How do I get us all home?!

[CeciliaMars]

I am in Europe on holiday with my husband and 3 primary school age kids. We have a hire car that only he can drive. He has badly injured his hip, he’s been to hospital and is on strong painkillers and has crutches. He can barely walk and is in agony. We are meant to be flying home on Friday. How do we get the hire car to the airport and all of us into the airport? I am going to request assistance once we get to the airport. Also at the other end, how do I get him to our car? We are a shuttle bus away from our car. He literally can’t walk and is in agony. I truly can’t figure out the logistics of this.

There is absolutely no reason why she should explain why she can't drive. She can't. She wouldn't have this problem if she could. She is clearly desperate to resolve the problem, so if there was a way that she could drive, she would.

Mumsnetters obsession with people not being able to drive is tedious.

I also need to know is it just the hire car she can’t drive or does she need me to solve how they get their car home too?

Occam's razor probably applies here.

Just in passing interest, how on earth did DH get himself so painfully wounded?

To add- I've read the rest of the thread and it sounds like there might be a physical impediment to OP not driving. In that case my suggestion won't work (when I read 'logistics' my mind went straight to rental issues as that's something I've experienced)

OMG, are people being deliberately obtuse about the driving. Before the OP’s updates, it was valid and therefore perfectly relevant to this thread! She originally just said she couldn’t drive it, and then also talked about getting back to her own car which implies she is able to drive. And she asked for help with logistics. So without know why she couldn’t drive the hire car (and I’m pretty sure no one really gives a shiny shit why) the obvious place to start is suggesting she become able to by calling the company and asking to be added. Now that’s been ruled out we move on to the next obvious suggestion which is request the company to collect it.

Beyond that, who cares if it’s because it’s on the other side of the road, she’s too short, it might be a skiing holiday and she doesn’t want to drive in the conditions, she doesn’t want to drive on Autobahns, may be it’s blue and she’s doesn’t like blue cars. The point is she implied from the outset that she is able to drive without saying why she couldn’t drive the hire car, so suggesting she try that first was logical. Not an assault on her ability to drive, stature or any other deeply entrenched mn obsession with driving.

Here endeth my rant.

Finger crossed that the airport accept that he is fit to fly.

Depends on how many MRI machines they have available.My mother was bumped 5 times from a scan as emergencies came in and took priority.

I think I'd be worried about a DVT. You probably should speak to a doctor to check he can fly. Are you far away?

Hope you get sorted soon and at least try and squeeze a few more drops out of your holiday.

It's like one of those maths problems where they say "Bob can't eat an apple and an orange but Jane can eat both." No one questions that, they get on with the problem.

OP has said she can't drive the hire car and wants solutions that don't involve that.

I hope you resolve it, lots of useful posts on the thread, and that DH is ok to fly.

It seems clear OP can drive their own car from the airport to home because she's asking only how to get her husband from the terminal to their car, not how to get their car home.

It may be that she only has a licence for automatics and the hire car is a manual. My DH has had an auto only licence his entire driving life because of a childhood injury to his left hip which means he can't drive a manual with a clutch. Manuals are cheaper to hire and sometimes autos simply aren't available. We've been on several holidays where I've done all the driving in a manual hire car (and hoped I don't crock myself).

Maybe it's a massive car and she isn't comfortable driving it in a foreign country, I know I would be iffy with it tbh.

How stressful. I hope you all get home safe and sound ASAP

With regards to the driving, my first thought is that she has an automatic licence and the car is a manual so she doesn't know how to drive it, I'd be in the same situation.

My DH would not be able to drive a manual hired car as he has an automatic only licence. We usualy hire manuals anyway because they are cheaper and I drive. Maybe the op didn't bring her driving licence . I've been known to forget it when I shouldn't have and my sister ended up doing all the driving on one holiday

There are all sorts of reasons she might not be able to drive a hired car abroad but can drive at home in her own car

Contact the insurance company and say they must take over and be helping you plus doing ALL the logistics. Write a list of what you need. This is the time when you find out what type of insurance company you are dealing with.

You can e added to the insurance. I do all the driving when we’re away but added my husband by the phone via email for photos of docs etc.

Your insurance should cover collection fee for the car and your taxis.
My father became seriously in the US a few years ago. Insurance paid all sorts of incidental costs not just medical costs.
Things like hotels, taxis etc

Poor you and your DH, I was in that position last Summer.

You need to know if he is allowed to fly, that's your next step. If not commercially, then it needs to be checked if he needs to go on a medical flight or has to stay at your location.

Car - phone the company to get someone to collect it, get this confirmed in writing plus what any additional charges are. You will need that for your insurance.

UK car - contact the parking company that you will come with a taxi to collect. Again, you need to know if your DH can actually go into a normal car or would need medical transport.

Make sure you follow up all calls with an email so you can prove to your insurance what exactly has been agreed and what additional charges you will have to pay.

Do you have someone who could meet you when you arrive back in the UK to help with your children, maybe taking them home while you concentrate on getting your car and DH home? It would make it less stressful for you.

If you're still struggling after trying the suggestions also consider ringing the British Embassy. Helping get ill brits home is very much part of their role, they can provide advice, help with language barriers for official forms ect.

Exactly. Why not just say why - incase there is a workaround.

Well, by fudging instead of just saying "I can't drive the car as I have the wrong license, so we need XYZ" it makes it seem that she knows the answer may get jumped on. I'm guessing the OP doesn't feel comfortable driving overseas, and knows (quite rightly) that many people will tell her to grow up and get on with it given the circumstances.

First you need to make sure it is safe for him to fly. The risk of DVT is much higher after an accident. Did they say anything at the hospital?
I hope it's sorted quickly I can imagine how stressful it must be for you. Good luck!

Contact your insurance.

I've driven big RVs and 7.5t horse boxes but there are a few larger cars where I can't depress the clutch right down, usually luxury saloon models.