Poster: A snowHead
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Renting a car in the french side of Geneva airport was a bit of a nightmare last year as all the rules about where you had to drive once you came out of the airport was super confusing. I've seen mentions on here of renting from the Swiss side, which I didn't realise you could do if you are travelling into France. I know there are loads of rules about tyres and equipment when driving in France and various stickers in Switzerland. Just wondering what's the best/cheapest way to to do things pleas? We need a mid size car (big enough for 4 people and maybe ski's as well) for 6 days. Would consider an EV as have seen mentioned that it's very reasonable but if so need some advice on charging in Saint Gervase. 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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We always rent Swiss side as you get Swiss motorway vignette and winter tyres as standard. The route onto to the motorway to get to France is dead easy too.
Some hire companies are charging a cross-border fee of about CHF30 per rental, but Europcar definitely don’t. They have a decent selection of EVs and (at present) there’s no minimum charge % on return (there is with Hertz/Avis), so you’d probably get to St Gervais and back without charging (we manage Morzine and back with a bit of running about as well).
For 4 people plus skis (plus bags) you might be best with a Skoda Enyaq - though we got a VW ID Buzz last year that made us feel like the Scooby Doo gang and had tons of space. You can’t always specify the model though.
So we always use Europcar (have used Hertz in the past but the cross-border charge and minimum charge % put us off). Join their Privilege programme for 10% discount and quicker check in.
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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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@andy from embsay, Thanks Andy. I'd be a bit worried in case the charge gets low as we will be driving around a bit (to the spa and up to Les Contamines). Have you ever had to charge? What is the charging infrastructure like in the area please?
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@Flipjango, we have a charger at our apartment so it’s not an issue for us.
Not sure about in-resort charging, but there is a big Ionity rapid charging hub at Bonneville on the autoroute about half way between Geneva and St G, so you could top up there on the way back. I find Zappmap is pretty good for finding chargers, but there’s no substitute for people who know the area. In Morzine there are a couple of public chargers and my mate who drives out in an EV uses them and finds it ok.
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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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@Flipjango, There's a lot of variables in this, and you risk getting a lot of very different answers. Can you be more specific about how much you prefer the tradeoff between price, convenience and comfort? Do you really need to carry skis? I thought you'd booked an apartment next to the lifts.
If you look on Autoeurope it'll show a pricing grid to help you work out what tradeoffs you want to make, it's hard for someone else to define "best" on your behalf.
EVs through Hertz or Europcar are generally about £100 cheaper than petrol equivalents. There's very good charging at the Quechau/Decathlon at the motorway junction for StG, I don't know about in town.
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@snowdave, I think I need a balance between price and convenience. If Switzerland is going to be 100% more expensive then we'd deal with the inconvenience of France. If it's going to be 20% more expensive but a lot more convenient then probably Swiss would win.
I struggle to carry my kit and we'd like to be able to go to Contamines so I'd like to know I could drive up if necessary but it's not a deal breaker. It would depend on cost. But as I'll only drive an automatic, the larger cars are usually cheaper than the smaller ones we've found.
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Related if the OP doesn’t mind.
If I’m getting a train into Geneva from south of France and want to collect a car should I opt to get it from the French or Swiss side? It will be very late March and we won’t be driving to high elevation so all wheel drive and winter tyres shouldn't matter?
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I usually rent from the French side as I find it more convenient and usually cheaper. However, sometimes the Swiss side is less expensive. I simply use an agent, in my case Argus who are very helpful on the phone if you ever have problems and research the best deals.
@sbooker, all wheel drive is very rarely required and the vast majority of cars in the Alps don't have it. Winter tyres or snow chains are only required in the designated maoutain areas and they are required even if you are not going up the hill for example in Bourg st Maurice.
Last edited by After all it is free on Wed 30-10-24 11:07; edited 1 time in total
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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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@Flipjango, I have noticed some public chargers in the ice rink car park in St Gervais. Not far from the apartment you linked in another post.
@sbooker, Geneva airport station is on the Swiss side. I think I have seen somewhere that you need to show a boarding pass to go through to the French side, but maybe someone can confirm.
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Quote: |
Geneva airport station is on the Swiss side.
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Surely @sbooker, will be renting from the railway station in Contrin and I think there is no car hire at the French part of that station.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Flipjango, from what I can surmise the French side is often a bit cheaper but not 100% cheaper. You also have to factor in either the cost of a Swiss Vignette (unless you avoid the Swiss motorway - not a massive deal but needs some navigation) and winter tyres (you might be lucky and it comes with both, but that’d make a dent in any saving).
We choose to go direct to Europcar.ch because we know there’s no minimum battery % on an EV and no cross-border charge - so the price you see is the price you pay. You might save a few £ by going through a broker but in our experience not much, certainly if you join the loyalty scheme. And if you’re very regular hirers as we are after a while you get benefits like a free 2nd driver.
