Minivan with Dollar or Fullsize with National??

[zippehsmom]

I kind of have a problem. I recently reserved a minivan through Dollar $401.48 for 7/10-7/20. I also have a full size rented through National $296.

Well I just read on a post that Dollar's minivans are the smaller size or you could pay more for the bigger ones. Well I have a Chrysler minivan and it is the smaller one, and the only thing that fits in the back of that is my double stroller. My back row is divided so I have the option of folding half of that row down when we travel, but it does not have a lot of room. On top of that we'd have to pay an extra $5 per day to add DH on as extra driver.

So now I can't decide if I should just stick with National and the full size and save $100. From what I understand the INtrepids & IMpalas have huge trunks.

Anybody have any suggestions or advice would be helpful.

Thanks

zippehsmom

 

[dougsmom98]

I think it depends on how many people are traveling with you. We were able to fit everything in a Dodge Caravan the last time we rented. There were five of us including three children in car seats, a double stroller, a single stroller, three suitcases and 3 carry on bags. We sit our kids three across in the way back seat, this is how we do it at home so we knew it would work. The double stroller slid in between the middle seat and the front seats and the single, umbrella stroller was on the floor beneath the kids' feet. I think the thing you may have to worry about with the full size car, is the stroller. You mentioned a double stroller, are you bringing that? We have a side by side double stroller for our twins and it lays fairly flat, but it does stick up just enough so that I don't think the luggage would all fit in a full size trunk. At least with a van, there is some room on the sides near the doors and in between the front seats if you had to squeeze more stuff in the vehicle. I personally would keep the van, but to save $100 I would be very tempted to go for the full size. Paying $5/day for the extra driver stinks. We had to do that last time too. We just reserved a minivan through Thrifty for the 6/16-6/21 and they do not charge $5/day for the spouse. They are off site and we will have to take a free shuttle to pick up the van, but we got the van for a week for $206 after taxes and fees. We would have had to pay $245 + $30 for the extra driver through Dollar. I've never rented with Thrifty so hopefully it all works out for us. Maybe you could get a deal with them too.
Good Luck.
Amy

 

[zippehsmom]

dougsmom98 thanks for the advice. We will have five with us also, 2 kids in carseats. We will be bringing our double stroller with us. It is the tandem kind not side by side. I'm still up in the air.

Thanks again

zippehsmom