Car Rental Advice for Family of 5

When we travel as a group of four adults, we rent a "compact SUV" which barely fits four carry-ons plus day packs, at least if you want the trunk to close. Depending on your itinerary, in Ireland, size does matter. Many roads are narrow, and you'll find yourself squeezing past a bus on a single tract road at some point. For only eight days you should be able to reduce your luggage to carry-ons. I'd rather pay for laundry service than rent a seven person monster.

We.had two.groups.of.five.adults.amd.had two.standard size SUV vehicles.and it worked.out well. I remember one standard size suitcase and four weekend size bags and maybe a back pack all fit nicely. We were all comfortable and had no.problems driving all over both countries.

Hey Gail,

Do you mean there 5 total bags across both cars?

Sorry no there were five bags in each vehicle only one person had a regular sized suitcase and all the rest of us had weekend sized bags and maybe one backpack. There was plenty of room.

we rented the large Volvo SUV (7 seats) in the Dublin airport (Avis or hertz, I forget which) for a tall family of six (three of whom are over 6 feet tall and one is 6 6).

We jammed my youngest (5 6) in the third row (one seat up and one down) with the luggage -- three rolling suitcases that qualified as carry on (like 22 inches), 2 largish but squishy duffle bags and 6 carry on backpack packs (3 went at my feet in the front passenger seat).

IT was insanely tight but this was the largest option available when we landed and we made it work. I think you will fit in a seven seater fine.....you will probably have room at the feet of the 8 year old and perhaps the 11 year old if they aren't over 5 2. I highly recommend sturdy duffles that squish over hard sided cases if trunk space an issue. We did a smaller SUV in Iceland with one less passenger with the exact same luggage all in the trunk and three (all 5 6) seated in the second row. I