Would you advise taking your own car seats on holiday?

[harribeau100]

Hi we are going to Australia for a family wedding in a few months. Have 2 daughters ( baby aged 5 months and older one 4 years).

We will be hiring a car for part of the time we are away. However will also be using the occasional taxi eg from airport to our first accommodation whilst in Oz and when we get back to the UK (from airport to our home).

Question is what we do about car seats -do we take our own or hire when we get a car? My concern is that the car seats get damaged (may not be visible damage) whilst in the hold of the plane. If we don't take car seats then my children will presumably have no car seats for when we are traveling by taxi ( which could be c. 50 mile trips).
Is there any advice re how we could package the car seats up so they are less likely to be damaged?
I'm currently thinking we may buy a travel booster for my eldest ( though not ideal as she should be in a high back booster) and we take our maxi cosi pebble car seat as hold baggage ( though would need to bubble wrap it).
Any other suggestions welcome!

UK car seats cannot be used in Australia as they do not meet their requirements . You will need to hire seats from the relevant hire car firm in Australia.

The taxi company you choose to use in the UK should be able to provide suitable car seats for your journey.

This is a useful website:-
www.babycenter.com.au/a1033422/car-seat-laws-in-australia

Thanks for this -in my experience taxis are not able to reliably provide car seats-they may have a booster but wouldn't be able to provide an infant seat

The law in Australia aside (I didn’t know that) I would absolutely take/buy your own if at all possible - you are worried about ‘unseen’ damage in the hold but the car seats provided by hire companies could have been ANYWHERE, they are extremely unreliable.

Is there any chance you could arrange for a family member to meet you at the airport with basic car seats? Buying New is expensive but actually the hire cost can add up...

I always took
Mine uk - nz. Use in taxi to airport, check them in, check them out, use in car from airport and throughout holiday.

It's a no brainer for me. Done it many times.

We use the trunkie backpack/booster sometimes too. Can keep books in it.

Boost-a-paks are brilliant but only for aged 3 and up I think.

yes - they might be OK for the OP's 4yo.

I've traveled with very kind of car seat. the airlines have never looked twice - they take them all.

I was looking at buying a travel booster but given it will not be legal to use in Oz won't bother -though how they would check I'm not sure. I think I will look at buying a cheap seat for my 4 year old over there and just found out can borrow a baby seat from SIL's friend over there.