Football fans heading to the Champions League final on Wednesday should ensure they have a suitable travel insurance policy in place before they travel, according to Direct Line and esure.

Prices in Moscow, where the final will be held, are renowned for being high, with hotel rooms reportedly costing an average of £236 per night. Therefore, it is essential that fans avoid paying through the nose for services that would be covered by travel insurance should something go wrong.

As the EHIC (formerly E111) does not cover UK fans travelling to Russia, Direct Line urges all those making the trip to avoid hefty medical bills by getting the relevant travel insurance.

Direct Line’s head of travel insurance, Chris Price, said: “While it is easy to get excited about the first ever all-English final, fans should prepare adequately for an overseas trip. They should ensure they have the right travel insurance in place to cover them for incidents which may occur while away including medical emergencies, loss of passports, legal assistance and trip cancellation which can be very costly and inconvenient at the best of times.

“With air ambulance evacuations costing up to £25,000, a serious accident or injury can result in financial disaster for fans without insurance. A stay in a private hospital in Moscow which offers reasonable levels of treatment can cost up to £1,500 a day, plus any specialist expenses.”

Direct Line travel insurance covers customers travel and medical emergencies, as well as up to £500 cover for lost or stolen pre-paid tickets to the match and lost passport cover. The insurance also offers legal assistance and third-party liability cover. Moreover, the company offers group discounts for up to 16 adults travelling together.

According to esure, more than 42,000 football fans are planning to travel to the Luzhniki Stadium this week; however, it found that many are unprepared for the trip. Its research showed that 15 per cent of football tourists never check whether their passport is valid for travel and 26 per cent do not even research whether or not they need a visa or specific documentation to enter their travel destination.

Head of travel insurance at esure, Mike Pickard, said: “Footballing fans may be so caught up in the excitement of the Champions League final that, in the sudden rush to book their flights and accommodation, they are overlooking the basics – such as booking travel insurance and preparing the important documentation required.

“It’s vital to plan ahead and read the small print of travel insurance documents to make sure you’re covered should anything unfortunate, such as a flight cancellation or baggage loss, occurs.”

Esure travel insurance offers customers single or multi trip cover and allows travellers to remove certain items from their policy if they are not needed.

©Fair Investment Company Ltd