The very nature of travel involves many risks that are completely outside of our control. A delayed flight due to bad weather for example, might lead to a missed connecting flight or lost baggage, meaning you're left with no clothes for your holiday. More seriously, you might get injured or ill before you even leave on your trip, making it impossible for you to travel at all.

However, with a good travel insurance policy, there's no need to worry about the things which might go wrong, because the cover that you will have in place means you will be taken care of and won't lose out financially.

Just as there are a huge range of travellers – from sun seeking holidaymakers to globe trotting backpackers – there are various types of travel insurance to suit individual cases and budgets. You may need winter sports insurance, single or multi-trip travel insurance, business travel insurance or backpacker insurance, but whatever type of trip you're organizing, there will be travel insurance to match your specific needs.

It's also important to remember that travel insurance isn't only for extreme enthusiasts. In many foreign countries, you will not be treated to medical care unless you prove you can pay for it – meaning that if you don't have travel insurance, your cheap getaway could turn into a very costly trip. Even simple, unexpected injuries that would cost nothing to treat in the UK can become very expensive when you're abroad. For example, treatment for a broken leg in a foreign country could cost as much as £3,000. Injuries in more remote locations are even more costly – for instance, if you're backpacking on a trail in the Nepalese Himalayas and you suddenly fall ill or have an accident, being airlifted to a hospital costs £15,000, and your final bill could come to £50,000 after medical fees. Moreover, if you're not insured, it's your family or friends who may well have to help you find the funds.

When choosing which travel insurance policy to buy, make sure you read the small print and find out exactly what you are and are not covered for. Travellers have been known to get caught short when they find, after the fact, that they were covered for skiing, but not to go off-piste, or that the camera which was stolen was worth more than their insurance valuables limit. Fortunately, many companies now offer travel insurance online, so finding the right policy is a quick and easy process.

While thinking about travel insurance may not be quite as exciting as planning your travel itinerary, it is an absolutely essential element to include in any trip. It will not only give you the peace of mind you deserve, but could also save you a considerable amount of money.

Whether you're a student backpacker about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime around the world, or a frequent business traveller flying off to another meeting, travel insurance is a vital part of your trip planning.