 Poster: A snowHead
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We've got accommodation booked from Sunday to Sunday in Chamonix & we're wondering whether to fly into Geneva on the Saturday evening and/or fly out from Geneva on the Monday so that we can ski one or both of the Sundays. Not surprisingly, flights are cheaper arriving very late Saturday evening & flying back Monday so we thought we might be able to get flights plus a night in a hotel near the airport for about the same price as just the flights during the day on the Saturday or Sunday.
Anyone stayed in a hotel or know of any hotels near Geneva airport that might be suitable? We're not looking for luxury just convenience, particularly if we end up arriving in Geneva just before midnight.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There's an Ibis that is convenient (just across the other side of the motorway). It's a bit of a bitch to find, but they do a shuttle service to/from the airport.
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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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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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Cheapest hotel is the F1 at Ferney, about 35 euros / night. You would need a car. If you are hiring a car you may be better driving a bit to Annemasse and staying in the Premiere Classe at Gaillard.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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The Stars Hotel (which used to be a F1 yonks ago) is just over the road from the uninviting road leading into the French sector. It's a bit more - 50 euros - but walkable. My sister stayed there one night, after we'd dumped a hire car and I'd flown onto Rome. She said it seemed a much longer way down that road to the hotel than it had seemed driving up it in a car, and not v nice for a woman on her own. The next morning, when she was due to get her flight out, the hotel manager gave her a lift back into the airport - not the sort of service you expect in a F1, but much appreciated.
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There's a Suitehotel, which is now branded Suite Novotel. It's not the cheapest but you can sleep a family of 4 in one of the room/suites. I've stayed in it and it's fine. Otherwise look at the Accor hotels web site which has several options including some of those mentioned above.
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| pam w wrote: |
| The Stars Hotel |
yes the Stars is a good choice, you are maybe better walking down the Swiss side but the tunnel is long. Otherwise a bus stops right outside the Stars and goes directly to the airport. It is a "rabbit hop" trip so 2 francs.
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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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I've only stayed in the Holiday Inn Express and it's convenient and not too costly.
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| Bogusman wrote: |
| There's a Suitehotel, which is now branded Suite Novotel. It's not the cheapest but you can sleep a family of 4 in one of the room/suites. I've stayed in it and it's fine. Otherwise look at the Accor hotels web site which has several options including some of those mentioned above. |
I've used this with my family many times. As bogusman says, you can sleep 4 in the suite. There is also a cheaper Etap next door. It's right on the No10 bus route from the airport to the city centre and has a free coffee and pastry breakfast. Best of all is that is is right across the road from a huge shopping mall, which includes a Pathe cinema complex. The cinema usually has a couple of current version original (ie English) films showing, which is far better than sitting in the room watching crxp Swiss telly. There are also a few restaurants in the complex, the tex-mex being pretty good.
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brian
brian
Guest
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| davidof wrote: |
| Cheapest hotel is the F1 at Ferney, about 35 euros / night. You would need a car. |
Not if you use the shuttle from the Novotel next door. 
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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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+1 for the Ibis and there is a cracking Italian restaurant just around the corner. Free shuttles but you can also walk to the airport terminal. I had a lovely time there last April courtesy of the ash cloud ...
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Stayed at the "Nash airport hotel" last weekend. Next to Ibis and as said there is a shuttle bus! Good value at about €70 the bed was very comfortable, tried to find out if it was an Ikea bed as would love to have the same bed at home!
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You know it makes sense.
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Etap is cheap and cheerful, not far from the airport.
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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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blizt, On arrival you can pick up free 1 hour travel tickets in the baggage hall from the machine just before you go through customs which is valid on train/bus into Geneva centre. Once there you get a ticket from the hotel valid for the epriod of your stay.
All hotels in Geneva give tourists a free Geneva wide travel pass valid on bus, train and water bus -ergo you can check into hotel, dump car Satuday pm and use tickets to airport early for flights -this option would be better on your way home hotel wise.
