, you're covered for costs that involve rescheduled flights, delays and extended accommodation.

Protection for independently booked holidays

If you are making all the arrangements yourself, a comprehensive policy becomes even more important. Independent bookings are not covered by UK regulations on refunds (such as those under the ATOL or ABTA schemes), so securing coverage is imperative to safeguard against significant financial losses.

Protection for ski trips or snowboarding holidays

Skiing and snowboarding are often considered risky activities under regular policies, so it may be necessary to purchase additional, specialized cover if these are among your planned activities. These policies cover specific ski and snowboarding related incidents, for instance the provision of treatment of injuries as well as on-piste rescue and airlifting - if you break your leg you may require helicopter transport. Equipment such as skis and snowboards can also be insured specialized cover.

Protection for golf holidays

While regular policies will definitely cover injuries and sickness during a golf break, they may be insufficient to cover gloves, clubs and other specialized equipment. You may need to purchase a special golfers' policy to make sure you are sufficiently compensated should they get lost, stolen or damaged.

Protection for cruising

Because cruises are definitely different from your typical break, a policy will need to be different as well. Unlike regular holidays, cruises require multiple stops in different countries, so you will definitely need worldwide coverage. What's more, many regular policies have limits regarding how many days' stay is covered at a certain destination, so having a special cruise policy makes sense. Cruise cover also offers extended protection for older travellers, as well as for postponement, delays and cancellation due to bad weather.

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