Child Seat for a Rental Car in Phuket: What Does It Cost and Which to Choose?

The age bands are approximate, so give the child's age, weight and height when booking. A booster raises the child so the car's own belt crosses the shoulder and hips; without it the belt sits across the neck and stomach.

You choose the seat and booster in the calculator when booking the car: ฿100 a day each, up to two per car. Give each child's age, weight and height, which decide the type of restraint. We confirm the seat together with the car booking.

With three children, message the manager before booking. The phone holder at MonkeyCar is free: holding a phone while driving is illegal in Thailand.

• Give the child's age, weight and height when booking
• Seats and boosters cost ฿100 a day each, up to two per car
• For a third child, discuss space with the manager before booking

Check the fitting when you collect the car: the seat should not move more than a couple of centimetres, and the straps should sit snugly. The seat is held by ISOFIX or by the car's seat belt. If anything looks wrong, ask the staff member handing over the car for help or message the manager.

In an open car park the buckles and metal parts of the seat get very hot. Cover the seat with a towel and air out the cabin before the child gets in.

Two child seats in a compact take up almost the whole rear bench, leaving a narrow strip for a third adult. Three seats in a row do not fit in every car: for that setup go straight for a minivan with a third row.

A family with one child and normal luggage will manage with a sedan or a crossover: the pushchair and suitcases fit in the boot, and the crossover's higher seat makes the child seat easier to fit and remove. On the hilly roads of the west and south (Patong, Kamala, Surin, Nai Harn) a car with power in reserve climbs better fully loaded. Choosing a class for a family is covered in Phuket with kids by car.