Save $$$ - rental car child seats

[April76]

I didn't know whether to put this on the Family - Budget - Tips or Transportation boards...

We just came back from a WDW trip with the whole family (including 2yr & 3 yr old grandchildren)... we rented a van from Alamo at the airport and paid for the rental of 2 carseats ($6.00 ea/per day for a total of $120.00 for the 10 day trip).... anyway, we picked out a van (at Alamo, you get to choose the car you want in the class you paid for) and we noticed that the van we chose had a child's safety seat built into the middle seat.... wow - we only needed one carseat....

however, after checking several vans, we found one that had TWO child safety seats built in.... so we were able to cancell the car seat rentals and save $120.00

We had no idea about the possibility of finding built-in child restraints and of course the rental co. didn't mention it.... it was just by luck we happened to notice it.

So, maybe this will help someone else save a little money

 

[robinb]

Thanks!

I always bring my 3 year old DD's car seat with us. I strap her in on the plane. It works really well because she knows she's supposed to sit in her car seat and she doesn't try to wander around. Also, IMO, she's safer in the car seat in the plane than buckled in with the lap belt. Once she gets too big for the harness on the car seat and we use it as a booster, I'll reconsider shleping it with us (even though I have a car seat bag) since she'll be old enough by law in Florida for only seat belt. Still, I'm not sure I want to start a precident of not being in the booster and she'll really be much safer in it.

 

[matty624]

We've rented with Alamo a couple of times, and always been 'given' no choice in car (is it because we're British!?).
In fact one year, I had to reject 3 cars (running backwards and forwards, a long way in 90+ degrees) for a variety of different reasons. After that experience, we've booked with Dollar, and so far had no problems.
Ian

 

[icydog]

My step-son insisted we take my 5 yo Grandson's car seat with us to Disney last week. We thought the law was under 60 pounds needs a seat. That's the way it is in NJ,DE and MD so I just assumed it is that way in FL. Anyway, my husband is having some back problems and was in a wheel chair and there was no way I could handle all our luggage, the wheel chair, a car seat, and Andrew. When we checked in at Newark we just drove to the curb side check in and they took all the stuff. However, when we returned to Newark our son had to drive up from DE to Newark to help us carry and schlep everything to the car. There are sky caps in Orlando to help you but not in Newark!!! I would have cancelled the trip when my husband became ill but Andrew's parents told him about the trip in advance, something I never would dream of doing with my kids, and therefore we had to go. We had a good time with our grandson and I wouldn't trade that time away. I just wish we could have postponed it for a few weeks until my husband could walk again.

 

[April76]

LOL - Matty624 .... no, I don't believe it's because you're Brittish!

Since they've moved to the airport location, I think this might be a new way of doing things.

You reserve a "class" of car (ie. compact, van, SUV, etc.)... then you go to the parking lot area where your class of vehicle is parked and take the keys from the driver's door of any car from that class.

Once you've got the keys, that car is yours.... you drive to the exit of Alamo's parking area and get "checked out" (they make sure you have the correct class of vehicle, etc.) -- and you're on your way!

Once we reserved a sub-compact and there weren't any on the lot, so they let us take something from the next class.

This system seems to work MUCH quicker than before - when they were at a location away from the airport and you had to be shuttled over and wait forever for the paperwork, etc.