Traveling with stroller/ take or buy

We recently went with my wife in a wheelchair. I wheeled her right to the door of the plane, and they put the chair in the belly of the plane--no charge. And they brought it out to us on the gangway when we got off the plane.

It's no big deal carrying your own stroller, as it's better quality and easier to deal with than the one you'd be buying to leave behind.

Gate checking a stroller is usually free. Often free as checked luggage too, but I wouldn't recommend that. Too much risk of it being damaged, plus you wouldn't have it to use at the airport. Would recommend checking the website of the airline you're flying, under traveling with children, to see what's allowed.

Thank you
Good point about using it while at the airport.

I think it is always better to buy things at home where you have selection and can shop for price etc than to try to acquire it in a foreign country where you get stuck with what you can find quickly and often at a steep price. There are some things it makes sense to buy in country -- notably anything electronic but even there we have been stuck with big clunky hair dryers or fans that were complicated to put together with limited time to shop and limited knowledge of where to get the best selection and deals. Strollers generally travel free on airlines.

I would check with your airline. Strollers used to be gate checked and not counted toward your luggage. If the little one is sitting in your lap, please let the airline know. I used a backpack child carrier, Osprey Poco Plus, for three years. I did not have to worry about steps. I always had a hand free to pull my carry on down the street when changing locations. If you take a stroller, make sure it has large wheels that will not get caught in cobblestones or crushed gravel. We saw many strollers get bogged down in crushed gravel while a larger wheeled just kept going. Any questions, pm me.

Everything is more expensive here. And you don't want to spend part of your vacation hunting down a stroller. Bring your stroller from home.

Bring your own stroller, one that is as small and light weight as possible. Gate check it. Not sure how old the child is but when in Europe, only use it when absolutely necessary.... being a carrier if possible. Will make navigating the streets, metro/tube so much easier

My first recommendation is to gate check your stroller if that is an option from the airlines you are using. Otherwise there is a stroller called pockit. It can fold down into a small square carryon. Buying one overseas will be expensive as you will pay the 17% tax.

Years ago we gate checked our good stroller on a flight to Paris and never got it back. We had to buy an expensive lesser quality one in Paris. I would bring a cheap one with you so you haven't lost much if the airline loses it.