What do you do when travelling abroad?

[jolenet]

We have travelled to Mexico and Cuba with our children, and we did not bring carseats as we basically took a bus to the hotel room and back. This winter (Feb) we are going to Costa Rica for 2 weeks. The first week there, we plan on touring around- staying a couple days here and there. We do not plan to rent a car. Our main source of transportation will be public transit (buses) and the odd van and taxi. Because we are touring around, we really need to pack as light as possible (and with children and the varying climate, that will be near impossible). In addition to our luggage and dive bag, 2 carseats would really be pushing it!
I would like to hear what other people have done while travelling...
I don't know if it's realistic to think that some touring companies would offer carseats or not...but I am going to look into that as an option.
Children will be 4 and 3 at time of travel.

[smurf]

We just got back from a 3-week trip tp Europe with our 3 kids (age 4, almost 3 and 7 months). Our situation is a little different because we had a rental car for the whole period. However car seats were an issue, obviously.

Here's what we did: we took along the 2 Regal Rides we owned and put the older 2 on the plane in their seats (the baby was on my lap one way and in a seat on the way back, with DD without seat). When we got there my MIL picked up the older 2 kids (she owns a Graco Turbo booster and a MaxiCosi convertible seat). The baby rode with us RF in the rental car. Then we installed the 1 Regal Ride FF and borrowed the TB. Amazingly DD sat really well in the booster (at home she's in a harnessed seat, and will be for some time).

Now, hauling aroung the 2 carseats at the airport (plus our hand luggage, a baby in a stroller and watching 2 preschoolers) was a major PITA. I can imagine that in your situation you definitely want to keep luggage to a miminum. Seeing as you'll be using mostly public transport and doing little driving, I would try to take along 2 backless boosters for car and taxi rides. Anything else would be too bulky to lug around.

I'm sure other people will find this suggestion unsafe but I feel it's a good compromise between convenience and safety,and it's for 2 weeks only.

[joolsplus3]

If your kids are under 40 lbs, I'd go with the Eddie Bauer Portable. It's a little vest-seat that's flat and light and only requires a lapbelt (a backless booster is also great, light to deal with, but requires a lap-shoulderbelt, which you might not get, and if you use it with a lapbelt only it highly increases head injury potential). The Ridesafer Travel Vest is also easy to travel with, but either requires a lapbelt and top tether or lap/shoulderbelt. The EBP is totally not the easiest seat to use, but for a 'we must pack as light as possible trip', it can be the most convenient and versatile choice.

[andbabiesmake4]

When I travel it's usually alone with the kids... we go to see my parents and I end up with a huge suitcase, the biggest purse I own (I don't do diaper bags LOL), phil & ted's & 2 carseats. It's a huge PITA but the airport drop off is right by the door & DH helps us in... and *gasp* I don't take the seats on the plan.. it's just.not.do-able. I don't have that many arms/hands!

When we go to Mexico in the spring we're not taking the carseats because we'll be in the same situation as you.. travelling via public transit, etc. But when we're visiting family we always need the seats.

[jolenet]

I love the EBP! I just wish it was a little bit larger! I will wait until it gets closer to the time and re-measure and re-weigh DD. The limits were 40 lbs and 43 inches. She is now 38lbs and 41 inches...cutting it a little close!