Car seats for holiday abroad

[Fieldsofcabbages]

We are off to Menorca in September with our 3 year old DD1 and DD2 (who will be 3 months when we travel). Last year we had a nightmare with hiring a car seat for our then 2 year old. The seat we were given initially was old and didnt fit the car or DD1 properly. We were offered various replacements none of which were much better. I'm worried about something similar happening this year and so I'm considering taking our own. Our 3 year old has a GB vaio isize which is a huge heavy seat and the baby is in a cybex cloud q. Both are quite expensive seats and so I'm wondering about buying two lighter cheaper seats for the trip. Am I being over the top? Does anyone have any recommendations for cheap but good seats that would be suitable for taking on flights (ie as light and compact as possible).

[SouthLondonDaddy]

The lightest group 2/3 car seat I know of (15-35 kg) is the Graco Junior Maxi. It weighs 3.6 kg, whereas some top of the range ones can easily be more than 8 kgs, but is still quite bulky and takes up quite a lot of space. It can be found for ca. £30 at Amazon or Halfords.
www.graco.co.uk/car-seats/junior/junior-maxi

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

I would definitely take seats rather than hire! It's just not worth the hassle and you've got no idea if the hire seats have been in a crash etc.

I'd take a Joie Juva for your 3 month old - it's a very good infant car seat but only about £40.

Do you want FF or rear facing for the 3 year old? I'd get a joie Stages in order to rear face but there are cheaper forward facing options like some of the Britax seats.

[azulmariposa]

Bear in mind that the seats might not fit in the hire car! I would use the ones from hire company, or hire them from one of the equipment loan services on the island.
They aren't careful when loading them on the plane, I'd be worried about them being damaged in the hold.

[plobsalt]

Bot sure if you can buy them in the UK but the wayb is AMAZING!!!!

wayb.com

[ZenNudist]

I always take my own seats. Have a massive bag for them. Now ds is big enough we just take a booster seat. Ds2 high backed booster with side impact protection is massive so I bought a cheaper, lighter, (less safe) graco one. I figure its about as good as the shitty ones the hire companies rent out.