Getting best buy travel insurance is about more than just finding the cheapest policy on offer. You’ve also got ensure that you get the right policy for what you’ve got planned and for what might happen. After all, taking a policy that won’t pay out if you need it defeats the whole point of travel insurance in the first place.

Here are a few things to keep in mind that should help you find the best buy for travel insurance:

Where are you going? Think about where you’re going. What are the dangers there? What are the medical facilities like? You may have medical cover but its worth checking to see if your policy will cover repatriation if you’re somewhere where medical treatments may be limited. This is particularly important for an annual policy; you should read the Foreign Office’s Travel Advice pages to check which areas are currently seen as unsafe by the government. If this is the case then insurers will not provide cover as standard.

What are you going to do when you get there? If you have any specific activities planned on your holiday, particularly hazardous ones, you should declare them beforehand. Failure to disclose this kind of information is one of the most common reasons that claims go unpaid by insurers. This is particularly relevant if you’re going to be taking part in winter sports; most resort clinics in Europe aren’t covered by the EHIC* card, competition entrants and off-piste skiing are usually exempt from standard policies and activities such as stunts, jumping or bobsleigh may also be excluded.

What are the exclusions and excesses? There’s no such thing as a standard measure for exclusions and excesses in travel insurance policy. Different insurers can vary widely in what they offer and paying attention to the small print can help you find the best buy. Travel insurance can be a time consuming aspect of your holiday but its an important one.

Is there a 24 hour hotline? This isn’t so much a money saver but it can be extremely useful. Time zone differences can complicate making claims abroad and if you need medical assistance, you’ll want to make them sooner rather than later.

Can you customise your cover? Not everyone needs all aspects of an insurance package. Whilst travel insurance was developed with package holidays in mind, the industry has adapted to meet the rising numbers of independent holidaymakers. Customising your cover to accommodate your own plans is key to finding the best buy.