With the Christmas season over with, many will be returning to work in the New Year. However, the beginning of a new year is also a crucial time for the travel industry, with many choosing to get away on short breaks to help shake the winter blues.

And as every tourist knows, making sure you’ve got the essentials packed before you travel is a crucial part of your holiday plans. Whether you’re embarking on a skiing holiday or a city break, ensuring you are protected against any unfortunate events that may occur on your holiday is very important if you don’t want your getaway to be ruined.

Therefore, one of the most important aspects you can sort out before your trip is travel insurance. Policies are available for a range of different holiday types – including extreme sports and skiing excursions – and can usually be bought from specialist insurers.

When searching for a travel insurance quote, it’s worth considering what you’ll be doing on your holidays. If you’re looking to take part in a wide range of activities – such as winter sports – it can be worth arranging some cover before you travel in order to help yourself avoid any lengthy costs should you require medical treatment.

Depending on which sort of insurance cover you choose, you will be covered against certain aspects of your holiday, and policy cards usually contain information about yourself and any emergency telephone numbers you have supplied to your insurance company.

If you’re travelling from the UK, it can also be worth applying for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) – which entitles you and your family a level of protection within certain countries in the European Union. The card is valid for 3 to 5 years and entitles you to treatment within the country you’re visiting, albeit to a state-provided level, so you might not find it to be quite the same as you’re used to.

However, the card does not cover all areas – such as repatriation costs and certain procedures – and should not be considered an alternative to holiday insurance. By arranging both an EHIC and a travel insurance policy before you travel, you can ensure that you are covered against any accidents or incidents before your holiday begins.

These small steps will, in turn, help to put your mind at ease during your trip, allowing you the chance to enjoy your holiday in the sun – or snow if you prefer.


About the author

David is an experienced web author based in the UK