I suspect that you could find a way to get everywhere you need to go in Japan without a car and it sounds like you know people there who could confirm this with you ahead of time. If you could also find a friend or relative to drive you to LAX and then keep your car seats for you while you're gone (or drive your car) I would absolutely rent the car seats for the plane.
Just so everyone knows, we have no boys
Just a 29 month daughter and a 7 month daughter
(No worries)
Yeah, my friend said he would drive us to LAX, but then when I confirmed the date with him of when we were going. He said he'd have to bring his 3 month (which they use a Orbit Baby travel system (which looks really nice
). My vehicle only can take 5 people, so that's my wife, me, my 2 daughters, and one more space left (which they would have to sit in the back in between the 2 kids). Might have to find someone else i trust to do this but it would resolve not bringing 2 car seats to Japan (but still bring the Graco SnugRide).
Not sure how the SnugRide will work without the base though, since i thought you need a base to use on a plane as well (I'll have to read up on this).
For your older child, I think the Go Go Babyz is overpriced for what it is and I cannot -imagine- using it as a stroller in Japan with a BLVD!
I went to a used baby shop today and they had the Go Go Babyz for $14.95. It is the older model as the older model is a real pain at security since you have screws to detach it. The newer one has a quick release.
If you have the money to spend instead of getting the Go Go Baby I would get the Safeguard Go which is on sale right now at elitecarseats.com for less than you would pay for the Go Go Baby.
Interesting product. It's not FAA approved but I think you're recommending it on taxi's/shuttles/vehicles where i don't want to bring my Britax and it has a top tether (vehicles in Japan I assume do but not sure about the Taxi's there. I don't see why not).
but if you find that you won't need a seat in Japan and you just need one for the shuttle ride I'm sure the Go would come in handy for a long time to come.
The shuttle ride according to google maps is about 5 minutes (2.5 miles), I estimate 10-15 minutes though. We just go under the tunnel and we're practially there.
Looks like there are so many scenarios. I think the best is to have someone drive us to the airport and back with our vehicle. We rent 2 Britax Roundabouts from JAL, bring the MacLaren for the 29 month daughter, purchase another MacLaren single stroller.
Or rent 1 Britax, bring the Graco SnugRide car seat, purchase a Graco Snap and Go, and bring the MacLaren. However, I feel I'd be wasting $59 when that money could go into another MacLaren. In addition, I'm not sure how much longer we'll be using the Graco Travel system although our 7 month is currently 8kg (17 lbs). The max on our Graco Snugride car seat is 22lbs so she's closing in on that number (OMG she's almost as heavy as my 2 year old! who is 12kg/26lbs). We'd have to consider getting another car seat that will allow a larger weight or use the other Britax BLVD we already have in the other car.
Although it would be nice to just use our carseats since they are familiar with the smells. I have 2 Britax BLVDs already but I can defer bringing one since we could use the SnugRide as an FAA approved car seat.
I gotta get to bed. I'm all car-seated out right now with all the possible scenarios.
Thanks to all who have written back
good recommendations/comments