Best travel buggy for vacation by car and plane | Rated Top 7
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You are once again ready for a wonderful holiday with your family, but you are still unsure whether to take the car or rather the plane.
With the car you can take a lot with you, including the necessary items for the kids, such as toys and of course a travel buggy which is really compact.
You weren't planning on taking your big pram with you, were you?
But make no mistake, even if you are going to fly you can take the perfect buggy on the plane!
I researched the best and most convenient travel buggies, and came to the conclusion that my overall best airplane buggy is the Babyzen YOYO² buggy is. This is because it is extremely compact and yet very complete!
I'll tell you more about this handy, small folding buggy later, but first I'll continue with my top 7 best buggies for travel:
| Best travel buggy for car and plane | Images |
| Overall Best Travel Buggy For Flying: Babyzen YOYO² buggy |  (view more images) |
| Best Cheap Travel Buggy With Bag: Safety 1st Teeny Buggy |  (view more images) |
| Best Travel Buggy For Toddler 1 To 3 Years: Mountain Buggy Nano V2 |  (view more images) |
| Best Travel Buggy For Newborn: Cybex Beezy |  (view more images) |
| Best Multifunctional Travel Buggy Suitable For Car Seat: UPPA baby Min |  (view more images) |
| Best carrycot + buggy combination: Bugaboo Lynx |  (look at |
| Most light & compact travel buggy: GB Pocket Air |  (view more images) |
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What we discuss in this comprehensive post:
- 1 Buying guide: choose the right travel buggy
- 2 The best travel buggies for airplane or car vacation reviewed
- 2.1 Overall best travel buggy for flying: Babyzen YOYO² buggy
- 2.2 Best Cheap Travel Buggy with Bag: Safety 1st Teeny Buggy
- 2.3 Best Travel Buggy for Toddler 1 to 3 Years: Mountain Buggy Nano V2
- 2.4 Best Travel Buggy for Newborn: Cybex Beezy
- 2.5 Best Multifunctional Travel Buggy Suitable for Car Seat: UPPAbaby Minu
- 2.6 Best Carrycot + Buggy Combination: Bugaboo Lynx
- 2.7 Lightest & most compact travel buggy: GB Pockit Air
- 3 Travel buggy vs stroller
- 4 Airline rules for buggies
- 5 FAQ'S
- 6 Conclusion
Buying guide: choose the right travel buggy
As soon as your little one is about 6 to 9 months old, he can sit and then a good buggy is a welcome purchase.
However, there are also buggies that you can put in different lying or sitting positions, so that your little one can even use it earlier than 6 months.
A comfortable, light travel buggy has many advantages, especially compared to a large pushchair.
A foldable buggy can be folded super compactly, and you use it until your little one is about four or five years old.
Ideal, therefore, to take a buggy with you on a trip; you take it with you as hand luggage on the plane, because compact buggies can easily be stored in the luggage compartment in the cabin, because they are really foldable!
Moreover, a buggy does not weigh much.
When buying a travel buggy, pay attention to the following points.
Backrest positions
The positions of the backrest, note whether your child can lie in it and at how many months he can stay in it.
Can you unfold the footrest to have more lying space? Is the buggy comfortable?
In the ideal buggy, your little one can lie (almost) stretched out.
Foldability
The foldability, is your buggy easily and super compact foldable – sometimes also called umbrella buggy or magic fold buggy – that can be taken along in the cabin of the plane without any problems?
It's also nice if you can easily store it in the trunk of the car, next to the suitcases.
Wheels
The wheels, because buggies usually have smaller and less resilient wheels than a pram.
There are buggies with 4 or 3 wheels and sometimes also with double wheels. One with three wheels is more convenient for nature walks on uneven terrain.
Also pay attention to maneuverability, because if you walk with a suitcase in one hand and want to steer the buggy with the other hand, it should be easy.
Weight
The weight of the buggy is also important, especially if you are traveling by plane. You are then always limited to a maximum number of kilos that you can take with you.
But even if you are going to carry the buggy folded, it is nice not to lift a fracture.
Your Basket
Do you want a basket at the bottom for your baby's things or a few groceries?
After all, you cannot hang a very heavy bag on the light travel buggy, because then you risk it tipping over. You can often lose about five kilos at the bottom.
sun protection
Do you want a buggy with a large sun canopy? Very practical, a little protection against sun (preferably with UV protection) or wind is always welcome!
