Traveling with kids can be a daunting thing to do. At every place, a different rule applies and you are never sure of your kids` safety. It is a struggle to deal with all the luggage, strollers, and additional baby or kid`s gear on the car rental shuttles. To make things clear, operating with all the necessary things for your little one and the additional luggage, especially with kids and toddlers, can be a dark place to be. Namely, at every airport, there are different rules and layouts and there are different rules applying to car rental services. Here is some useful advice on renting a car and enjoy your trip.
The Most Suitable Cars for Family Trips
If you decide that you are taking a rental car, you probably wonder which car is the best for families. Family trips with your children or toddlers usually come with loads of luggage.
Compact cars are not a solution since all the luggage cannot fit in the trunk space.
Depending on the car rentals service there are usually multiple family vehicles to be chosen. There are different sized vehicles like compact, midsized, standard, compact, standard, or full-sized SUV, and a minivan.
In case your children are still small and you have boosters or car seats, then a midsized vehicle will do the job. However, if there is some additional gear, and you have a jog or walk stroller or your family is numerous, minivans will bring the most comfort and you will definitely not have concerns if the luggage would fit in.
Car Seats
This is quite a question. Sometimes, you need to ask a lot of questions starting from the plain stage. The first thing is whether or not you will be provided with a
seat for your baby or toddler. Then the best option is to bring your own and prevent bad situations. When it comes to renting, there are child seats, but it is recommendable to use them when your children are 2 and above.
Reaching The Rental Car Area
If you have never traveled with your children, then you will not be able to comprehend how much this is a demanding task. You need to do your research on where the rental car areas are located at the airport and to get out of the situation in the most painless possible way.
Namely, smaller airports have rental car offices near the luggage check and you get your car immediately, which is perfect for bigger families so that you can save your time and get your vehicle in an easier and more efficient way. If there is a possibility to choose among airports, always go for the smaller ones. However, the larger airports have rental car areas far away so you will have to take a train or rental car shuttle in order to get your car. Getting your child, the luggage, the gear onto a train or rental car shuttle is impossibly hard. Some airports have rental car centers where multiple renting offices are located. With the aim to moderate the expenses these companies may have single shuttles taking you to the center, whereas there are companies who have their own and drop you at their address.
Is the Car Renting Necessary for You?
Before you consider any of the previously mentioned factors or set out on a trip, you need to ask yourself this question. Some people impulsively rent a car at the airport, and it is not the correct thing to do since it can affect your trip budget considerably. Firstly, you need to research and add some numbers before you decide on the options and get acquainted with the information about the transportation in the place you want to visit.
If you plan to stay within the resort complex then a rental car is an unnecessary expense. On the other hand, if you are planning on visiting a city or any other urban destination with a structured transportation system, a rental car will only affect your budget and cause some problems like navigating traffic in an unknown area, parking, and parking fees. Additionally, in foreign countries parking fees can be astronomic, and renting a car in these unknown areas can bring you problems, like a stolen or damaged car.
Even though it is demanding, traveling with your entire family should be a next-level enjoyment. As for the rental car services, you need to research well and estimate your options before settling on a trip, with this, you will at least have some options if things turn wrong.
