​UK Insurer Go Compare Claims Three In 10 Snow-seekers Risk Not Covered By Their Travel Insurance This Winter

Three in 10 snow-seekers are at risk of not being covered by their travel insurance policies for their winter sports holidays this year, reveals Go.Compare Travel Insurance.^[1] 

• A third of winter sports holidaymakers won't take out the specialist travel insurance required

• France is the most popular winter sports destination choice among UK travellers

• 39% of winter sports holidaymakers plan to ski, making it the most common activity

According to a recent poll of holidaymakers, only a third (33%) of those who are planning to book a winter sports break say they will take out specialist travel insurance for their trip. A further three in 10 travellers were unsure if they would buy a winter sports policy, and the remaining 34% claimed they would not.

Popular activities, such as skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling, are usually all covered by winter sports insurance, but will not necessarily be included in regular travel insurance policies. This means many travellers may not have the proper protection for their getaway.

Some survey respondents also admitted they plan to take part in base jumping, glacier climbing, heli-skiing or off-piste skiing – all of which may require additional cover. Thrill-seekers should be wary about undertaking certain activities while on holiday unless they have the correct cover through their travel insurance.

Ceri McMillan, travel insurance expert at Go.Compare, says: “Travel insurance should be one of the first things you purchase after booking your holiday. Should the worst happen while you’re away and you aren’t protected, a medical care bill could run into thousands of pounds, so it’s important to find a policy that covers your exact needs. Plus, specialist winter sports insurance will ensure you’re covered for more niche problems such as the cost of hired equipment, piste closures and lost ski passes.

“If you’re planning to participate in other, more adventurous activities, please check that they will be included in your winter sports insurance policy. You may need to take out extra or specialist cover for extreme sports to ensure that you’re protected should the unexpected happen.”

Research from the insurance comparison site also shows that skiing is the most popular activity to take part in during a winter sports holiday, as 39% said they intend to hit the slopes while enjoying their trip. This was closely followed by tobogganing and sledging, as well as snowmobiling and sleigh rides.

France was named the most popular choice of destination, as a quarter of winter sports holidaymakers look to go there, suggesting UK travellers are not planning to head far for their alpine break. Austria was the second most favoured choice, followed by Italy and Switzerland.

^[1] In order to collect the data used in this report, we conducted a survey of 2,000 UK residents via YouGov. The survey ran on 26 September 2022 and all respondents were selected at random. All statistics featured in this release are sourced via this survey unless otherwise stated.