Never mind police constables and teachers getting younger by the day, it seems that now the population on the snow slopes is getting older and older. Increased life expectancy and improved pensions have meant that baby boomers that have reached the age of retirement are increasingly unwilling to sit in front of the fire waiting for the grim reaper to come along to tell them there time’s up.

So, do you fancy a slide down the piste for the first time but you’re more enthusiastic about the après-ski than the activity that precedes it? Here’s a few tips to help you: (more…)

Since British regulations on where you could get married were relaxed there’s been a steady growth in people wanting to get hitched in the four corners of the world – and taking there guests with them. The British embassy in the country where you want to get married will be your first port of call for information on tying the knot, but you’d be well-advised to:

• Contact the local authorities in the country for more detailed and practical advice – here’s a list of foreign embassies in the UK
• Find out what specific documents those local authorities require. They may take months to prepare and you really don’t want to turn up at the alter to find you haven’t got your granny’s birth certificate or some other obscure document.
• Check if you need visas to enter the country. British passport holders can go to 152 countries so you’ll probably have most of your ideal destinations covered, but some places such as Australia and the United States require some formalities before you leave. (more…)

You may be a little concerned by the recent turn of events at British Airways. Legal action and reconciliation notwithstanding, the company is considering cancelling large chunks of its timetable over the Christmas period following a vote for strike action by its cabin staff.

Assuming the strike goes ahead, this will mean extensive cancellations and re-booking and consequently a large number of insurance claims due to travel delays that are widely expected. (more…)

Every so often, there’s a story in the press about a back packer going missing. The way these things are reported, you’d think it was a dangerous thing to do. Of course nothing in this world is completely safe, but the fact is that tens of thousands of teenagers set off every year for anything between two weeks and a year and come back fully enriched by the experience. I only did it for three weeks in 1977, but came back completely different for what happened.

So parents, what should be on your kids’ to do lists?

1. What research have you done? Have you got a good guide book,? The amount of information available these days even on the most obscure places in the world, is staggering. The Internet and mobile devices make it possible to store stuff electronically. Why not ask friends who have already travelled for advice? (more…)

This month we have had some great feedback from our customers who have shown us that travel insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions really can make dreams come true. Not just because of the excellent protection and cover on offer, or because of our brilliant staff who talk to customers professionally and discretely – though both those reasons are really important.  No, the most important reason for these customers is that we enable them to go on holiday, because we are so much cheaper than our nearest rivals, sometimes hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds cheaper.

We at World First made the difference between them being able to afford their holiday or not.  Wow, I have to say that feels really good!

But, you don’t have to believe me – just read what some of them have to say… (more…)

USA, Algeria, Slovenia? The World Cup draw has been “kind” lets say. Thousands of people would have started making plans on the evening of 4th December to travel to South Africa in June and July 2010. World Cup fever starts here. So what should you be thinking of before setting off on a trip like that to the other side of the world.

1. Take warm clothes. Just because it’s in June and July, don’t forget it’s in the Southern Hemisphere so it’ll be winter. It could be as cold as it was standing on the terraces at Fulham’s Craven Cottage before they built up the stand to stop the cold air blowing in off the Thames. The effect was that of a wind tunnel. Freezing. (more…)

Today is World Aids Day, and here at World First we are proud to have been at the forefront of providing travel insurance for HIV positive travellers for thirty years now. 

Since the early 80s, we have worked alongside some of the leading HIV charities to help us better understand this complex and life changing condition and to help raise money and therefore awareness amongst the general public.

Our HIV travel insurance cover is affordable and comprehensive, and allows positive travellers and same sex couples to tour the world with peace of mind, just like the majority of the population.  However, there is no doubt that HIV is a complex condition and we like to think that the way we sell our insurance reflects this.

1. Unlike many travel insurers, there are no blanket exclusions for HIV when it comes to our cover.  We treat all quotes for medical travel insurance in the same way and should a traveller become ill with say haemophilia or hepatitis whilst away, then as long as it was declared and accepted when you bought the policy, we will cover the medical bills. (more…)