Compare travel insurance products on the extent of their cover, not purely on the grounds of price, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has recommended.

Spokesman Malcolm Tarling has urged holidaymakers to secure a policy that meets all foreseeable travel needs, rather than seeking out the lowest premium.

“You tend to get what you pay for,” he said, in that cheaper travel insurance deals tend to represent less comprehensive cover.

“In terms of travel insurance, the more expensive products may provide a greater range of benefits,” he continued. “The cheaper product might be the one for you, but it depends - you’ve got to check the cover, not just the price.”

The ABI spokesman did admit, however, that it was relatively rare for holidaymakers to find themselves inadequately covered when in need on holiday. More of a concern, he said, was the proportion of Brits travelling without any travel insurance cover at all.

“Three in ten customers travel abroad without insurance and they really are taking a hell of a risk that isn’t worth taking.

“You can get the product that you want, that provides the cover that you need, at the price that you can afford,” he concluded.

The ABI represents more than 400 companies, which combined deliver more than 94 per cent of the insurance services sold in the UK.

Contributed by J.Bevan