A £800 laptop isn't necessary to keep in touch.

Taking expensive equipment on a trip like this is asking for trouble. It's too much to ask a 18 year old to look after such things in my view. Perhaps this is why you are finding it hard to get cover.

If you can't manage to work out alternatives, look into the various security arrangements that are available. There are alarms, for example, that will sound if the laptop moves more than a few metres from the user. The employer should also be able to offer a safe place to keep valuables.

Not very helpful. He needs insurance for all his personal effects not just his laptop. His laptop is to enable him to keep in touch with his family and friends and the cost of it is irrelavent as if anything is lost or stolen he will still need to replace it.

He should leave his expensive laptop at home and enjoy the skiing.

My son (18 years old) will be working in the French Alps for this winter season (Dec 08 to April 09) at a hotel in a ski resort. His employer is providing all medical, injury and repatriation insurance but this does not cover his personal effects for travel there and back and whilst he is out there. He will be taking a quite expensive laptop (£800), ski boots and ski ware (£500) plus ipod, mp3, clothes, shoes etc. Estimated total value around £2000.

I need to find an insurer to cover this additonal risk but have been unsucessful so far. Does anybody know who I can approach that can provide such cover at a reasonable (ideally less than £100) cost and from a reputable insurer who will pay out on genuine claims (I have had previous bad experience from a popular budget insurer who hid behind obscure clauses and requirements in order to refuse paying out on an absolutely genuine claim)