Travel insurance "wisest purchase"

Buying travel insurance is the "widest purchase you can make" for an activity holiday, it has been claimed.

A spokesperson for STA Travel, a student travel agency, said that contrary to the belief that such insurance is "an unnecessary extra cost", it is actually very important in case medical attention is needed or belongings are lost.

She added: "You should ensure the travel insurance you take out covers all the countries you plan to travel to and any activities you plan to participate in."

According to The Motley Fool, "reliability and security" are the most important aspects of travel insurance and something that people should look for in their policies.

Norwich Union agreed with the two firms on the importance of travel insurance, saying that in 2006 the typical travel insurance claim was worth £716 and repatriation can cost thousands.

Gapyear.com says that a quarter of young travellers go uninsured or underinsured.