Car hire with decent car seat ?

[gd1976]

I have searched through previous threads, but does anyone have some recent experience of car seats abroad for hire cars? Which companies are the best?
I've read about an awful lot of bad experiences, and I'd rather pay a little more to have the reassurance that we will get a good safe and clean seat.
We are going to Faro next week, although the destination probably doesn't make any difference as I imagine the companies will have standard policies on the car seat they provide, whichever country you go .

Any help greatly appreciated!

Why don't you take your own? We always take a booster seat for dd1 and a stage 1 for dd2.

You'll know exactly what your getting then

We have a rear facing seat we could take, but too big to take in the hold, and I worry it would get damaged being put in the normal hold.... From other peoples threads this seems to be a fairly common problem, but maybe it's worth the risk?.....
Also i'm not sure on price, we are flying one way with easy jet and one way with ryan air.

Sorry I meant to say too big for the cabin!

We have had really bad experiences with car seats from car hire firms. I really don't think any of them put very much importance on having good quality seats. I was so shocked with the seats we were offered the last time that I vowed never to rely on the car hire firm providing seats. I know it is a pain but I would really try to arrange to have your own seat with you. At least then you will know how to fit it safely. We were given grubby seats with no instructions and left to get on with it. The seats looked so old and the straps were worn and ripped that we couldn't use them. Thankfully we were visiting family who were able to arrange for us to borrow some from friends of friends otherwise we would have had to find somewhere to buy some. The car hire firm at the airport just apologised but said they were the only seats they had??? When we got home needless to say after a stern letter they refunded the hire car charge plus an goodwill gesture. I really don't want to be so negative but I would hate you to go through what we did. We have problems with eurocar but the worst was budget. Hope you get something sorted.

Meant to add if you don't want to take yours it might be worth buying a basic seat here that is lighter and smaller that you could take. The cost would probably not be much more than the charge the car hire firm makes.

I guess that is a risk isn't it? Ours have been fine every time though.

Also, we have never had to pay anything extra to put the seats in the hold.

I would definitely reccomend taking your own. We took two booster seats and a stage one seat to Spain last year. The older kids sat on their boosters on the flight and the car seat went through the 'oddly shaped item' baggage into the hold. It came through fine on both sides - it also meant we had something to put them in in the cab on the way to the airport.

Thank you all, i'm now checking info with airlines for taking own seat, definitely sounds like the best option, and like you say, then you know it's safe etc.

Should I do some serious bubble wrapping to protect the seat, or will it go with the buggy in the slightly safer hold?

I think you have to put it through outsized items unless the child is going to sit on it on the plane. I'd consider trying to get hold of a seat from a friend who's child has grown out of it. Then you aren't so worried about your seat getting thrown around and have peace of mind for when you get there. I've witnessed some dreadful treatment of seats by baggage handlers.