With the sun shining across much of the country, it may feel like summer is well and truly here – but people planning to drive to property in Italy in hire cars still have the chance to book their transport ahead of the crowds.

Property in Italy, southern Spain and the Balearic Islands is all predicted to be popular in the months to come by rental car firm Avis.

UK head of marketing Nick Mountfield tells the Travel Trade Gazette that early booking is a must for motorists who do not want to be left without their own set of wheels when the true summer months of July and August arrive.

"These locations experience extremely high peaks of demand for the key season weeks in July and August – often five or six times the average weekly demand during the rest of the year," he says.

People driving to property in France, Italy or anywhere in continental Europe, may also want to heed the advice of Sarah Munro, head of Post Office Travel Money.

She recently advised taking cash on trips to pay for fuel at rural petrol stations, as many on the continent do not accept credit or debit cards.

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