We'll be driving to Geneva from France to catch a train to Interlaken in the summer mid-day on a Saturday. We have the option returning the rental car either to the airport or to the main train station. Are the logistics easier at one location rather than the other? We will have smaller rollerboards, but didn't know how far the car rental is at the airport from catching the train vs. driving downtown and returning the car at the train station where our rental company has a dropoff location. Any help is appreciated.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
The deciding factor is you should drop it off in the same country you picked it up, otherwise you will get a high surcharge.
Geneva airport straddles the border. Assuming you picked up the car in France, you can drop it off at the French side of the airport, and it still counts as France. Drop it of at the station in the centre of Geneva (Genève-Cornavin), and you will probably get a surcharge.
The station at the airport (Genève-Aéroport) is directly next to the terminal. Assuming you can get from the car rental drop off to the terminal (and it would be a pretty stupid airport car drop-off if you couldn't), the station is then accessible.
All trains from Geneva to destinations in Switzerland start at the airport, and then call at Genève-Cornavin, so both are equally good for getting to Interlaken.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks. I should have clarified that the trip actually originates in Geneva so the pickup and drop off are both in Switzerland. The cost is the same whether we drop off at the airport or downtown. Very helpful to know the Geneva trips start at the airport.
Posted by
Green Bay
20201 posts
A few years ago, I rented a car at Geneva airport from Sixt on the Swiss side, but used it mostly in France. The rental car return is in the parking garage next to the terminal. I had a little bit of difficulty figuring out how to open the gate. As I fiddled, the driver in the car behind me shouted instructions how to open the gate in French. When that brought no response from me other than a confused look, he switched to English and I got in. Then we proceeded to Italy from the airport train station.