While it’s not the most exciting of topics, holiday insurance is essential - though we hope you’ll never have cause to use it. However, bunker yourself with the wrong or inadequate insurance and you’ve got a problem. If you’re using standard travel insurance make sure it covers you for golf holidays – finding out too late can be an expensive mistake.

What will they cover?

Insurance packages are usually designed to cover the wide variety of situations that travellers can find themselves in and therefore need to protect themselves against. In general this will cover:

• At least some of the cost of your holiday if it is cancelled as a result of circumstances outside your control
• Inconvenience caused as the result of a flight delay (over a certain number of hours)
• The cost incurred to replace a passport in the event that it is lost or stolen while abroad
• The replacement value of lost or damaged personal possessions
• The value of any money lost or stolen
• The cost of legal fees and legal liability in the event the policy holder causes injury or damage while on holiday
• Medical expenses, which may include the cost of repatriation and/or the cost for a relative to join the policy holder in the event that he/she is taken ill or injured
• A disability or death caused while on holiday

Each aspect of the package will/may have a specified limit and may also include an excess charge. These will vary from one policy to the next and between insurance providers, so it is important to be sure exactly what cover the policy you purchase entitles you to.

Watch out for...

Make sure you’re not caught out on the 'existing medical conditions' clause like the many cases in the press recently. Insurers often won’t cover for existing medical conditions so make sure you inform your potential insurer of any medical conditions you have and check whether they will still cover you. There are companies out there who will give you excellent cover so shop around.

If you like living life on the edge and fancy a spot of sky diving, bungee jumping or scuba diving while you’re away, make sure you’re covered by your insurance before you jump! It’s worth remembering that many companies even class sports such as horse riding as dangerous, so make sure that you’re sure before you start. Check any current policies you have such as household contents policy, as they may provide a specific aspect of insurance cover that will help to keep the cost down. While you’re at it, check the level of cover your credit or debit card company provides for purchasing your holiday with the card.

Additional insurance advice can be found on the foreign office website or the Association of British Insurers website.