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Original poster

Car seats for preschoolers abroad

23 replies

Myleakycauldron · 10/06/2022 20:42

We've just booked a package holiday to Greece (not been on one before!) so we'll be on a resort and it includes free transfers (I'm imagining a mini bus).

Do we / should we / do you take car seats for our 2 year old and 4 year old? I have no idea! We may rent a car for a day when there but not guaranteed so possibly could just use them on the transfer (30 mins).

Both of our car seats are heavy and the isofix types. Pre pandemic we had only travelled with a baby and took his car seat as was smaller and strapped in with the seat belt anyway!

Sorry for the world's most boring question, I have nobody in real life to ask!

OP posts:
Lou573 · 10/06/2022 20:44

Following as have the same issue! Not sure the transfer bus will even have seat belts to strap anything in though, do they usually?

MrsSkylerWhite · 10/06/2022 20:45

Absolutely, yes. We love Greece but these sort of aids just don’t seem to be provided as standard.

Original poster
Myleakycauldron · 10/06/2022 20:51

Our car seats strap in the bars behind the seat (if that makes sense) but are such a faff. And my husband is really not up for taking them!

Does everyone bring their car seats then?

OP posts:
Raggeo · 10/06/2022 20:53

Also curious for answers. We hired a car in Cyprus at Easter. We took our baby's travel system car seat with us but just hired a car seat from rental company for my 2 year old. Will never do that again though. The condition of the car seat was terrible and when we complained they brought a different one that wasn't even compatible with the car. Next time we travel I'm going to have to take a car seat for toddler too but not lugging our big, expensive isofix one.

RetrainRetrain · 10/06/2022 20:54

We always take our own car seat for hire cars. I don't think it really matter how many days it's for. I don't know much about fixing them on buses though.

Sunnyshoeshine · 10/06/2022 20:54

Ive also been wondering about this. John Lewis have a Group 1 car seat for about £100 that fastens in with a seatbelt. I'm wondering if it might be a useful purchase to use for holidays so our good one stays at home?

Anotherdayanotherdollar · 10/06/2022 20:57

When we had just the one child we brought our car seats on holidays and checked it at the airport. When we had more than one we travelled by car and ferry to avoid this problem... Now they're at the stage where booster seats are enough (depending on the regulations of the holiday country) so we will be back to flying. I might buy the bubble bum seats.

mrsfoof · 10/06/2022 20:57

I would look at getting something like a Britax Evolva. They strap in with a seatbelt and aren't too bulky (relatively speaking!) and will last until they don't need a car seat anymore.

LittleOwl153 · 10/06/2022 20:58

We travel with car seats (only high-backed boosters as they are older) but we will be driving once there. The issue I think is the hire car not the hotel transfers. (They will be by bus/minibus and likely won't have isofix anyway so unless you can buy/borrow pre isofix seats you're wasting your time.)

If you plan to hire a car then the hire firm will probably scare you into hiring (rubbish overpriced) seats too... but check on hire prices before you go as they have rocketed this year- costs in Spain at 10x what they were 3 yrs ago for example so might not be an appealing option...

Car seats are usually carried as extra on the plane for kids of that age - but potentially at the expense of the buggy which with a 2yr old might be more use?

Dinoteeth · 10/06/2022 20:59

Op this is MN where everyone should RF until the age of 16.

I live in the real world. For a couple of 30min transfers I'd take a couple of booster cushions. Sod trying to cart huge heavy carseats on a plane and the worry they have been damaged.

If I was hiring a car for a full week I'd rethink. I hired carseats in florida without any issues but they are really expensive to hire

Twizbe · 10/06/2022 21:04

For package tours with transfers on a coach - no.

We took our son at 18 months on one and we just cuddled him on the bus.

When we go in august the kids will be 3 and 5 and we won't bother.

FamilyAreEverything · 10/06/2022 21:12

Not a boring question. You’re thinking of your childrens safety.

We’ve always taken our own car seat. We have a heavy duty bag and pad it with a lot of bubble wrap. Most airlines allow you to take a car seat free of charge for a child if it’s needed. Is there a option to use the seat belt to fit the seats you have? Could you contact the resort to see what the transfer vehicle is?

A booster seat for a 4 year old would be dangerous, never mind a 2 year old.

MrsSkylerWhite · 10/06/2022 21:16

Myleakycauldron · Today 20:51
Our car seats strap in the bars behind the seat (if that makes sense) but are such a faff. And my husband is really not up for taking them!

Does everyone bring their car seats then?“

yes, always did, why wouldn’t you? Maybe point out to your husband that it will be a bit more than a faff if a taxi driver has an accident and your kids aren’t in their seats?.

Original poster
Myleakycauldron · 10/06/2022 21:31

I think I'm going to buy some travel ones which strap in via safety belts - does that make sense?

OP posts:
minuette1 · 10/06/2022 21:32

We take an Urban Kanga car seat abroad, I highly recommend.

Lazypuppy · 10/06/2022 21:33

We've never taken one. Transfer is normally coach so just hold baby on lap, this year we did taxi to hotel with 4yo and just used normal seat belt for journey

motogirl · 10/06/2022 21:55

Until my kids were 5 I took car seats onto the plane and used them during the flight, made it easier the other end

motogirl · 10/06/2022 21:56

Should add that seats were no extended rear facing then, just forward from 1 year

Oldnews · 10/06/2022 22:05

What do you do when you don't drive? We're taking a small 3.5 year old to mallorca, won't have a hire car but will do taxi transfers and a day trip or two by taxi. We can't really take a car seat with us, because in a day trip etc we wouldn't be able to carry it round with us. Do you all think something like a trunki boostapack would work?

mswales · 10/06/2022 22:05

I got one of these for my four year old, a backpack that converts into a booster seat. It's heavy but he loves it.www.trunki.co.uk/collections/boostapak

Kay7766923 · 10/06/2022 22:15

I bought a britax eclipse off marketplace for our holiday. I would never use a second hand car seat normally but figured it was safer than using the normal car seat at home after god knows what has happened to it in the airport. I would also not forward face at the age we did on holiday however it is a seat that can be belted in with just a lap belt so I felt it was the lesser of two evils.

I would never complete even a short journey at home without my child in a car seat so I couldn't accept doing this on holiday.

In the end we had to pay €120 in private taxis because we were told that my child had to sit on my lap on the coach anyways and I just wasn't willing to take that risk.

I don't understand how UK travel companies can sell packages which don't include safe travel for children.

reluctantbrit · 11/06/2022 08:35

We always took our car seat as we tend to have a hire car for the holiday. After disasterous experiences in my home country and no language issues (and written and verbal confirmation of the car seat) we bit the bullet and got a second one.

A booster seat may be ok for a taxi or bus where regulations are different but don't rely on it for a hire car.

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