 Poster: A snowHead
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| johnE wrote: |
| @Mjit, I'm not sure which of the half term weeks you are looking at, but choosing a week at the end of feb. Switzerland comes in at 446 euro and French side 266 for a golf. OK the French side will probably not have specialist winter tyres and chains will be extra but the price difference is staggering |
As the OP was looking for a car on the French side with winter tyres I was only looking at prices for cars available with winter tyres from the French side, so you get a direct, like-for-like comparison. Yes you can get cheaper cars on the French side - but not with winter tyres.
I'm also not sure where you got your Golf price from - sixt.co.uk (the only place I've found that lets you book hire from the French side AND select winter tyres) comes in at £322.41 for a Golf from the French side of GVA (15/02 to 22/02). Assuming it was a rental agent price, I don't think I've EVER found a rental agent offering the winter tyre option from a French rental location.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@xtr and the Lancer26: This is the annual 'fair and frank exchange of views' about hiring from the French vs the Swiss side at GVA. After some years of forum-watching here and elsewhere, my conclusion is that it's very hard to get a true apples-to-apples comparison on price. You'll hear feedback - I'm sure it's genuine - that people have had no issues at all hiring from France and saved a lot of money. But there are far more complaints about issues hiring from France than from GVA Cointrin P51. For me, if you want a certain 10-15 mins between walking away from the car and arriving at check-in/security on return and winter tyres and chains, plus vignette* pretty much guaranteed to be there when you finally get to pick up the car, then I'd go for GVA P51. If you're willing to take a bit of a risk to save a bit of money, then go for France. Up to you to decide.
[*Vignettes are valid through Jan of the following year. So if you're picking-up early Feb, make sure they haven't simply missed-out on replacing it in the melée of busy Weekends]
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Sat 30-11-19 23:00; edited 1 time in total
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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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Not to beat a dead horse but have decided to go the Swiss side. Happened to look on Booking.com and it was QUITE a bit cheaper than direct with Europcar.
Looking through the details with Booking.com, snow tires are an extra charge of 7 CHF per day. If snow tires are mandatory by law in Switzerland until the end of March, wouldn't that mean that the car would have to be equipped with snow tires regardless? So, the "extra charge option" would be an attempt to get the customer to pay for something that will be on the car anyway?
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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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@xtr, if you get a car from the Swiss side it will have winter tyres on it. If you want some reassurance.....go through the process to book direct with the rental company and you’ll see in the details that winter tyres are provided.
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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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@Matt1959 and everyone else.......
Thanks for the help!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
So, the "extra charge option" would be an attempt to get the customer to pay for something that will be on the car anyway?
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It's complicated.... I once whiled away an hour, waiting at Gva for a late flight to come in, going round the car hire companies trying to get details - if you are quoted an extra charge for the "winterisation" then you'll have to pay it. I recall a rant from a SH who had wasted an hour of his holiday with "in that case I'll take it without winter tyres" but just had to pay if he wanted to drive away. 
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Anyone coming in the next few weeks - be aware there are big ass roadworks around the airport, specifically the Ferney Junction (French Car Hire).
Whereas previously, when returning, you could take the Ferney slip for France OR the Airport, now these are separate, exits.
The new airport exit is just before the tunnel, and the old exit in the tunnel is still closed.
If you do panic and take the Ferney exit instead of the airport one and want to go to the airport, you have to take a left onto the airport perimeter road, and drive along next to the French fence. This will bring you up by the entrance for P26.
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| Extremophile wrote: |
And they've installed a new (wasn't there in Jan 2019) speed camera on the slip road back to P51, you have to go from 100km to 60km in an eyewateringly short distance - we got zapped! It must zap everyone! |
I know from experience. I was zapped 2 weeks ago. As you say, they don't give you much time to get down to 60. I'm holding my breath and awaiting the dreaded envelope landing on the doormat... 
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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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O no, that's a swiss speeding fine & not a 40 euro French one...………..
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| LaForet wrote: |
| Vignettes are valid through Jan of the following year. So if you're picking-up early Feb, make sure they haven't simply missed-out on replacing it in the melée of busy Weekends] |
Does this mean that if you hire a car at the end of January and return it in early February, the vignette will expire during your rental period?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@denfinella, Yes you’ll need a new 2020 vignette for February
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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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| WindOfChange wrote: |
| Anyone coming in the next few weeks - be aware there are big ass roadworks around the airport, specifically the Ferney Junction (French Car Hire) |
Plus I have the feeling they change the layout from time to time just to keep you on your toes. Better have that vignette, and not follow the GPS...
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Just make sure the vignette is a 2020 one. They can still use 2019 until end of January, while the 2020 is valid from Dec. Basically both are valid during Dec and Jan.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Ozboy, @patrick!, thanks.
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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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| patrick! wrote: |
| Plus I have the feeling they change the layout from time to time just to keep you on your toes. |
I'm glad you posted that. I have been a few times in last the last month, and it seemed different the last time.
I thought I was just having a senior moment 
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
Plus I have the feeling they change the layout from time to time just to keep you on your toes
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They seem to do that inside the airport too, with the "Alice through the Looking Glass" passageway between the Swiss and French sectors of the airport.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
They seem to do that inside the airport too, with the "Alice through the Looking Glass" passageway between the Swiss and French sectors of the airport.
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In my experience they do that sort of thing at every airport. Has anyone been to an airport that has been actually finished ie no section partitioned off for work to take palce.
The last time I went through Geneva airport in November they were checking boarding cards between the Swiss and French sectors so do not throw your boarding card away as soon as you get off the plane.
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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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they were checking boarding cards between the Swiss and French sectors
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that's a new one on me - though I've not done that transition for a while now. In the past I've been through it with nobody there checking anything.
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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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@pam w, It was new to me as well. It should be borne in mind by anyone renting from the French side of the airport.
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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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| denfinella wrote: |
| LaForet wrote: |
| Vignettes are valid through Jan of the following year. So if you're picking-up early Feb, make sure they haven't simply missed-out on replacing it in the melée of busy Weekends] |
Does this mean that if you hire a car at the end of January and return it in early February, the vignette will expire during your rental period? |
No, not if they've replaced the 2019 vignette with a 2020 one promptly i.e. between 1st Jan 2020 and when you pick it up subsequently.
Yes, if they've not got around to replacing the vignette and don't notice i.e. letting you drive away in January with a 1919 vignette on the car when you're returning after 1st. Feb. 2020
Simple rule is - always check the car has a vignette valid for your period of hire. Even outside the Jan-Feb, there's always the possibility it's a new car or one with a new windscreen and they've forgotten to put the vignette on.
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