Dollar Car Rental

[Disbabe]

We have booked this through Virgin with a Platinum Package and in the brochure it states that it includes additional drivers, a tank of petrol and infant car seats.
My question:- Have any of you done this and does it really include the car seats?
I ask this as I have looked at the dollar website and it says that Car seats can be hired separately at a rental charge. Will they really be free of charge or will I have to pay rental?, as the brochure quite clearly states that they are included in the Platinum package.

 

[JANNYANS]

Most people prefer to take their own car seat with them mainly because at least you know the condition it is in and how to fix it properly. If it is not already included then it could cost you $5 per day to hire one.I would check your own in as oversized luggage and be safe in the knowledge it's ok.

 

[RachaelC]

Well.......if the brochure says it's included then you should get one. And if you don't and Dollar charge you then take it up with Virgin and get them to reimburse you.

But, to save on the hassle I would contact Virgin to double check, or take the other advice and take your own for peace of mind.

Rachael

 

[Wednesday till I die]

We had the Platinum deal with Virgin a few years ago
and it included an excellent car seat for free.

Regards
Barry.

 

[allie5]

Yes, it does include the car seat, but every car seat I have ever had from Dollar has been utterly, utterly APPALLING. In my opinion, these seats are not safe, as the seat belts dont tighten round the seat properly. The Dollar staff dont seem to know how they fit and neither do the reps. We are taking our own this year as my baby son is only 9m and I will not have him in one of those filthy, unsafe Dollar seats. Sorry to sound harsh but this is a subject that really fires me up!

If your child is a toddler age then at least the weight of the child would make them work a little better, but if you have a newborn (less than a year old) then I wouldnt touch one with the preverbial barge pole.

Allie.

PS. Have complained about this but no-one has ever responded back to me.

 

[Disbabe]

My child is 4 and half years old and could do with just a booster cushion but I don't know what the US law is on them - I just presumed we would have to have a proper car seat which we no longer possess.

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

Both my sons will just have booster seats when we go - they'll be 4 and 4 and 3/4 (yes...born very close together.....as close as is biological possible...lol)

They only use boosters at home so that is what I will take.

I don't think anyone from Dollar or Alamo has ever checked what kind of child seats we are using.....

I would also agree with Allie - rented a Dollar seat when in California last year, and it WAS disgusting. It was brown velour and did not look as if it had been cleaned between rentals. YUK!!!
The staff also insisted we out the seat in ourselves, with no instructions.........

I think it best to take your own car sear - you can be sure of the cleanliness and the safety.

Cath

 

[snookhams]

I have only used a rented carseat once and never again, this was also through Dollar, they would not fit it and gave no instructions and the seat and back had a pvc cover, my poor son, it made him so hot that we actually went out and purchased a car seat from walmart and took it home with us - no extra cost to take it on the plane, the next time we went I took the seat with me, now he only uses a booster and I put it into a plastic bag label it up and it goes in the hold with the rest of the luggage.

 

[harry the spider]

Hi Snookhams,
Is that OK to just put the car seat in a plastic bag to go in with the luggage?
We are hiring a minibus to get us up to Gatwick ( all 12 of us!!) and we need to provide our own car seat, so if we can just bag it up and check it in, that will be so much easier to do.
I too wouldn't entertain the thought of using the rental seats, never done it but heard too many bad reviews.
Lin

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Uh Oh, we have also got Platinum package also, mainly because we have dd whos nearly 4 years old.
Im now considering just taking the booster seat we bought for last year? (what do you think?)
It could most probably fit in her suitcase,just in case im not happy with there car seat?

I dont want an unsafe seat whilst driving in america on there roads!

Any ideas,last year we took the full car seat,luckiyl it also converts into a booster,so i could just take that part or should i take the full seat any ideas?

Thanx Beth

 

[ybird]

Hi All,

I was a lurker last year when I was planning my holiday to Florida.

This year I can actually answer somebody’s question


Last year we travelled to Orlando and had our car booked with Dollar. When we arrived at the Dollar desk and asked to hire a child seat for my 3-year-old son I was told they had none available at that time.

They suggested we go to Wal-Mart and buy a new car seat and keep the receipt.

When we returned our car after the 2-week holiday we returned the new car seat and the receipt and they refunded us the full amount for the car seat.

I must admit i was a bit sceptical, but it worked out OK in the end.

 

[poohstix]

Ybird

Renting a car seat from wal-mart. How could you

I wonder how many people do do that...

I too would like to add my opinion.

We also hired a car seat from alamo. If you could call it that !!
More like a plastic tub with a micro thin foam inner.

It too looked in very bad conditoin and not been cleaned since the American revolution !!!

No instruction given as to how to set it up. Loose fittings. Overall We were not impressed at all.

If anyone knows of the legal requirements in Florida for car seats for small children not babies it would be appreciated. my youngest will be 3 when we go this time. SO if a booster seat is OK it would be great.

If not we will be taking our own. A bit bulky and a hassle but worth it just to ensure out most prized piece of holiday equipment is safe !!!!

 

[AlisonB]

Just wanted to add that the last couple of times we've been we've taken our own car seats in a large plastic bag tied with string and labeled (we did all this once we got to the airport, as they were sitting on the seats on the way - LOL) and just checked them in.

 

[TraceyL]

Another thumbs down for the quality of the rental seats. We too bought one in WalMart ( returned the rental one to ALamo) but brought it home with us, I still use it now and it'll be going out with us in October.

I didn't bag it up to bring it back - just tigtened all teh straps so they werehanging down as little as possible & put a luggage label on it.

 

[LINCLAIRE]

I have been told that as long as the seat has integeral restraints as opposed to the type of seat that you just strap the seatbelt around, that is acceptable by US law
Am I correct?
We will be bringing our own, will need it on the journey to and from the airport and then just bagging it up with a label
Lin

 

[martina857]

I am doing real good today!
I asked Elle at Florida Homes and Travel (she also is a member of the boards( about this because I was worried about my 2, her reply was...
"The law requires every driver to properly secure children 5 years of age or under in child restraint devices. Infant carriers or children's car seats MUST be used for children up to 3 years of age and younger. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat or a seat belt may be used. All infant carriers must be crash tested and approved by the US govenment." This apparently comes from the Florida Drivers Handbook.
We had a people carrier that had built in car seats, this worked great!!

 

[Disbabe]

As I wa the original poster I'd just like to say I'm back!!
In the end I bought a booster cushion and put it in a disney carrier back tied up with string!! It only cost £8.99 in Argos.
Went through airports OK and nothing was said by Dollar at the other end so I'm so glad I did take it!!