Car hire prices (with infant seat)

[tinks86]

Hi, I have been pricing car hire for our 2 week trip (3-17th may) and the cheapest I can find is around £280 for the economy car with an infant seat. Can anyone recommend any websites worth checking to see if I can get a lower price or does this sound about right for what I'm looking for?

Thanks for your help!

 

[california37]

Just a thought-have you looked at a car without an infant seat and take your own instead? We have always taken our own as at least you know it's not been in an accident etc... Be heard bad stories about the state of some car seats when hiring... Other people on DIS have also spoken about nipping to the nearest Walmart to buy one cheap there for the trip then leaving it. Not sure what it'll do to your cost.... Most airlines you are allowed car seat and buggy as no extra charge (guarantee virgin do anyway!)

Happy holidays

 

[tinks86]

Just a thought-have you looked at a car without an infant seat and take your own instead? We have always taken our own as at least you know it's not been in an accident etc... Be heard bad stories about the state of some car seats when hiring... Other people on DIS have also spoken about nipping to the nearest Walmart to buy one cheap there for the trip then leaving it. Not sure what it'll do to your cost.... Most airlines you are allowed car seat and buggy as no extra charge (guarantee virgin do anyway!)

Happy holidays

Thanks for the suggestion, I should've been clearer he is 18 months so in quite a big seat rather than the smaller baby seats (which would've been a lot easier!) and our seat only fixes in the car with an isofix base so we would need to take the seat and base which are huge!

Does anyone have any experience of hiring a child seat, any companies have better seats than others?

 

[california37]

No problem hope you get some other replies. We have 2 dd's and we've always taken ours. Our second car seat is a bulky mothercare one-but not isofix so we take that. It is a pain lugging them around but with airport trollys not too bad. With 2 kiddos we obv. Have 2 to carry as well (although eldest is just in a booster now) it's only in the airports as soon as you collect the car it stays put and you drop it off at check in with your usual luggage. I personally would look in investing in a second cheaper seat and still taking it with you-your guaranteed to know what you have then

 

[Elise79]

We have always taken one with us as well. We bought a second seat which was still cheaper than hiring.

I haven't used the rental seats and having seen the stacks of them at the rental counters I wouldn't either. Luckily DD is 6 now and only in a booster but we have taken hers since 9 months so from infant carrier through full seat and high back booster

 

[catherine]

When our DDs were little we always took our own car seats and now we take our little Granddaughter we take her car seat with us. I can't comment personally about the hire car co's car seats but I've read lots of negative reviews about them. So if possible I would either take a car seat with you or purchase one there!

 

[tinks86]

Ah yes didn't think of taking a spare seat, we have one for my mums car which isn't isofix and is a bit smaller than ours so will take that one then instead. Thanks for the heads up about he hire seats.

Do I need to tell virgin I'm bringing a seat with me? Is it free of charge to take seat? And probably stupid question do you cover it up to stop it getting damaged or dirty???

 

[Elise79]

You don't need to tell VA that you are taking a seat and it is free in additional to your normal luggage allowance.

We had a car seat bag from Kiddicare that had backpack type straps on it which made it a bit easier to carry.

 

[tinks86]

You don't need to tell VA that you are taking a seat and it is free in additional to your normal luggage allowance.

We had a car seat bag from Kiddicare that had backpack type straps on it which made it a bit easier to carry.

Brilliant, thanks for that just found the type of thing you are on about on amazon so will order one of them. Thanks for your help everyone saved me a lot of potential problems from hiring a car seat

Any more hints or tips on flying with a toddler much appreciated

 

[california37]

Virgin do supply you with a clear large bag to put it in... I think they need to be able to see it before it goes into the hold... Also they put a tag on it like everything else! In England you put it in at check in with oversized luggage but stateside we use dtd check in for our luggage so you take the car seat to the gate when you board. It's easy and simple. Usually you collect it where the oversized items are in the airport-such a buggys and golf bags... We've never had a problem (touch wood!!)

However, virgin offered us in economy for our upcoming feb trip that for approx £56 we could take our carseat on board and our dd would be in that in her own seat (even though she will only be 15 months old) we haven't paid for her a seat so it may be worth considering it?! If available to you!

Virgin don't need to know in advance as it's included anyway when travelling...

As far as keeping occupied... We pack a trunki full of new(ish) toys which keeps them entertained for the most part! Sleep can be difficult - but then if you include your car seat on the flight s/he may sleep in that?!? Our dd's just slept on me (which means I got little sleep!) but nevermind!!!

One more thing-pack two extra nappies than you think you'll need!! Air pressure affected our dd's tummy so she filled her nappy 6 times going and I needed to ask around for any families with spares!!! Virgin no longer carry essentials like this anymore!

Happy travels

 

[tinks86]

Virgin do supply you with a clear large bag to put it in... I think they need to be able to see it before it goes into the hold... Also they put a tag on it like everything else! In England you put it in at check in with oversized luggage but stateside we use dtd check in for our luggage so you take the car seat to the gate when you board. It's easy and simple. Usually you collect it where the oversized items are in the airport-such a buggys and golf bags... We've never had a problem (touch wood!!)

However, virgin offered us in economy for our upcoming feb trip that for approx £56 we could take our carseat on board and our dd would be in that in her own seat (even though she will only be 15 months old) we haven't paid for her a seat so it may be worth considering it?! If available to you!

Virgin don't need to know in advance as it's included anyway when travelling...

As far as keeping occupied... We pack a trunki full of new(ish) toys which keeps them entertained for the most part! Sleep can be difficult - but then if you include your car seat on the flight s/he may sleep in that?!? Our dd's just slept on me (which means I got little sleep!) but nevermind!!!

One more thing-pack two extra nappies than you think you'll need!! Air pressure affected our dd's tummy so she filled her nappy 6 times going and I needed to ask around for any families with spares!!! Virgin no longer carry essentials like this anymore!

Happy travels

I'm not sure if this is of any use to you, but I have just spoken to virgin and booked seat plus for both ways. For £65 each way we get an extra seat so we are guaranteed to be in a row of 3 to ourselves, our son will be 18 months in May and is a big boy so was not looking forward to him being on our lap the while time! So think we will check the car seat in as we will have more room on the plane.

Just thought I'd mention it in case it helps you at all