First timer in US - how to commute out of SFO International with baby (San Francisco: rental car)

[kavisha123]

I am coming to US for the fist time and have a 6 month old baby with me. I want help on how to commute out of SFO airport to Redwood City / Belmont area.

I will have big 2 or 3 bags ... about 20 kg's each. So cannot walk to a nearby place.

1) I can take a rental car from Hertz - but do they provide baby sets in the rental cars ? Any experiences of getting hertz cars with baby seat fitted ?

2) I could take the train ... i could catch the caltrain to Belmont . How convenient is it to go from SFO airport to Caltrain station with a baby and lot of luggage

3) Should i try taking a taxi instead ? Do the airport taxi provide baby seats ?

Too worried about the baby ... since she'll be really stressed out after a long flight , and might be really cranky at airport.

[uptown_urbanist]

Will you be doing any travel by car after you leave the airport? If so, you can either rent a seat from Hertz (just confirm that they have an infant one available) or, better yet, bring one from home. It's a hassle to haul with you, but you should be able to check it on the plane. It will make life much easier than dealing with a rental.

Taxis don't come with car seats, and technically you won't legally be able to ride in them without one.

If you don't need a car the rest of the trip, your best bet is to call a town car service and request that they send a car with an infant seat. I haven't done that before, but here's one service that provides seats on request: Limousine Town Car Service In San Francisco CA - CDC Executive Sedan & Limo Service I'm sure there many others out there, too.

[jaypee]

With a baby and 2-3 big bags, your best option is 1).

[bmw335xi]

Since you'll be staying in the Redwood City Area, I'd recommend option #1. A simple phone call to Hertz or Enterprise or whichever company you use will answer your question.

[rkwalton]

I don't have a child, but I've traveled a lot internationally in and out of SFO. I think option 1 is the best if you'll need a car while you're here. Option 3 can work too if you just need to get where you're staying, but won't really need a car while you're here. You'll have to make sure though that they'll have a child seat for your baby.

Of course, if you go with option 1 make sure that Hertz has a car seat for your child. I don't really see a reason to have to carry your child, deal with two bags AND a child seat for the car when Hertz has those.

Another benefit to renting is if your baby is cranky you can take your time after you land and won't be worried about rushing to meet a driver. The flip side to having a driver though is they'll meet you at baggage claim and help you with your bags.

I know that when I took my final flight back after living abroad, I was flying back with a cat* and way too many bags. I hired a driver to bring me into the city. Any other way would have just been a nightmare. It depends on how easy it will be navigating around with your child and these bags will be. For autonomy, option 1 is the best, but you'll have to wrangle with your child and get the bags to Hertz. For ease, option 3 is the best because you'll have someone helping you from baggage claim to the car and from the car to the door of where you'll be taken. Option 2? Skip it.

*Not comparing her baby to a cat: I'm just sharing my international travel with way too many things story.