How can holiday activities affect my insurance?

Some holidaymakers like to enjoy a nice relaxing stay on the beach, chilling out with an ice cold drink, but other like to seek the thrills and spills available on holiday and partake in as many extreme activities as they can.

Waterskiing can be fun, but it can be important to make sure your insurance is sorted out before getting your feet wet - high risk holidays bring high insurance premiums for your travels.

Many students also like to visit countires to do volunteer work - this may seem like a nice idea, but traveling somewhere with little or no preparation or thought into the current climate will cost you.

Some general holiday cover may not include provisions for mishaps caused through taking part in these types of activities.

So if you are planning on taking to the seas or a lake on a break, it can be worth shopping around for a policy that specifically covers the recreational pursuits you are doing.

"Activities like bungee jumping, mountain biking, surfing and skiing all pose risks to your health, so insurers charge more for your premium as you are more likely to be involved in an accident"

"It's like a young driver getting insurance on an F1 racing car compared to being insured on a small Fiat... everyone knows which one will cost more to be insured on - its common sense"

Firms can offer tailored watersports policies, which can cover damage to the transit of boats and other equipment and medical treatment.

Policies are available for most activities, especially skiing, where people can get cover for bad wather ruining a holiday as well as medical cover.

The exact destination of your trip can have an effect on the cost of this type of insurance – it may be more expensive if you are heading to a fast-flowing river or a quiet lagoon.

"Some countries are considered to be high risk; visting places that are currently caught up in civil wars or riots will cause your insurance cost to rise dramatically".

For those planning on getting involved in a number of experiences on land and water, a general activities policy could be preferable.