With city breaks and trips to the winter sunshine becoming more popular and affordable, UK holiday makers continue to head overseas in droves. Yet despite the increase in trips abroad, few travellers are taking up the benefits of investing in an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy. Worse still, far too many frequent travellers risk financial disaster by failing to take out any travel insurance at all.

Annual travel insurance policies help you to save time and money as you don't need to arrange cover for every individual trip you make throughout the year. They allow for spontaneity and enable you to jet off on a last minute deal without having to worry about paperwork every time. Policy holders can travel as many times during a year as they like though you should always check the maximum number of days you can be abroad and still have valid cover. Some providers not only impose trip length limits but also limit the total number of days you are covered to travel outside the UK. Always check the policy wording carefully and make sure you are covered for all eventualities. If one of your holidays is an excursion to the ski slopes check that you are covered specifically and fully for winter sports activities.

If you have opted for annual cover, it is not always necessary to contact your insurer between each trip abroad. However, if you are travelling to an obscure destination, check that your insurer covers that area. Similarly, if you have any pre-existing medical conditions or have contracted an illness mid-policy, contact the insurer to confirm your insured status.

Many people pay over the odds for their travel insurance by paying high prices for both single and annual policies when they book their holiday through a travel agent. The internet is the best place to start comparing policies so that you can narrow your options down to a shortlist of insurers that suit your needs.

When to buy?
When you buy an annual travel insurance policy you can choose to either start the policy from the first day of your holiday or from the day you purchase the policy. By opting for the first option you would not be covered for cancellation prior to departure. For peace of mind it is best to begin your cover as soon as you have booked your holiday.

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