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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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Flipjango wrote: |
@snowdave, I think I need a balance between price and convenience. If Switzerland is going to be 100% more expensive then we'd deal with the inconvenience of France. If it's going to be 20% more expensive but a lot more convenient then probably Swiss would win.
I struggle to carry my kit and we'd like to be able to go to Contamines so I'd like to know I could drive up if necessary but it's not a deal breaker. It would depend on cost. But as I'll only drive an automatic, the larger cars are usually cheaper than the smaller ones we've found. |
I'd go with my suggestion to plug your dates into Autoeurope (other agents also exist) to see what the price gap is, and decide. You'll be able to select "automatic" on there, and all EVs are automatic.
Personally, I then book direct with the car rental companies, because I have almost always found that agents complicate the process by adding an unnecessary layer of complexity and potential miscommunication.
My guess is that you'll find that an EV, via Hertz or Europcar, will come out cheapest. Realistically you don't need more than a polo-sized car if you're optimising for price. For the 15min drive to Contamines, 3 people in the bag, skis in front passenger seat, would work fine for a short journey.
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@snowdave, The smallest EVs they offer tend to be a bit bigger than a Polo (but about the same price) - we seem to end up with a Cupra Born or an ID3 most times, which are Golf-y sized.
Good call on using an agent then booking direct.
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You know it makes sense.
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Quote: |
Personally, I then book direct with the car rental companies, because I have almost always found that agents complicate the process by adding an unnecessary layer of complexity and potential miscommunication.
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We flew to Venice a couple of years ago and booked a hire car using Argus. The flight was delayed so I phoned the hire company up to tell them we would be late. Their reply was that they would be closed for the day when we arrived and we would have to get a hotel room for the night and pick the car up the next day. We phoned up Argus and asked them if they could modify the booking. 10 minutes later they phoned us back to say they had cancelled the original booking and found us a new car for that night. And it was less expensive. They refunded us the difference.
I did once book direct with Avis in Barcelona airport. As we were about to get on the plane to leave the UK they emailed me to say that they were cancelling the booking and that was that; no comeback. After a lot of frantic phoning around I managed to find a lift to Andora. Avis then had the cheek to charge me for the return car hire which I thought they had cancelled as well. I've never used them since.
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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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j b wrote: |
I think I have seen somewhere that you need to show a boarding pass to go through to the French side, but maybe someone can confirm. |
On the few occasions I've rented from the French side of the airport I had to show a boarding pass to enter the French sector. If you're getting to the airport by rail to pickup a hire car I'd book one on the Swiss side, just to be certain. From what I can tell there's no way to walk to the French sector if you leave the airport, it would be a taxi ride.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Once upon a time GVA had this useful document on their website:
A) with vignette
B) without vignette
C) avoiding Switzerland altogether
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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: |
From what I can tell there's no way to walk to the French sector if you leave the airport, it would be a taxi ride.
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There is a way but it would be horrendous. Definitely, if you are going to be in the station in Geneva, rent on the Swiss side. I believe it's super easy to train from Geneva out to the airport (or vice versa) though I've never done it.
@Flipjango, I'd strongly recommend Swiss side for you, too, as you will definitely get winter tyres and the (now electronic) vignette. I suspect the price difference will not be great. But don't set your heart on a particular model of car. There's masses of skiing available for a week from St Gervais, especially if you include the "other side" of Megeve, over towards La Giettaz. Personally with all the hassle of getting the family to Geneva, picking up a hired car and driving to St Gervais, I'd be happy to park the car for the week! Especially if you are not keen on drag lifts - some of the best bits of Les C require riding drag lifts. And your kids will presumably be in lessons?
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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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Origen wrote: |
I believe it's super easy to train from Geneva out to the airport (or vice versa) though I've never done it. |
It is. Geneva central (Cornavin) is a through station so the Swiss rail system doesn't tend to terminate services there, they continue somewhere else before becoming the reverse service. One of those places is the airport, there are around 6-7 trains an hour though not equally spaced. You just go to the platform corresponding to the next one.
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@Flipjango, don't be put off by @Origen's comments about drag lifts in Les Contamines. Apart from an area to the right of the main bowl (all blacks) which can't be accessed without them, there are only two or three red runs needing drags with the majority of the area accessed from chair lifts. It is a satisfying small resort to explore.
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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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Quote: |
don't be put off by @Origen's comments about drag lifts in Les Contamines
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No, you can certainly avoid the drag lifts if you want but I seemed to spend quite a bit of time on them (and I didn't do the Veleray sector as it rarely had decent snow on my visits) and one of my nephews fell off one and was a pain (he fell off because he was mucking around). Was that the Roselet lift, or something like that, past a very pleasant little restaurant of the same name? And you can't do much on the Belleville side without drags IIRC. Just thought it was worth mentioning as some people are a bit spooked by drag lifts.
