College Students on Budget with Rental Car around Mont Blanc and Geneva Area

"On a budget" and Switzerland don't match well.

If they can rent a car (possible age restrictions if <25) try to pick it up on the French side - last time I searched they had much cheaper rates. It's called Ferney-Voltaire but the rental desks are really attached to Geneva airport.

Also the Mont Blanc tunnel has a huge toll.

There are some budget hotels near Chamonix, like Ibis in Sallanches.

Beautiful country and many hiking options!! Take a gondola up and hike the Balcon Sud trail or hike to Lac Blanc.

Enjoy the planning and the trip!

Did a quick look at rental car rates for under 25.

It is about a 40% upcharge

I suppose "budget" can mean different things to different people.

Also any additional drivers will be an additional charge.

Just FYI for your planning

Whats the situation? Are they arriving at Geneva airport? Arriving by train? They don't really need a car. There are shuttle vans from the airport for reasonable prices or by train if coming from elsewhere in Europe. There is frequent local bus and train service in the area to get around.

One option to save money is, as a prior commenter mentioned, skip the car in Geneva. They can take a bus to Annecy from either the airport or the center of town, and spend some time there. There's bus service from there all along Lake Annecy, and you can do a lot of walking/hiking from there. Plus there is bus and train service from Annecy to nearby towns, and cities such as Aix les Bains and Chambery.

Got a great deal on a rental car on the French side of the airport. Wanted to have a car so they could have more freedom with where they wanted to go. Looking for good hiking destinations, restaurants, and other outdoor activities. (Are there waterfall tours, canyoning tours, etc.)?

If they get the car on the French side of the airport it is likely that it may not have the Swiss toll vignette attached to the windscreen. If they do any driving on Swiss motorways or expressways (designated by a green car icon sign) they will need to purchase one at or before the border (cost is CHF 40). Penalties for not displaying one are severe.

To drive in France, all drivers will need an IDP, available from the AAA or CAA, along with their home full driving license, and watch the age requirements of the rental company. They should be prepared for significant extra costs beyond the base rental price for fuel, insurance and note that the insurance doesn't cover large parts of the car.

Although Switzerland is not a "budget" location there are areas that are cheaper than others. They might want to head up into the region of Valais...it's cheaper than the more popular areas around Geneva and has amazing scenery and things to do and see. If they like to hike I suggest, Mont Fort (the highest bar in Europe there might be an attraction for them!), the Sanetsch Glacier, the upper ridges above Verbier (extremely expensive town but La Tzoumaz over the ridge is much cheaper), the town of Sion, and the St. Bernard Pass at the Switzerland / Italy border. They can hike around through the extensive vineyards of Valais and along the "bises", ancient waterways dug from the high alps in the area to bring water to the orchards in the valleys. As far as places to eat and drink...Switzerland is not really is not really on my list for interesting dining...what you get in restaurants is extremely expensive...I would encourage them to get food at grocery stores...it will save them a bundle! They need to be sure to budget for gas if they rent a car...gas is quite expensive in Switzerland.

If they go to Chamonix then hiking is fantastic as well and quite a bit cheaper than Switzerland. At the first station on the gondola up to Mont Blanc they can get out and head along the trails to the north of the gondola station...there are several small lakes along the ridge with stunning blue glacier water and great views. If they want to be very adventuresome they can hire a guide at the top of the Aguille du Midi to take them across the ice fields with crampons - that is on my personal bucket list! My favorite hike in the area is to Lac Blanc, on the other side of the valley from Mont Blanc. There is a fantastic view of the Mont Blanc group of peaks, the Mer du Glace, and the Argentier Glacier...the refugion there has a great deck where you can have lunch or a drink and enjoy the spectacular views.

Hostels are a common solution in areas that are frequented by hikers and have relatively expensive hotels. These may by part of an international network or locally/privately owned. See https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/sleeping-eating/europes-hostels for some links as well as www.youthhostel.ch, www.swissbackpackers.ch, and guidebook listings.