According to research by Which?, when it comes to European annual policies, travellers aged over 80 typically pay more than six times as much as those aged between 50 and 54 (£355 versus £54).

In addition, the research found that, based on someone with no health issues that they need to declare, a typical five-day travel insurance premium jumps from £30 for a 64-year-old to over double (£62) for a 70-year-old.

Travellers aged over 80 typically pay more than six times as much as those aged between 50 and 54

Which? looked into specialist providers that target the older market to see if they provide better deals. It compared more than 100 annual travel insurance quotes for cover in Europe and found that policies from specialist providers Age Co and Saga were more expensive for customers in their late 60s and 70s than other providers. In fact, it found that customers in their late 60s could get a higher-scoring policy from general insurance company Bluebear for less than half the price.

Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: "While many 70-year-olds accept they have to pay more for their travel insurance than someone who is 25, perfectly healthy older people are missing out on travelling in their golden years due to spiraling premiums. The travel industry must urgently address this problem and stop penalising older generations, who are more active and more determined than ever before."