goldentwig
New member
We are embarking on an adventure in a few weeks with our to-be 17.5 month old daughter. We'll be traveling from NC to Louisiana via the Amtrak train for a family wedding and then returning a week later via Southwest Airlines.
We are thinking that we will probably get a rental car while we're there, as we need to go from New Orleans > Houma > Lafayette > (possibly Houma again) > Lafayette > New Orleans during our one week stay! It's a lot of driving as most of those trips are 1.5-2.5 hours each! It's possible though that we could end up being transported part of the time in my in-law's 2001 RAV4 (MUCH smaller than our redesigned 2007 RAV4).
We own one convertible car seat, a Britax Boulevard CS, that we JUST installed last night and used for the first time today in our RAV4. DD is right around 21-22# and had been getting away with still using her SnugRide Infant Carrier until now!! She's definitely on the small side as far as weight goes. I'm not sure about height (we think around 30"), but she's not super-tall compared to her peers. We need to get another smaller convertible car seat to use in our 2002 VW Jetta, but I haven't decided on what to get for that yet.
My friend has a GoGo Travelmate that she said we can borrow for this trip, which will turn the car seat into a stroller for the airport and possibly train station. I'm hoping that works as well as it sounds.
I have a lot of questions here, so please just bear with me!
1.) Has anyone ever traveled on an Amtrak with a pre-toddler before? We booked the "Viewliner Roomette" which has 2 "beds" - the two seats fold down to make a bottom bunk and the top bunk pulls down from the wall. It's a VERY small space though (about 5.5 ft wide) but better than the Coach seating for containing my daughter and giving us some privacy. It's a 20.5 hour trip that departs at midnight. Should we bring our car seat into the Roomette and place it on the floor for her to sleep in (unsecured) or check it with the luggage and try to have her sleep in the bottom bunk with me? It sounds like the Roomette is so tight that the car seat wouldn't have very far to go if we wedge it in there!
2.) We just checked Southwest Airlines' website and it appears that our Boulevard CS is too wide to properly fit on their seats. They suggest 16"W, but the Blvd is 19.5"W. Anybody have any experience with this?
3.) If the Blvd is too wide for the airplane after all and we need to get another seat for this trip, I'd prefer to just get something that we will also use in our Jetta long-term. I had been romanced by the design and colors of the Maxi-Cosi Priori (I know that's a horrible reason to ever buy a seat, but I figured I could at least start there!), but after reading your reviews on here, it seems less than the best choice. I fear that a Marathon is too big for the Jetta, as the SnugRide infant carrier with base was a VERY tight fit in the back, leaving nearly no leg room for the adult passenger riding up front. I'd like to be able to switch back and forth b/w using the RAV4 & Jetta without feeling like I've compromised on the quality of the car seat in the Jetta. Any suggestions?
4.) If we do check the car seat with the Amtrak luggage, I also need suggestions for a good "Carry Bag" to get for it so it won't get destroyed in the checked baggage compartment. Coupons, discounts and websites are appreciated!
Thank you for reading this far and thank you in advance for any advice you can offer!
- Holly
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DD born 12/15/07 - RF in a Britax Blvd CS, 2007 RAV4
We are thinking that we will probably get a rental car while we're there, as we need to go from New Orleans > Houma > Lafayette > (possibly Houma again) > Lafayette > New Orleans during our one week stay! It's a lot of driving as most of those trips are 1.5-2.5 hours each! It's possible though that we could end up being transported part of the time in my in-law's 2001 RAV4 (MUCH smaller than our redesigned 2007 RAV4).
We own one convertible car seat, a Britax Boulevard CS, that we JUST installed last night and used for the first time today in our RAV4. DD is right around 21-22# and had been getting away with still using her SnugRide Infant Carrier until now!! She's definitely on the small side as far as weight goes. I'm not sure about height (we think around 30"), but she's not super-tall compared to her peers. We need to get another smaller convertible car seat to use in our 2002 VW Jetta, but I haven't decided on what to get for that yet.
My friend has a GoGo Travelmate that she said we can borrow for this trip, which will turn the car seat into a stroller for the airport and possibly train station. I'm hoping that works as well as it sounds.
I have a lot of questions here, so please just bear with me!
1.) Has anyone ever traveled on an Amtrak with a pre-toddler before? We booked the "Viewliner Roomette" which has 2 "beds" - the two seats fold down to make a bottom bunk and the top bunk pulls down from the wall. It's a VERY small space though (about 5.5 ft wide) but better than the Coach seating for containing my daughter and giving us some privacy. It's a 20.5 hour trip that departs at midnight. Should we bring our car seat into the Roomette and place it on the floor for her to sleep in (unsecured) or check it with the luggage and try to have her sleep in the bottom bunk with me? It sounds like the Roomette is so tight that the car seat wouldn't have very far to go if we wedge it in there!
2.) We just checked Southwest Airlines' website and it appears that our Boulevard CS is too wide to properly fit on their seats. They suggest 16"W, but the Blvd is 19.5"W. Anybody have any experience with this?
3.) If the Blvd is too wide for the airplane after all and we need to get another seat for this trip, I'd prefer to just get something that we will also use in our Jetta long-term. I had been romanced by the design and colors of the Maxi-Cosi Priori (I know that's a horrible reason to ever buy a seat, but I figured I could at least start there!), but after reading your reviews on here, it seems less than the best choice. I fear that a Marathon is too big for the Jetta, as the SnugRide infant carrier with base was a VERY tight fit in the back, leaving nearly no leg room for the adult passenger riding up front. I'd like to be able to switch back and forth b/w using the RAV4 & Jetta without feeling like I've compromised on the quality of the car seat in the Jetta. Any suggestions?
4.) If we do check the car seat with the Amtrak luggage, I also need suggestions for a good "Carry Bag" to get for it so it won't get destroyed in the checked baggage compartment. Coupons, discounts and websites are appreciated!
Thank you for reading this far and thank you in advance for any advice you can offer!
- Holly
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DD born 12/15/07 - RF in a Britax Blvd CS, 2007 RAV4
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