Hire car hell can hamstring a holiday

Renting a vehicle abroad is a process fraught with pitfalls and frustrations – even if you know your onions

I write this on my way to Italy for a long weekend. It’s a holiday, not a work trip, so I’ve arranged to hire a car with my own money. I’m accustomed to the anxiety that is already starting to build up. I’m not worried about the weather; I have no qualms about the cleanliness of the Airbnb accommodation; and I fly frequently enough to not think about it (though nobody truly loves ...