Hi all!
I would appreciate your help with a decision. I mistakenly booked our return flight from Geneva to the US one day after our ski week ends. I have tentatively booked 3 hotels and need some help deciding which one is best. The hotels are: Auteuil Manotel, Ibis Geneve Gare, and the Starling Geneva. We will be coming in late morning of December 31st and will be departing for the airport on the following morning Jan 1st. The important factors are: ease of transport to the airport (Starling has a free airport shuttle, but I don't know how long the drive is, and the other two claim to be near the train station), and proximity to things to see on the afternoon of the 31st (everything will probably be closed, correct???). My son has requested a trip to Movenpick ice cream gallery, but I don't know if that is close to any of the hotels or if it will even be open in the wintertime let alone on New Year's Eve.
I would appreciate your feedback and suggestions if anyone is familiar with the area.
Thank you so much!!
Lori
Posted by
California USA
4103 posts
All three hotels are exactly where they say they are. If your goal is to see a little bit of Geneva, have movinpick icecream, experience some New Years festivities and fireworks I'd stay at one of the two city hotels, probably the Ibis based on its reviews. BTW there are 3 Ibis hotels which have Gare in their name so looking up a specific hotels reviews and location wasn't 100% accurate.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Actually I would probably just dump all of your hotel choices and book an AirBnb.
Posted by
Nice, France & San Francisco
713 posts
Don't stay at the Starling, it's near the airport and you'll have to bus or train to the Center. It just won't be as convenient. However, every hotel stay earns a free transit pass. It's a terrific thing to use. Even when you arrive you can pick up a free train ticket to the central station. The train station is right at the airport. Every city should be so convenient.
The Manotel (I have not stayed there) is to the left of the station. It's near the Paquis, which at it's heart has a red light district. It's not an area that is family friendly, but it's easily avoided as the Rue de Lausanne is quite fine -- you simply turn right and head straight down in front of the station. That said, there are some really tasty and not expensive restaurants, lively bars, and the area near the water is great and high-end. The central area may have improved in recent years.
The Ibis is a bit further up from the station but if you take the direct route down, you'll be at the water. The train to the airport is quite easy.
The Movenpick Ice Cream cafe is walkable to the Ibis and Manotel, less than 1km from the Ibis.
Posted by
OP
South Florida
225 posts
Thank you Gooster,
The specifics you provided really helped! I am very grateful!! I will cancel the Starling and re-examine the two city hotels.
Mona,
Thanks for the advice. I will take a last look at the reviews and go from there.
Lori