I'm planning a trip for this next summer and we would like to travel a week on our own in France prior to joining a Rick Steves tour in Bayonne. Since we wanted to start in Annecy, FR it seemed reasonable to rent a car (from Sixt) at GVA and drive to Annecy for a couple of days prior to doing a tour of some very small villages near Figeac where my family is from. From what I've gathered it seems wise to stay away from CDG and driving from Paris (which I did in college when I was "fearless") which I why I'm looking at flying into Geneva. Any pointers on driving from GVA to Annecy would be greatly appreciated...thanks in advance. John
Posted by
OP
Giddings, TX, USA
22 posts
Thank you for your help, I will definitely look into the added cost.
Posted by
Ojai, CA
591 posts
The Geneva airport straddles the border a little and actually has a 'Swiss side' and a 'French side.' If you do not plan to drive in Switzerland at all, rent from the French side and you will not have to pay for the Swiss highway tax vignette or an extra charge to drop off in a different country.
Posted by
OP
Giddings, TX, USA
22 posts
Thank you all for your information. I'm planning to reserve a car through "Sixt" in advance of our arrival. I'll check into the added charges and see if that's included on their website portal. John
Posted by
OP
Giddings, TX, USA
22 posts
Okay, looks like Sixt is in the Swiss sector and has an added cost of about 75 euro per day. Europcar apparently is in the French sector and has no added fee for different pick up and drop off countries, though I've read some negative comments about europcar lately. Any advice on best rental car agencies in the French sector?
Posted by
Portland, Maine
2916 posts
We've rented at the Geneva airport twice, including this Spring, using either Kemwel or AutoEurope, and picking the car up on the French side and returning it in France. No extra charges for that, even when returning it to another city. I think it was Europcar both times, and we had no problems. Another option is taking the bus from GVA to Annecy and getting a car there. We've taken that bus several times, and it's quite convenient. One word of caution. If you rent on the French side and don't want to enter Switzerland and pay for the Swiss vignette, go to the GVA web site and download the access map for the airport, which shows the route that avoids Swiss territory as well as which go through Swiss territory.
Posted by
OP
Giddings, TX, USA
22 posts
Thank you all...you have been very helpful!