Retirement has arrived. It’s a time to experience a slower pace of life, relax and enjoy spot of gardening. But not all of today’s over 65’s have got that message!

Retirement is taking a new twist. Less of the slower pace of life and substitute jetting around the world! International travel for the over 65’s is here and booming!

It’s a result of an increased sense of adventure and willingness to experiment, combined with more wealth. Lower cost air tickets also help! Even cruises, once the sole province of the rich and famous, have become affordable. A Caribbean cruise, an escape to Antigua and a fortnight in the Canaries are now all on the travelling schedule for the over 65’s.

Then a bluebottle lands in the ointment. Just try finding cheap travel insurance when you’re over 65. It is a real difficulty. Insurers recognise that folks have healthier lives and are living longer, and in many sectors the companies are designing bespoke products for the older market. But with travel insurance, older people are still faced with sky-high premiums.

Premiums escalate as you get older and if you want an annual policy to cover an extended holiday or a series of holidays, the problem no longer becomes simply finding the cheapest price - more of finding any policy at all.

The problem revolves around the insurers’ experience of the costs of medical claims. The over 65’s are far more likely to make a medical claim and the average claim size is higher too. Then again, older holiday makers reportedly take greater care of their luggage - but these savings are offset because their belongings are liable to be more valuable, so there are few economies here.

The result is that even if you are over 65 and fit, the lowest priced annual policy could easily cost £1,000 per traveller – that could be more than the holiday itself. Faced with these cost, the only solution is to find separate travel insurance cover for each trip. But even then the premium for a 3-week holiday in Spain starts around £65 even with a good medical history, and will rise enormously for destinations further a-field.

The solution? Shop around and get a range of quotations. Your travel agent may offer a quotation but don’t snap his hand off until you’ve got competitive quotes. You’ll almost certainly find much cheaper by surfing the Internet and buying online.

But don’t make the decision simply on the basis of cost.

When you’re buying travel insurance always examine the small print. Watch out because some policies will cover you for a trip up to 21 days, others to 31 days or 45 days. Some policies will only insure you if you’re staying in booked accommodation rather than staying with friends. No good for visiting family in Australia! Then you need to ensure that the policy provides liberal cover for medical and hospital expenses and that they’ll fly you home to the UK if your medical condition demands. Don’t forget to compare the excess you have to pay per claim and whether the policy pays medical costs direct to the hospital or whether you are required to pay first and then reclaim.

Then having booked the holiday and paid the insurance, comes the really good bit – jet off and ENJOY yourself!