Safe and affordable towns near Geneva

Switzerland and affordable generally don’t go together. When you say Airbnb directed you to a certain area, is that where you are finding options in your budget? To stay in the most scenic/popular places in Switzerland, you generally pay a high price. You might look at cabins at campgrounds as an affordable option. If you’re willing to take the train a few hours, look into Camping Jungfrau. Spectacular setting, and they have cabins. They book up fast.

What safety concerns do you have, and where are you traveling from?

Thanks. I live in Spain (from US). There are affordable options over the French border, but it’s difficult to gauge the quality and I couldn’t find much info online about the towns I mentioned above. Safety—I want to avoid high-crime areas and find a town where an older adult could easily navigate and feel safe.

Switzerland is not cheap, but it certainly is safe - I'm really surprised it's a concern...

The problem with staying just across the border will not be crime. While you will notice that the French towns are not as affluent as the Swiss ones these are not no-go areas. If you know how to be safe in Spain you will be safe there too. The issue is that public transit is not so well organised as in Switzerland. What do you want to visit during your stay?

There are 6 trains every hour from Annemasse to Geneva and it takes 24 minutes.

@wengenk, I'm attending a conference, and I'll have an older family member with me. Ideally, I'm looking for an area that is accessible without a car and one that is safe, pleasant, and at least moderately scenic for someone older who will not be attending the conference. Thanks,

Not sure how far you are willing to go, But Annecy is a 40 min drive from Geneva and meets your criterias. Very pretty, safe and affordable.

@Martine, thank you for the great suggestion. I'm looking for a location within an hour by public transport. We won't be driving. Appreciated, K

I would pay more to stay in Switzerland for a better transportation system and more people willing to speak English. Never thought about safety concerns in the smaller towns around the big cities.

Annecy is 1 1/2 hours from Geneva by hourly direct trains.

Annemasse is totally fine. It's a more working class "suburb" of Geneva but quite clean and very easily connected to Geneva or to the Alps to the east and southeast (there are trains as well as a mostly flat, bicycle-friendly multi-use path that connects the two villes).

If you want to be budget-friendly it's certainly a good option.

Otherwise, Annecy is lovely but a longer train ride from Geneva. It's scenic, indeed, but also an actual trip from Geneva. And it's not exactly frugal compared to Annemasse as it is a resort town.

Annency was extremely crowded when we were there in the summer of 2023. So much so that we really did not like the town. At all. Plus, someone tried to grab my watch off my arm outside of the center bus station.

Geneva, and the other hand, was delightful. We did not know that our hotel was adjacent to the red light district. However, even the working girls were polite. Absolutely safe and wonderful. The city, that is.