Will our hire car be big enough?

Afternoon all,

Due to land in Sanford next Thursday, and we%26#39;ve booked a %26#39;compact%26#39; hire car (Cobalt) for the 4 of us - we have two kids aged 7 %26amp; 4.

I%26#39;m getting a little nervous about whether the car will be big enough or not as we%26#39;ll probably have two large suitcase and a small one.

Could I have some advice?

Thanks in advance.

S

Will our hire car be big enough?

Don%26#39;t worry to much as you may get a free upgrade we got a free upgrade from an intermediate to a Jeep Liberty.

Will our hire car be big enough?

Personally, I don%26#39;t think it will be big enough - you%26#39;ll need an intermediate at least.

If there were just 2 of you, then a compact would be fine. But you%26#39;re not going to get all 4 of you AND all your luggage in the car. The boots/trunks over in the US are smaller than over here. Over here, with a hatchback, you%26#39;d probably do it. Over there they are all saloons, and you will need an upgrade. I imagine you%26#39;d be able to fit one large suitcase and one small suitcase in the trunk, but not all 3.

Don%26#39;t rely on getting free upgrades, either. What I DO suggest though is only ONE person goes to collect the hire car. Then they%26#39;ll try to sell you a cheaper (or possibly free) upgrade, as they%26#39;ll think you%26#39;ll not need it. However, if you all go in to get the car, as soon as the guy on the desk sees all of you AND your luggage, he%26#39;ll not bother trying to sell you an upgrade, because he%26#39;ll know full well you%26#39;ll be back in 10 minutes NEEDING a bigger car because your cases won%26#39;t fit!

try to upgrade befor you get there they will stick it up you big time with all the taxes and airport charges

I would book at least an intermediate- Caroline is right.

Generally speaking, they don%26#39;t rent many compacts there. And chances are, they%26#39;d give you a free upgrade because of this. But I wouldn%26#39;t risk it. And if you do it there, it will cost more than doing it here.

I got an intermediate just for the two of us with 3 bags.

Thanks for all your help with this.

I%26#39;m going to give the travel agents a call later and upgrade to an intermediate - it%26#39;s only an extra 拢30 to what we paid back in January.

It%26#39;s work the cost, as I want to look forward to our holiday, not worry if our hire car is large enough or not!

S

boot (trunk) space is a big problem with american cars ( they must travel light). You should be Ok with 2 large and 1 small cases but think about upgrading (unless you get a free upgrade) as you will be more comfortable on your journeys and you will bring back far more than you went with.

Chevy Cobalt car capacity as per Alamo.com:

2 adults

1 mid size passenger (older child)

2 smaller children

1 large suitcase

2 small suitcase

My guess is you could do it but one of your bags may have to go with the kids in the back.

Any compact car they give you will be big enough for 2 adults a 2 small kids. They dont know what a small car is. All their cars are bigger then ours.

I would take the keys and see how big the car is before you consider an up grade, or be talked into one. It will probably be much bigger than you think

If its not big enough go back in and try to see a different desk attendant.

Complain you have been sold a car which is too small , when you were told it would be ok. They will probably give you one.

if not you will have to buy a larger size.

Try all avenues before showing willing to part with money.

Alternatevely cut down on the suit cases.

Dont take any towels, hair dries, hair straighteners, other electricals. shampoo sun cream heavy items, only a traveling size on to see you through the first night. You can buy all them cheaper and better sun cream over there in Walmart / Publix..

Only pack half you think you need. you will have less to carry and more space / weight allowance to come home with.

Be ruthless.

mmgod,

but they would have another case on the way home with all their purchases, being from the Uk they might like to exercise the current power of the pound sterling. And you want them to, to stimulate the Us economy.

Probably car is too small unless they don%26#39;t mind the extra cases on the kid%26#39;s laps. not to mentio the possible 4 carry-ons etc.

Any compact car they give you will be big enough for 2 adults a 2 small kids. They dont know what a small car is. All their cars are bigger then ours.

I would take the keys and see how big the car is before you consider an up grade, or be talked into one. It will probably be much bigger than you think

If its not big enough go back in and try to see a different desk attendant.

Complain you have been sold a car which is too small , when you were told it would be ok. They will probably give you one.

if not you will have to buy a larger size.

Try all avenues before showing willing to part with money.

Alternatevely cut down on the suit cases.

Dont take any towels, hair dries, hair straighteners, other electricals. shampoo sun cream heavy items, only a traveling size on to see you through the first night. You can buy all them cheaper and better sun cream over there in Walmart / Publix..

Only pack half you think you need. you will have less to carry and more space / weight allowance to come home with.

You will need to be ruthless.