There is also a cheap hostel renting rooms with multiple beds if you can tarck it sown.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Shame you'll be so late as Geneva is a fantastic fun city. Strongly suggest you take sat nav and log hotel location etc as although it's an easy place to drive around it's also easy to get lost. Also more and more speed cameras and the margin allowed is just 4kph Over the 50 basic in town and the 60 zones are not that well marked when they change back!
Let me know if you need any maps or help as I have one or two of the GVA cycle maps which are great for walking. Oh and cabs £20 is nothing for the 5 min drive from the airport into the north (near side) of the lake around paquis area! 
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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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blizt, we've stayed at the Crowne Plaza - largely because I have pretentions of grandeur, and it has the most amazing modern artwork in the bar that closes at stupid eary hours  ]. It has a shuttle bus to connect to the airport, and I would guess with it being one of those great big souless expensive business places would be 24 hour reception. Rooms are plush and got tea and coffee making facilities in them.
link is here http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/gvasz
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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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Geneva is pretty dead on Sundays though. No shops open and few restaurants.
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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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Colin B, Yes can be. Look at Glocals.com and see what activities etc are listed. If theres a sPecIc date I can ask friends for suggestions
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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M O V E N P I C K
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Colin B, but the restaurants that are open tend to be good ones.
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blizt, for your arrival day, due to the lateness of your flight's landing, I'd suggest you stay in a hotel that has airport pickup.
There're 2 hotels I've used (once each): the Holiday Inn Express 2 minutes from the airport, and the Best Western on the France sector which cost considerably less. Both have airport shuttle, however, I distintly recall the Best Western shuttle schedule being not very extensive. So you may need to contact them directly to make sure the shuttle service is available at the hours of your landing.
For your departure day, depending on the exact hour of your flight, you may even have time to train into Geneve and have a look around the city. The train station is at the airport so you could easily check your skis/bags with the airline and go unencumbered.
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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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| Quote: |
but the restaurants that are open tend to be good ones.
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but we ended up in MacDonalds, kept my daughter quiet and was more wallet friendly. Food was obviously cr@p.
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Colin B, Yep a large coffee at Starbucks is still chf 7.50 or 5 quid in English!
Ah almost forgot the best breakfast in Geneva is on the top floor of the dePartment store Manor which is two blocks north of the lake and is also open on Sundays. It's a Geneva institution and well worth a visit. They do a basic 4 item special offer for ten francs and the views are cool
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I had one of the best coffees I've ever had in the McCafe (yep run by you know who) near the station. 5.80 SwFr I think, well worth it.
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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: |
For your departure day, depending on the exact hour of your flight, you may even have time to train into Geneve and have a look around the city. The train station is at the airport so you could easily check your skis/bags with the airline and go unencumbered.
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abc, we'll probably try to do that as our flight home isn't til 2.00pm.
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blizt, Strongly recommend Le boeuf rouge for very early lunch in the rue de paquis. Been going there for over 25 years. Terrific nosh!
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You know it makes sense.
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Does anyone know how easy it would be (or if it's possible) to walk from the airport to the Holiday Inn Express as we'll be arriving too late for the free shuttle bus (we don't land until 23.20)?
Jivebay our return flight is 14.00 so I don't think we'll have time for lunch & to get back to the airport for our flight
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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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blizt, It should be easy to check on google so as I know what I'm looking at, I'll have a butchers and let you know. Also suggest you call them on the phone to ask- they will almost certainly speak English!
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Poster: A snowHead
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blizt, When I stayed there I walked from the Hotel to the airport and back one evening and it's not that far. Probably not ideal if you have all your luggage with you though. The left luggage office will almost certainly be closed then, but there are some lockers down at the rail station level which are quite spacious. They won't take skis though, and you will need the correct money in Swiss Franc coins.
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FAQ
Saturday night so clearly need 24hr check in!! Would have prefered to arrive a bit earlier but seeing as just got the flights free 
