 Poster: A snowHead
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For our March hol in La Plagne, it looks like we will have a fair bit of time in the afternoon between our transfer minibus getting to GVA and the flight back home at half six.
Has anyone got any recommendations on things to do in Geneva, or places to eat (are there any local specialities to look out for)?
Many thanks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Take a good book. 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Unless you like watches, it's one of the most boring cities on the planet.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Window Shopping
Coffee with an Ipad
Book - as mentioned above
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I keep mentioning this place http://www.les-brasseurs.ch/f/geneve/ on here which must be really boring for regulars but I have honestly never had such nice beer any where in the world! My Aunt, then 88 and I had a really nice basic meal there last December accompanied by the wonderful beer!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Oh dear!
So my idea of standing by the lake, whilst whistling the theme tune to 'The Champions' possibly isn't that bad then...!
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MrSteve,  look on the bright side; how often do you get a chance to relax with a good book? That's what I shall be doing when I wait for the Mountainsun transfer to Tignes on 4 November.
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If it's on a Sunday you'll find that Geneva is shut.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Some nice buildings in the old town across the river from railway station back a street or two from the fountain
Museums are free on Sundays but closed Mondays
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Window Shopping
Coffee with an Ipad
Book - as mentioned above |
Coffee at GVA undrinkable expensive muck and 4 hours is a long time at GVA. It is though there is shift in the time space continuum there as time seems to slow to a standstill in there.
As for the "Window shopping", there isn't much there unless you want to pay well above the odds for a watch.
There are a few more shops down towards the railway station (5 minute stroll). Here on a Sunday you can visit the world's busiest grocery, which is jam packed as it is the only place open in Geneva. Here you can buy Swiss bargains such as the 40 quid per kilo salami.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Quote: |
As for the "Window shopping", there isn't much there unless you want to pay well above the odds for a watch
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That's not really fair. I was very taken by the high quality underwear - if I hadn't been dashing to catch a flight I doubt if I could have resisted a very pretty bra, a snip at about £200.
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Four Hours! Only four Hours!!! You should try spending 24 hours in it when snowbound including sleeping on floors. One hour of free wifi; use it wisely. Kindle.
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You know it makes sense.
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Well, you know, if it's all so crap, don't bother passing through thanks.
MrSteve, Sunday? Or not?
Either way just get a train into town. If not Sunday, Plenty of things to do. Cafe de Paris just down from station does a nice lunch if you like steak although on margin I prefer l'Entrecote. Lakeside the Casanova is reliable and very friendly. Good tapas at Meditsol. Bear in mind that many kitchens take last orders at 13h30-14h00.
If Sunday you are a little more restricted. Most museums open, Natural History good esp. with kids. Chinese restaurant "Chez Kei" opposite Nat Hist allegedly very good but we haven't tried. Old Town has a few places, Demi-Lune does reasonable burgery stuff but is quite youthful. Maison Tardivel interesting as a slice of medieval Geneve...
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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It will be a Saturday, so that will help. A bit.
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Poster: A snowHead
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So, MrSteve,
Kids? No kids?
18h30 flight means check in at 16h30 so you get to GVA around 12h30?
I am seriously struggling to understand your problem.
Train to Cornavin gets you into town around 13h00ish.
For example, Nice lunch, taste some wines you won't have seen in the UK, train back to airport... Job done.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| under a new name wrote: |
So, MrSteve,
Kids? No kids?
18h30 flight means check in at 16h30 so you get to GVA around 12h30?
I am seriously struggling to understand your problem.
Train to Cornavin gets you into town around 13h00ish.
For example, Nice lunch, taste some wines you won't have seen in the UK, train back to airport... Job done. |
So what does he do with the luggage during this time, whatever he does he's stuck with the luggage unless he wants to leave it at left luggage, which I guess will be relatively expensive in the scheme of things.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Kel, nope, not expensive at all. I think it's now up on platform 4 though as the station is being extensively rebuilt.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I think it's 10Chf per piece if you leave it at the manned left luggage. The lockers are cheaper but you can't fit skis in.
Don't forget to pick up a free train ticket in luggage reclaim.
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Claude B, so, if you skis, give them to the nice man at the counter. If you don't, I think the largest locker (which is pretty big) is either 8.- or 5.-. You can probably get more than one person's luggage in the largest one.
Ah, now, I am thinking lockers on platform 4 are at Cornavin. I have no idea where they are at the airport.
