You could try Holiday Autos so you pay in sterling before you go. You will find most of the majors at the airports or central Paris - can't help with any small firms.

However there are a few points you should note:

1) You will need to have a high vis jacket IN YOUR CAR and a warning triangle in your boot.

2) If you are driving through Switzerland you will need a Swiss vignette - cost 30 SFr or 40 € at the border

3) A recent change in Italian law requires you to drive with DIPPED HEADLIGHTS ON even during daylight on Italian motorways.

4) It will cost you a fortune in drop off fees in another country.

As the Paris péripherique and the Italian tangenziale in Milan are dreadful for traffic - making the M25 look like a picnic by comparison - why not take the train? Cheaper - get a group ticket ... when more than 2 or 3 travel together on the same train - and far less stress, plus you can enjoy a beer or glass of wine en route without endangering your lives!

Bear in mind the minimum age for hiring a car in France is 21.

Patka