Our daughter will be studying in Geneva and we would like to visit her for 1-2 weeks in March/April 2010. I have a couple questions: can anyone suggest affordable (I know that's relative!) accommodations in or near Geneva (we don't plan on having a car)? any suggestions for day trips ? (our daughter will be in class during the day so we'd like to spend our evenings with her).

Thanks!

If you're going to be there for a couple of weeks I would definitely try to rent an apartment so

1) you have a little more space instead of being cooped up in a small hotel room
2) you can get groceries and make your own breakfast (often expensive) and snacks, beverages without doing room service

From Geneva there is easy boat, train or bus service to a host of tourist spots - as well as several days of sightseeing in the city itself

There are some nice moderately priced hotels in Vevey. It's a very cute town also right on Lac Leman about 1 hour train ride outside Geneva. My suggestions would all revolve around Montreux/Vevey area (Chateau de Chillon, the farmers markets, Roches de Naye tram) and a day trip to Gruyere (castle).

Two weeks is a long time and Switzerland is not that large of a country. If you wanted to with some kind of Swiss rail pass you could see quite a bit of it.

My suggestion of Vevey/Montreux was as day trips, or even a place to stay, as an alternative to the city of Geneva proper.

Hi njquitter,

How wonderful that you'll have so much time on Lake Geneva -- I think you'll have a wonderful time! I've been to Montreux (on the other side of the lake) about 10 times, and the last time was for three weeks. Here are links to my "reviews" (w/photos) so you can see some other things to do:

Montreux old town
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html

Lavaux
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html

Promenade Fleuri
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html

Morges
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...rges_Vaud.html

Gruyeres
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._Fribourg.html

Saanen
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...wiss_Alps.html

Gstaad
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...wiss_Alps.html

Though I'm always based in Montrex, it's very easy to get to them all from Geneva.

You can research all of your Swiss train trips at the Swiss rail site,

www.rail.ch

Have fun!

s

Staying in Geneva could get boring after a week.

For economy I suggest you look at rooms in Ferney-Voltaire. It abuts Geneva on the French side. I believe that there is bus service.

A few days in Lyon or Dijon would be nice.

Thanks for your ideas!
As much as we'd love to travel during our time, our primary reason for spending so much time in Geneva is to visit our daughter, so staying close to town is very important.
Holiday apartments seem very hard to come by, I am aware of the apartment in Ferney-Voltaire. Any other suggestions for accommodation would be much appreciated.
Thanks again!