 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Hi, has anyone got good directions they can share re route in and out of Geneva airport French side avoiding the Swiss motorways? we normally hire Swiss side and haven't a clue how to do it, but heard its not straightforward and my wife is now stressing. Is car hire easy enough to find at the airport? Cheers
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@SHORTNAME, French car hire is very easy to find in the airport. When you leave baggage reclaim turn left and up the escalators then follow the signs to France and the car hire is straight ahead. The cars themselves are just downstairs. Without a Swiss vignette, the navigation is a bit complex, but not difficult. I recconmend using a GPS navigation system, but the desk will give you a map. For the return set the GPS system to Ferney - Voltaire, not the airport. Only after you have gone under the runway should you look for the airport entry. A friend recconmends pressing the button before leaving the airport on the GPS as a location to be remembered. He recconmends it for all car hire pick ups.
It may sound really odd but now I am used to it I find pickup and return easier from the French side.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
We normally pick up on the Swiss side but hired from the French side last summer - & decided to not buy a vignette.
Followed sat nav to and from France and found it a bit of a pain as it added about 30 mins each way to the journey.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
@SHORTNAME, French side car hire is much easier in reality than theory so no real need to stress. I would be concerned about going to VT with a French side car though - they have summer tyres and no chains. Usually no option to add winter tyres either and snowchain "rental" is €200 for which you could buy two new sets in any supermarket. Swiss side cars have winter tyres as standard. Big risk at 2300m IMO.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
thanks all for speedy responses, much appreciated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What checks do the Swiss do to stop you driving a French side car without a vignette & I assume if a previous hire has put one on a French hire car the. Rental company leave it on
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Quote: |
What checks do the Swiss do to stop you driving a French side car without a vignette
|
They do not check when leaving the country, but will turn you around if you try to enter without one.
| Quote: |
I assume if a previous hire has put one on a French hire car the. Rental company leave it on
|
Yes, quite often the car has a vignette already.
| Quote: |
French side car hire is much easier in reality than theory so no real need to stress. I would be concerned about going to VT with a French side car though - they have summer tyres and no chains. Usually no option to add winter tyres either and snowchain "rental" is €200 for which you could buy two new sets in any supermarket. Swiss side cars have winter tyres as standard. Big risk at 2300m IMO.
|
Never had a problem - and I have done it many times. Just buy a set of chains if you need them on the motorway service area.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To return to the French side (assuming you have vignette and are on the motorway from Bardonnex pass the airport exit, go under the Palexpo building and take next exit to Ferney Voltaire. Follow signs to Ferney which will take you under the runway and back into France. Turning left into the French side immediately after the border post. If you reach roundabout you've gone too far.
If driving through Geneva without vignette crucial thing is to follow signs to Ferney as you get near, and ignore the airport signs.
Vignette recommended to make the whole thing much easier.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Also key to understand that you shouldn't put any faith in signs saying 'France' as you get near the airport. There's a lot of France around Geneva and lots of it is not where you want to go!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Quote: |
They do not check when leaving the country
|
Need to drive from French alps to GVA to pick up a buddy. I know you're likely to be forced to buy a vignette if you cross the Swiss border on a motorway heading INTO Switzerland.
Any thoughts on the level of risk crossing the border without a vignette on a motorway heading OUT? Are there stops, or is it like France into Luxembourg?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
mountainaddict,
But somewhat less painful than spending 30-odd quid on the privilege of driving twenty minutes (if that, combined, on the overall trip) on Swiss motorways. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| Quote: |
snowchain "rental" is €200
|
Eh? They're usually €30/40.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| SHORTNAME wrote: |
| Hi, has anyone got good directions they can share re route in and out of Geneva airport French side avoiding the Swiss motorways? we normally hire Swiss side and haven't a clue how to do it, but heard its not straightforward and my wife is now stressing. Is car hire easy enough to find at the airport? Cheers |
Suggest you look at google maps and use the little man to have a look at what it looks like. It's pretty easy. From Ferney through the Douane under the runway and turn right before you get to the swiss motorway. It's the little road that goes all the way along the front of the airport, past drop off etc. Along that until you get to the T junction past the airport. Take a left. route vernier. follow that and then an obvious right avenue de l'ain and across the rhone. follow signs for plan des Ouates, Perly and St Julien. It's hard to go wrong. (And 200 Euro for chains!!! More like 30 for a week)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Any one experienced a Swiss side car (i.e. Swiss registered) breaking down in France?
Urban myth has it that you will be charged international support/rescue charges penalties etc etc ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Picture the scene... you are stopped at the side of the road, it's tipping down with snow, cold, dark and windy. You now have freezing, filthy hands (the plastic gloves lasted 10 seconds), your new jacket is stained with black wheel arch crud that will never come out and you still have the other snow chain to fit. At this point you would give someone 5 times the extra cost of hiring Swiss side, just to not be at this point.
Been there, done it, learned the lesson.
You are on holiday, make it as easy for yourself as you can. Rent Swiss side, with a Vignette and with snow tyres.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@boredsurfin, I have got in in writing from various rental companies that I am covered by insurance, breakdown etc in France.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
I will hire French side in summer if it's cheaper (it isn't always) but I agree that winter tyres are a great boon in winter. However, the difficulty of chains is often overplayed on SHs. Anyone putting them on for the first time in the dark by the side of the road is an idiot, frankly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
