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How do I get us all home?!

281 replies

CeciliaMars · 15/04/2026 00:12

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.

OP posts:
LoveWine123 · 15/04/2026 13:38

Muffinmam · 15/04/2026 13:36

Well, it was utterly stupid to hire a stick shift if only one of them could drive it.

That's utterly useless now that it's done :)

TheAutumnCrow · 15/04/2026 13:38

Muffinmam · 15/04/2026 13:36

Well, it was utterly stupid to hire a stick shift if only one of them could drive it.

That’s the spirit

hereforthelolz · 15/04/2026 13:41

CeciliaMars · 15/04/2026 10:37

Why are people obsessed with me not driving the car? I’ve said I can’t and I’m asking for advice based on that. If it were as simple as getting myself added to the insurance, of course I would. We have been on the phone to the insurance company and the hire car company and are waiting on phone calls back. Just want to be at home now 😞

Because it would be the easy solution.

Flushitdown · 15/04/2026 13:41

CeciliaMars · 15/04/2026 10:37

Why are people obsessed with me not driving the car? I’ve said I can’t and I’m asking for advice based on that. If it were as simple as getting myself added to the insurance, of course I would. We have been on the phone to the insurance company and the hire car company and are waiting on phone calls back. Just want to be at home now 😞

Also, when abroad it's often not as easy as "add yourself to the insurance". We had to do that and we had to go to the hire desk, show my licence etc (which I don't always have on me) and even the it was an absolute faff and a huge expense.

Chewbecca · 15/04/2026 13:41

Muffinmam · 15/04/2026 13:36

Well, it was utterly stupid to hire a stick shift if only one of them could drive it.

It's not utterly stupid, that's rude.
When we are driving overseas, we typically only get it for DH. It's cheaper that way plus he prefers driving and I prefer to be a passenger. It's what works for us. If I found myself in the OP's situation and DH couldn't drive mid trip, I would request to be added and would deal with it. Doesn't make the choice we have made many times utterly stupid.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 15/04/2026 13:42

Sounds like your DH has had some very bad luck. I'm assuming you are on a ski holiday, nightmare especially if they are quite young.

If the kids are booked into ski school then I'd make sure they get there. If they are occupied and getting fresh air they will frankly be less annoying when they get back in the evening if your DH is presumably in pain. If you can book them in for a slightly longer day, then I'd try to throw money at the problem rather than try to manage 3 kids on the slopes in the afternoon with varying abilities especially if you are not a really strong skier. If the resort has snow, then lots of snowmen making won't kill them, if it doesn't then if your DH can get to a sun terrace somewhere then it might be time to introduce the kids to card games if old enough.

Car to airport - might be useful to say which resort and airport. Not sure I'd be terribly comfortable putting a complete stranger on the hire car insurance as a way to get back to the airport with all of you in the car so on this occasion, it might have to be left to the car agency to arrange. Add it to the list of things to check in with your travel insurer. A local taxi firm might be worth checking in with, at least you'd know the driver was experienced and licenced to transport people generally. I doubt it's a rare occurrence in the Alps.

Transfer day is transfer day, no way to go home early without racking up a lot of cost. Which airport are you flying from? One option might be to transfer by taxi the night before to an airport hotel. Chambery has one right at the entrance for example - fairly basic but French budget hotels tend to do half decent family rooms. Means you will have less to wrangle out the door at whatever unearthly hour you probably have to leave at on Saturday and you can leave out travel clothes and just pack everything except charging gadgets before going to bed. Put DH in charge of gadgets and making sure the kids have something to watch, headphones etc are fully loaded and you can focus on other things.

Get yourself to the shop and pick up lots of snacks in case of delays. They can be used for school lunches next week if not needed. Airports usually have water stations too.

At the other end, if you can leave some/all of the kids with your DH and take the shuttle to collect a car and come back to the airport that feels like it might work best. You could take a large bag so there is less to manage out to the car in the short window you get to pull up and load everyone in. Otherwise a taxi so you can get some help with bags?

