Luggage Dilemma in rental Car

[mattnday]

We are a party of 8 (2 families) and are struggling with the rental car dilemma. We are going over XMAS for 2 weeks and to get a mongo van would be wll over $1200 for the week. We can get 2 mid/full size cars for $800. However, there is no wat we will ahve room for luggage on the trips to and from the airport in these cars.

Any suggestions? We are thinking about a 2nd airport trip or possible using a shared ride shuttle for one or two in our party.

 

[clkelley]

Are you staying at a Disney resort??

If so, you could register for Disney's Magical Express and have some of your group ride the Magical Express bus. Then all of your luggage with Yellow tags will be transported to the resort automatically. (The rest of the group can go pick up the cars and grab any groceries).

What airline are you flying?? If you are flying home on a participating airline on a flight that leaves after 8am, then you could check all of your luggage with the Resort Airline Desk and all your luggage will be taken to the airport for you.

 

[mattnday]

We are staying off site in a vacation home.

 

[NotUrsula]

2 cars. No question. Nothing torpedoes a shared vacation more quickly than having to depend on one another for transport.

Also, if you are renting a vacation home, pack light. You'll be able to easily do laundry. There is absolutely NO reason why a family of 4 should not be able to get a week's worth of baggage inside a full sized car. If you can't do it you are seriously overpacking.

 

[Edd]

Why don't you price a car service van for the round trip and rent one vehicle for use during your vacation. You could load the luggage in the van and have the van pick you back up at the end of your trip. The van could probably carry some of your passengers also. That would eliminate the use of a second rental. I am not sure where your villa is but the van would probably run you around $100.00 to $150 roundtrip. It is possible an Chevrolet SUV would suffice as the back seat in the SUV rolls back providing luggage space for a bunch of people. I am sure you will not need two vehicles all the time at the villas.

 

[pcgmom]

All of the suggestions mentioned earlier are viable ones to get you and your party through the week. We just rented a car in February for the first time with children, so I thought I would let you know just how much a premium car (VW Passat) holds. We were upgraded from full-size at check-in b/c there were none available. Here's what we had:

2 adults; 5 year-old; 2 year-old; 1 umbrella stroller; 1 tote bag
1 large suitcase
2 smaller suitcases
1 backless booster; 2 carry-ons
1 toddler car seat; 2 kids' backpacks

Passats have huge trunks, and that car was full. We just barely got everything in there for the trips to and from the airport. Of course, we overpacked, but it was the first time we had flown with our children, and we packed for winter and spring weather. Good luck.

 

[salmoneous]

Rent two cars - it will make life much easier and is cheaper too. Meanwhile, if the luggage won't fit in two cars, have one person take a cab and a bunch of the luggage.

 

[dougsmom98]

I agree that you absolutely will want more than one vehicle. We there are 10 of us going in February and we are getting 3 rental cars, one for each family. If you are worried about luggage, I would get a minivan and one smaller rental car.

 

[NotUrsula]

I am sure you will not need two vehicles all the time at the villas.

And I'm almost equally sure that they will, at least if they want to make it through 2 weeks without killing one another. That is a LONG time for two families to make do with one vehicle. Most American families are used to having 2 vehicles available, so this scenario with 2 families would take them down to having only one when they are probably used to having 4. Add to that that it is Christmas and they are very likely going to be finishing up shopping as well as touring parks, and one vehicle is a recipe for almost certain conflict.

The best way to deal with the dilemma is to work on packing light. Really. (And if you are gifting the kids at Xmas, think small. If you are shoppers, bring a couple of preaddressed flattened boxes with you and have someone take them to FedEx or UPS the day before you go home. They will arrive a day or two after you do. We ALWAYS ship when we travel at Xmas.)

 

[Jestocost]

The best way to deal with the dilemma is to work on packing light. Really.

ITA.

If you're getting a car vs. a van or SUV, the biggest of the big trunks—something like a Lincoln Town Car—will snugly hold three large suitcases, another one or two small ones and some random stuff. Some of the other full size vehicles will come up one large suitcase shy of that. Since you have no guaranty that you'll get the big vehicle and possibly no options if you don't fit, take preventative measures and pack light!

 

[prncess674]

I would do the two car route, simply for harmony. Remember you can always put small duffle bags in the middle of the two kids of the back seat or on the floorboards of the back seat if the kiddos are small in car seats. Avoid packing huge hard sided cases since they are difficult to fit in a trunk. Think smushie bags.

 

[snowbunny]

Toyota Sienna (through National Emerald Reserve). Holds 8, including the driver, we did it last fall. The luggage well in the back is huge.
We paid $268 including taxes for 6 days.