Travel insurance is essential for holiday-makers, but with so many options available it can be difficult to choose between them. Here's our advice on how to choose the right travel insurance for your family holiday breaks.

Travel insurance can be incredibly confusing, and it helps to know what should, and should not, be provided. The tips below should guide you through the stages of getting the perfect travel insurance for your trip.

1) What should my policy cover?

According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, all travel insurance policies should include:

• Medical cover for injury and illness
• 24-hour emergency assistance
• Personal liability (to cover you if you get sued for damaging someone else or their property)
• Cover for lost and stolen possessions
• Cover for cancellation or curtailment of your trip

2) Where should I buy insurance?

High street travel agents often charge way over the odds for travel insurance, so shop around instead of taking the easy option and getting your insurance with your holiday provider. The best deals are often found on the internet.

We've found one amazing deal that we think you'll love: full trip cover for only £2.50! See how you could be paying this amazing price, and get a free comparison of the biggest UK insurers for your policy, here.

3) Single-trip or Annual (Multi-trip) insurance?

Annual policies can offer great savings to regular travellers but stick with single-trip insurance if you are unlikely to take more than one trip in a year.

4) Specialised insurance

General travel insurance is available for ordinary holidaymakers but some providers offer good deals for families and you may need to buy extra or specialised insurance if you fall into a high-risk category (such as requiring specialist care due to a disability or illness).

• Families – policies usually cover two adults and up to four children and many policies charge the same amount whether you include one or more children (a bonus for big families). You may all need to live at the same address to qualify.
• Winter sports and adventure activities – you will need to buy extra insurance if you are planning on doing any risky activities like skiing, scuba diving, or white water rafting. Make sure your insurance covers your equipment as well as any potential injuries.
• Backpackers – if you are travelling for an extended period of time you will need to get long stay insurance. This may also cover you if you work overseas.
• Over 65s – in the past it was difficult for older travellers to get insurance due to the higher risk they represent, but there are more options available now. Policies may be more expensive but usually offer extra emergency and medical cover and extra cover for cancellation and curtailment.
• Business people – usually available as an annual policy, with extra cover for laptops and other business related needs.

Extra tips

• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) - this card, the replacement for the E111 form, entitles UK residents to free or reduced-cost state medical care in European Union and European Economic Area countries. However, it is should not be seen as an alternative to travel insurance as it only covers health care and won’t cover emergency transport back to the UK should you need it.
• Check the excess (the amount you’ll have to pay out before the insurance kicks in)
• A lot of policies don’t cover pre-existing medical conditions, scheduled air delays or lost luggage
• Don’t just go for the cheapest deal; for the best value look for the best possible cover at the lowest price
• If possible, book with a travel company that belongs to ATOL or another organisation that can offer financial protection for your travel arrangements

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