I'm planning a trip to Europe next summer and my youngest will be 2 1/2. We are renting a car for the family. Due to her age and size, we'll need a car seat, but wondered if anyone knows about a good combo travel system that would have both a car seat and jogging stoller system that could be used on most european streets. As I've looked most are either for infants or have the little plastic wheels that probably won't work well on cobblestones. She'll be a little big to backpack around all day, but she'll probably get tired and not want to walk all the time either. Thanks.
Posted by
Fort Wayne, IN, USA
2349 posts
I agree with Steve. Rent the car seat from the rental company, and pick up a cheap umbrella stroller. There are cobblestones in Europe, but there's quite a bit of plain old sidewalk. Plus plain old floors in museums and cathedrals. An umbrella stroller could fold up and be carried, or carry some of your gear when she does walk. It may be cheaper to buy and ditch a stroller than to check it as luggage for the flights.
Posted by
Atlanta
1357 posts
I'm going to disagree with my fellow posters. Renting a car seat from the rental company costs about as much as buying a new one. You're going to want it on the plane, too, keep her safer on the plane and to keep her in one place. Those flights are long, I like to strap mine in as much as possible to make it liveable for all of us. The car seat doesn't count as luggage or carry on, you just bring it on and buckle it to the airplane seat.
As far as strollers go, we've used a cheap umbrella stroller for our guys on our travels. It's light enough where we can get around on unpaved paths, but a bit tricky on the cobblestones. The only strollers I've seen that fit the car seat for toddlers are the ones people use for the airports, and those have little wheels, too.
Here's what we've done -- my husband uses a big backpack for his luggage and straps my daughter's car seat on it for going on trains and such. He loosens the straps on it and carries the seat like a backpack through the airport. We take my daughter in her umbrella stroller and gate check it when we board the plane. It doesn't count as carry on or checked luggage, and we get it as soon as we get off the plane.
Posted by
bergamo
401 posts
I would avoid lugging a jogging stroller around Europe if possible. Carrying one of those things up and down stairs or trying to squeeze it into elevators, considering the size of the average European elevator--umm, not a lot of fun. I second the posters who recommend a good umbrella stroller, I got a Jeep umbrella stroller for 14 dollars at Toys R Us and it works just fine on the cobblestone that we have here in Italy. Also, if your child turns out to be one of those toddlers who doesn't want to sit in the stroller but wants to push it themselves (like both of mine were) you will be glad to have a stroller that can be folded up and carried easily if necessary.
Posted by
Plymouth, MA, USA
5 posts
Hello, we are currently is Spain with our 18 month old and 4 year old. We rented a car and a car seat(for the 4yearold - not a booster either). The car seat rental was 56 euros. The car seat is wonderful. We also brought our COMBI double (side by side stroller) I bought it on EBAY super light and the folds up great.
Curious, are you not buying a seat for her on the plane? If you were then you could use your own car seat on the plane for the rental car. But if wanted to check it in, it would not cost you extra. Well when I called, the airlines told me it would not cost us.
Strollers and car seats did not count as extra luggage of anything scary or pricey. You could get an umbrella or COMBI single stroller and stow it. W have a CHICCO Umbrella stroller at home in Boston and take it EVERYWHERE. I totally recommend it for cobblestones, hills and some old dirty roads.
What ever you choose,you will receive the stroller as soon as you leave the plane. I was impressed as someone handed me our double stroller as we waived good-bye to the flight crew. This also did not count as extra luggage. We also packed a travel on bag with all the dried good foods my picky 4 year old would eat, oatmeals, mac n cheese, peanut butter, jelly,
Hope if helps.
Posted by
Zurich
1 posts
I am currently living in Europe and one thing I know for sure strollers are super expensive here!!! If you are able to bring your stroller with you do so. I only use public transportation in Zurich and we have plenty of cobble stone streets as well... stroller is something people use on daily basis without any trouble getting around with it. Bring it!