Are you already planning your next overseas trip holiday? The planning stage is always part of the fun of traveling no matter where your destination is. But one always has a little fear of going into the unknown and not knowing what can befall you while you are there. Many of the unknown events can be covered by travel insurance and that at least relieves one of the money worry.

Wherever you plan to go, it is possible to get European and worldwide travel insurance that will cover all your essential needs. The most common risks covered by travel insurance are flight cancellation, departure delay, loss, theft or damage to personal possessions, illness or injury, emergency evacuation or repatriation, legal issues and accidental death, injury or disablement.

Let’s say your flight cancelled for some reason? What if your bags get lost or stolen? More seriously, what if you happen to be involved in an accident or caught in an emergency situation in a foreign country? These are some of the reasons - and there are many others - that make travel insurance an essential purchase when you are busy spending on all the elements of your trip. Many of the insurance companies will let you tailor your own travel insurance in accordance with the risks you think you will encounter on your holiday, no matter where you destination is.

Some holiday activities may lead to additional costs on your insurance premium, for example, a skiing trip, scuba diving, sky diving; but you will pay the extra with a smile knowing that you are fully covered. Winter and water sports traditionally attract higher premiums. Travel insurance companies will also offer add-on protection for extreme sports, for example if you are holidaying in Thailand and would like to indulge in a spot of bungee jumping.

You may consider adding insurance cover for natural disasters such as floods or hurricane or any other extreme weather conditions. It would have helped a great deal to have collected insurance payout after the Asian Tsunami or the Florida hurricanes if you had been unlucky enough to be caught up in them.

Think carefully about your intended holiday activities and make sure you buy a travel insurance package which covers all eventualities. This way you can rest easy on your trip, knowing that you have covered all the bases.

Most of us who are happy to spend out holiday lying on the beach or taking a cruise will be fully covered with a standard travel insurance policy. If you are an adventurous sportsman, consult with the insurance company. They will be only too pleased to offer you good and constructive advice on your major risks and after that it’s up to you to make sure that you insure against them.