Reversible
Is the buggy reversible? It can be nice, because at certain moments you can see your baby's face, and vice versa, your little one can see the wide world the other way around.
Safety
Does the buggy have a seat belt? What kind of belt do you think is important, a 3 or 5 point belt?
For the little ones, a five-point belt is the safest, because it also fits around the shoulders and your child cannot fall forward or climb out.
Adjustable in height
Are you looking for a buggy with handles that are adjustable in height? They just exist, useful if you and your partner have a big difference in height.
This way you can both have a comfortable ride!
car seat
Finally, if you mainly go on holiday by car, it is useful if you can put the car seat on the buggy.
You can then go for a multifunctional, also known as 2-in-1 buggy. With special adapters you click the seat on the buggy.
In addition to a stroller, your little one also needs luggage of course! These are the 11 best kids' suitcases they'll want to push themselves
The best travel buggies for airplane or car vacation reviewed
Read more below about the best buggies for your trip or vacation with your baby.
Overall best travel buggy for flying: Babyzen YOYO² buggy
This Babyzen YOYO² buggy is my best travel buggy and therefore also ideal to take with you on a plane trip, because it fits folded so with the cabin luggage.
With the padded strap you can throw the folded Babyzen yoyo buggy – huppekee – over your shoulder, just like a bag.
Handy when you have to carry your baby, your suitcase and the buggy, for example when getting in and out.
The seat cushion is nice for your child and I think it is all in all a comfortable buggy, partly due to its adjustable backrest with several positions and its anti-UV fabric (UPF 50+) hood.
These are important details of the Babyzen YOYO² and really big pluses.
Your little one still has a delicate skin that needs to be protected! I myself have the Babyzen Bought YOYO² buggy for this reason.
The four wheels have good suspension and the zipped back pocket is ideal for diapers, toys and bottles, in addition to the storage basket at the bottom, which can hold up to 5 kg.
Stains on it? No problem because its fabric is washable. A really good buggy for travel!
Features
- Colour black
- max. recommended child weight: 22 kg
- min. recommended age: 6 months
- max. recommended age: 3-4 years
- Number of children: 1
- Wheels: 4 wheels; 2 swivel wheels at the front and 2 fixed wheels at the back
- Adjustable backrest: Yes
- Adjustable footrest: No
- Adjustable push handle: No
- Reversible seat: No
- Lens hood: Yes
- Dimensions folded: W18 x H52 x D44 cm
- Weight: 6,2 kg
- Seat belt: 5 point belt
- Basket at the bottom: Yes
Pros
- Beautiful bag with zipper that you attach to the back of the buggy and another storage net underneath
- Wonderfully agile
- Portable as a bag
- UPF 50+ lens hood
Check prices and availability here
To keep the little ones busy on the plane you can use some take these fun travel toys with you
Best Cheap Travel Buggy with Bag: Safety 1st Teeny Buggy
Ideal for travel, but also for the city, the Safety 1st Teeny Buggy.
This Safety 1st is also very easy to fold, thanks to the handy folding system on the handlebar that can be operated with one hand.
It comes with a sturdy buggy transport bag.
Like the Babyzen YOYO², the Teeny also has an extra storage bag attached to the backrest and a hood against the sun and wind.
This Safety 1st is a really nice buggy and great budget option, which is even lighter than the Babyzen YOYO²! You can use it from the birth of your darling.
Note: However, the Safety 1st Teeny can handle 7 kilos less weight than the Babyzen.
Features
- Colour: Grey-black
- max. recommended child weight: 15 kg
- min. Recommended age: 0 months, it has a completely flat reclining position for newborns.
- max. recommended age: 4 years
- Number of children: 1
- Adjustable backrest: Yes 3 different positions, also lying position
- Adjustable footrest: No
- Adjustable push handle: No
- Reversible seat: No
- Lens hood: Yes
- Folded dimensions: 56 x 44 x 16 cm
- Number of pushchair wheels: 4 wheels, of which 2 swivel wheels at the front, 2 fixed wheels at the rear
- Weight: 5,6 kg
- Safety belt: yes 5 point belt
- Basket at the bottom: Yes
Pros
- super light
- Very complete for its price
Minus point
- Suitable for a child of max. 15 kilos
Best Travel Buggy for Toddler 1 to 3 Years: Mountain Buggy Nano V2
The Mountain Buggy Nano V2 300 has a great price and a fresh look, due to its bright red sun hood.
