If you were planning a 3-week trip around the western US and there were 5 adults (self, hub, unmarried son + married son and his wife), would you hire a (7-seater?) van or 2 saloon cars? I am worried about the luggage aspect. With only 5, we could adjust the back seats of a van to accommodate more luggage, but everything would be visible and it would mean you had to leave everything unattended when stopping at places en route.

But my husband disagrees and says I shouldn't worry about such things. Also, our youngest son is reluctant to drive (on the other side of the road), so would probably be happier in a van.

Any suggestions/advice please?

I think you would be fine in what we call a mini-van (7-seater). There is some luggage space in back of the 3rd row of seating, and even more in the unoccupied seating area. A reasonable way would be 2 adults in front seat, 2 in middle, one in back with luggage to side of 2nd and 3rd rows plus in back. You will not likely fit all the luggage in the back part.

I think no one who is uncomfortable driving in a situation should drive in that situation. For some it is night, for others narrow roads with cliffs (that is me) and for your son, on the wrong side of the road. You may also have more fun if you are all in one vehicle.

As far as luggage security, I would not worry too much about that. These days people want GPS systems, iPods, expensive cell phones in break-ins. Sure, luggage makes you slightly more vulnerable, but I do not think the risk is great, especially in more rural and western areas (as opposed to if, for instance, you were leaving vehicle in NYC or Boston streets overnight.

Make sure you understand the cost of insurance on the vehicle when they price it for you - in almost all cases renters from non-US must pay for "optional" insurance, which adds greatly to cost of rental. This is another reason to get only one vehicle.

When you stop, park car in well-lit, busy areas and have a good trip. (We travel twice a year times 2 college kids with overnight stay with car loaded to the roof with luggage and other stuff - never had a problem. Of course, this is no guarantee others will not, but I would not worry too much)

Hi gail
THANK YOU very much for your reply. You have put my mind at rest and I think we will go for the van - which does seem to be the most sensible option. I am a worrier!

(For one of my brothers, it is bridges! He will go miles out of his way to avoid one!)

Thanks again.

Minivans and SUV's are so, so common in the US so your vehicle will be one of the 50+% of similar cars wherever you park. You may have more trouble remembering which is yours among all the look alikes. Car break-ins on vacation are virtually unheard of.

Rent a mini-van (or full sized SUV - sometimes these are cheaper since nobody wants to rent them), relax and enjoy your trip.

Thanks J62 for your further reassurances. I am a Virgo, so therefore, born to worry over everything!

I shall insist on 'seat rotation' though, as I don't drive and refuse to be stuck in the back seat for the entire trip!

You can sometimes rent hardshell luggage containers for the top of the van, too. We just drove to Florida in our mini-van with one (borrowed from a friend, not rented, however) and six adults, and it did help a lot with crowding in the van. They do give the vehicle a much higher profile though, and make things like parking garages a little tricky.

If you can't rent a "shell" for the top of the car, they're actually pretty inexpensive to buy. We used to put one on the top of our mini-van to drive up to Tahoe or Oregon when the kids were little and we had to take our entire house with us on the trip.

I don't know whether they made mini-vans in two lengths any more, but if they do, get the longer one (when we had one, it was "regular" or "grand". The extra space is in the luggage 'compartment'.