With good quantities of snow falling in European ski resorts and the recent news that some French ski operators are cutting prices, now is the perfect time to plan a winter sports break.

Direct Travel Insurance brings you the latest research by the Association of Mountain Doctors in France (Médecins de Montagne Résultats Nationaux 2008/2009), who dealt with 140,000 injuries last year. Their findings show the importance of preparation, alertness, and of course the importance of a good winter sports travel insurance as mountain rescue and medical assistance is payable in France.

In brief…

1.    The report shows that 16,439 collisions on the slopes were recorded last season.
2.    Badly adjusted boots and lack of physical preparation are the biggest factor behind serious knee injuries.
3.    The most common injury is still a sprained knee – over 15,500 of the most severe case (rupture of a ligament) were reported last season.
4.    Over the 2008/2009 season 50% of women’s injuries happened to beginners (seven days’ practice or less), compared to 22% for men.
5.    The risk of accidents amongst beginners is multiplied by two.

Top tips from the Mountain Doctors:

1.    Before you set off, always enquire about the weather with a ski professional, especially if you are planning to go off-piste.
2.    If you are skiing on your own, let someone know what your itinerary is and at what time you intend to return.
3.    Skiing and snowboarding require a good level of fitness: prepare yourself at least three weeks before a trip.
4.    Most accidents are caused by bad preparation or fatigue. Warm up well and take a rest when you are tired.
5.    Ensure your child wears a helmet and don’t hesitate to wear one too.

Paul Thilo, Vice President - Consumer Marketing at Direct Travel Insurance said: “The French Mountain Doctors’ report is a reminder that good travel cover is paramount when you’re skiing or snowboarding. It goes without saying that the price of ski insurance is negligible when you consider the cost of medical bills and mountain rescue.”

Check your travel insurance covers you for:

•    Medical & Air ambulance costs including Search and Mountain Rescue
•    Personal liability up to £2m if you are the cause of someone else being injured
•    UK physiotherapy to help you recover from a winter sports injury on your return
•    Piste closure cover – due to high winds, too much or lack of snow etc…– Important: make sure you don’t have to prove that 100% of all local resorts are closed (80% is more reasonable)

Even the cheapest Winter Sports policy from Direct Travel Insurance covers you for all the above. A seven day Single Trip Winter Sports cover to Europe with Direct Travel costs from £13 per person. For more information call 0845 605 2500 or visit www.direct-travel.co.uk.

Many people buy the cheapest car insurance cover they can find, but when time comes to make a claim they find themselves under insured, or protected where they don’t need it. For example, why pay extra premiums for a hire car in the case of an accident where your car needs repairs, when you have a second vehicle at home anyway?

It’s always a good idea to tailor your car insurance policy to suit your needs. This way you get the right cover, and a good price. There are three basic levels of car insurance cover widely available in the UK. Each policy will offer its own unique additions and small print, so make sure you choose one which suits your needs the most.

Here is a breakdown of the three basic types of car insurance in the UK:

Third Party Only Car Insurance

Third Party Only motor insurance is the minimum level of cover you are legally able to take out for your vehicle within the UK. Third party only insurance protects your liability towards any third party involved in an accident, such as your passengers, pedestrians, other drivers involved in the accident or damage caused to the other parties' vehicle and damage to property which is not your own.

Third Party Fire and Theft Car Insurance

Third Party Fire and Theft car insurance is the same as third party only insurance, in that it protects your liability towards any third party involved in an accident, but it does include additional fire and theft cover.

Comprehensive Car Insurance

In addition to the cover provided under Third Party Fire and Theft, Comprehensive motor insurance covers you for accidental damage to the vehicle you insured, which includes malicious damage, fire, theft and windscreen damage, for example.

Extras usually include a courtesy car and a guarantee on repairs when using the insurance provider’s approved garages. Check the optional extras and if you don’t need them, have them cancelled – you usually pay extra for these, so if you don’t need them you can save yourself a few quid.

Did you know that house insurance could mean contents insurance, buildings insurance or both? When you are choosing insurance for your home, it is a good idea to look closely at the product you are getting and choose the cover which best suits your needs.

Home insurance covers the physical structure of your house – also known as buildings insurance, but contents insurance covers the items inside it. The difference is important because your valuables are not covered by your home insurance, but by your contents insurance. And your building’s structure is not covered by your contents insurance.

This provides you with the flexibility to take out the cover you actually need, and avoid paying for cover you don’t. Here is a brief outline of the two main types of house insurance generally available, which will help you to make an informed decision when purchasing home insurance.

Buildings insurance

Unless you own the building you live in, you probably don’t need buildings insurance. If you are expected to carry the costs if something were to happen to the bricks and mortar of the place you are living in or rent out, then building insurance is a good idea. Usually this only applies if you own the property, and not if you rent the property you live in.

When insuring a property you own, make sure it is covered for the rebuild costs and not the market value. It is often cheaper to rebuild your house from scratch than to buy another one, as the land your house sits on will usually be fine to rebuild on if your home is damaged in a fire or flood situation.

Be careful not to choose the first cheap building insurance quote available - think about your needs first: for example, some policies provide alternative accommodation if your home is uninhabitable, which might be very useful to you as a home owner.

Contents insurance

Contents insurance is there to provide protection for appliances, electronic goods, furniture, clothing – in other words, the items inside your home that do not form part of the structure of the buildings.

Contents insurance applies to homeowners, landlords and tenants.  These day-to-day items could leave you seriously out of pocket if they were damaged, lost or stolen.

Some home contents insurance policies include cover for items taken outside the home, like bicycles or the contents of your handbag. Clothing, watches and mobile phones can also be covered along with sports equipment.

When tailoring your policy to suit your needs, never assume that you are covered – always check the fine print in your policy. Check your policy documents carefully when you receive them and make sure you are aware of the limits of your coverage.

Accidental damage cover

Accidental damage cover is often not part of a house insurance policy. This generally covers homeowners and renters against DIY accidents such as paint spillages and is available in addition to both building and contents insurance.