No-cover tourists on a wing and a prayer

Travel without insurance and a cheap Easter break might cost a fortune

As travel operators cut prices on hundreds of holidays, many people will be making last-minute bookings for Easter. But if you're tempted to leave the country, don't forget your travel insurance: market researcher Mintel has found that one in seven holidaymakers don't bother taking it out. And if you've left it late to book, you're more likely to forget about insurance, particularly if you're only going away for a weekend.

"People often don't perceive travel insurance to be important for short breaks," says Helen Dwyer, director at Primary, a direct insurer. "There is a common misconception that form E111 is enough if you're going to Europe, but while there are reciprocal arrangements with some countries, you don't get cover for things like repatriation or private hospitals."

Medical emergencies aren't the only reason you should take out insurance. Even if you've got cheap flights and a bargain hotel, a four-day break for a family of four is likely to tot up to around £500 – a lot of money down the drain if you have to cancel for any reason. With the chance of delays greater at busy times such as Easter and the Mayday bank holiday, cancellation cover makes sense. "If you're going on a three-day break and are delayed at the airport, the chances are you wouldn't want to go if you had to wait 12 hours or more, particularly if you have children," says Emma Holyer, a spokeswoman for Direct Line.

She also warns of high crime rates in many continental European cities. So if you're pick-pocketed in Paris or mugged in Milan, you'll be glad you took out baggage and personal belongings cover. That said, you may find this is included under your existing home contents insurance, in which case there is no point in paying for it twice and you should ask for it to be excluded when buying travel insurance.

Many people wrongly assume that all travel policies are much the same. In fact, it is important not only to compare the cost of different products but to make sure that the cover you're buying is adequate for your needs.

In the past, most holiday insurance was sold through travel agents when the trip was booked, but such deals tend not to be the most comprehensive. And worryingly, a survey in the latest issue of Which? magazine found that many travel agents appear to be mis-selling cover.

One of the key questions you should be asked when buying a policy is whether you suffer from any existing medical conditions. Failure to disclose any illness could result in your insurance being null and void, yet of the 28 travel agents Which? researchers spoke to in its "mystery shopping" survey, only one asked this question and explained what was and was not covered in the policy. And in any case, cover from a travel agent is usually far more expensive than if you buy direct from an insurer.

"With so many travel insurance providers in the market – and around 1,170 different travel insurance policies – there is a huge variation in the cost of policies available," says Richard Mason, director at Moneysupermarket.com, a website that compares different financial products. "For example, travel insurance to cover a single trip to Spain can cost as little as £16.99 for a family of four with 24DR Travel, [or as much as] £104 with Thomas Cook."

Travel agents tend to offer cover only in weekly blocks, or annual multi-trip policies, whereas many direct providers insure you for the exact number of days you are away, which is especially useful if you're just heading off for a weekend.

Low-cost airlines and Eurostar offers have encouraged people to take foreign holidays more often. If you go away at least twice a year, it's usually more cost effective to buy an annual multi-trip policy rather than take out cover each time you travel. And that way, you won't have to worry about sorting out insurance if you do book at the last minute.