Because of its suspension, no step is too high and this buggy is also great for your little one, thanks to this good rear wheel suspension.
The Nano V2 folds up quickly and very compactly, making it an excellent, manoeuvrable buggy for travelling.
Thanks to the fine shoulder strap, you can take the buggy with you as a shoulder bag, or you can pull it along like a trolley, because it has two wheels!
A car seat is very easy to attach to the frame. But you could also attach the Freerider (ride-along board and scooter) to it.
The Nano V2 is easy to fold compactly in two steps and it also complies with the regulations for hand luggage on the plane.
Good that it comes with a travel bag and shoulder strap!
Features
- Color: Black with beautiful red hood
- max. recommended child weight: 20 kg
- min. recommended age: 6 months
- max. recommended age: 4 years
- Number of children: 1
- Adjustable backrest: No
- Adjustable footrest: No
- Adjustable push bar: No
- Reversible seat: No
- Lens hood: Yes, with 'flip-out' visor
- Dimensions folded: W20 x H55 cm
- Number of pushchair wheels: 4
- Weight: 5,9 kg
- Seat belt: 5 point belt
- Basket at the bottom: Yes
Plus point
- That it is easy to attach a car seat to the Nano (and you can also hang a Freerider on it.)
Downside
- Your child cannot lie flat in this.
Best Travel Buggy for Newborn: Cybex Beezy
The Cybex Beezy is slightly more expensive than the Nano V2, but has more features for babies.
Your child can lie comfortably in the Cybex, completely flat, and you can adjust the backrest and legrest with just one hand.
Its suspension is fine, regardless of bumpy ground. You can opt for a separately available adapter, in order to be able to place a Cybex car seat on the buggy.
With the large sun canopy, your child is always protected from the sun. You can see your baby through the viewing window.
The high quality and beautiful finish of this buggy will provide years of enjoyment.
With the shopping basket you can take everything up to 5 kg. and the adjustable handles are ideal for any parent or carer of varying heights.
Features
- Colour black
- max. recommended child weight: 22 kg
- min. recommended age: 0 months
- max. recommended age: 4 years
- Number of children: 1
- Adjustable backrest: Yes
- Footrest adjustable: Yes
- Adjustable push bar: Yes
- Reversible seat: No
- Lens hood: Yes
- Dimensions folded: W43 x H28 x D59 cm
- Number of pushchair wheels: 4, 2 swivel wheels at the front, 2 fixed wheels at the rear
- Weight: 8,2 kg
- Seat belt: 5 point belt
- Basket at the bottom: Yes
Pros
- You can mount a car seat on the Cybex (just like on the Mountain Buggy Nano V2)
- The push bar is adjustable in height
Downside
- This buggy is slightly on the heavy side with 8,2 kilos
These are the 10 play tips for on the go (+ best toys for the car)
Best Multifunctional Travel Buggy Suitable for Car Seat: UPPAbaby Minu
With its beautiful leather push bar, the UPPAbaby Minu has a luxurious appearance and a pleasant grip, but it is also quite affordable.
The UPPAbaby buggy can be folded with one hand into a small square package and therefore easy to store.
Thanks to the carrying strap, you can easily take the folded buggy with you.
This sturdy buggy has compression springs and integral wheel suspension. The comfort is palpable for the child, bumps are no problem.
The backrest is adjustable and with the help of separately available adapters it is possible to a baby car seat be attached to the frame of the buggy.
This makes the Minu a multifunctional buggy and of course very useful when you go on holiday by car.
You put the seat on the back seat and easily fold the rest of the buggy.
In terms of storage space, the buggy is equipped with a spacious shopping basket with an extra storage compartment on the backrest.
It comes with a protective cover and rain cover, great!
Its sun canopy has a viewing window and an extra fold-out section, so that your child is always well protected against wind and sun.
