Vehicle for 7 people

GotToGetAway · Post by **GotToGetAway** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 11:09 am

Hi All.

We are trying to plan our next trip, and this will be our first time traveling with a group. We will have 5 adults and 2 children- 7 total travelers and luggage for 7 travelers. We do pack lightly as we do laundry to lighten our load.

The car rental place I have contacted has a vehicle that accommodates 7 people (Pathfinder or Jeep Commander), but they said it doesn't fit luggage when using all 7 seats.

Anyone have experience renting a large capacity vehicle and fitting luggage too?
Anyone know if it's possible to get some kind of roof rack for luggage so we can all fit inside?

We really don't want to rent two vehicles (mostly for cost reasons, but also the other party will be newbies and are not excited about driving).

Any input is appreciated.

bevm · Post by **bevm** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 11:35 am

Well, you only need it to get your luggage to and from your villa. If you can carry your luggage on your laps that short distance you should be fine. I'm almost positive you can't put luggage on the roof of your vehicle. They're pretty strict about stuff like that. Ask the rental agency.
Also take in to consideration your beach days....chairs, coolers, noodles, floats, etc. for loading the vehicle.
If it was up to me, I'd rent two cars. This way if someone wants to do something else or leave the beach early everyone doesn't have to pack up and go.

PA Girl · Post by **PA Girl** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 11:51 am

bevm wrote:Also take in to consideration your beach days....chairs, coolers, noodles, floats, etc. for loading the vehicle.

That was my first thought. We have a Tahoe in our real lives and there is not a lot of room behind that third seat. I think it would be hard to get beach chairs, a cooler and towels and stuff for seven people in a smaller 7 passenger vehicle.

Kevino · Post by **Kevino** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 5:16 pm

O'Connor car rental, St. John car rental have the larger capacity cars. Have the villa management team meet you at the ferry and let them take the luggage to & from. You'll manage the chairs, cooler, etc to the beach without trouble. Relax, chill and have one for me!

Need2GetAway · Post by **Need2GetAway** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 3:14 pm

I'm trying to picture getting seven people organized to all, say, leave for the beach at the same time. Are you sure you can't do two vehicles?

suzanna945 · Post by **suzanna945** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 3:41 pm

I would strongly suggest you rent two Jeep Wranglers or something similarly-sized if you have more than 5 people. We had 5 people in a Jeep Commander (the largest, "7-passenger" vehicle) and it was pretty tight with the luggage. Even trips to the beach with 5 beach chairs, towels, and a couple of coolers was a bit of a tight squeeze in the Commander.

VIlanders · Post by **VIlanders** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 4:34 pm

We had 4 adults and two children in car seats. Two years ago we had the Jeep Commander and it was tight and we had a lot of luggage, but had some of it on our laps. Last February we had a Kia Sedona and that seemed a little roomier, but still tight. The car seats take up a lot of room. You may be better off with two cars unless you can have help with the luggage.

surfnh · Post by **surfnh** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 5:10 pm

The vehicle you need is a Durango. It has significantly more room in back behind the 3rd seat as compared to the Jeep Commander. That being said, in order to pull it off for the trip to and from the villa, you need to pack light and plan on having some bags in your laps.....its not comfy, but it can be done, we've done this many times with 7 of us, small kids fit in the 3rd row easily. The whiners will complain in the back but heck with them!

Regarding to and from the beach, again we've gotten I recall 5 chairs in back with snorkel gear, back packs in laps.

The problem is finding a Durango. Bougainvillea had them for years but now only has Commanders and Pathfinders.....not sure who else has Durangos but I definitely saw some on island this past April.

Be that as it may, this past year our oldest hit 25 so could rent his own car for the 20 somethings. This is a lot better, as was mentioned above it's gives the group the ability to split up when they want to do different stuff. We hate negotiating what to do on vacation....if we're paying for the car and villa, we go where we want to go. I think our STJ group had a lot more fun this year with 2 cars.

Last point, don't get wimpy, it's not that hard to drive there. We brought my mom once when she was 80, she had her own car and had no problems.

GotToGetAway · Post by **GotToGetAway** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 10:17 pm

Surfnh I'm so glad you replied. I had done a search on Durangos and found that you had successfully used one in the past for 7 passengers. At least I know it's possible. We are planning on just doing carry ons and backpacks, so we can tuck them by our feet or on our laps.
We rent our vehicles on STT and get picked up at the airport since we had two toddlers that we want to get buckled up right away and head on our way without dealing with waiting for taxis to fill up. It appears Discount has Durangos (on their website, but I haven't called yet) and Amalie says that may be getting some large capacity vehicles in November.

Now, my husband says he's leaning toward renting two vehicles. We have plenty of time to decide, but I suspect the larger vehicles go quickly.

Thanks to all! We'll just have to weigh pros and cons and discuss with our other party.

surfnh · Post by **surfnh** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 10:30 pm

No prob, we really missed the Durango this year, but stuck with Bougainvillea and got a new Pathfinder plus a 4dr Wrangler for the kids. Ultimately it's better to have 2 cars, our kids are growing up and this is part of letting go I suppose.... By the way, we made them pay for their car, that's also part of letting them go!

INfamily · Post by **INfamily** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 12:52 am

Our family of 7 travelled one year (carry-on only) and rented 1 large SUV. It was
MISERABLE. Even if you travel as light as we do, it's impossible to get luggage and people into the vehicle for departure day. Ultimately, the group will want to go two directions at some point, so you'll have a more agreeable trip with 2 cars.

surfnh · Post by **surfnh** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 7:13 am

INfamily wrote:Our family of 7 travelled one year (carry-on only) and rented 1 large SUV. It was
MISERABLE. Even if you travel as light as we do, it's impossible to get luggage and people into the vehicle for departure day. Ultimately, the group will want to go two directions at some point, so you'll have a more agreeable trip with 2 cars.

What SUV did you have?

waterguy · Post by **waterguy** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 9:17 am

2 is the way to go if you decide on one make sure you pack bunji cords and small rope we put the beach chairs on the roof also the luggage on the trip to and from town

Jumbiegirl · Post by **Jumbiegirl** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 9:37 am

I would never never never have one vehicle for that many people. You'll never get everyone on the same schedule wanting to do the same thing. We went with 4 to a car ONCE and we never did it again.

Steve S · Post by **Steve S** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 9:45 am

My BIL and crew of 6 rented a Durango from Discount by the airport. It fit them well. By renting one vehicle on St. Thomas for 7 people, you'll save about $100 each way in taxi and ferry fees.

I always pack a "bungee net" when I go down in case I need to throw luggage or smelly trash on the roof.

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Vehicle for 7 people

Vehicle for 7 people