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under a new name, +1 re eating at L'Entrecote (relais de l'entrecote - www.relaisentrecote.fr ofr the OP). The only problem is I am pretty sure that is one where you cannot book a table so on balance I think the Cafe de Paris might be better (also closer to train station).
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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cern is worth a visit if you can get there and its open for visits, the skatepark at plan palais is awesome if you skate, the shopping is good (if expensive) and the lake is always fun! 
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There's a park beside the lake, nice walk. I saw a chipmunk in it.
By 'it's shut on Sunday' people just mean you can't buy pointless tat (or in the case of Geneva, expensive watches) a Sunday. This is the case pretty much everywhere outside the UK, as far as I can see. There are, however, much more interesting things to do - museums, parks, walks, cafés, cake etc etc. I seem to remember rumdiary telling me Trier was a boring shíthole on a Sunday - actually it was very pleasant, since all the interesting stuff was there as usual and it wasn't as crowded as it is the rest of the time.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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chrisJersey, yep. You are quite right. Turning up at the Entrecote at 12h00 you'll probably get a table. Otherwise, better off at the Cafe, even if their sauce is not, IMo, quite as good. Brasserie Lipp abd Cafe du Centre are also open on Sunday but priced for the Genevoise.
MrSteve, if you were feeling flush enough to add two 40.- taxi trips in, a very nice lunch can be had at the Cafe des Amis in the rather sweet village of Choulex. It's a little out of town though...
There's also according to my OH an awesome chicken restaurant in Croix des Genthoud.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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The lockers are opposite the manned left luggage about half way along the main station concourse.
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| under a new name wrote: |
So, MrSteve,
Kids? No kids?
18h30 flight means check in at 16h30 so you get to GVA around 12h30?
I am seriously struggling to understand your problem.
Train to Cornavin gets you into town around 13h00ish.
For example, Nice lunch, taste some wines you won't have seen in the UK, train back to airport... Job done. |
Spot on with times there under a new name!
No kids- though other half can grizzle like one sometimes.
Lots of good info and ideas too everyone!
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You know it makes sense.
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MrSteve, Leonard Cohen on the iPod, a bottle of 'Patron' and a Swiss Army knife . . . EVERYTHING about Geneva says you're a tourist with a flacid bank balance . . . Bern, on the other hand is delightful.
. . . OH! you have kids in tow . . . Dilute the 'Patron' with 'Calpol' . . . bit sweet but makes it palatable for juvenile taste buds.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Masque, you've been drinking...
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Poster: A snowHead
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I've had 3 long wait overs in Geneva.
First there were 4 of us pre-PSB. Wander around the old town, bit of window shopping and ended with a nice pizza with a beer and wine opposite the station.
2nd was with a grizzly teenager on a wet Sunday in October. Ended up spending far too much time in McD's to keep her quiet.
Last years was the best, pre-PSB. A couple of locals took 4 of us around the old town (there was a ramparts race on) and for lunch in a yurt.
On each of those occasions it was more like 8 hours to kill.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| under a new name wrote: |
| Masque, you've been drinking... |
I wish! Not on my meds 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Just renew the wifi after the hour. It does not seem to remember you. It's a nice city to spend an hour or so in by the lake rather than the airport. But you don't tend to do it more than a couple of times as the other posters will attest. Get ticket in baggage hall and leave luggage in train station (left and to the end in arrivals). Enjoy. Don't bother if raining.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Palexpo is walking distance from the airport, check out what they have on.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Try organising snow tyres from a hire car company on the French side. That will kill 4 hours no probs.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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So....
Nice walks by the lake and old town, cathedral, etc
Museum of Art and History (free entry)
Red Cross Museum
Boat trip on the Lake
Pleasant shopping streets
British Pubs for live sport
United Nations
Patek Phillipe Watch museum
Natural History Museum (free entry)
Several cinemas showing English language versions of films
Loads of nice restaurants
Train ride along the lake to Lausanne/Montreux/Lavaux vineyards
Cern visit
Catch a Servette Ice Hockey or Football match
....yes, absolutely nothing to do
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Wed 9-10-13 16:09; edited 2 times in total
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Geneva is not boring by any means, but if your flight back is on Sunday you will find it very quiet. You can still visit one of the museums or watch football/rugby live in one of the pubs. Mr. Pickwicks is two tram stops from the Cornavin or you can just walk there. Or have lunch in one if the restaurants, or a fondue. As much as I love French food Swiss fondue is better. Everything is very close, and it's only about 5 min on a train from the airport.
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FAQ
