These days travel insurance can protect you from far more serious incidents than losing your luggage on a train in Nice or misplacing your reading glasses in a caf on the Champs-Elysees. Respective of your age, destination and budget, you can now refine your travel insurance policy to suit your individual needs.

It is important that we remember the added benefits that travel insurance brings with it in today's market including monetary compensation for lost/stolen belongings or cash, medical cover, personal accident cover (for long-term illness/injury), cancellation fees and repatriation in case you need to be flown home.

Instead of focussing on the negative things that may never happen, or at least we hope they never do, the job of a travel insurance operator is only to offer you peace of mind. With good competitive travel insurance, even the most carefree traveller can be covered for such incidents for little cost.

You can now be covered by a handful of companies out there if you're partaking in adrenaline sports too. With new thrill-seeking sports cropping up around the globe regularly and considering the vigour with which some people will pursue such a rush, it's a wonder not every travel insurance provider is offering affordable, all-encompassing Travel Insurance.

With some travel insurance policies you are automatically covered for hazardous activities such as bungee jumping, paragliding and white water rafting (usually grades 1-4), not often available with insurance but sometimes for no additional premium too. If you have an unusual hobby, get your travel insurance contact to arrange a specific quote for that too.

Not only is travel insurance important but it can be very convenient too. If you think that the airport is the last place you would like to realise that you have forgotten to purchase your travel insurance, don't stress because these days that should not be a problem at all. Competent and competitive travel insurance providers should sell you cover over the telephone or via the internet so long as you can find a pc with an internet connection and it will be issued to you immediately. Although you may not have the paperwork in your hand, your travel insurance is valid as of the second you buy it. If you don't have the facility to print off your policy or policy wording, get it emailed to you immediately so that you can keep an electronic copy and if you have any questions we're never further than a phone call or email away. So if you're in the airport reading this, don't panic. Call or email a travel insurance provider now and let them sort it so that you can sit back and enjoy your journey.