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