Features
- Colour Black
- max. recommended child weight: 23 kg
- min. recommended age: 6 months
- max. recommended age: 6 years
- Number of children: 1
- Adjustable backrest: yes, 4 positions
- Adjustable footrest: yes
- Adjustable push handle: No
- Reversible seat: No
- Lens hood: Yes, UPF 50+
- Dimensions folded: W32 x H58 x D107 cm
- Number of pushchair wheels: 4
- Weight: 6.7 kg
- Seat belt: 5 point belt
- Basket at the bottom: Yes
Pros
- Supplied with protective cover and rain cover
- UPF 50+ lens hood
- You can easily attach a car seat to this buggy
- Also suitable for uneven terrain
- Nice hold
Downside
- He is quite pricey
Best Carrycot + Buggy Combination: Bugaboo Lynx
The super-deluxe Bugaboo Lynx is the most expensive on my list and comes complete with a carrycot, making it a great buggy/stroller with a comfy, continuous push bar.
For clarity; you are done with this combi in one go, because it is just as much a travel buggy as a 'normal buggy'.
Moreover, it is already suitable for your baby from birth.
The buggy is heavier than the other buggies from my list, 9,4 kg. well, this buggy is also easy to fold and drives smoothly with its large, springy, multi-terrain wheel suspension.
The Bugaboo is wonderfully manoeuvrable and easy to steer, even with one hand. You even have the option of folding this buggy on its own in one piece, or in two ultra-compact parts.
The Bugaboo Lynx buggy fits perfectly in the car.
This Bugaboo Lynx set consists of an aluminum frame with wheels, black upholstery, a luxury carrycot with mattress, a comfort belt, sun canopy with viewing window, a rotating carrying handle, rain cover and a sturdy luggage basket at the bottom.
Features
- Colour black
- max. recommended weight child: 22 kg plus 10 kg groceries
- min. recommended age: 0 months
- max. recommended age: 4 years
- Number of children: 1
- Adjustable backrest: No
- Adjustable footrest: No
- Adjustable push handle: Yes
- Reversible seat: Yes, your baby is facing you in the carrycot
- Dimensions folded: W60 x H80 x D60 cm
- Number of pushchair wheels: 4; 2 swivel wheels at the front and 2 large fixed wheels at the rear
- Product weight: 9,4
- Seat belt: 5 point belt
- Basket at the bottom: Yes, it can carry no less than 10 kg!
Pros
- Comfortable, large wheels
- In total, this car can carry 32 kilos
- Includes rain cover
- Luggage basket carries 10 kilos
- Lens hood UPF 50+
- The seat is reversible
- You can disconnect the seating area and use it as a rocker
- Complete set, with carrycot
- High Quality
- An ordinary pram and travel buggy in one
Cons
- The heaviest buggy on my list
- The footrest cannot be raised
- This buggy costs something
- More suitable for traveling by car than by plane, provided you leave part of the set at home
Lightest & most compact travel buggy: GB Pockit Air
The lightest, but also the most compact (umbrella) buggy, compared to my other buggies: this GB Pockit Air is a high-quality all-terrain buggy for babies from 6 months.
You push it with one hand and it's perfect for those who can't lift heavy.
Its adjustable harness is great to adapt it to the size of your child, you just turn it into a narrow buggy for a baby.
Incredibly easy and quick to fold to a very small size; it is nicely compact and it is the smallest folding buggy on my list.
The buggy can be secured well with its automatic folding lock. It also has a large shopping basket.
The sun visor also protects against some rain, but not against wind, because it is not a hood that falls around the child.
You could purchase a rain cover separately for this buggy.
Did you know that this GB Pockit is 5 kg lighter than the Bugaboo Lynx? It is quite heavy for a buggy.
Features
- Color: Velvet black
- max. recommended child weight: 17 kg
- min. recommended age: 6 months
- max. recommended age: 4 years
- Number of children: 1
- Adjustable backrest: No
- Footrest adjustable: No
- Adjustable push handle: No
- Reversible seat: No
- Dimensions folded: W30 x H35 x D18 cm
- Number of pushchair wheels: 4 all-terrain double wheels front and rear; swivel and lockable front wheels.
- Product weight: 4,6 kg
Pros
- My lightest buggy, only 4,6 kilos
- Perfect as hand luggage on the plane
- 4 all-terrain wheels
Downside
- It's a bit on the low side for tall people
Travel buggy vs stroller
Let's be honest; in general, a buggy is especially useful and a stroller or pram rather comfortable.
For this reason, most people have both at home.
