Beagle - one other point not directly asked but maybe relevant. I think there may be a problem renting an aircraft in a member state and then flying to another member state on the strength of your FAA PPL. I know for example that an FAA PPL flying a G reg aircraft whilst welcome in the UK is rather less welcome in France or Germany in the same aircraft whilst operating on the privilges of an FAA PPL. I am not quite sure the legal foundation for this position but it seems to be the practical one. It must be part of being one Europe! The problem of course goes away if the aircraft is on the N reg but renting one of those may be a tade more difficult.