Luxury car hire Abu Dhabi is a great way for you and your family to explore the beauty that the emirate has to offer. With traditional holiday packages losing their appeal and air fares showing no sign of coming down, there is no doubt that many people are turning to hire a car in Abu Dhabi as a way of organizing their own trips and taking charge of their expenses.
Car rentals however come at a price and this will definitely add to the overall holiday expenditure when planning a family vacation. The best Abu Dhabi hire car prices are normally very competitive but with the addition of some extras, these prices will always go up. In this article, explore the advantages and disadvantages of carrying your own infant/baby seat for use in your rental car as opposed to hiring one from a car rental company when going on holiday.
““Should I rent a car seat or carry my own when going on vacation?”
Cost
Renting a car seat could cost approximately $67 USD for a week. In case you have two or more children with you, then this amount is bound to rise significantly. Most airlines normally allow children below the age of 2 years to carry 2 items with them in the hold and this might include a travel cot or a push chair. With this in mind, it could be wise to carry your own infant/baby seat for use with luxury car hire in Abu Dhabi. On the other hand, you could pay around $20 USD for extra hold luggage in case the cost of hiring the car seat is higher than paying for one.
Compatibility
Not every car seat will perfectly fit in all cars although most car seat models are designed to work with different modern cars. Compatibility is not likely to be an issue today considering that many brands of Abu Dhabi hire car are new and therefore suited to work with any baby car seats. It is however important to check the rental car and ensure that its size is suited for your baby seat before travelling. For example, if at all you intend to hire a car in Abu Dhabi let’s say of economy or mini class, fitting 3 baby seats at the back is absolutely impossible.
Safety/quality
Different countries have different standards when it comes to products supplied and this is also likely to affect the child seats provided for any particular Abu Dhabi hire car. However, it is expected that all baby seats provided by the car hire companies should be of acceptable quality. Some car rental companies in Abu Dhabi will offer brand car seats including Maxi-Cosi, Britax among others. If you have any preference, it will be better to carry your own. If you choose to get one from the rental company, always check to ensure that it’s properly fitted before driving.
Damage
Many vacationers are normally concerned about their expensive baby seats, fearing that they could be damaged if they take them for the trip. It is however unlikely that your car seat will be damaged since they are handled separately. The seat can even be wrapped a little more if you are concerned about damages.
At the end of the day, the decision whether to carry your own baby seat/s or to rent as you hire a car in Abu Dhabi squarely lies with you. It is however advisable to carry your own if you are concerned about safety and quality standards as this will give you greater peace of mind.