TRAVEL INSURANCE TIPS

When you are drooling over travel brochures and thinking about buying sun lotion for those sunny beaches that await you, be sure to add travel insurance to your shopping list. Here's are a few factors to consider:

• Unlike size, price isn't everything. The most important thing is that your travel insurance must be right for you. But this doesn't mean you can't find a bargain. Make sure the policy covers the main problems you may encounter on your travels. It should always cover the cost of cancellation and medical treatment. Make sure you are protected if your money or valuables are stolen or lost or if you miss your flight. You should also check the full range of benefits and exclusions within the policy. If you are planning any special excursions or sports then ensure they are covered. Always remember to take a copy of your policy with you.

• Book your travel insurance as soon as you can after you have booked your holiday to safeguard you if the trip is cancelled or, in certain circumstances, if you are forced to cancel yourself.

• If you are planning to take more than one trip during the year, one of the best ways in which to reduce the cost of travel insurance is to buy an annual policy as opposed to single trip cover. This also means you don't need to worry about forgetting to organise insurance for your summer holiday or any last minute weekend breaks.

• I know it seems that life is too short to read the small print on financial documents but it's better to go through it now than in a hospital bed or police station - especially if you find there is something missing or the cover starts on the wrong date.

• If you do have anything lost or stolen whilst on holiday, make sure that you obtain a report from the police – this is a condition of many policies and claims are often not covered if a report has not been obtained, especially for valuables and cash. Lots of people try to make false claims on travel insurance policies - mainly because they did not need to use the cover and so feel they 'deserve' their money back. The knock-on effect is that insurers will expect you to prove your case.

ALWAY READ THE FINE PRINT! INSURANCE BROKERS ARE OUT THERE TO MAKE MONEY OF YOU, THEY ARE NOT WORKING FOR A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION.