It"s All Downhill From Here - Winter Sports That Is!

So it is with a sense of relief that resorts are back in business at what they do best, provide the best groomed ski runs for the millions of us who will be venturing onto the pistes this season.
Bookings are definitely up on last year and though good bargains can still be had, the more popular resorts are less likely to offer the great last minute deals that were in abundance last year.
But with all the key alpine countries knee deep in snow, there is plenty to go round and those wanting to venture further afield, to Eastern Europe and North America, the prospects are just as good.
What still surprises us are the number of holidaymakers who take the risk of going without any travel insurance cover.
With the numbers hitting the slopes, the net result is that more and more skiers and snowboarders are injured each year.
Whilst it difficult to eliminate the inherent risks involved in Winter Sports, to go without any travel insurance cover is as close as many of us get to playing 'Russian Roulette.
' Loaded gun or not, being rescued from the slopes can be a costly business, well in excess of £100 if a helicopter is involved to bring you down the mountain and then there are the expensive medical bills which could set you back further.
The best option you have is to buy travel insurance before you go and by far the cheapest way is to do this online.
Tour operators and travel agents will try and get you to buy their insurance when you take out a holiday but, almost always, this is a much more expensive way to do it and those selling you the holiday may not be able to give you the best advice when it comes to travel insurance.
Do shop around on the internet and do look at the small print but there are some good Winter Sports travel insurance policies to be had and at very reasonable prices.
The other option is to buy an insurance add-on when you buy your lift pass at the resort.
Whilst this will cover you for being 'stretchered off' the slopes, they fall short on about everything else and at around a couple of Euros a day can work out an expensive extra but for those who have not bought proper travel insurance can be the last minute safety net to make sure your roulette gun just fires blanks!