Supermarket travel insurance not cheapest

"Point of sale for travel insurance is often found at the checkout and offered alongside food and household items on websites. The pricing can, therefore, seem to be a decent deal when it sits alongside food items that are priced competitively.

"What people forget is that supermarkets do not specialise in the field of travel insurance and delve into the market to make good profit on the back of their brand name.

"Travel insurance for them is not the same as a tin of beans. The reality is that much better bargains can be found online with companies who specialise in travel insurance."

Essential Travel shows a couple aged from 36 to 51 looking for a two-week European holiday could save up to £18.96 on travel insurance by going to a specialist provider.

On an annual European travel insurance policy these savings rise to £34.

Older couples can save even more with travel insurance. Up to £34.85 can be saved on a fortnight away and up to £67.78 on an annual policy with a specialist provider rather than a supermarket.