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Globetrotting without tears: How to choose the right travel insurance for you

If like many Britons, you're looking to keep a tight rein on your holiday spending money this summer, it pays to bear in mind that some thrifty measures are smarter than others. Savvy travellers are recycling last year's board shorts and bikinis, swapping resort hotels for self-catering apartments and shopping around for the best deals for adventure holidays to city breaks. But scrimping on travel insurance can be a cut too far.

As you surf the net for dream escapes, considering what would happen if you fell ill or broke a proverbial leg are hardly the images that spring to mind. Trouble is, accidents can and do happen, and while your chances of catching a tropical disease on a shopping trip to the Big Apple are undeniably slim, how would you cope if your handbag containing all your cash and cards got stolen? Whether you're off on a gastronomic tour of Tuscany or a jungle trek in Borneo, travel insurance could help you to have a worry-free holiday, providing reassurance that should anything go wrong, assistance, doctors, clean clothes, and a plane ticket home are but a phone call away.

Family holidays
The good news for families holidaying on a budget is that you can get cover for the whole family under one annual or single trip travel insurance policy, which works out considerably cheaper than taking out individual cover. For example, MORE TH>N 's family travel insurance policies cover two adults and up to four unmarried children under the age of 16 (or up to the age of 23 if in full time education) travelling with you.

Globe trotters
If you're a frequent traveller who enjoys regular long haul holidays and city breaks, or are about to set off on an extended world tour, you'll get the most cover for your mileage and your money with a Worldwide Annual Travel Insurance policy. Of course, policy costs vary depending on your age and level of health. It also pays to consider carefully where you're going and what you plan to do in order to choose any necessary add-ons you might also require, such as cover for sports or additional medical cover.

Adventure travel
When it comes to action-packed escapes, there's never been a bigger or better choice of adventure holidays from short European sports and activity breaks, to long haul adventure tours to exotic locations. Before you head off on your big adventure, it's a smart move to ensure that you have adequate travel insurance to cover the specific activities you plan to undertake such as scuba diving or trekking. Standard policies will not cover you for specialist sports and the more 'extreme' activities. MORE TH>N Travel Insurance covers trekking up to 2000m as standard. The optional specialist sports and activities cover means that, for an additional premium, customers can extend cover for trekking up to 4000m.

Kite surfing as well as sand dune surfing, kayaking, parascending and bungee jumping are covered by MORE TH>N Travel insurance when the optional Specialist Sport and Activity cover is selected and an additional premium paid.

Insurance for the over 50s
If you're over 50, investing in comprehensive cover for a single trip or annual travel insurance, provides great peace of mind. Even if you are fit as a flea, it pays to remember that depending on where you are in the world, the cost of medical care and hospital stays can put a hefty dent on your bank balance. Policy premiums are calculated on the amount of cover you require, your age and general level of health. Even better, MORE TH>N Travel insurance offers 24hr access to its ‘Nurseline’ staffed by a team of trained nurses who can provide symptom assessment and medical information. You can also get cover for a pre-existing medical condition at an additional premium.

Insurance and the city
While you may well think that European travel and perusing the galleries and soaking up the culture of the fabulous cities of Paris, Barcelona or Rome presents little in the way of risk, it's still wise to get travel insurance cover. Single trip insurance can costs little more than the price of a coffee and a baguette, and if you're a frequent culture vulture of a traveller or take regular city breaks as well as at least one longer trip abroad, it's even more cost effective to get a European or Worldwide annual travel insurance policy. While a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will cover you for medical emergencies in EU countries, if you don't have travel insurance you won't have cover for other eventualities such as lost luggage, loss or theft of personal belongings or being stranded at the airport.

MORE TH>N is the direct financial services arm of RSA. It offers car breakdown insurance, home insurance uk, travel, pet and life insurance by phone and via the internet. It also offers commercial vehicle insurance, business, cheap van insurance, office, shop, business car, property, hotels, club, contractor and landlord insurance direct to small businesses.

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MORE TH>N is a trading style of Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc (No.93792). Registered in England & Wales at St.Mark’s Court, Chart Way, Horsham, RH12 1XL. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority