Winter Sports Insurance

Stay stress-free on the slopes with our winter sports cover

Up to £500 safety net

If you’re too ill or injured to use hired gear, lift passes or ski lessons

Protect your equipment

Up to £1k if your winter sports equipment is lost, stolen or damaged

5 Star rated cover

Our Platinum Travel Insurance has Defaqto’s highest rating

What’s winter sports insurance?

Winter sports insurance (or winter sports cover) financially protects you and your equipment if anything goes wrong on your skiing or winter sports holiday.

As well as the cover from your core travel insurance, you’ll also have protection for things like lost or damaged gear, piste closure and costs for hired equipment you’re too ill or injured to use.

If you’re going on a winter sports trip, you need to add this specialist cover when buying your regular travel insurance policy. You won’t be covered without it.

Covid-19 - what our travel insurance covers

Our travel insurance now covers you for certain events related to Coronavirus (COVID-19), provided you have proof of a positive Covid-19 test and your cover is active at the time of the event.

What we cover

We provide cover for some costs related to Covid-19: please see Section 1 'emergency medical costs and repatriation' and Section 2 'cancelling or cutting short your trip' in your policy book for full details on what's covered.

We'll cover you if:

  • you were diagnosed with Covid-19 before your trip was due to start
  • a close relative died or became seriously ill as a result of Covid-19 before your trip was due to start
  • you weren't allowed to board your pre-booked outbound travel due to symptoms of Covid-19
  • an insured person or a close relative died during the trip because of Covid-19
  • you couldn't take part in an excursion due to you self-isolating after getting Covid-19

What we don’t cover

You won't be covered if:

  • you had reason to believe your trip may be cancelled, postponed or cut short when you booked it, purchased your policy or started your trip
  • any government or public authority imposes travel restrictions or quarantine on a community, location, or vessel because of Covid-19 (this includes, but is not limited to, local lockdowns, entry requirements, being denied entry and airspace closures)
  • you have to quarantine after arriving in the UK or abroad
  • the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) change their advice to avoid ‘all travel’ or ‘all but essential travel’ to your destination because of Covid-19

For more information about how Coronavirus (COVID-19) affects your travel cover, see our FAQ page. And remember to check the policy booklet carefully before you buy to make sure our cover meets your needs.

Do I need ski travel insurance?

Adventure sports and winter sports are often not covered by a standard travel policy, so you may need to get specialist cover – like Admiral's Winter Sports Upgrade.

Not only will you get the standard protection against:

  • Lost or stolen luggage
  • Medical treatment expenses
  • Cancellation cover

You're also covered for:

  • Lost, stolen or damaged ski equipment
  • Piste closure
  • Delays caused by avalanche

If you're only planning on skiing once a year, Admiral's single trip cover with the Winter Sports add-on may suit you.

If you want annual ski travel insurance for more than one break in the season, take a look at our annual cover with the Winter Sports add on. This would cover you for every holiday you take in a year, up to 31 days per trip. However, bear in mind you can only do a maximum of 21 days of winter sports throughout the year in total during the policy term.

What's covered by ski travel insurance?

Whether you’re an experienced skier or a nervous beginner, you can enjoy your trip knowing you don’t have to worry about having the right cover in place.

You can choose from three levels of cover to suit your budget and needs:

 

Admiral

Admiral
Gold

Admiral
Platinum

Lost, stolen or damaged ski equipment
(single article limits apply, up to)

£500

 

(£100 Excess)

£750

 

(£75 Excess)

£1,000

 

(£50 Excess)

Piste Closure
(Per complete 24 hrs)

£20

 

(Max £200)

£20

 

(Max £200)

£20

 

(Max £200)

Ski pack cover for illness or injury
(hired ski equipment, ski school fees and lift passes)

£500

 

(Max £250 per week)

£500

 

(Max £250 per week)

£500

 

(Max £250 per week)

Delay caused by avalanche
(travel & accommodation)

£200 £300 £450

Replacement equipment hire
(Per complete 24 hours)

£25

 

(Max £250)

£25

 

(Max £250)

£25

 

(Max £250)

Is my equipment protected with travel insurance?

Sports equipment isn't often covered by standard travel insurance policies. If you're insured with Admiral, you just need to add our Winter Sports upgrade to your travel insurance to get protection against damage to your own, or hired, equipment.

You'll be covered up to a maximum of £1,000 for your equipment (depending on the level of cover you choose.)

We also pay up to £25 (per complete 24 hours) towards the cost of hiring replacements (up to a maximum £250 per person), if yours is delayed more than 12 hours following your arrival at your destination or is lost, stolen or damaged during your trip.

Our ski and snowboarding insurance upgrade will help you out if an unforeseen slope closure happens during your break (pistes must closed for more than 24 hours) and protects against delays caused by an avalanche (cover limits apply).

What's classed as a winter sport?

Winter sports insurance gives protection for you to enjoy a whole host of activities on your holiday including:

  • Piste skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • Glacier walking/trekking
  • Ice hockey
  • Sledging
  • Tobogganing

Please check your policy document for a complete list of all activities we cover.

Travel insurance covering off-piste skiing

Our winter sports insurance add-on covers adventurous off-piste skiers and boarders as long as it’s on recognised paths within resort boundaries and accompanied by a qualified guide or instructor.

Ski insurance - Europe

Any skier and snowboarder will know there are incredible resorts to hit the slopes around the world, but in 2018, Europe was hit with unprecedented amounts of snow and saw many popular resorts opening the lifts early. The glacier pistes of Val-d'Isère opened in June.

So if you want to check out what Europe has to offer – and there's a lot – you'll need to select our European Travel Insurance with the Winter Sports add-on. You'll be covered in all the top resorts such as France's Meribel, Val, La Plagne, and Courchevel, Italy's Cervinia and Zermatt in Switzerland to name a few.

Ski insurance - Canada and America

If the powdery slopes of Canada or America are calling you, you'll need worldwide cover, with the winter add on.

Ski insurance - Japan

Our final cover zone is worldwide excluding USA, Canada & Caribbean, so if Japan is taking your fancy – Niseko is often touted as a powder hound's paradise – this option with winter sports insurance added will get you onto the mountains with the right cover in place.

What happens if my skiing or snowboarding holiday is cancelled?

Depending on the level of cover you choose for your ski or snowboarding insurance – Admiral, Admiral Gold or Admiral Platinum – you could get up to £5,000 to cover the costs of your trip, in the unfortunate event of it being cancelled for any of the following reasons:

  • Death, illness, injury or complications of pregnancy or childbirth of you, your travel companion, close relative, close business associate or anyone outside your home area you planned to stay with
  • Court cases and quarantine if you or your travel companion, or anyone outside your home area you planned to stay with, is quarantined, called for jury service or as a witness and a court official refuses to postpone
  • Unemployment if you or your travelling companion is made redundant from the company you’ve worked at continuously for at least two years
  • Armed forces and emergency services if you or your travel companion has authorised leave cancelled due to an unexpected emergency
  • Home damage you or your travel companion have to stay at home if it’s seriously damaged by a fire, storm or flood or is burgled within seven days of your departure
  • Passport or visa your passport or visa is stolen in a burglary at your home in the seven days before your departure and you’re unable to get a replacement in time

What if I have a pre-existing condition?

A pre-existing condition is a short or long term illness or injury you have or have had before you buy travel insurance. This includes having symptoms, tests, diagnosis or medical treatment for a condition.

You can declare your pre-existing conditions during the quote process to see if we can offer cover. If you’re unsure what needs to be declared or if you're unable to find your condition on the medical conditions list, please contact us on 0333 234 9913.

Your pre-existing conditions won’t be covered unless you’ve:

  • Declared them all on your policy
  • Received written confirmation that we’ll cover your medical condition
  • Paid any additional premium in full

Policy terms and conditions apply. Please note, if you’ve had a positive diagnosis of Covid-19 and been prescribed medication, received treatment, or had a consultation with a doctor or hospital specialist for any medical condition in the past two years, this needs to be declared on your policy.

If you don’t tell us about your pre-existing conditions or give us incorrect information, your policy may be invalid, and we may refuse all or part of any claim you submit.

For a quote with us, click the green button above.

The MoneyHelper directory

If you require cover for more serious medical conditions, MoneyHelper may be able to help you find specialist travel insurance through their medical directory.

If you wish to get in touch with them you can call them on 0800 138 7777 or find them online. (Monday to Friday 8:00-18:00, closed on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.)

How do I get a quote?

You can call 0333 234 9913 for an Admiral Travel Insurance quote and ask to add on Winter Sports insurance upgrade, or you can buy online and select 'Winter Sports Upgrade'.

Your questions answered

We're sure you'll love our great products but maybe you have a few questions. You can find answers in this section.

Do you need winter sports insurance for trips to Lapland?

If you plan on taking part in any of the activities listed above, such as husky sledge driving, you will need to add the upgrade onto your Admiral Travel Insurance policy

Are there any age restrictions for ski insurance?

We don’t offer the upgrade to anyone over 75 years old for trips within Europe and over 70 years old for trips outside of Europe.

Am I covered to ski or board off-piste?

You can go off-piste provided you go with a qualified guide or instructor and remain on recognised paths, within resort boundaries

Does winter sports cover me anywhere in the world?

Admiral Travel Insurance covers the UK, Europe and Worldwide - but there are places that we don't cover.

Your travel insurance won't cover you if you visit somewhere the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises not to. Information from the FCDO can be found at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice or by calling 020 7008 1500.

What's covered if the piste closes?

We'll pay up to £20 per 24 hours for each day the pistes and ski lifts are closed in your resort due to lack of snow or bad weather (up to a maximum of £200). This can be used to cover travel expenses to the next open resort or to compensate you if there are no slopes nearby.

Are all winter sports covered?

Our Winter Sports Upgrade covers the following activities: cross country skiing, dry slope skiing and snowboarding, glacier walking/trekking, husky sledge driving, ice hockey, mono-skiing, snowmobiles, sledging, snowshoeing and tobogganing. If you want to take part in an activity not on the list please call us on 0333 234 9913 to discuss.

Am I covered if I’m injured on the slopes and not wearing a helmet?

You won't be covered for any head injuries that happen on your winter sports holiday if you weren't wearing a helmet. We always recommend wearing a helmet for winter sports.

Are lift passes covered?

Unused lift passes due to illness or injury are covered but you can't claim for lost or stolen lift passes

Is mountain and helicopter rescue included?

Yes, our add-on covers mountain and helicopter rescue in the event of injury or illness; search and rescue isn't covered.

Do under 18s need ski insurance?

Yes they do, you can add a child onto a parent or guardian's cover. Take a look at our Family Travel Insurance page for more information.

Can seasonaires buy the winter sports upgrade?

While there's no restriction on seasonaires buying our cover, the add-on's limited to 21 days in total so we couldn't cover a seasonaire for the entire season.

What’s the age limit on winter sports cover?

We cover people up to and including 75 years old in Europe, or 70 years old everywhere else.

What does winter sports travel insurance cover?

Our winter sports travel insurance upgrade covers:

  • Lost, stolen or damaged ski equipment
  • Piste closure
  • Delay caused by avalanche
  • Replacement equipment hire

You’ll also get all the benefits of the standard travel insurance you bought – our winter sports upgrade gives you extra cover for when you’re skiing or snowboarding.

Can I take out a family winter sports insurance policy?

Absolutely – we offer family holiday insurance for families living at the same address. This can be parents, step-parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and children under 18.

You can add up to two adults and a maximum of five children to the cover. Simply add on our winter sports upgrade for cover on the slopes.

Do I need travel insurance for skiing in Bulgaria?

Yes you’ll need to add our winter sports upgrade onto our European Travel Insurance for any skiing holidays in Bulgaria.

Do I have Personal accident and Personal liability for my Winter sports trip activities?

We cover personal accident up to the policy limits and personal liability cover up to £3 million, for winter sports activities listed in the winter sports cover section of our policy wording except Snowmobile/Ski-Doos which excludes personal accident and personal liability cover. Please note, this cover cannot be added to the Snowmobile/Ski-Doos activity for an additional premium.



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Getting the most out of your trip

Going anywhere nice?

Off to one of the destinations below? Take a look at our guides for some hints and tips on what you need to remember.

Travel insurance that suits you

Whether you're travelling solo, with your family, or with a little one on the way, read our guides to make sure our cover is right for you.

Travel Insurance upgrades

Whether you want the adrenaline rush of a skiing holiday, or fancy taking to the seas on a cruise, you'll need to add extra cover to your policy.

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