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Original poster

Car seats on holiday

26 replies

RedRobyn2021 · 30/03/2023 09:28

We're going on holiday to Portugal and where we are staying we'll need to use the car everyday to get to the beach or the local town, so I'm trying to figure out what to do re car seats.

We going to hire a car, what do other people do? Just hire a FF hired car seat and hope for the best? Or try to lug the car seat with you?

OP posts:
Dammitthisisshit · 30/03/2023 09:32

Hire care seats with the car. Though have never had to with a newborn so mine were always old enough that they were allowed to forward face.

Caspianberg · 30/03/2023 09:35

Depends. If just hire car straight from airport and back we bought a cheaper car seat that rear faces ( graco extend/ joie tilt) it’s only around £60 and lasts 0-4 ish.

We often travel though and hire car half the time, then public transport in city after etc so lugging car seat not possible so then hire. It’s usually £10-15 a day so
more expensive but convenient. For 1-4 year olds it’s usually a forward facing though which we don’t use at home for that age.

Liss243 · 30/03/2023 09:45

When went to Italy last year and hired a car, the rental company would let us book a car seat but said they couldn’t guarantee it so we took one as didn’t want to deal with that on arrival. Might be worth checking if they will definitely have one available if you do book one.

Oliotya · 30/03/2023 13:50

Take car seats with you. You don't know what seats they will provide or the condition they will be in. I would want my kids to be as safe on holiday as they are at home.

SacreBleeurgh · 30/03/2023 13:53

Please, please take car seats with you. It’s really not that much of a faff and most airlines will carry them for free for booked children. You have absolutely no idea of the history and condition of the seats you hire, and there are so many horror stories about completely inappropriate seats being provided.

If child is <18kg then the Joie Stages is a very portable, universal option that fits most cars.

FlounderingFruitcake · 30/03/2023 13:53

How old? I always go for hiring them there but I understand if you might be wary if DC is still a baby and you can’t guarantee the type of seat. If they’re at booster age then I wouldn’t think twice about it though.

Ponderingwindow · 30/03/2023 13:58

Bring seats with you. You have no idea if the hire seats have been in an accident or stored properly.

Original poster
RedRobyn2021 · 30/03/2023 15:57

@Oliotya I want to but what's the best way to transport it? We have an axkid move and is bloody enormous and we no longer have the box

OP posts:
Original poster
RedRobyn2021 · 30/03/2023 15:57

@SacreBleeurgh can you recommend how to transport an axkid move? My DD is 2

OP posts:
Original poster
RedRobyn2021 · 30/03/2023 16:03

SacreBleeurgh · 30/03/2023 13:53

Please, please take car seats with you. It’s really not that much of a faff and most airlines will carry them for free for booked children. You have absolutely no idea of the history and condition of the seats you hire, and there are so many horror stories about completely inappropriate seats being provided.

If child is <18kg then the Joie Stages is a very portable, universal option that fits most cars.

My mum has a jolie spin for DD would that be better for travelling? 🤔

OP posts:
Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 30/03/2023 16:06

My DD put a car seat and a stroller into a large cardboard box. She padded it out with beach towels which was a great saving on the weight in the suitcases. There was no cost.

Oliotya · 30/03/2023 16:13

My 2 year old is usually in a move as well. But we bought a graco enhance (same as joie stages) for traveling. Best practice is the original box or other large box, but we had 3 car seats so that wasn't practical. So we used padded car seat bags and they all arrived safely.

gogohmm · 30/03/2023 16:16

I always took mine onboard for the flight for mine aged 2+ I had faa compatible ones as we lived in the USA but are British.

Caspianberg · 30/03/2023 16:16

The move looks easy enough to take if you want as no isofix leg in the way. For our joie for travel we just bought a car seat bag off Amazon ( less than £20). Fill out with bulk stuff like nappies/ swim jacket/ etc.

reluctantbrit · 31/03/2023 07:30

Always our own car seat after bad experience.
We hired, in our home country, no language barriers.

Case 1: car seat was broken. We had written evidence that a) car seat was available and b) it was a certain brand. Neither was there. In the end they managed to get one from another rental agency at the airport after DH was on the phone complaining to their regional office who sent us the confirmations.

We always had large bags and padded it with blankets and towels.

We once waited for a car in an airport and next to us was a family who tried to make the rental agency understand that a 2 year old couldn't sit in a booster seat (just the little plastic thing).

Original poster
RedRobyn2021 · 31/03/2023 11:43

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 30/03/2023 16:06

My DD put a car seat and a stroller into a large cardboard box. She padded it out with beach towels which was a great saving on the weight in the suitcases. There was no cost.

So you just turn up to the airport with a giant box? Did you just tell the check in it was a car seat and they were fine with it?

OP posts:
Original poster
RedRobyn2021 · 31/03/2023 11:43

Oliotya · 30/03/2023 16:13

My 2 year old is usually in a move as well. But we bought a graco enhance (same as joie stages) for traveling. Best practice is the original box or other large box, but we had 3 car seats so that wasn't practical. So we used padded car seat bags and they all arrived safely.

What brand please? Can't imagine needing to bring 3 car seats blimey

OP posts:
Original poster
RedRobyn2021 · 31/03/2023 11:44

reluctantbrit · 31/03/2023 07:30

Always our own car seat after bad experience.
We hired, in our home country, no language barriers.

Case 1: car seat was broken. We had written evidence that a) car seat was available and b) it was a certain brand. Neither was there. In the end they managed to get one from another rental agency at the airport after DH was on the phone complaining to their regional office who sent us the confirmations.

We always had large bags and padded it with blankets and towels.

We once waited for a car in an airport and next to us was a family who tried to make the rental agency understand that a 2 year old couldn't sit in a booster seat (just the little plastic thing).

Oh my god, that is shocking

OP posts:
Oliotya · 31/03/2023 11:52

RedRobyn2021 · 31/03/2023 11:43

What brand please? Can't imagine needing to bring 3 car seats blimey

Show quote history

We used the J.L Childress bag, bought it on ebay. They're really good quality and I think the seats were well protected. We fit a pack of nappies inside each seat as well.
We were visiting a developing country so no chance of hiring car seats and the roads can be terrifying. Was a pain through the airports but otherwise wasn't a problem!

Car seats on holiday
Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 31/03/2023 18:11

RedRobyn2021 · 31/03/2023 11:43

So you just turn up to the airport with a giant box? Did you just tell the check in it was a car seat and they were fine with it?

Show quote history

Yes. DD checked it into the oversized luggage section

StillWantingADog · 31/03/2023 18:13

Always took with us. Free on Easyjet.
we bought cheap seats for the purpose, I really wouldn’t bother with taking an isofix seat. Now the kids are older we just take a pair of boosters.

PurBal · 31/03/2023 18:19

We had a number of options but we’re going to wrap in couple of towels then bag wrap at the airport. £15 from in UK and €10 from Europe. If going more frequently then worth considering a bag. If travelling a lot then Maxi-Cosi Nomad is hand luggage size for 9m+.

kwetu · 31/03/2023 18:19

We've just always hired them with the car. But if you prefer your own your baggage allowance with child usually allows for either buggy or car seat.

Original poster
RedRobyn2021 · 31/03/2023 19:38

@Oliotya thank you very much for this, I think I will get one.

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AchillesElbow · 31/03/2023 19:48

The problem with taking your own seat is that they get thrown around and potentially damaged, meaning they won’t be safe to use afterwards. You might not be aware of the damage. I’d get a cheap/2nd hand one to take as it will be better than you get from the hire company, and means you keep a safe seat at home where you do most of your driving.