Despite popular belief, there are quite a lot of rewards in getting older...and having the time and money to travel is obviously one of them.

No worries: Don't let the cost of travel insurance ruin your holiday

But when it comes to trying to get travel insurance at a reasonable rate for all those wish-list destinations there are no grey areas - the more ancient you are the more you will have to pay, and in some cases the increases are exorbitant.

And it's no good pointing out how young and fit you feel and how you haven't had a day's illness in your life. Once that date of birth has been inserted into the insurance company computer you can expect to be charged a lot more to get covered.

We're not just talking about those who have reached pensionable age, there is often a steep rise on the cards after your 40th birthday. And to rub salt into the wound, many insurers won't even consider covering you at all when you have passed the magic age of 65.

And if they do, premiums commonly double again and then continue to rise as you pass 70 and up.

These price hikes and cut off points are despite the fact that older travellers are wiser and more experienced and certainly a lot less likely to get injured pursuing some adrenaline-fuelled activity or end up in hospital after diving into the shallow end of a swimming pool after a night on the tiles.

The response from the insurers is that the higher rates reflect an increased risk of other types of medical claim, which are also among the more expensive to settle. Older people, they say, fall ill more regularly, have to stay in hospital longer and are more expensive to treat.

And these companies make sure they win both ways - an insurer won't offer you a discount for being fit, but if you already have an illness or health issue there is a good chance, if they are prepared to cover you at all, that you will be charged even more and they will probably insist on an exclusion clause for related treatment.

So what do you do about it? The Daily Telegraph's travel expert Nick Trend has been researching the problem and offers the following advice:

• Shop around and find a specialist insurer, and there are plenty of them.
• Buy a multi-trip policy. If you travel four or five times a year or more it will probably be cheaper to take out an annual multi trip policy which will cover you for all travel you do in that year.
• Cut your cover. Many policies are now flexible and you can remove some cover, lost or stolen baggage for example, and reduce premiums as a result.
• Declare any health problems. If you don't, a claim could be refused and you might be left without any cover at all.
• Check activities. If you like to keep fit during your holiday check through which activities are included or excluded to avoid being caught out if you suffer an injury and face an expensive hospital bill.

How often do you travel?
I'm off somewhere every month and spend a lot of time on planes flying between countries on my busy tournament schedule.

What do you need for a perfect holiday?
I love to go to a place with a perfect beach where I can relax and clear my head. My favourite beach in the world is Longo Key near my home in Florida. It's just a few minutes walk from my house and it is the quietest, most serene place in the world where I can release all of my energy. Privacy is also essential for any holiday as are a good glass of sangria and great company.

Tennis star Maria Sharapova needs more than a Thai break to keep her happy

How do you like to spend your time on holiday?
I'm excited to experience different cultures, local cuisines and customs. If I am in a big city I try to see and do everything possible. I keep recommendations from friends and magazine articles in my journal and make the most of the places as soon as I arrive.

The most beautiful place you have competed in?
Being in Paris for three weeks during the French Open is always very special. Between matches and training I try to go to a different part of the city each time and find a restaurant or boutique I have never been to before.

Most romantic place you have been to?
The Amanwana Resort in Indonesia. I took a sea plane to this small island, stayed in luxury tents with monkeys and deer greeting us every morning. Swimming in the ocean at sunset was also magical.

Worst travel experience?
I've not had any terrible travelling experiences and I try to find the positives in every place I visit. But during some of my junior tours I stayed in some interesting hotels, a few of which may have been former jails and they weren't very pleasant

Best piece of travel advice?
Less is more when you pack for a trip. You can find most essentials where ever you are in the world so don't worry if you forget a few things. The stress of making sure you have everything can be overwhelming before you have even begun your trip.

To read the full interview visit www.telegraph.co.uk

Elqui Domos is out of this world

This astronomic hotel is said to resemble the planet of Tatooine from Star Wars so you’d be forgiven for thinking that it has an appearance and name more akin to a galaxy far away than Chile’s majestic Elqui Valley.

Whether you’re a Star Wars fan or an ardent star gazer, the hotel was built to enable guests to observe and enjoy the grandeur of the night sky with accommodation boasting a detachable roof that can be opened up to watch the stars in bed.

Hotel guests have two categories of accommodation to choose from: Dome Rooms and Observatory Rooms. The former category comprises geodesic structures with an outside deck, living room and bathroom on the lower floor and a double bed on the upper floor complete with a detachable roof.

Observatory Rooms consist of wooden cabins located on the upper part of the land which feature three levels of living space including a deck which offers direct sightlines towards the Elqui Valley’s dramatic scenery.

Other services provided by the hotel include astronomic tours, day and night horseback tours as well as reiki, massages and meditation.

A Mile High mystery - Unnamed airline sacks stewardess for offering extra services

Airlines are forever dreaming up little extras to win premium passengers. But a Middle Eastern airline was surprised to discover that one of its cabin crew had her own menu of extras which included joining the Mile High Club for £1500.

The airline has not been named but Saudi Arabian newspaper Sada reported that the flight attendant was immediately sacked and deported. It also suggested she might have made £650,000 on flights from the Gulf to the US during a two year period.

Earlier this year it was reported that some cash strapped air stewardesses in Japan are turning to prostitution in order to supplement decreasing wages and are regularly paid to sleep with the pilots.