Check travel insurance small print before heading off on an adventure travel trip

One in ten travellers does not read the small print of their travel insurance policy

In all the excitement in the build up to a once-in-a-lifetime overland adventure to a far flung destination in South America, south east Asia or Africa, it can be easy to forget some of the more mundane yet vital preparations that need to be made for such a trip.

One of the most important things any traveller should do is make sure they have the right insurance, which can provide a financial safety net should they need medical attention, lose their belongings or if any of their flight or booked accommodation is cancelled.

But while many people understand the importance of travel insurance, a survey recent survey suggests that they often do not check the finer details of the policy to make sure they have the right level of cover that they require, reports travelbite.co.uk.

The poll by AllClear Travel Insurance found that one in ten travellers fails to read the small print on their travel insurance policies.

Of those who do look at the small print, 40 per cent only skim read it and 26 per cent admitted skipping to particular sections of interest.

AllClear Travel Insurance warns that this means they could be missing out on key exclusions to cover that may affect their trip.

"Unless you take the time to read and understand the specifics of what you are covered for, you cannot be sure that your insurer will pay out in the event of a claim being made," said the company's chairman Mike Rutherford.

So-called 'alcohol exclusions' - rules that invalidate claims made because someone is under the influence of alcohol or drugs - often catch travellers out, said AllClear.

Some policies will also refuse to pay out if the traveller is hurt as a result of engaging in 'hazardous activities', which may include even relatively common activities such as sports, while most policies will not cover travel to countries deemed unsafe by the government.