How Travel Insurance Can Save Your Ski Trip

Snow in the forecast could send winter sports enthusiasts flocking to the mountains for some fresh powder. But unpredictable weather doesn’t always make for the easiest trip. In fact, ski trips can be one of the riskiest things to book because you can spend several dollars on ski lift tickets, lodging, airfare and equipment rentals, only to lose money. if the weather doesn’t cooperate or damage occurs.

These types of travel difficulties can affect many travelers as skiing and snowboarding become more popular. According to the National Ski Areas Association, there will be more than 60 million visits to US ski slopes in the 2021-2022 season, the highest since the organization began tracking in 1978.

To reduce the risk of losing money on an interrupted or canceled ski trip due to bad weather, ski travel insurance may be an option to consider. Some of the more common travel insurance benefits, such as trip delay or cancellation coverage, may be available for vacations to winter destinations. In addition, some travelers may already have it benefits through travel credit card.

Standalone travel insurance plans, which provide more specific coverage tailored to ski trips, are also available. With these policies, travelers can be reimbursed for more specific expenses related to winter sports travel.

Here are the types of coverage travelers can expect to find when shopping for ski travel insurance.

Flight delay and cancellation coverage is a standard feature of most travel insurance plans and will benefit those heading in the winter season. For example, if flights are delayed due to a snowstorm, this type of coverage can help travelers get money back for the days they may not be at the resort. This usually includes reimbursements for non-refundable travel expenses such as prepaid lift tickets, equipment rental and other similar expenses.

Trip delay and cancellation insurance can also pay for additional meals and lodging that travelers may incur due to the delay.

An important caveat is that this coverage generally kicks in for covered reasons only. An airline that delays a flight is covered, but a traveler who looks at the weather report and wants to bail on the trip out of fear of being stuck is not.

Skiers and snowboarders who want full flexibility to cancel when they want should consider Cancel For Any Reason insurance. This coverage is a special add-on that is more expensive, but travelers typically receive 50% to 75% of their trip costs if they cancel for any reason.

Injury is another major risk on ski trips. Injured skiers and snowboarders may need to cut their trip short. When ski travel insurance with trip interruption coverage helps cover the costs associated with returning home early.

Note that this coverage is separate from travel medical insurance and medical evacuation insurance. Injured travelers often need to use some combination of their regular health insurance and medical travel insurance from their winter sports insurance policy (regardless of whether it is provided by credit card or purchased separately).

“Depending on where you ski, your home health insurance may cover you in an accident. But it also won’t if you’re outside your home health network, and certainly not if you’re traveling internationally, “said Stan Sandberg, co-founder of TravelInsurance.com.

Advanced skiers and snowboarders will likely need more coverage. When adventuring in the backcountry, outside of resort boundaries or heli-skiing, consider getting additional insurance coverage for adventure sports.

It’s a vague name for coverage, but it’s a great addition to a travel insurance policy for winter sports trips. “Travel inconvenience,” sometimes called “Lost Skier Days,” pays travelers when the resort closes due to too much or too little snow.

This type of coverage is usually available from December 1 to March 31 for resorts in the Northern Hemisphere and can pay up to $125 in lost expenses per day.

Many travelers are familiar loss of baggage or delay in coverage, but some may not be aware that expensive ski or snowboarding equipment may not be fully covered. After all, most travel insurance policies insure up to a certain dollar amount only. So if the airline loses your expensive ski, you may not be reimbursed for the full amount.

Get ski travel insurance with coverage for things like skis and snowboards helpful. With this coverage, if your equipment is delayed, the ski insurance provider will pay you, up to a limit, for the equipment rental.

If you’re worried about missing out on your winter sports-focused vacation, ski travel insurance can provide peace of mind. Find coverage that pays you in case of winter weather delays or accidental damages. Additionally, the inconvenience of travel or sports equipment coverage are add-ons that help you offset the costs associated with lift tickets and equipment rentals.

Skiing and snowboarding is always an adventure, but delays and accidents don’t have to be so costly.