January's ‘summer holiday' sales

With around 200,000 holidaymakers a day booking early to get the best summer holiday deals, esure travel insurance is urging Brits to do their homework before buying, not be influenced solely by bargain-bucket prices, and make sure they take out insurance straight away to cover themselves if they are forced to cancel their trip.

According to research by esure travel insurance holidaymakers booking a summer holiday to the USA in June could turn up to find they are greeted with stormy weather rather than sunshine. The poll reveals that 79 per cent of Brits questioned do not know when the hurricane season in popular parts of the USA begins (1 June to November for the east coast - including Florida) and 87 per cent do not know when the monsoon season blows in across parts of Asia (1 June to September for the south-east coast - including Indonesia).

The research also shows that less than half (48 per cent) of British holidaymakers check the weather for severe weather warnings prior to booking their holidays abroad and furthermore, one in five polled (20 per cent) will not take out any travel insurance cover for their trip.

Mike Pickard, Head of travel insurance at esure, said: "Booking early to get a bargain and having a holiday to look forward to in summer is engrained in the British psyche. At a time when pennies are being counted more than ever, it's important that Brits don't feel rushed into making a booking because of the price tag and do their homework beforehand.

"Checking out the weather, making sure passports are valid, ensuring that visas are obtained if required, and not forgetting to take out insurance at the booking stage in case personal circumstances change between booking that bargain holiday and actually going on it in summer, are all crucial."

With 30 per cent of summer holidays booked in January and February, esure has compiled some tips for holidaymakers looking to book their trips away:

Pay for your holiday using a credit card: if you can pay for your holiday using your credit card it will protect you if, for example, the airline, holiday company or hotel goes into administration. If you've paid for the holiday - even part of it - on credit, you're entitled to a full refund from the credit company. The law covers goods worth between £100 and £30,000 but you're completely covered even if you paid as little as £1 deposit with your credit card and the remainder some other way.

Get covered in case you're made redundant: remember to take out travel insurance cover at the same time as you book your holiday in case you or your partner are made redundant and are forced to cancel your trip. In fact, esure will pay up to a maximum of £5,000. if the policyholder is made redundant, or if a travelling companion, cohabiting spouse or partner are made redundant.

Shop around for your travel insurance: make sure you take cover to protect you and your family should the unexpected happen. Shop around for the best deal as some insurers will offer family deals where kids can travel for free. It's advisable to buy annual cover to make sure you're covered not just for your summer holiday but also for short trips and weekend breaks away - even within the UK.

Take cover for hazardous sports and activities: if you're booking a more active break away, make sure your travel insurance covers any sports or activities you are planning to do. Bungee jumping, scuba-diving, jet-skiing and other activities you might do on the spur of the moment may not be covered by standard policies - so check the small print.

Do your holiday destination research: Make sure you check the British foreign and commonwealth office for any warnings and make sure you check the weather - particularly average rainfall.

Check your passport's validity: different countries have different regulations; some follow the ‘six months until expiry' rule but others, such as South Africa, require you to also have at least two blank pages in your passport. Check your passport early to avoid a last minute rush or a possible delay to your trip.

Check whether you'll need vaccinations or a visa: don't get a last minute surprise - check what the country's requirements are and the estimated costs. Find out about vaccinations and any other suggested medical advice by visiting your health-care provider. Follow this advice and be aware of possible health risks during your trip.