Booking a holiday can be the perfect way for Brits to beat the winter blues.
And with many of us being lucky enough to go on more than one trip a year, annual holiday insurance often seems like a clever and cheaper option.
But holiday goers are being warned to check their 12-month coverage policies as buying in bulk may leave them uncovered on certain trips.
This is because certain types of holidays such as cruise vacations and winter sports breaks are not always covered by a basic travel insurance policy, financial research service Defaqto warns.
After looking at more than 1,100 annual travel policies, only 13% provide winter sports cover as standard and 79% offer it as an option, Defaqto data revealed.
From these policies analysed, 8% do not cover a winter sports trip at all.
For single trip policies, 7% provide winter sports cover as standard but only 84% will only do so if chosen in exchange for an additional premium.
Again, 9% of single trip travel insurance do not cover a winter sports trip at all.
Similar additional insurance is needed for cruise holidays, Defaqto data points out.
Out of the insurance policies investigated, 43% offered optional cover for cruise trips but 13% provide no coverage for these types of trips.
This is why it is vital for holiday goers to check the small print of their annual trip insurance before skiing or cruising to ensure they are covered if problems arise.
Anna-Marie Duthie, a Defaqto travel insurance expert said travel insurance should also be bought at the time of booking the holiday to make sure you’re covered straight away.
Anna-Marrie said: “The most common mistake when it comes to travel insurance is waiting until you’re about to set off on your holiday before taking out a policy.
“Unfortunately, things out of our control can go wrong before we set off, so having the right insurance in place as soon as you book your holiday means you are covered straight away.”
In recent years, the failure of airlines, travel or accommodation providers has impacted thousands of would-be holidaymakers.
While most annual travel products include cover for cancellation as standard, 65% provide no cover for scheduled airline failure and 62% do not provide cover for financial failure.
Anna-Marie said: “It’s important to check that the benefit limit under the policy for cancellation/curtailment is enough to cover the cost of your holiday, as well as ensuring you are aware of which scenarios would be covered should you need to cancel.”