Carseats - Do car rentals companies provide them?

[boomhauer]

For our December trip, my wife and I tihnk the easiest way to get around with our twin babies will be without carrying car seats on the plane. We'll be renting a car from one of the places at the airport.

Do any of the car rental agencies located at Orlando Airport have car seats available for rent right there?

 

[Barb D]

Yeah, but you might be taking a chance on their cleanliness. And their availability, even if they tell you they'll have them.

Are you buying seats on the plane or planning on each holding a squirmy baby the whole flight?

 

[Stephres]

When we rented a van, they had the fold down booster seats in them. You never know if they are available and they might not work for the babies. When we asked about renting them, they wanted to charge us $20 a day! You could buy new ones down there for cheaper than that.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

YOU should ask when you reserve your car. They might or might not guarantee their availability. I also agree that you may be taking a chance on the cleanliness. You might also want to ask if the car seats have been in an accident.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We've never had a problem getting a car seat or booster seat from car rental companies. In Orlando, I would think they'd have plenty available because of the number of families that travel there with small children. Just make sure you reserve one when you book the car.

 

[becca011906]

there is NO way that I would be willing to get a seat from a rental company... if you don't want to use them on the plane, don't but they will prolbably ride better. If the seat have even been in a minor accident they should have been distroyed and replaced with a new seat... there is just no way for a company to garentee you that ...

 

[all4fun]

My concerns with rental car seats is primarily:

1. History - there is no way to know if it's been involved in an accident.
2. Fit - will they have the appropriate size & type of car seat for my child?
3. familiarity - will I be able to figure out an unfamiliar seat efficiently after a long, tiring flight. (The rental company will not install it for you)

Not all rental cars have integrated car seats and they are not always the best option depending on how old your children are (see Q#14 & 15 here). You said "babies" which leads me to believe that they are still small enough to be rear-racing in the car, and if so, this is the safest way to ride. I can understand not wanting to lug two car seats through the airport, but honestly, they will be safer, and probably more comfortable, in their own familiar car seats. Jmho.

Oh, and also, renting gets expensive - it's about $10/per day, per seat. If they're in convertible seats now, and you want to buy something that is fairly light and easy to use for travel, the Cosco Scenera's with 5-pt harness run about $40 (Target/Walmart/Kmart) and make great travel seats. That is what we used until ds outgrew it and even though it was a basic seat, I really like it.

Hth.

 

[surfer_ed]

The cost adds up as well. It is normally, $8-$10 a day. Not much at first glance but that works out to be $70 for a week.

I have thought about it, particularly with 2 in car seats but always decided lugging ours was better.

 

[lil mermaid]

Yeah, but you might be taking a chance on their cleanliness. And their availability, even if they tell you they'll have them.

Are you buying seats on the plane or planning on each holding a squirmy baby the whole flight?

I agree. You are also taking a chance on their condition, their age, whether they have been in an accident, etc. etc. etc.....

The last time we went to WDW, we rented from Alamo. While DH went to go get our car, I went over and looked at the rental carseats (they were all piled on top of each other in a big heap.) They looked bad. Some of them had three point harnesses instead of five point.

Don't do it, bring your own.

 

[2forMe]

I would be leary about using a car seat from a rental company.. you never know the quality or condition and what happens if you arrive and they have non? Best to be safer and bring your own

 

[KerriMc]

Our first trip down (2004) we brought our seats (infant carrier, which she used on the plane and a regular car seat for older dd). It was a pain to carry, but was worth it as when looking at the seat they didn't look great and not a great selection. This was through Alamo.

On our next trip (2005) we used a regular carseat on the plane for youngest, which was a good thing because she would nap in her carseat. So for her it was just like being in the car (she was 17 months old at the time). We rented a booster for oldest dd who was then 4 years old. This was National and they had a great selection of seats to choose from.

Our last trip (2006) we rented a carseat for my youngest as sitting her in it on the plane would have meant kicking of feet right against the seat in front of her (she was 2.5yrs at that time). I actually found the seats last year to have been better than any of the other years. They were wrapped in plastic, unless someone took it off to check the seat and then they left it laying there. You could smell the cleaner on the seats, so obviously someone is cleaning them. We actually had a really nice seat we chose for dd which was a nicer carseat than we had at home (can't get this kind here). For older dd I carried the backless booster in a duffel bag and we used that.

I guess it all depends on the rental company and your preferences. Lugging two seats with twins on your own, wouldn't be "fun", but would save you having to rent them. Through National it costs $9/ day, but maxes out at a cost of $49 ... so if I decide this trip to rent for youngest it will cost me $49 for 10 days. I don't know how other companies calculate their rentals.

Good luck with your decision. If the twins are young and would sit better in them on the plane, I would take them. But if you don't have seats purchased for them, it depends on your preference level.

Kerri

 

[Mono~rail]

Boom, have you joined www.twinsmagazine.com ? They are a great group of veteran twins parents who have been there and done that and can answer any question you have about life with twins.