If you're planning a large trip overseas for your next holiday, it's likely that you're feeling a mix of both heady and nervous excitement. Whether you're planning to visit the French Riviera, the pyramids of Giza or the Australian outback, your initial excitement towards the pleasures that await you on your travels can give way to some niggling worries of any possible mishaps you might encounter.

For example, what if your train or aeroplane is cancelled? What if your bags get lost or stolen? And, more seriously, what are the chances that you'll be involved in an accident or be caught in an emergency situation in a foreign country? It's for these reasons, as well as many others, that travel insurance is an essential purchase when making plans for your travels.

Whatever your holiday destination, you'll find it's possible to get European and worldwide travel insurance that covers all your essential needs. The most common risks covered by travel insurance are cancellation, delayed departure, loss, theft or damage to personal possessions and money, emergency evacuation or repatriation, legal issues and - in the most extreme cases - accidental death, injury or disablement.

In addition to cover for such circumstances, you'll find that many companies will let you tailor your own travel insurance to the risks you think will be most likely on your holiday - whether it's European or worldwide travel insurance you're after.

For instance, if you're planning to visit the French Alps on a skiing trip, or you want to go scuba diving in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, you'll be able to add on extra protection for winter or water sports. You might also want to consider adding on insurance cover for natural disasters - for instance, if you're travelling to Bangladesh when there's a high risk of flooding, or if you're taking a trip to Florida during the summer months, when the prospect of hurricane damage is at its highest.

Many travel insurance companies will also offer add-on protection for extreme sports - so if you're in Thailand and would like to indulge in a spot of bungee jumping, you can rest assured that you're covered for any potential injuries or accidents that might occur.

Whatever your main holiday concerns, travel insurance companies are sure to offer you comprehensive advice on what your greatest risks are, depending on your particular holiday location and the type of lifestyle and holiday pursuits you enjoy most. After all, if you can't swim and you're scared of heights, you're not likely to require anything more than the basic travel insurance package!

So, make sure you consider a range of factors before deciding which travel insurance package to opt for - you'll enjoy peace of mind during your holiday, as well as the satisfaction of knowing that you're being well looked after.