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Winter sports enthusiasts can flock to the mountains when snow is forecast. Unpredictable weather can make travel difficult. Ski trips are by nature one of the most risky to book. You can spend a lot on lodging, equipment rental, and lift tickets. But if the weather isn’t cooperating or there is an injury, you could lose your money.

As snowboarding and skiing become more popular, these travel woes could be more prevalent. The National Ski Areas Association reports that there were over 60 million skiers visiting the United States during the 2021-2022 season. This is the highest number of visits since 1978, when the association began keeping track.

Ski travel insurance is a good option to reduce the chance of your trip being canceled or interrupted due to adverse weather. For winter vacations, some of the most common benefits such as cancellation or trip delay coverage can be very useful. Some travelers may already be eligible for these benefits by using a travel credit card.

You can also purchase standalone travel insurance plans that offer ski-specific coverage. These policies allow travelers to be reimbursed for specific expenses related to winter sports travel.

These are the coverages that travelers can expect when they shop for ski travel insurance.

Cancellation and trip delay coverage are a part of most travel insurance plans. This can be especially beneficial for those traveling to winter weather. This coverage is useful for travelers who are delayed by a snowstorm and want to get back money for any days they missed at their resort. This covers reimbursements for travel expenses that are not refundable, such as equipment rentals, prepaid lift tickets and similar expenses.

Trip cancellation and delay insurance may also cover extra meals or lodging costs if there is a delay.

This coverage is only available for covered reasons. A delay by an airline would be covered. However, a traveler who is looking at the weather reports and wants to cancel the trip because they are afraid of getting stuck won’t be covered.

Cancel for any reason insurance is a great option for snowboarders and skiers who wish to cancel at their leisure. Although this coverage comes at a higher cost, travelers usually receive half to 75% back on cancellations.

Another risk is injury on ski trips. A snowboarder or skier who is injured would have to cancel their trip. This is where ski travel insurance that includes trip interruption coverage can help you pay the cost of returning home quickly.

This coverage is not the same as travel medical insurance or medical evacuation insurance. Travelers who are injured will need to use a combination of their regular insurance and their travel medical insurance (regardless of whether it was purchased separately or through a credit card).

“Depending on where you ski, your home insurance may cover you in case of an accident. Stan Sandberg, cofounder of TravelInsurance.com, says that it might not cover you if your travels take you out of your home network.

Snowboarders and advanced skiers will need more coverage. Consider adding additional insurance to your adventure sports coverage if you plan on venturing into the backcountry beyond resort bounds.

Although it is not a precise term for coverage, it can be a useful addition to your travel insurance policy for winter sport trips. If the resort is closed due to too much or too small snow, “Travel Incontinence”, sometimes known as “Lost Skier Days,” will reimburse them.

This coverage can be used to reimburse up to $125 per day for lost expenses to resorts located in the Northern Hemisphere.

While most travelers are familiar with baggage delay and baggage loss coverage, not all may be aware that expensive equipment such as skis or snowboards might not be fully covered. Most travel insurance policies only cover up to a dollar amount. If the airline loses expensive skis, you may not receive the full value of the insurance.

Ski travel insurance that includes coverage for snowboards and skis is a good idea. If your equipment is lost or damaged, the ski insurance provider will reimburse up to a certain amount for rental costs.

Ski travel insurance is a good option if you are worried about not being able to recoup the costs of your winter-sports-focused vacation. You should look for coverage that covers you in the event of snowstorms or other injuries. You can also add travel inconvenience and sports equipment coverage to help you recover the cost of renting equipment or lift tickets.

Snowboarding and skiing are always an adventure. However, delays and accidents do not have to be so expensive.