Five essential travel insurance tips for skiers

Don't let an accident on the piste cost you and arm and a leg!

There are plenty of skiing obsessives about to head off for a session on the slopes as winter season kicks into gear.

Worryingly though, the Foreign and Commonwealth office reckons a third of those travellers heading off to enjoy some winter sports do so without sufficient travel insurance - a crazy gamble given the number of accidents that take place all the time on the slopes.

So if you are planning a break on the piste, and need to get your travel insurance in check, be sure to follow these tips

1) Look after your EHIC

The first, and most basic thing you absolutely must do is get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

The name is a little deceptive as the card doesn't actually provide health insurance - rather it entitles you to free or subsidised medical costs in any European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland.

While the card is essential, it only covers fairly basic medical costs like covering an air ambulance, or getting you home.

You'll need to get proper travel insurance on top.

2) Be careful with booze

'Getting on the piste' on a skiing holiday is a long-running joke, but it really could end up costing you a fortune. Due to the altitude of being up a mountain, alcohol can become far more potent - in other words, you're likely to get a bit tipsy far quicker.

And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell you that being boozed up on snow and ice is not a smart move for your health.

It's also no good for your fiscal health, as pretty much all travel insurance policies will include an exclusion covering claims made as a result of having had a skinful.

You aren't covered, so just say no to that second bottle of wine!

3) Stick to what you know - and what you're covered for!

Not only is there a wide variety of different winter sports that you can partake in, there are all sorts of different difficulty levels too.

This is hugely important when it comes to arranging your travel insurance for your trip, as you have to be certain that whatever you plan to get up to on the slopes is fully covered.

For example, many general policies will have specific wording explaining where you stand insurance-wise should you go off-piste (some may cover you, so long as you are not alone, for example).

It really pays to put in a bit of time to read the wording of the policy to understand exactly where you stand. Yes, it's boring, but better to do it before you take off rather than from a hospital bed in Switzerland.

And if you do plan to do something particularly adventurous, like heliskiing (literally being dropped off onto the slopes by a helicopter - obviously only for people that are clinically insane) then you might need to get specialist insurance, as general policies are unlikely to cover you.

4) Get the right cover, not just the cheapest

Following on from the previous point, while it is always nice to get the cheapest possible travel insurance policy, it also pays to be completely confident in what that policy will cover you for.

We have our own lovemoney.com travel insurance engine to help you compare polices not just on price, but also on what the policy actually offers.

5) Protect your ski gear

It's very easy to get a bit obsessed with the risk of injury on the ski slopes, but your travel insurance policy is also important in terms of protecting your equipment.

According to specialist travel insurer PJ Hayman, theft on the slopes is a growing problem, as many skiers are not taking sufficient precautions when they stop at a bar or restaurant.

One tip is to swap a ski with one of your fellow skiers when you stop off - ie, trade your left one with your friend's left one - as thieves are unlikely to want to steal an odd pair of skis.

You can also get your hands on a specialist lock for about £10 which should help.

Many policies will not pay out if your equipment has been left 'unattended' so read your policy and make absolutely sure what they mean by unattended.

If your gear is stolen, don't delay in reporting it to the police, as some insurers will refuse your claim otherwise.

Finally, if your gear is badly damaged while skiing and you want to make a claim, make sure you bring the skis home.

Insurers are unlikely to pay out if you leave them at the resort - while it's also a good idea to get a letter from the resort shop or your instructor confirming the damage took place while at the resort, and not before you even got there.