Otherwise, lots of painkillers for an undoubtedly grumpy DH and wine for you. Picnic meals if you are in self catering. No child ever died from eating too many simple ham baguette and rotisserie chicken dinners.

SeptimusSheep · 15/04/2026 13:42

Well, as a few random examples:

I will no longer drive abroad as I have progressive eyesight problems. I am (just about) still legal to drive, but poorly perceived, unfamiliar road signs could be a bad or even fatal plan.
A friend with cerebral palsy has an adapted automatic.
Another couple have an 18-inch height difference. Many cars only suit one or other of them.

But there will be a way, as there would be if it had been a single parent there with the children.

Northbynorthbest · 15/04/2026 13:43

No advice but just want to wish you all the best. I hope you get the help and assistance you need, and hope you all have a good journey home. And wishing your husband a speedy recovery.

GenieGenealogy · 15/04/2026 13:56

What are the insurers saying? They should be able to help as it really sounds as if he is not fit to travel.

letmebetheone · 15/04/2026 13:58

Its very important to contact the airline and get assisted travel asap. My husband has crutches permanently and they will only let him sit in specific seats on the plane.

StillToBe · 15/04/2026 14:01

As others have said will he be declared fit to fly?

If not, will you all stay on? Will he stay on alone, can he manage alone?

How far away are you, would he be able to make a series of shorter train journeys? Is he more comfortable moving around or standing rather than sitting in a tight seat? Train might be a more comfortable option than the plane.

Could another adult fly out to help you manage your DH and the kids, on your journey home?

Lots to think about.

Luckyingame · 15/04/2026 14:08

Tryingtokeepgoing · 15/04/2026 13:07

As a left-field suggestion, given you are only in Europe, do you have a friend / family member that could fly out to meet you and drive you all back in the hire car (after getting permission to take it out of the country); this would seem to get round the whole airport / flying issue altogether. You then just need to get the hire car back to the right country at some point, but if you've used one of the international brands you might, at a cost, be able to return it somewhere in the UK.

Otherwise, you'll need to get a fit to fly note for the airline, get the hire car collected from wherever it is, get a taxi to the airport and then fly back. If he is fit to fly then special assistance back in the UK will wheel him to the car, though if you have booked off site car parking you'll probably have to leave him waiting outside arrivals while you and the children go and get the car and come back for him.

If he's not fit to fly then you'll definitely have to throw it all in the direction of the insurer, accept that you'll end up separated and he'll be flown home as a medical repatriation, or when he's fit to fly.

Fly out to meet them and drive them back?
Seriously?

Tryingtokeepgoing · 15/04/2026 14:09

Luckyingame · 15/04/2026 14:08

Fly out to meet them and drive them back?
Seriously?

Sure? Why not? I'd happily do that for a friend or family member in need :)

PrincessoftheManor · 15/04/2026 14:11

I hope the travel insurance have been helpful op.

SpanThatWorld · 15/04/2026 14:19

When my son broke his foot in Europe, our holiday insurance sorted everything. Organised fit to fly certificate. Booked us new flights (son had 4 days in hospital and came out in a cast so needed 3 seats to keep his leg elevated), organised and paid in advance for taxis at both ends and airport assistance at both ends. They were bloody marvellous.

TheRoomWhereItHappened · 15/04/2026 14:34

Maybe OP drives an adapted car normally? I’m a competent comfortable driver in my own car with adaptations (both DH and I have cars that are adapted in case I ever need to drive his) so would be fine once back in the UK. It is however essentially impossible to hire adapted cars and so when we’re away he does all the driving. Even if I were licensed to drive a non adapted car (which I’m not) I couldn’t physically do it no matter how much people on Mumsnet suggested it.

