Several friends of ours have reported difficulties navigating round Sicily. One suggested a sat nav could solve the problem. Do rental companies provide sat navs, and if so would they only speak Italian? Janet Nicolas, London

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: First off, it’s easy to buy a sat nav system here in the UK, which already has European map preloaded. Check with a motoring outlet, but they start from about £70. And if you already have one that isn’t equipped for Europe, you should be able to download the relevant European maps for it.

Otherwise, you can rent a sat nav system from your hire car company. You’ll have the advantage of knowing that it definitely works for the sometimes-impenetrable Sicilian roads, and yes they will be able to communicate with you in English.

However the disadvantages are the price and availability. Most of the hire car companies can’t confirm a sat nav in advance, but will put in a request for your pick up office to make one available to you when you collect the car. It shouldn’t be a problem except for the very busiest summer weekends.

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Second is the cost. National Car Rental charges €10 (£9) per day, or €50 (£47) per week. There is a maximum charge of €150 (£140) per rental, and in case of damage or theft, you’ll be looking at a penalty charge of €250 (£234).

It is unlikely that you would do such a thing on Sicily, but there is also a one-way drop-off extra charge (for the sat nav) of €40.00 (£37) if you return the car to a different town or airport, and €20.00 (£19) if you return it to a different office in the same city.

Avis charges €14.40 (£13.50) per day; up to a maximum €144 (£135) for a sat nav in Sicily.

All of the above prices will have local VAT added to them.

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