Should I bring a double stroller to Israel for 2 week stay?

Hi,
we are iyH going to Israel in August for 2 weeks and I am not sure what stroller I should bring. My kids will be 2 years (27 months) and 7 months old. I own a Britax B-Ready and although its tandem it is still very large and heavy. I am worried that its going to get ruined at Gate Check and I am worried about it fitting in the small Israeli rental car when we are getting around on a day to day basis. We are renting a car so I am not so worried about a stroller for busses, but we want it to be convenient for day trips to the park, zoo etc. We are mostly staying in suburban Tel Aviv but will be taking day trips and spending a shabbat in a hotel in Neve Ilan.
Should I bring my B-Ready? Should I buy a compact double like a maclaren or city mini or should I just bring a travel single stroller and use the ergo baby for either the baby or my toddler as a backpack.

We are bringing their car seats with us so I already feel like we're going to have SO much stuff.

anyone?

Active Poster Joined: Jan 24 2012 Posts: 42

is there a way that you cal leave the car seats home and rent/ borrow here? I think that a double stroller is a MUST over here, even for a short amount of time

My suggestion; bring a single stroller and plop two kids in it when the older one doesn't want to walk. Lean the seat back... one kid sits behind the other. I do this *all the time*... two kids in a single stroller or three kids in a double stroller. Bring a good-sized cheap-o stroller.... just in case it gets ruined at check-in or from all the traveling. I have a Graco Quatro, which is my cheap-o stroller and has lots of space for two kids to sit inside, even though it's not a double.

We have a nice big double stroller that fits on Jerusalem buses, but if we had to fold it.. OY! I would die. I wouldn't bring a Maclaren stroller.. those things have teeny-tiny wheels and you will be miserable pushing it around on these old uneven sidewalks. If you have some kind of stroller with big wheels, then your trip will be easier.

I wouldn't recommend carrying the baby or wearing a backpack for the toddler... it's gonna be super-shleppy with all the stuff you'll be bringing. And I'm sure you know this, but Tel Aviv in the summer is like a sauna. You probably don't want to have extra weight on your body... you will lose 20 pounds from sweating. Your stroller that you bring should have a decent-sized basket so you can bring all the stuff you'll need on outings... extra clothes, snacks, diapers..etc.

Enjoy your trip!
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Bring the car seats, especially if the kids have seats on the plane. Use them on the plane if you can. Safety shouldn't be compromised IMO and if you are renting a car having good car seats that you are familiar with is a must.

In terms of the strollers, why not bring two inexpensive singles? You and DH can each push one on longer trips when you need two strollers, one can stay in the car when you only need one, they are less likely to get destroyed by the airline since they are lighter (IME at least) and if you rig them right you can put the car seats on the stroller to get through the airport.

Hatzlacha!
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Liba, mommy to Zlata Tova 5/6/98, Tziporah Faiga 1/12/01, Esther Rivka 7/13/04 and Avraham Chaim 7/2/2006

Gold Member Joined: Jul 14 2009 Posts: 2094

I say a double w/ 2 kids that age is a must! esp since they'll prob be out of sorts & get tired when you're out.... what I suggest is that so many ppl here in E"Y want to bring strollers in from the states, find someone to order it to your home (you can specify only city mini or the like), you can bring it, use it for 2 weeks & then leave it here for them. I'd definitely do this if it was someone I could trust.

thank you for the suggestions!

what is an inexpensive, light light stroller with larger wheels?