Halifax, the high-street bank, charges £237.19 to insure a family of four for a seven-day ski trip, compared with just £48 for the same cover at Primary Insurance.
Richard Mason of Insuresupermarket, a comparison website, said: “Don’t just opt for the big names. Many small firms offer cover that is just as good for far less.”
Ruth Francis, 23, a nurse from Nottingham who spent four days last week skiing at La Clusaz in France, heeded Mason’s advice when shopping for insurance.
“I was intending to go with the Post Office, which would have cost me £40 for a single-trip policy,” she said, “but I found Flexicover on the internet and ended up paying just £16.34.”
Families are probably better off getting an annual policy that covers winter sports rather than single-trip insurance.
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Flexicover Direct offers an annual policy including 17 days’ winter-sports cover for £67.95 for a family of four.
Amex Travel, the insurance arm of American Express, would charge £199.95 for the same type of policy — although it offers more cover, such as £15m medical expenses against Flexicover Direct’s £5m.
Make sure your policy covers ski equipment in case it is lost or stolen. Cover varies from £300 to £700.
Most insurers will also pay £200 to £250 for piste closure, although the more expensive policies might offer up to £750.
Check you are insured against an avalanche closing the piste, or if you are unable to ski due to an accident, sickness or the loss or theft of your ski pass.
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And watch that mulled wine: excessive drinking could invalidate your cover.