Car Hire for 7 People?

[Astrid]

Now my flights are booked I'm having to think about what we will do about car hire and I'm stumped!!

There will be me and Pete (2 adults) and 5 kids so a total of 7, which is reasonably straighforward for car hire during the holiday (just a 7 seater car), but (and herein lies the dilemma) what on earth do we do about our travelling to and from Orlando Airport??!! There is no way 7 people and all of our luggage will fit into a 7 seater!!

Any bright ideas anyone?

I've thought of a few but don't know how it will work out financially or logistically.

ie. Hire the 7 seater and an economy car (which doesn't seem very cost effective as the economy car would sit idle for 2 weeks) or get transport (a large taxi??!) from and to the airport and then get the hire car (but another taxi would be needed to go to the pick up point.

Any help much appreciated.

Astrid

 

[gilld]

You could try an 8 seater van, though you still might struggle with luggage if you're taking a loy. We managed with 6 of us in a 7 seater, including luggage and a wheelchair - just! If you do have lots of luggage I would suggest collecting your car and then sending some of your luggage by cab.
Good luck.

 

[BiGGy]

Last year there was 8 of us that went and i booked a mini-van
was easy to drive and had loads of room, we ended up with an 11 seater (free upgrade).

just checked out price online for 14 days for when were goin and with top insurance works out at 435 pounds for a 8 seater mini van



Rgds

BiGGy

 

[chunkster20uk]

Hi Astrid

My options would be either -

Get a 8 or 12 seater (www.airline-network.co.uk), that extra bit of space may do the trick.

or

Get transport to where you are staying and then go pick the hire car the next morning from a local outlet (we do this so you don't have to drive after the flight). On the way back (if you are going with Virgin) do downtown check in.

Mark

 

[Manatee]

For our last few trips we have found it better to get transport to and from the airport and pick up a hire car locally the next day, two reasons, as there are five of us we need a seven seater for us and the luggage if we pick up at the airport, but if we pick up next day we can get by with a smaller vehicle, the other reason, it is so much easier at the airport if there is someone there to pick you up, no waiting in line at the carhire counter, no driving a strange car on the wrong side of the road sometimes in the dark, to a destination you are not 100% sure of how to get to, after a long flight and probably early morning before it, next day pickup is a must for me nowadays, wished i had done it years before.

 

[SEVANS2208]

I had the same headache last year with 7 of us (5 adults & 2 kids). We had a free upgrade to an 8 seater "van" but I was still worried.

I shouldn't have been though - it was HUGE. We had 6 cases, hang luggage and a buggy and still loads of room left in the boot. Obviously, I don't know if this is the case for all the 8-seater vans but if the worst happens I would suggest you put the non-driver and some cases in a cab and get the cab to follow!

 

[Astrid]

Thank you so much for all the replies! You've been so helpful. I hadn't even thought about the idea of just getting a cab for the luggage and one of us adults!

It's great to know that the 8 seater van is big enough too - thanks Sevans2208.

Thanks for the link Mark - very helpful , we'll be flying BA this time so sadly won't be able to use the Downtown check-in.

Thanks again guys!

Astrid

 

[Sue88UK]

Hi

There will be 8 of us next August and I'll be getting a 12 seater van from Dollar through Airline network.

 

[disneyvillainlover]

There were 7 of us in October and we had paid extra to upgrade to an 8 seater for the luggage this was through a tour operator and used Speciality autos. Anyway when we arrived they said sorry we have no 8 seater but we have a 7 we will try and fit your luggage in. I just laughed and said well good luck to you!!! we ended up with two seven seaters for two days. When we got the 8 seater it was a chevrolet and the tiniest 8 seater I have ever seen!!! not happy but we managed. The Dodge Ram is what you need.
this time we are going to stick with the 7 seater (hopefully through dollar or alamo) and hire a dollar cheapo car pick up orlando airport and drop off in kissimmee the next day. £24

 

[vernon]

If you're only at one destination you'll have a few more options than if you're doing a lot of distance travelling ( i.e more than 2 hours driving with lots of luggage. Moving from WDW to USF wouldn't be a problem if there wasn't enough room for people and luggage, just mean 2 trips)

If the cost difference wasn't too much I'd go for a 11/12 seater van, if it was a few hundred $ difference and you're in one destination the idea of taking a cab for the luggage is a workable one, as long as the van had sufficient seating for the group. Although don't forget shopping trips might add a lot of luggage/goodies for the return trip to the hotel LOL.

 

[Astrid]

Thanks all for the replies, you've certainly given me a few more ideas and options.

I'll have a look on the various web-sites suggested but think I may well now go for a 12 seater and then won't have to worry about extra cars/cabs/extra trips etc etc.

Thanks guys!

Astrid

 

[Scotfan]

Astrid we had a 12 seater once and it was a pig to drive, DH is used to driving big vehicles and he said that it was the worst thing he had ever driven. Now it may just have been that we were unlucky but I would get an 8 seater and if I couldnt get the luggage in get a taxi as well.

 

[disneyholic family]

I totally agree with Scotfan......a large van will be terrible to drive and you'll regret every minute of it...take the 7 or 8 seater and a cab for the luggage if needed....