Has anyone done this? Appreciate any experience. Is it close to or actually a part of the Geneva airport? If possible this seems ideal for our needs.
We will rent a car in Avignon, use it for a few days in France, then we will stay at a Geneva airport hotel and fly from Geneva the following day. Dropping the car in Switzerland is very cost prohibitive. But dropping it in France would be best. Of course we could drop it in a French town with rail or bus connection to Geneva but involves more changes and time.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3729 posts
What rental car company are you using? Avis provides directions to its drop off area on the French side. https://www.avis.com/en/locations/fr/geneve/ggv
Posted by
4556 posts
I studied it on aerial photos. The “France” part isn’t actually in the part of the airport that is in France, it’s carved out of Switzerland. It’s reached by a dedicated, fenced road with its own tunnel that leads to a secure area adjacent to the terminal. Walking between the areas is one way only, you are not allowed to re-enter the France area once you’ve left.
Go into a mapping site and look for Route Douanière.
Posted by
OP
Durham
66 posts
I don’t think we will use Avis but will check it out. So Tom….looks like there is a French ‘island’ in Switzerland that will give us a France car return….at the airport, then we walk into Switzerland. Fascinating but that would work since once we are done with the car…all else happens in Switzerland.
Thanks!
Posted by
69 posts
We've done this. I forget what rental company - it was a few years ago - but if you follow the signage carefully, it's perfectly doable. The French side is a town/village called Ferney Voltaire. The airport is sort of divided in half between countries.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3729 posts
The airport is not divided in half between Switzerland and France. It is entirely in Switzerland with, for lack of a better word, a French enclave. From that enclave you can walk into Switzerland. In that enclave you return your French rental car.
Posted by
48 posts
We picked up a rental car from Europacar in Beaune, traveled around and returned it to the French side of the Geneva airport. We incurred no additional charges because we didn't return it in another country. You might want to do a trial rental reservation and see what you come up with.
Posted by
OP
Durham
66 posts
This is great info….many thanks!!!