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Original poster

Car seats on holiday

17 replies

madmarchhare · 05/01/2007 20:53

While we're on the subject...

Off to Turkey and need to sort out a hire car, from the airport for all week and drop off back at the airport.
Can anyone recommend a company or have any top tips?

OP posts:

Hulababy · 05/01/2007 20:59

Not sure on car rental firms - must sort ours on for the summer actually. However on subject of car seats, if at all possible I would take your own even if a bit of a pain. We have rented a car seat in Florida and also in France. Both were not up to our standards in any way, and it really bothered me. I always take one with me now.

Original poster

madmarchhare · 05/01/2007 21:08

Mm, I did think about taking one but wondered if I was being ott.

OP posts:

NappiesGalore · 05/01/2007 21:09

ditto hulababy. have rented cars with seats in majorca, LA and belfast. every one of the seats (5in total) were barely any better than sticking the adult seatbelf on. v disappointed indeed.

re care hire: check holiday autos and hertz. look out for price promises, sometimes you can get the prices down by playing them off one against the other...

littlerach · 05/01/2007 21:16

we took our own, no probs at all.
just make sure you wrap it well.

Original poster

madmarchhare · 05/01/2007 21:27

So it goes in the hold with pushchairs etc..?

Havent flown with DS before, so have no idea. Are you generally charged for all this extra stuff then?

OP posts:

Hulababy · 05/01/2007 21:33

Never been charged for car seat. TBH it has never been weighed at the same time as my luggage though as I have had to take it to the fragile/large item check in seperately. If you can wrap it or have a box/bag for it, it is easier.

NappiesGalore · 05/01/2007 21:38

i thought you could take it on the plane with you... assuming the child is old enough to be paying for a seat...
not sure if that would be any less hassle, but with trolleys to and from departure/arrivals gates, not too much prob?

never done it myself, yet. (dont think ill bother flying again till they are 10, 11 and 12) but ive seen other people pushing trolleys to the gate with the car seat on...

suspect you need to check specifically with the airline you are booked on

Caligula · 05/01/2007 21:40

The one time I've been abroad with the kids (Portugal) the car seats were broken and shit. And it was with a reputable firm like Europcar or Avis or someone like that.

So I'd advise you take your own, if it's not too much trouble. At the risk of sounding like I'm stereotyping, I very much doubt that Turkish firms would see safe car seats as a major customer service issue!

yummyummy · 05/01/2007 21:47

I have flown quite regularly in the past 4 months, i took carseat with me everywhere(singapore,hongkong,brisbane,sydney,cyprus), no hassle to hold as when dd is running about it sat in her buggy and when she was in her buggy DH would carry it i have never been charged a penny for it and i have always taken it on to the plane with me and attached to the plane seat (the buggy however is left at the steps to plane as i am sure you know) had v bad experience in spain where i had relied on a company supplying me with a car seat and wil never rely on anyone again! car seat was cracked & damaged and not even installed correctly and the driver was a loonatic...never again

have a great trip

mrsmike · 05/01/2007 21:47

We took our own car seat to France in the summer, after having some really sub-standard ones from car hire firms on other occasions (no seat covers, fasteners broken ...). It was no trouble at all, just piled it on with the suitcases, didn't even wrap it, and collected it off the carousel at the other end. This was with Easyjet & lots of other people were doing the same thing.

thehairybabysmum · 05/01/2007 21:50

Ive just come back from Oz and was no trouble to take car seat on board (although we had a seat booked), if your LO is in a bassinet or on your lap then you can check the car seat in, it isnt counted towards your luggage allowance. Make sure you put it in a bag to protect it.

kiskidee · 05/01/2007 21:52

take your own carseat.

we rented 2 last year. one in Spain and one in Cyprus (from the British Army FGS!) and they were both crap.

Hulababy · 05/01/2007 21:53

We were told by Virgin that it definitely had to go in the hold.

kiskidee · 05/01/2007 21:55

they have to go in the hold as i can't see it fitting in the overhead lockers or under the seats.

Original poster

madmarchhare · 07/01/2007 18:59

Thanks for all the info.

I didnt know that pushchairs were taken on board, is that generally the case do you find?

OP posts:

Blondilocks · 07/01/2007 19:09

We took a booster seat when flying with BA & just carried on board in a big carrier bag.

Does anyone know if the USA has child seat laws?

vls123 · 25/01/2008 18:17

We are off to Florida in October and need some advice on car seats. I have a five year old son and daughter who will be 2 six days after our arrival in the USA. We are flying BA and have been told we need a car seat but I understand that these don't meet any safety requirements in the US but we are anxious about the standard of car seats we can hire. Any advice is appreciated.(smile)

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