Winter sports

Taking to the piste in Andorra? Or maybe snowboarding in Canada has taken your fancy. Whatever your winter sporting pleasure, you should make sure you're covered in case you injure yourself or lose a ski in a pine forest for example.

Many travel insurance policies do not include winter sports cover as standard, so getting yourself a winter sports policy means you could be covered for activities like snowmobiling and tobogganing, as well as skiing and ice skating. To ensure your activity is covered you should check the details of the policy or contact the insurer for confirmation.

As well as the usual medical, cancellation and lost/damaged baggage cover, winter sports insurance may include:

• Travel disruption and weather-related issues
• Ski equipment
• Ski passes
• Costs of ski lessons (if you get injured and can't attend)
• Equipment hire

Remember to check the policy terms and conditions to make sure you have all the cover you need for your winter break.

Adventure sports

For those of us who like the feeling of adrenaline rushing through their body as they throw themselves out of an aeroplane or hang off a cliff face, specialist adventure sports cover is required if you want to be covered for accidents or injuries. The riskier an activity is, the less the chance that it will be covered under a travel insurance policy as standard. Even bumping over the waves on a jet ski may be excluded, so when you get your quotes back, it's important to check your planned holiday activities against those covered in each policy.

This kind of policy may cost more too, as there's a much higher chance of getting injured than if you're sat by a pool in the Caribbean reading the latest Jilly Cooper. Comparing policies using Holiday Ready could save you money, leaving you with more cash to enjoy your trip.

Business cover

Being away from your family, spending nights in unfamiliar hotels while working long hours can be a taxing experience at the best of times. A business travel policy could help you avoid added stress should you miss a flight or leave your laptop on a train on the way to an important business meeting, by offering cover for items not covered by a policy as standard.

Business insurance may also cover:

• Clothing
• Travel documents
• Business equipment, for example phones and laptops
• Personal belongings
• Expenses incurred due to travel delay or disruption

If you regularly go away on business, an annual multi-trip policy could be the most suitable and cost effective for your needs - but you should still specify your requirement for business cover and check that the countries you plan to visit are covered by the policy before taking it out.

Cruise insurance

A cruise is a unique holiday. One minute you could be setting sail on a beautiful blue ocean, dancing in a ballroom and dining at the captain's table, the next you may be hunting for bargains in a bustling street market during a port visit. You could visit numerous countries, possibly for longer than your usual two-week holiday, and may try out sports and activities you wouldn't normally find yourself doing.

That adds up to a colourful mix of different cover types you'll need for one trip, which is why cruise cover is usually excluded from travel insurance policies as standard.

Cruise insurance can include cover for:

• Missed shore visits should you be ill or the weather is so bad you can't get off the ship
• Cabin confinement if you're ill or injured
• Delayed departure should the ship, for example, have mechanical difficulties, or bad weather hamper the beginning of your holiday
• Having to be flown to hospital from a ship
• Missed departure if, for example, you miss your cruise because your flight is delayed
• Extended baggage cover, to cover the extra clothes you'll probably need for dressing up in the evening, or taking part in sports and activities, as well as everyday wear

Check any quotes you receive cover you for the activities you're thinking about taking part in while on your cruise. If you're over 65, make sure there are no upper age limits for the policy. Or if you have a pre-existing medical condition, it will cover your medical expenses and needs should you fall ill.

Cover for the over 80s

Despite the fact we're living longer and while age is no reason to stop you enjoying a holiday overseas, many travel insurance policies still have an upper age limit.

Some insurers have age restrictions or may apply additional underwriting requirements for older travellers, which can affect the availability and cost of cover.

However, Holiday Ready allows you to compare quotes from a number of insurance providers to help you find one who will provide cover for the over 80s.

It's important that you disclose all pre-existing medical conditions you have, or your insurance policy may not pay out if you make a claim.

Travel insurance for students

You've submitted your final assignment for the year, term is about to end, and your thoughts start wandering to your summer holiday. There are decisions to be made, where to go, how to get there, whether you can get away with not buying travel insurance. Take it from us, if your mobile phone slips out of your hand into the clear blue waters of the Med, or you end up in hospital with food poisoning after dining on a dodgy prawn, as examples, you may wish you took out travel insurance!

If like most students, you've got to keep a close eye on your finances, it's likely you'll want the best value for your money when it comes to choosing travel insurance. Here are a few things to consider before you buy your policy:

The length of your trip

If a trip to Ayia Napa to let off some steam after your exams is going to be your only holiday this year, then a single trip travel insurance policy may be the right one for you. If you have a few trips planned or are planning to go away for more than 31 days, then you could save yourself some money by getting an annual policy. Or if you've really got the travel bug and have decided to take a year out globetrotting, backpacker insurance is probably going to be your best option.

Your destination

There's no point in paying for worldwide travel insurance if you're planning on popping over to France to pick grapes or lie on the golden sands of St Tropez watching the rich and famous stroll by. Save money by choosing a policy which just gives you cover in Europe.

If you have one, don't forget to take your UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) with you if you are vacationing in the European Union. It may not be a substitute for a good insurance policy, but it may give you access to the state medical care in the country you are visiting.

Remember a GHIC will not cover you for lost luggage, flight delays or repatriation back to the UK, to name a few examples. So, travel insurance can cover these.

What you're planning on doing when you get there

It's best to check the policy to see exactly what is covered before you roll yourself down a hill in a giant ball or take to the skies behind a speedboat with only a parachute for company.

Compare travel insurance quotes

Whatever your next trip may involve, at Holiday Ready we've made finding and comparing travel insurance quotes quick and easy.

Our online quote form is aimed at being simple to use, and our travel guides are full of helpful facts and information to answer questions you may have about purchasing the right travel insurance policy for your next trip.