car hire with 18 month old and grandparents - which car?

[bawbag]

going to italy soon, bringing grandparents along. Need a car to fit 2 adults and child seat in the back, as well as luggage as we're staying in a villa and need to pick up car at the airport. If advert says car seats 5 adults should it fit our needs? a seven seater would bust the budget.

5 seater would probably be a bit tight as child seats normally take up more space than average adult. If you are planning on travelling a lot it could be very uncomfortable.

You really only need to get to the airport and back with the luggage. How skinny are you. Put the carseat in the front (if no airbag - & rear facing) and get a large family car. Make sure it is a large one and explain to the company that a punto would not do!
It will be a squash, but if the budget wont stretch to a 7 seater then you have to.
You coudl aks for roof racks or a roof box.
We tie the (umbrella folding) buggy onto the roof-racks wrapped in a black sack when we go on holidays with bike elastic.
MPV often means that the boot space is limited when the back seats are in (I have a Kia sedona).