| As the days grow shorter and summer becomes a | | | | require insurance - and your own policy is |
| memory, many of us will be turning our | | | | likely to be cheaper than the standard one |
| thoughts towards planning a winter vacation, | | | | they'll try to sell you. |
| especially one involving winter sports such | | | | |
| as skiing. Travel insurance is an often | | | | - Liability |
| overlooked part of holiday planning, but if | | | | |
| you plan on taking part in sporting activites | | | | Even the best skiiers or snowboarders can be |
| then it really is essential. | | | | involved in an accident in which someone else |
| | | | gets injured. Whether or not an accident is |
| A normal travel insurance policy will | | | | your fault, you could end up being taken to |
| probably not be up to the standard you need | | | | court and this is usually a long and |
| for winter sports, and if things go wrong you | | | | expensive process. A decent insurance policy |
| could be left facing a huge bill. So what | | | | will cover costs from any legal proceedings |
| features should you be looking for in a | | | | and / or compensation payments. |
| policy? | | | | |
| | | | - Closure of Piste |
| - Injury Cover | | | | |
| | | | If bad weather (or warm weather!) means that |
| No matter how accomplished a skiier you are, | | | | the pistes are closed and you can't ski, your |
| hurtling down a mountain is always going to | | | | policy should pay you compensation to cover |
| be more risky than simply lying on a beach | | | | the costs of any pre-booked lessons or lift |
| working on a tan. And if you do have an | | | | fees, and many will even include a payment |
| accident, a mountainside isn't the easiest | | | | simply to cover the inconvenience of not |
| place for medical services to reach. If | | | | being able to ski. |
| you're unlucky enough to need a mountain | | | | |
| rescue or airlift to hospital, you'll be | | | | - Off Piste |
| facing a bill running into the thousands even | | | | |
| before you get medical attention. This sort | | | | A final point to note is that a standard |
| of expense is likely to be specifically | | | | winter sports policy will probably only cover |
| excluded on a standard insurance policy, but | | | | you for accidents that occur when skiing on |
| will be an integral part of almost any winter | | | | designated pistes. If you plan to go |
| sports cover. | | | | off-piste, then make sure your insurance will |
| | | | cover this - you'll probably have to pay a |
| - Equipment | | | | supplement. |
| | | | |
| Most winter sports require expensive | | | | As with most kinds of insurance, paying out |
| equipment, and where there are valuables | | | | for travel insurance can seem like a waste of |
| there's always the chance of theft. Your | | | | money. However, if you find yourself caught |
| insurance should provide enough cover to | | | | up in an accident on the mountainside then |
| fully replace your equipment with brand new | | | | the costs involved can be truly frightening |
| items if necessary, right there at the | | | | and you'll be glad you took the time to |
| resort. Even if you plan to hire your | | | | arrange adequate cover in advance! |
| equipment, the hire company will probably | | | | |