A buggy is easy to take with you on a plane trip and you are more likely to take a stroller with you for your daily walks, because that is good for your baby's lying position.
Another difference between a buggy and a pram lies in the weight and size; a buggy is smaller, a lot lighter and folds more easily.
However, the buggy cannot compete with the pushchair in terms of comfort.
You can often only use a buggy around 6 to 7 months, when your baby can sit. It is then better for your baby to use the backrest of the buggy in the flat position.
You can take a buggy with you until your little one is about 4 to 5.
Also useful if your toddler or preschooler is tired and wants to sleep, but you still want to enjoy a terrace in the warm evenings!
Airline rules for buggies
Usually you can only take a compact buggy on the plane.
Small folding or 'umbrella buggies' are allowed in the cabin of the aircraft, the larger pushchairs will only be able to be placed in the baggage hold.
Every airline has its own baggage rules, and the same applies to travel buggies.
Transavia
At Transavia you are allowed to take 1 piece of checked baggage of up to 10 kg for your child.
A foldable buggy also falls under checked baggage, but you can take it with you to the gate for convenience.
KLM
At KLM you can always take 1 folding pushchair (15 x 30 x 100 cm) and a (car) child seat per child free of charge.
Does your buggy not fit under the seat or in the luggage compartment? Then you can also check it in here as checked baggage and hand it in at the gate.
The car seat can always be taken on board, provided it meets a number of rules.
Ryanair
Strollers are allowed at Ryanair free and used up to the stairs of the plane and after landing the car is available again at the plane stairs.
If you wish, you can bring a car seat on board for a baby or child (approved for use on an aircraft with a 5-point seat belt).
By the way, if you bring a car seat for a child under 2, you will have to buy a seat for them.
FAQ'S
Finally, some frequently asked questions about traveling with children.
What is an umbrella buggy?
An umbrella buggy takes its name from the sometimes curved handles and its folding system that resembles that of an umbrella.
Umbrella buggies are relatively small, light and simple, don't expect any extras.
They usually have smaller wheels, a basic frame and castor wheels. Sometimes they have a sun canopy and a shopping basket at the bottom.
They are usually not suitable for a newborn baby, if you can put this buggy completely flat.
Why can't you hang heavy groceries on your buggy?
A buggy is generally very light, if your groceries hang on the handles or push bar, the buggy can easily tip over.
Which buggy is allowed on the plane?
You can take a foldable umbrella buggy or a very small foldable buggy (up to a maximum of 7 kg) with you until you actually get on the plane.
After that, it is often transported as checked baggage or in the baggage lockers in the cabin.
What is a good buggy for cycling?
If you want to be able to take a buggy with you on your bike, you should pay particular attention to the weight of the buggy.
Most buggy carriers are suitable for buggies up to a maximum of 7 kg. A buggy carrier is very easy to mount on the luggage carrier of almost any bicycle.
Which buggy can be taken to the gate?
You can always take a light travel buggy or umbrella buggy up to the gate to transport your baby or toddler at the airport.
It is then taken along in the cabin or the buggy is checked in as checked baggage.
A stroller is much larger and heavier, so it will be checked in immediately as checked baggage together with the suitcases.
Which stroller fits in a Mini Cooper?
If you have a Mini Cooper, you will save yourself a lot of work if you buy a simple buggy.
Most prams do not fit well in this car and if they do fit, the wheels sometimes have to be removed.
Just use a buggy and your problem is solved!
What age is a buggy suitable for?
A buggy offers less support than a pushchair, your baby is often not allowed in it until he can sit up independently.
Usually your little one can do that between 6 and 9 months. You can use the buggy until your child is about 4 years old.
Conclusion
It's very useful not to have to walk with a heavy stroller all the time, especially if you want to run an errand quickly, or go on a trip and don't want to lift too much.
So it's much easier to take a compact buggy with you!
There are many different buggies available for travel, but most buggies have many things in common: a buggy often weighs no more than 6 or 7 kilos and is easily foldable.
Furthermore, you can easily push a buggy with one hand and you do not have a nagging little one on your arm, who is tired and asleep.
Also read: this is the best holiday toy (19 baby, toddler & preschooler tips)
Always something to do for the holidays or rainy day?
Play Choice now has the ultimate activity book collection, with over 60 pages of fun coloring pages and educational puzzles.
Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.