Flying to France via Italy or Switzerland

Are you sure that Switzerland is open to those from the US?

Technically, you can enter France from a country within the EU with nothing other than proof of vaccination.

However, the Ministère de l´Intérieur has a rule that states if you arrive from an EU country and within the preceding 14 days your were outside the EU, to enter France you must follow the outside of EU entry rules

Les voyageurs arrivant d’un État de l’espace européen mais ayant séjourné dans les 14 jours précédant leur arrivée dans un État extérieur à l’espace européen, doivent respecter la procédure applicable aux voyageurs arrivant d’un État extérieur à l’espace européen. https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Attestation-de-deplacement-et-de-voyage

That would mean that you would need a PCR/Antigen test within 72/48 hours respectively of your arrival in France. However, there is unlikely to be anyone to check your documentation between France and Italy and I believe that if you can use the GVA you can exit directly through the French border.

The GVA route would be a good question for your air carrier.

Unfortunately the carriers are giving mixed messages and several we have talked with aren't sure of anything. Would figure our 72 hr PCR test for travel when we leave the US would still be in effect when we land in Switzerland and leave again. We would not be staying in Switzerland - we would travel across the border immediately if possible.

This was on the Swiss Embassy Site:

Information about negative COVID test and QUARANTINE for authorized entry to Switzerland

Travelers arriving in Switzerland from the USA do not have to go into quarantine (FOPH).

Mandatory for all airline passengers travelling from the USA to Switzerland:

Present valid proof of a negative PCR test, taken no more than 72 hours (time of specimen collection) before departure. Children under the age of 16 as well as fully vaccinated and coronavirus recovered travelers (within the last six months) are exempt from the test requirement. Please find the details as well as further exemptions on the website of FOPH.
Electronic form for incoming travelers; exceptions for fully vaccinated and coronavirus recovered travelers (within the last six months)
For further information on quarantine and COVID Test requirements, please see the website of the Federal Office of Public Health FOPH.

Switzerland isn’t open to Americans and to get into Italy, you will need to fly on one of the Covid free flights. Check other posts on the forum as someone just arrived in Italy on one of those flights. She explained the procedures very well.

Thanks Sandra - guess we are back to square one - Wondering if it will be a problem to cross over from Italy, otherwise will have to watch for specials to France. Thanks!

Also check for French labor strikes- those are scheduled in advance and are good dates to avoid.

Are you traveling by train after landing? If so, with proof of vaccination and Covid tests, you can get to the south of France (Nice). It will be a 5-6 hour journey.
Someone posted today about their experience on the Covid free flights from JFK to Milan. Search it out.
Nowadays so much is in flux. Be extra careful when you book.

Yes we planned on actually taking the train from Geneva straight to Chamonix which we understand is a little over an hour away. From there we would head to Annecy and then make our way further south via Provence to Nice. But since it looks like for now Switzerland is out of play, our next best option would be Milan. If that's the case, we would probably spend a couple of days in the Lakes region and possibly fly to Nice. Or, forgo all the above and wait for airfare to come down to France.

If you haven’t been the lake regions are lovely. I prefer Stresa but Como is also nice.

Saw this today so if you can hold off a little the rules for Switzerland might change by the end of the month. I hope so because I was planning to go to Lucerne for a few days.

The Confederation is currently examining whether and how, in view of the improved epidemiological situation, the entry conditions for persons from third countries may be relaxed. As a Schengen-associated state, the Confederation coordinates its entry regulations with the EU. The Federal Council will provide information on this before the end of June.

Once you add in transfer to the train, train tickets, and your time, what's the price difference? Have you looked at Icelandic, Aer Lingus, Brussels Airlines, or buying cheap US tickets to a competitive city such as New York and leave from there.

Bets - we have. We put the pencil to it and the difference for each person is about $600. We figure $1200 is a lot to save going a little bit out of our way. We didn't have a problem doing Italy for a bit then over to France but reading something about that 14-day rule, we may not be able to get back into Italy for our flight home.

Can’t you fly into Milan and out of CDG? Or is that too expensive too?

Anytime you travel abroad, enroll in STEP: https://step.state.gov/step/ which will send you email alerts telling you the current situation in each country you plan to travel to.
To get from Genève-Aéroport to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc takes 3h and requires two connections. It takes 1h 45m from Genève-Aéroport to Annecy and is direct meaning no changes required.

Checked the open jaw to Milan and home from Paris. Still high. Think we meant we would go to Annecy first. Unless it hasn't been updated, the French side of Geneva airport is closed - per their website.