This couple lost £1,000 after their flight was cancelled - here is what to check so you don't

If you're planning a holiday this summer, it's important to check the insurance policy details carefully so you don't get caught out.

Many of them do not cover losses linked to a war as Debbie and Ardon Rainbird from Northallerton in North Yorkshire found out the hard way.

The couple got stuck for an extra two weeks during a holiday in Sri Lanka after their return flight through the Qatari capital Doha was cancelled when the Iran conflict broke out.

They had an annual insurance travel policy but it didn't cover war, leaving them around £1,000 out of pocket even though their tour operator paid for some of their extra nights after which they moved to a budget hotel.

If they had bought an add-on then that cost would have been covered.

"It is frustrating because you budget for a holiday," Debbie says. "But we were incredibly lucky compared with others."

The cost of insurance hasn't really changed, but holidaymakers now have far fewer travel insurance policies to choose from when visiting areas in or near the conflict in the Middle East, say analysts Defaqto.

Here are the five insurance questions you should ask before booking your summer holiday.

1. What am I covered for - and what am I not?

Insurance becomes invalid if you go somewhere where the Foreign Office advises against travel. For example, the current advice is against all travel to Iran.

"It is always worthwhile checking the policy details though or speaking with the provider as the policy may include some travel disruption coverage which could extend to civil unrest or airspace closures," says Anna-Marie Duthie, travel insurance expert at Defaqto.

While some policies cover the cost of disruption and cancellation, the biggest cost involved in travel insurance is to cover emergency medical treatment that may be needed while abroad.

2. Will I be covered if a jet fuel shortage affects my holiday?

Airlines are responsible for offering alternative flights or refunds when operational issues - such as a shortage of jet fuel - leads to flight cancellations, according to trade body the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

If you book a trip using a credit card then you could make a claim through your card provider for services, such as accommodation, that you did not receive.

If you booked your flight and accommodation separately, travel insurance might cover some unused, non-refundable costs, the ABI says. But this would only be when the policy included cancellation cover and the cause of the cancellation was something included in the policy.

If a claim is linked to geopolitical issues then it may not be covered, Defaqto says.

3. Am I still covered if I change destination?

If you're planning a summer holiday in the affected region then you might decide to go somewhere else instead.

If you are switching to another part of the world, such as from Europe to the US, then you will need to let your insurer know.

The change could lead to an extra charge.

4. What if I don't want to go away at all anymore?

If you've already booked to visit a destination that is subsequently deemed unsafe by the Foreign Office then you should not travel and can claim on your insurance.

However, if the Foreign Office says travel is safe, but you change your mind about travelling, then there is no cover.

This is known as disinclination. Experts suggest contacting the holiday provider to change destination or dates of travel, although that may depend on availability and often comes at an extra cost.

5. Does it matter when I buy my insurance policy?

You should buy travel insurance as soon as you book a trip, to make sure you're covered if the trip is cancelled because, for example, you or someone in your party has fallen ill, consumer experts and the ABI suggest.

Most travel insurance policies will not be valid if you buy cover while already on holiday.

Most travel policies will not cover claims linked with a "known event". If you book a holiday, then the situation escalates before you buy travel insurance, then less cover may be available.