Help! Two carseats and an adult in the back - which hire car?

[sydneysuze]

Hi, hoping someone has been through similar.

We are going to Northern Spain in July and need to hire a car from Girona airport. We'll be two children (1 and 2 1/2) who are both in maxi-cosi forward facing carseats, plus me and DH, and MIL.

All the hire car sites offer cars by the group - how can I book a car that I'm sure will fit us all? Plus luggage, plus Phil and Ted's double ...

Any ideas which cars will fit the bill??

Is this going to cost more than the villa and flights????

7 seater, only way to be sure, I fear. Probably need the extra boot space, anyway, for all the luggage. Might squeeze into a Touran, but Sharan better bet.

I fear you're right. Thanks for replying! I guess I'm oping to get smallest possible as we'l only be half an hour from airport and anywhere we'd like to go with everyone in the car.

ooh sorry - that's hoping and I'll

Depends what your MIL+DH are like, too.
I suppose you might manage with a larger saloon car or 4WD type 5-seater vehicle, they tend to be wider than average cars. MIL in front & your DH with his bottom squeezed between kidseats in middle in back (if his bottom can usually fit in such spaces).

I find with older people (like my dad+step-mum, nearly 70) they do NOT fold up well in small cars, they need to easily get in and out. They look healthy weights but they cannot squeeze their ample bottoms into small spaces (like between car seats). Their legs don't fit well behind other seats. So if I were travelling with one of them, I would need bigger car to be sure they could comfortably get in and out & travel.

I have sat in between the carseats in a Toyota yaris abd a hyundai tuscon (?) and it was fine, but was squashed in a Lexus between the same carseats. It depends on how long you are going to be in there!

We do this for weeks at a time when my mam comes to stay with us but she always goes in the front.

Passat, too, larger engine usually means larger rear seat.

Thanks so much. And you're right - my MIL has difficulty walking/twisting etc (although she'd never admit it) so we will most likely have to put her in the front.

Anyone done it with one of the carseats in the front? My oldest is two and a half so I guess she could go in there, and DS who'll be just one by then can come in the back with two adults?

you need to be able to turn off the airbag in the front if you put a child seat there & that can't be done on a whim in a lot of cars - when you won't even know in advance which car you're getting you'd be safest assuming you can't.

so MIL in front & you in back with car seats will be best bet.

Touran. Plenty of space in the back for 2 car seats and an adult, and loads of boot space. You can easily switch off the airbag with a switch in the glove box too.

Guessing a Sharan would be similar.

Citroen Berlingo type might be worth considering. they're not sleek or sexy but are tall & wide & have a lot of luggage space

\link{https://www.economycarhire.com/quote/\economy car hire} have a good rep & offer models rather than groups (well, sort of - they don't guarantee what you'll get. you could ring them & discuss though)

I'd go for a Touran, ours has never let us down, especially in the luggage stakes! We have packed it to the rafters on many an occasion. Three car seats, two forward facing and one rear fit comfortably in the back and the two extra seats in the boot which pop up when needed are brilliant for kids or adults.

The boot space is mahoosive too! As a guide, me and two DCs slept in the back of the car when we went camping. Folded all the seats flat and there was a gigantic space, so plenty for your luggage etc! Have a great holiday

Citroen Xsara Picasso- I currently have 2 high backed Group 1 car seats and can sit comfortably in the middle. Huuuge boot too. Big higher so easier access for MIL- not low to ground.

Thanks so much for all this - esp that link Ponders much appreciated. And I hadn't realised it's not straightforward to switch of an airbag in all cars so thanks for that too.

Great tips on the model names everyone I'm rubbish with cars.

Hi just got back so thought I'd update.

We went Holiday Autos as recommended in The Guardian and they were great, had a Citroen which was part of their 'Intermediate Van' category, £250 for the week including a tank of petrol, fitted us all fine including luggage and a maclaren pushchair in the boot. Only problem was parking it in the narrow Spanish streets!

Flew Thomson and the carseats emerged unscathed. Thanks again for all your help everyone.