You’ve thought of the flights, the accommodation, the catering arrangements, and even bought your holiday wardrobe. But have you considered DIY holiday insurance?

Having adequate travel insurance cover in place can give you peace of mind. You can relax and enjoy your break without worrying about the things that might go wrong while you are away. This especially so if yours is a DIY holiday, where you have built your own holiday travel package as opposed to buying it all from one source. Sometimes insurers may not cover DIY holidays, so it important that you know what you are buying.

When you are buying any insurance cover, it’s important to check the schedule of what is included as well as the price. So what might DIY holiday insurance typically cover?

• Transport – Most travellers only experience minor problems with their transport. Perhaps your flights are a little delayed, or you miss a train or bus. These issues can be annoying, but are unlikely to ruin your holiday. But more serious issues like strikes, accidents and airlines going bankrupt can cost you dearly and threaten the enjoyment of your holiday. If you do not have adequate insurance in place, you have the choice of funding replacement transport out of your own pocket, or going home.

• Accommodation – If your hotel or self catering apartment is flooded or damaged by fire, you need to find alternative accommodation or cut short your holiday plans. But if you have thought ahead and included this in your DIY holiday insurance, your cover might include alternative accommodation in a nearby resort.

• “Knock on” effects – If your flight is late or overbooked (so full that you cannot board it), you can experience a “knock on” effect on the other elements of your holiday. For example, you could miss a connecting flight or train, or not arrive in time to use pre-booked accommodation. If you are building your holiday yourself, take this into account and ask whether cover for such events is included when you arrange your travel insurance.

• Medical bills – Being ill or injured in an accident is unpleasant enough, but if it happens when you are on holiday, it can be a real inconvenience. Depending on where you are in the world, you could find yourself in a situation where limited help is available free of charge. Most travel insurers offer medical cover in their holiday policies. Make sure to check whether prescriptions, medical supplies, hospital stays, and transfers back to the United Kingdom are included.

• Sports – If you are a more adventurous traveller with a passion for extreme sports, mention this to your insurance provider when taking out cover. Providers differ in their attitude to this issue, so compare which activities are on the “permitted” list for cover, and which need to be added as an optional extra.

• Cancellation – Unfortunately sometimes holidays need to be cancelled due to illness or bereavement. Some insurers provide cover for the cost of the holiday that you have already paid, so check whether this is included in your policy.

What should you do if you need to make a claim?

If you need to make a claim under your DIY holiday insurance policy, make sure that you have as much information about the circumstances of the event as possible. Given that, unlike a package holiday, your accommodation and travel arrangements are not connected, you will typically have to provide receipts and records of all the lost expenditure that you wish to claim for.