So you’ve booked your flights, accommodation and even your hire car without too much of a hassle, and are looking forward to a chilled, rejuvenating holiday. Unfortunately, there’s still a final issue to deal with before you can completely let go: sorting out your travel insurance. Not the most enthralling of tasks, and somewhat daunting to the first time buyer as there are so many questions surrounding it.

Where do you buy it from? Who will offer you the best deal? What do you need to have covered? And, above all else, is it really worth it? Underestimating the importance of travel insurance causes unnecessary grief for a lot of people – here are 5 tips to help explain the importance of travel insurance, and to guide you in your decision.

1. Don’t think you can travel without it. When the process of buying travel insurance seems like one extra headache that you could do without just before your holiday, it can be tempting to think ‘what’s the worst that could happen’? This, however, is a bad move. You may well have a holiday that goes off without a hitch, but there is always the possibility that something could go wrong – be it minor or major – and leave you with unnecessary stress and an empty wallet.

2. Consider how frequent a traveller you are. You may just be planning the one holiday at the moment, but before buying single trip insurance it’s wise to consider whether you’ll be travelling frequently and therefore better off with annual cover. Annual insurance policies can be very reasonably priced and are often better value for money if you intend to travel twice or more during the year.

3. Consider what kind of traveller you are. Another complication of travel insurance is that most companies offer policies that cater to different kinds of traveller – backpacker, skier, golfer – so you have to consider what you need covered before picking one thats right for you. A family holiday, for example, won’t require the same kind of accident cover as a winter-sports holiday, so insurance will probably be a bit cheaper.

4. Do some research. Don’t be tempted to grab at the first insurance policy you come across because you’re not enjoying the process of sifting through everything that is available. Ok, it might mean a bit more time and effort if you widen your research, however you’ll be sure to profit from it as there is so much variation amongst policies when it comes to cost and features.

5. Don’t leave it to the last minute. Above all, buying your travel insurance shouldn’t be something that you do in a panicky rush – a cool head and time for research is the best way to get a great deal.

Though it’s not the easiest process to get your head around, searching for your first travel insurance policy shouldn’t be too difficult as long as you know what to expect. Always do your research carefully, and read over the policy so that you can be sure you’re covered for all your needs.

About the Author – Mathew Sabri
If you have been saving up to go abroad in your gap year, you do not want to have to pay a fortune for backpackers travel insurance. etravelinsurance.co.uk offer special rates to provide student travel insurance to protect you and your valuables while you are away.