Car seat in Bermuda w/ 14 month old?

[Deleted User]

Ok so i'm a bit confused as to what to do... we are headed to Bermuda in July for my sister's wedding.  There are no rental cars in Bermuda.  Taxi, ferry, or moped!  So, my question is, what do most people do when traveling and needing a car seat?  Do you just hope and pray and hold LO?  Did you bring one on plane (lap ticket, not seat) and have it checked?  Can I ask the cab company to send a car w/ a car seat???  I emailed a few taxi companies on the island and got zero response (awesome)...  I really don't want to bring it along if I can request one for cab rides...

TIA ladies! 

orangecurls

I would call the resort and see if they have airport shuttle and a car seat available. Otherwise I would get a cheap and light car seat, cosco scerena is one suggestion. Or does your LO still fit in an infant seat?

MC03

We took a Caribbean cruise with DD in March, she was 16 months old. We did not go to Bermuda, but went to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel Mexico and I imagine your experience in Bermuda would be similar. 

We took our carseat, a Britax. All of the drivers tried to just put it in the trunk and said it was ok to put DD on our laps.  But, we didn't drag that seat all over just to do that, and I knew if anything ever happened I could never forgive myself if she wasn't in a carseat just because it would be difficult.  We practiced installing it the lap belt, shoulder belt, and latch way a bunch before we went.  My husband could install it in a few minutes after that, and we put it in about 6 different taxi/van/shuttles.  We only ran into one van that didn't have seatbelts, and we just waited for the next one.  It was worth it to me. The drivers were crazy and the roads terrible.

If you rent or borrow a carseat from the taxi company or resort, you never know what kind of seat, if it has been in an accident, or how the seat is rated for safety.  We bought a bag for the carseat at Babies R Us that you can wear like a backpack and also rolls with a handle, and I highly recommend that, it made taking our own carseat much easier. Just my two cents. Enjoy your vacation!

chicsahm

Call the resort! They should be able to help inform you on the best route to take... if you do take a car seat some airlines will let you check it for free.... if you do bring a seat for LO just carry it on the plane and have her sit in it. Otherwise just bag it up and check it. 

meglette417

We went a couple years ago and didn't have DS but there is bus transportation also so I wouldn't worry so much about holding LO on your lap in a bus as a would a taxi.  But as PP I would call the resort.

ktpaladino

I used to live and work in Bermuda and it does not surprise me that you aren't getting a response from the taxi companies. LOL. That's Bermuda for you. And honestly I doubt they will offer car seats, but I could be wrong.

Anyways, we are headed down to house sit and introduce LO to everyone from the end of June through July. I am planning on taking his infant seat. He will probably be about one inch over the height limit by then, but no where near the weight limit. His infant seat can be strapped in with a seat belt, no bulky base needed. If your LO can no longer use the infant seat, I would buy a car seat bag and take the convertible along with you. (Gate checking it would be my recommendation) Get really comfortable with installing and uninstalling the seat before you go. Luckily the speed limit in Bermuda is extremely slow, so there is a very low occurrence of accidents.

Certain Bermudians let their children hang on and ride on the scooter with them and is scares me to death. Please don't do it. Take a taxi or the bus. The bus comes quite frequently...I was given a car to use while working there, but the few times I did take the bus I don't think I ever waited longer than 15 minutes.

What resort are you staying in? Certain resorts have ferry stops close by, which also make it easier to get around, and I'm sure LO would love riding the ferry- the ride is breathtaking!

ETA: Also, take a very lightweight stroller...you might be doing A LOT of walking!

[Deleted User]

Thanks for all your info!  

No resort... we use a website called VRBO (vacation rentals by owner) and the landlady was no use for this either.  But we are staying on the far side (western side) so I think there are a lot of ferries that leave from that end (as it is closer to cruise port than air port!)

Infant seat is at DH's sisters as she is due in June, so that's not going to work... and yes def bought a cheap a** umbrella stroller for walking!  No Bob on the plane, no way no how!

Thanks ladies I super appreciate it! 

ktpaladino

OK, so depending on where you're staying, you might have the Dockyard, Watford, Cavello, or Rockaway Ferry close by, but I think a bus stop will probably be closer. The most convenient way for you to get around is going to be calling taxis though, so I would go the convertible car seat route (I know, such a pain to lug) if you don't hear back from any of the taxi companies.

 

https://www.rccbermuda.bm/Documents/Ferry/Summer%20Ferry%20Schedule%202013.pdf

That's the ferry map

https://www.bermuda-attractions.com/bermuda_000070.htm

and there's the bus routes

[Deleted User]

sweet!  thanks kt!