TheAutumnCrow · 15/04/2026 14:37

CeciliaMars · 15/04/2026 10:37

Why are people obsessed with me not driving the car? I’ve said I can’t and I’m asking for advice based on that. If it were as simple as getting myself added to the insurance, of course I would. We have been on the phone to the insurance company and the hire car company and are waiting on phone calls back. Just want to be at home now 😞

This was OP's last post on the thread.

ETA: so I expect she's busy doing the things that lots of posters keep suggesting!

SylvanMoon · 15/04/2026 14:40

We had a situation on holiday where my DH broke his knee and I broke my shoulder, so neither of us could drive. We already had transport arranged to the airport from the hotel, but on our UK arrival the insurance company arranged for his transport home with our luggage. They would have taken me too, but we had our car at the airport. So we had a friend come to the airport by train, who met me and drove me home. I'd ask the insurance company for help in figuring your situation out.

Ernestina123 · 15/04/2026 14:44

Sorry you are in this situation OP. Must be really stressful.

The car hire company will have dealt with this kind of situation many times and will have an established procedure for dealing with it. I would get straight on the phone to them.

Worst case is you get a taxi and claim on your insurance.

SylvanMoon · 15/04/2026 14:45

CeciliaMars · 15/04/2026 06:50

He hasn’t broken the hip but they suspect a torn ligament. He needs an mri but they had no availability for over a week so it will have to be done at home. I hadn’t even considered he may not be fit to fly. We need to make lots of calls today…

If you're talking to the insurance company ask if they will book an extra seat for him (if he needs that). They did that for my DH when he broke his knee (although he had it in sling cast of some sort that had to be kept straight). It was all covered under the travel insurance. And don't worry about the MRI not being done: the insurance company told us to go to the hospital on arrival for confirmation of the injuries (which is where we found out DH's injury wasn't soft tissue, but a nasty break requiring surgery).

MachineBee · 15/04/2026 14:49

Chewbecca · 15/04/2026 11:00

Why OP can't drive the hire car matters because it might be resolvable?
She can clearly drive because she's planning to drive the car when at home. That's why it is confusing.

She hasn’t said she will drive their car back from the airport. She just about how to get everyone from the airport to their car.

Sassylovesbooks · 15/04/2026 14:50

You definitely need to make sure that your husband is fit to fly. The airline may require a 'fit to fly' note, so you need to make sure you have it from the clinic. Ask the hire car to collect the car (they will likely charge you extra), and book a taxi to the airport. See if you can request 'assisted travel' at the airport, and also when you return to the UK airport. Taxi to your car. I assume you are able to drive home? I'm not a confident driver in the UK, there is no way, I would drive abroad. I know my limits, and sticking to the UK is it!

luckylavender · 15/04/2026 14:52

TheDenimPoet · 15/04/2026 12:43

People aren't obsessed, but perhaps if you tell us WHY you can't drive the hire car, we might be able to come up with a solution. Can you not drive at all? Can you only drive auto and it's manual? Are you just scared of driving on the other side of the road? These are all fair questions, you've asked for help, how can we do that if you're being vague about specifics?

It's absolutely none of your business

MaidOfSteel · 15/04/2026 14:53

Most airports ask for at least 24 hours notice if Special Assistsnce is required. Call your airline/holiday company asap and they’ll arrange it for you.

Gillthepill · 15/04/2026 14:54

Sounds very stressful, particularly with an injured adult and 3 kids.

Hoping the car hire people can help. Are you in a hotel or air b n b? The owner might be able to assist/translate/make calls for you. Medical emergencies have happened twice to us on holiday and it is really difficult trying to do it yourself, particularly if you don’t speak the language. Luckily both places had great medical teams that spoke good English and we had a helpful Air B n B owner. I had to drive the hire car to the airport to drop off (not the airport we were meant to be dropping it off to) which was horrible and nerve wracking but it wasn’t too far away. There were additional expenses as we couldn’t fly back on the intended date so had to move to accommodation close to the hospital and change the flight dates. We had to pay for everything upfront then were able to claim it back afterwards from the insurance.

Good luck.

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