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I would also advise taking the gondola down to Les Contamines village, rather than the piste/track. We hardly ever went down there as we came up from the Hauteluce Valley, but it was not an enjoyable run. Narrow in places, not great snow, and some daft idiots skiing down a bit out of control and doing some hairy overtaking. The top runs are so much more enjoyable.
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@Origen, We went to Megeve last year and we like variety so I don't think we'd go over there again this year. Kids are 10 and 12 and can both already ski quite well so no lessons for them, I'm learning to ski after giving up snowboarding so I'm the only one who needs lessons. We don't mind drag lifts. Mostly we'd like to get away from the crowds and I gather it can be quieter at LC in half term so if it's too hectic in SG we probably would try LC.
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@Flipjango, I'm getting prices £330 on the Swiss side and £299 on the French side for your dates 16th-21st Feb inclusive, so 6 days. Both Electric vehicles, so you might want to try and get an ICE car if you've never used an electric one before and aren't familiar with charging, etc.
With that price differential, no point of going through the inconvenience of using the French side.
Just fold one rear seat down and put the skis diagonally across the load area, longest in first. You might want to put an old towel, tough shopping bag or something similar where the tips/edges meet the B-Pillar/door card interior trim to ensure no damage, but it's always worked for me with 4 of us in a car.
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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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@Origen, you got me to dig out a piste map! I don't think the Roselette drag is essential to access any runs since they all start at the ridge where the Olympique and Buche Croisee chairlifts go too, though you might have to pole along it a bit. It isn't a problem to get to - or back from - that restaurant!
On the Hauteluce side the drags aren't essential to get on any run, though it would be more involved just using the chair. There is one drag in the main bowl above the Nant Rouge chair which is the only way to access the top of the Monument blue run, but you can get on it lower down from the chair or from the track running round from the Tierces chair.
This won't make sense to @Flipjango without going to the resort. There is also the minor decision about driving or using the bus, unless you are very early the car parks near the main gondola (Montjoie) fill up but there is another gondola (La Gorge) a little further on with lots more parking; if you use that one you have to walk across a piste to access the second gondola (Signal) up to the main area rather than transfer within the same building.
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It seems a pity to stay in St Gervais and resolve in advance not to visit a substantial chunk of the linked ski area, even though St G is a very nice town.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Flipjango, is your 10-yr old the same child as last year's youngest, who at that point couldn't ski? If so, whilst kids are fearless and can make a lot of progress if they're doing weekly snowdome or dry slope sessions, it's quite a big step to go from beginner to "not needing lessons", from one year to the next. If you change your mind on this, as I'm sure you're aware from last year, it's hard to get last minute ski school at 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.
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Quote: |
it's hard to get last minute ski school at half term.
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quite likely impossible. And you will likely not pick up last minute private lessons, either. Instructors will be flat out.
Just to add to the gloomy messages - I'd be wary of "cancellable" accommodation. At that time of year decent places are likely to insist on full payment some weeks in advance. They'd be a bit daft not to, frankly.
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@Flipjango, I like to spend a day over on the Combolux area, there are some nice runs through the trees.
My kids also demand a cote2000 day as well, the piste decent is a particular favourite
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You know it makes sense.
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edited below. ignore this.
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Sat 2-11-24 17:34; edited 1 time in total
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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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@snowdave @origen It is the same child, but he's going on a week ski trip with school with lessons in January, and as he was already getting pretty confident at the end of a week last year, he'll be absolutely fine without lessons.
Going back to the car, the cheapest to rent is a mid size automatic from Europcar on the Swiss side - much cheaper than France. Not much difference between electric and petrol, just a couple of quid, so I'm going petrol for ease. It doesn't say anything about tyres, so just want to double check that all swiss cars come with winter tyres and that is all I will need? I don't need to rent chains as well? We won't be going off roads at all.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Quote: |
all swiss cars come with winter tyres and that is all I will need? I don't need to rent chains as well?
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Yes, will come with winter tyres. That means you are unlikely to need chains but if you arrive on a very snowy day it might be wise to acquire some. They're not for going "off road" but might be required to get to your accommodation if it's up a snowy, not very well cleared hill. But it would be unusual to need chains to get to St Gervais. Get local advice in the light of the weather forecast. If your car is parked in the open in St Gervais and it snows during the week you might need chains to get out of the car park - it has been known.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It is very easy driving to St Gervais, and usually snow shouldn't be a problem - the road is one that will be ploughed. But as @Origen says the risk is snow in the car park.
For where you are staying you might want to compare prices with the AlpyBus shared transfers which drop off at the gondola station. Last season their published timetable suggested 12 services a day on Saturday and Sunday which meant there wasn't an awful lot of waiting around. (St Gervais is an intermediate stop on the service ending up in Megeve, so if you use the form on their website you need to choose Megeve as the destination and then St Gervais as the drop off point).
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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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There is a free underground car park in St Gervais - a useful option if it's forecast to snow.
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