Travel Insurance can protect you from the unexpected costs you may incur if your holiday doesn't quite go according to plan. Because medical care abroad can be expensive, it's important to find a policy that provides cover if you get injured or fall ill.

Though all policies differ, it's also important to get cover for eventualities like cancellation, lost luggage, passports and money. John Lewis Travel Insurance covers all of these.

If you like to book your own travel and accommodation independently, rather than booking a package holiday, make sure you look at our Independent Traveller cover.

There’s a lot of choice when it comes to finding Travel Insurance. Make sure you check the following before you buy:

• Cancellation cover

John Lewis Travel Insurance provides up to £6,000 cover per person for costs resulting from having to cancel your holiday.

• Single items

Both your travel and home contents policies will have single item limits. These vary among different providers.
John Lewis Home Insurance and John Lewis Travel Insurance provide cover to ensure your valuables are protected.

• Travelling while pregnant

If you're pregnant you should always speak to your insurance company before you travel. Contact us on 0845 610 0305 to speak with one of our representatives.

All policies differ in the type of cover they provide. For example, if you’re planning a skiing or snowboarding holiday, check with your insurer to see that you’re covered. Some insurers will charge an additional premium or not cover you if you take part in adventurous activities.

John Lewis Travel Insurance offers wide-ranging optional cover for a variety of activities from golf to diving to winter sports. Additionally John Lewis Travel Insurance can cover weddings abroad.

Many policies won’t cover you for a pre-existing medical condition so it's important to check your cover before you travel.
John Lewis Travel Insurance can cover a wide variety of pre-existing medical conditions provided you make us aware of them when you take out your policy.

Remember to let your bank and credit card company know when you plan to go abroad. That way they can monitor any unusual activity on your accounts, especially if they detect spend within the UK.

If you book your own travel and accommodation independently, rather than booking a package holiday, make sure you look at our Independent Traveller cover. This can protect you against:

• flight cancellations
• denied boarding
• delayed or missed connections
  
• loss of unused accommodation due to the insolvency of your accommodation provider
• necessary additional costs, such as extra transport or alternative accommodation.

Independent Traveller Insurance will also cover you for up to £6,000 per person towards cancellation costs should the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against travel to your holiday destination, as long as your holiday was booked and your insurance was in place before the FCO advice was issued (terms and conditions apply).

These websites explain why independent travel cover could be a necessary addition to your John Lewis Travel Insurance policy:

• Office of Public Sector Information - provides details about the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours regulations which give travellers booking ‘package holidays’ some financial protection.

• European Commission - provides details about air passenger rights for flights within the European Union.