wrenwood

We need to rent a car for 5 adults and luggage. 4 of us will be picking up the rental in Frankfurt, and driving to Zurich to pick up the 5th, then on to Grindelwald for 5 days, and the Guarda in the Engadine Valley for 4 days.

Has anyone traveled this way and rented a car that really worked? We will probably be renting from Autoeurope or Europcar.

loves2sing

Six of us (my family of 5 and Grandma) spent 18 days traveling all over Germany and we rented a van, not much more than a car really. It worked fine for us, luggage and all. We all brought one suitcase and us 3 girls had totes and purses as well but we managed to fit the many souvineers we bought along the way in too. My only complaint being the front seat passenger....the seat didn't recline I have rented from both companies in the past and both were equally good.

rex

Sure I have. You need a nine passenger van, unless...

1) three of the five passengers weigh less than 100 pounds

and

2) on average, no one is taking luggage that exceeds about ten gallons. I realize that this is an unusual way to refer to luggage, but it is unambiguous... go to the grocery and look at the gallon milk cartons. Line up 8 gallon cartons, like soldiers, a "column" of 4 by 2 (for the "main suitcase&quot, plus 1 by 2 (for the "carryon&quot. To fit in anything less than a nine-passenger van, everyone needs to stay under this 10-gallon guideline.

Best wishes,

Rex

p.s. Where will you ultimately return this vehicle that you rent in Frankfurt? If it is not in Germany, then stick an extra half dozen 100 dollar bills in your wallet. Hopefully, they will cover the drop charge - - though they might not.

wrenwood

We will be returning the car to Frankfurt. We will be flying in and out of there as we have some friends in Darmstadt.

Also, once in Grindelwald I anticipate very little use of the car as we will be going most places by train/bus/foot. Once in Guarda again I am hoping that we will be using public transport as much as possible.

So we won't be "touring" much in this car it just needs to be roomy enough and comfortable. #5 person is around 100 lbs so hopefully that helps.

I was hoping to have an automatic but this does limit possibilities, so I may have to give that up.

janisj

how much/what size luggage?

wrenwood

We'll have a washer and dryer at the apartment in Grindelwald, so I'm determined to pack lighter than I usually do. I'm thinking each of us will have a med/lg suitcase and probably some assorted bags, cameras etc. between us.

janisj

5 medium/large suitcases plus sundry other bags will be a problem no matter the vehicle size.

Large suitcases are really hard to stow in any normal sized car and 5 of them can mean real headaches. You probably would need a 9 passenger van if you are goinf to have that much stuff. . .

nytraveler

There is no car in europe that will hold 5 adults comfortably - never mind with luggage. (Actually if you wanted to rent a Mercedes limo it might - but god knows what that would cost.)

You need a van - and be sure to have an accurate idea of how much luggage people will really bring - not how much you ask them to bring - or even the small van may not be big enough.

VeeBee

Agree with 9 passenger van recommendation...Just to share what not to get -- Opel Zafira and Renault Espace vans advertise seating for 6 plus a few suitcases.. however, We just rented an Opel Zafira "van" in June with 3 adults and 3 small kids (40/40/90 lbs) and 6 medium rollon suitcases and 6 daypacks... only had to travel with all the luggage once- to our house in Lourmarin. This vehicle was fine for us - but definitely wouldn't be comfortable for 5 adults ..two seats in front, middle bench seat for 3 and rear jump seat (fold down for additional luggage storage) We looked at the next van up - Renault Espace that was supposed to be bigger - but wasn't much at all.. so stuck with Zafira. My point is - Espace would likely be cramped for you also.

hetismij

Well we Europeans manage to get 5 adults (my sons are all well over 6 ft) plus our baggage for two weeks holiday, and camping gear into a normal European car. (Ok not so normal in my case- a Renault Kangoo.) It is a tad cramped but it is doable. The problem with hiring something like a VW multivan is the fuel costs and the comfort as they are modified commercial vehicles.
Look at the Volvo or VW Passat wagons. Roomy enough for five and their luggage.
Otherwise hire two smaller cars and change around who sits in which.

wrenwood

Comfort is an issue as far as the seats. I agree vans may not be comfortable enough for 4 sixty + year old backs and a 55 year old back.

I don't think anyone will mind having a backpack or camera bag at their feet.

I heard somewhere that the VW Passat wagon was fairly roomy, also wondering about the Audi and Volvo wagons. Anyone rented these?

Thanks for all the input, it's really helping!

julia_t

A Renault Espace IS bigger than a Zafira.

In the second row of the Espace are three individual seats, with plenty of leg room.

Behind are two more seats over the rear axle, which ideally you would be able to remove thus giving plenty of luggage space for all of you. Alternatively these seats fold in half, but not flat into the floor. You would be able to put your luggage on top of these but you would not have so much space. You'd need to ask the rental company if you can remove and store these back seats with them - as you are returning the vehicle to the same place you pick it up that may well be possible. Or a roofbox option could be good too.

I drive an Espace, with 4 teenagers, all over England and in France too, and this works fine.

Other 7-seater MPVs which are the same size as the Espace are the Ford Galaxy, Seat Alhambra and VW do one as well (used to be called the Sharan, think the name has changed). The Zafira is the same size as the VW Touran, which are a bit more compact.

wrenwood

We are currently thinking of the Volkswagon Passat Wagon.

Wouldn't a wagon offer more "options" for stacking or arranging luggage than a trunk with a "lid"?

It is supposed to be very comfotable, I've been checking some of the cars on Yahoo autos and carseeker just for specs and reviews.

Of course most of the rental agencies don't guarantee a ceratin car, so who knows if we reserve this what we might end up with!