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Car hire at Geneva, that chestnut

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Just been looking at hire rates for January and March.
Swiss side seems to be double the French; March "needs" a nine seater (although hiring two cars could be cheaper).
Have rates suddenly jumped?, a lot, or did I miss-read them back in September; they seem to have near on trebled.
March, the car hire is now more than flights and accommodation combined.
I could bin the flights and drive out cheaper at this point.

Any advice on alternatives please?
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Rates have rocketed recently. Pretty much doubled for Feb I reckon. I’ve learned my lesson and will book a car as soon as I book flights - we have a long weekend in Feb (not half term) and we’ve ended up paying £600 for a Ford Focus for 4 days.
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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?
I reckon you want to book hire cars will free cancellation (up to 48hrs before) well in advance of flights with a variety of likely dates to lock a price in, then arbitrage if you can when you book.
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@ster, good call. I have a couple of options in March so may book a couple of cars until my daughters make their ******* minds up…
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
The French side rates are normal/cheap. £250 for a mid-size for half term (Europcar) with free cancellation etc.

Swiss side rates are insane; not much below £1k for the week.
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@snowdave, Congratulations on finding Geneva airport French side car hire. When I looked there were no cars available. Now I see that the car rental is only available for a few hours a day, which don't correspond to when my potential flights land.
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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Isn’t there an issue with the French side is where they are not obliged to provide winter tyres as the Swiss side is at certain times of the year. Perhaps one reason, apart from the general differences in price levels, between the Swiss and French side.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
@ster, yep, there's plenty of issues with the French side - the faff of two extra border crossings, 15 mins longer journey, absence of motorway permit, extra cost for snow tyres (c. £20/week). However, for £700 price difference I can live with it.
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Just to make things more complicated Geneva Airport is shutting the French side for 4 months https://www.gva.ch/en/Site/Passagers/News/2024-2020/Secteur-francais-modification-parcours-passager
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@Timc, Thanks for flagging - worth noting it's only checkin and security. "This temporary relocation of check-in and security clearance has no impact on French car rental companies, which remain available to their customers, as well as for passengers with tickets to other destinations arriving via the customs road. Using the customs road and the car parks on the French side are still possible. "
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A set of snow chains can be had for circa £50 at most larger French supermarkets/hypermarkets. Just stop sooner rather than later because if you end up in Bourg during a Snowmageddon event they will probably have sold out of the size you need. And don't drive up to the resort on summers on a dry road, only to find snow covered roads on departure day - you will pay through the nose for chains in resort (assuming you can find any).
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
I had a mini heart attack when I checked the prices for our Christmas trip to Thyon - 19th December to 1st Jan - coming in at £3500+ for an SUV/Estate!!

The relief when the wife reminded me we booked the car hire a few months ago and it was "only" £950
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
NewSkiingDad wrote:
I had a mini heart attack when I checked the prices for our Christmas trip to Thyon - 19th December to 1st Jan - coming in at £3500+ for an SUV/Estate!!

The relief when the wife reminded me we booked the car hire a few months ago and it was "only" £950


Just had that heart attack whilst checking prices as I thought I had booked at £300 for 18-23th Dec. Unfortunately I hadn’t confirmed booking Eh oh! Eh oh! Cheapest price now is £600.

Given that info - any suggestions for getting from Geneva to Les Crosets on Dec 18th, and back to Geneva on 23rd???
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
james75 wrote:
any suggestions for getting from Geneva to Les Crosets on Dec 18th, and back to Geneva on 23rd???


Probably a train to Monthey and then another one to Champery, then cable car up to resort - hopefully someone with local knowledge can confirm!
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
denfinella wrote:
james75 wrote:
any suggestions for getting from Geneva to Les Crosets on Dec 18th, and back to Geneva on 23rd???


Probably a train to Monthey and then another one to Champery, then cable car up to resort - hopefully someone with local knowledge can confirm!


Have taken the train to Champery which is further up the valley - was super super simple - granted in your case you will likely need to get off at Val D'illiez or just after and get a bus for the last bit - I couldn't fault the swiss train service! was just under 50CHF per adult one way last year.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Oh yes, sorry, I forgot that the cable car doesn't go directly to Les Crosets, it goes to the hill above it! (Though if you had skis and boots...)
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@denfinella, hand luggage only then. wink
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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?
So would a train to Val D’Illiez, followed by a bus/taxi up to resort work? Landingin Geneva at 13:35?
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Yeah, you'll change at Aigle and then the bus from Val D'illiez - the train to Aigle is pretty frequent its on the line that runs to Brig, then the train up was less frequent maybe 30/60mins from memory. Would check out www.sbb.ch for schedules - give them a call on the phone if you can't find what you need they are super helpful.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Ok this has me worried, cheapest I can find for 26 December- 4 January is £903 & that’s from French side
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@Jonny996, cheap taxi to St G instead?!
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@snowdave, I’ll be looking at bus, shared transfer or train but for sure I’m not going to be paying that for a car.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Utter madness, after new year scare I thought I better get booking half term.
£193 for 9 days, makes no sense
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Jonny996 wrote:
Utter madness, after new year scare I thought I better get booking half term.
£193 for 9 days, makes no sense


£193??
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Yes, Renault twingo from the Swiss side
From Saturday through to the following Monday
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
For Feb half term?
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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.
@Jonny996, can I ask who that’s with? I’m looking for 26/2 to 2/3 and it’s £150 a day
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
I’m on £620 for 18/12 to 23/12 - swiss side, £420 French side!
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
For Feb half term?
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Sorry Scottish half term 12/2-21/2
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Jonny996 wrote:
Sorry Scottish half term 12/2-21/2, it was via carrentals
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Jonny996, you got a bargain - appears to be £800+ now!
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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?
Ridiculous prices elsewhere too now. A January week from Salzburg Airport is coming up at £450+ now... rolling eyes
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Apologies just checking booking as it seems to good to be true, it’s there but I noticed it is French side , still not to bad
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
It has gone crazy, seemingly everywhere. We have a long weekend for 2 in March and even using French side a private transfer to Val D'Isere is now only £40 more than car hire. Given we are flying Business on vouchers I'll pay the £40 and let someone else drive, and avail myself of the airport lounge!!
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Ski in Switzerland and take the train?
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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
twoodwar wrote:
Ski in Switzerland and take the train?


Given the double whammy of expensive flights and rental cars (and teen restrictions in France) I think if we go thats the way we’ll head and offset the flight price by losing the expensive car.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
james75 wrote:
So would a train to Val D’Illiez, followed by a bus/taxi up to resort work?

Allowing for the usual airplane station nonsense, you could feasibly get the R90 train from Contrin towards Brig at 15:11, which arrives in Aigle at 16:20.
You can get the R25 cog from platform 11 in Aigle at 17:28, this arrives in Val d'Illiez at 18:23.
Then take the 81 bus to Les Crossets, arriving 19:28
According to the timetable the bus leaves at 18:25, and you might think this is tight, but the bus waits for the train, as it is a joined up service, but because it's in Switzerland, the train will be on time. The bus driver will normally help load your bags / skis as well.
With the current pricing it will be 16.40 francs which is about GBP 13.20.

It may be possible to do it without such long gaps, but this is the no-rush way. According to the SBB site, the whole journey is 2h54 mins, but my defensive planning allows for a quiet pint in Aigle.

As for the whole French-side winter tyres surcharge, I would have thought that as of yesterday when the new winter tyres / chains rule came in, winterisation for must be standard for the French cars or they will not be legally allowed to leave the airport.
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WindOfChange wrote:

As for the whole French-side winter tyres surcharge, I would have thought that as of yesterday when the new winter tyres / chains rule came in, winterisation for must be standard for the French cars or they will not be legally allowed to leave the airport.

I did think that but was waiting for someone more in the know to confirm.............
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Like wise.
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