Geneva Airport
 

We are flying BA from Gatwick to Geneva, and hiring car in French sector. How do we get our bags? We hear there are good supermarkets just over the border in France - can we go directly from the airport, and then drive back into Switzerland to go to Grindelwald? Any idea what is the nearest best French supermarket- we have to self cater for 2 adults, five children.

I think you'll do just fine grocery shopping in Geneva - there is actually a big Migros right at the airport that's open late. I would think that would be far easier for you than driving into France.

When I lived in Geneva, I probably shopped in town at the nearest Coop 75% of the time, with one bigger trip to France every few weeks to stock up. (The exchange rate at the time also made it favorable - not sure what the situation would be now, or worth the time and hassle for you).

Either way, don't forget that you have to weigh any produce and get a sticker for its bag on your own, in the produce section! Many a foreigner has held up a shopping line because they didn't know this!

If you're buying a lot, you may also want to assign someone to bagging groceries - you do it yourself, but the conveyor belts move so fast I always felt like I was Lucy in the chocolate factory episode!

My suggestion is to do your shopping in Interlaken which is on your way to Grindelwald. There is a big shopping store very close to each train station in Interlaken. The drive from Interlaken to Grindelwald is around 30 minutes. In fact, I'm leaving from California to Interlaken next Wednesday. I've been to both these stores as I prefer the one across from Interlaken West station. It's part of a very modern shopping area consising of around 12-15 stores. Have a Great Trip !!! Mike

Do the shopping in Switzerland. You might have trouble at the border getting into switzerland again if you buy to much (equivalent of 200Sfr/adult if I'm not mistaken), which, for your group of seven, will be the case.

Bonjour Cod,

You can do some shopping in the Migros at the airport, although I'm not sure it is very practical if you rent your car on the French side, and it is quite small and crowded most of the time.

If you decide to shop on the French side, there is a big "Champion" supermarket in Ferney-Voltaire, just on the right at the roundabout above the border. It is about 5 minute from the freeway. Make sure you have a 1 Euro coin for the caddy, but you can ask for a token from a cashier.

If you arrive on a Saturday morning, go shopping at the market inside Ferney: fresh produces and great ambiance.

Don't worry too much about the border check, just make sure you are within allowances for meat (red meat 500 g/person, poultry and other meat products like sausage, ham, 2 kg/person), alcool (2 bottles/adult), and that the total of your purchases amount to Sfr 300/person (I just checked here http://www.100frontieres.net/douane/...mentation.html). Most of the time, you'll be just waved away after a cursory glance at your passports.

Alternatively, you will find shopping centers along the freeway, and one of the more practical for you might be at Aubonne, just beside the Ikea store.

cod,

Florence just provided you with excellent advice! Just 4 points I would like to add:

1) Do NOT follow any signs for the French sector until you have picked up your luggage! You pick up your luggage at the normal baggage claim after going through SWISS immigration, then exit through SWISS customs into the arrivals hall. Take the escalators up to the DEPARTURES level and turn right. At the far end of the check in hall you'll find the access to the French Sector (right next to the Air France ticket counter). There you go through French immigration and customs (you will have to show proof that you just arrived by air) and end up in the small combined arrivals/departures hall on the French side. The rental car counters are right there - impossible to miss.

2) You will most probably need to purchase a motorway sticker ("vignette") for your rental car since the cars on the French side generally don't have them yet. Cost is CHF 40. Just a heads up, no big deal - ask for one at the border.

3) To get to the shopping in Ferney, make a left turn when you reach the end of the airport access road (you would make a right to cross the border back into Switzerland). After that, just follow the signs to one of the many supermarkets in the area (Champion recommended by Florence is fine). If you decide to shop on the Swiss side, I would recommend the "Chavannes Centre" shopping center at the "Coppet/Divonne" exit, one of the first ramps (if not the first) after you get on the motorway - very nice food market (Manor). Here's an access map:
http://www.les-centres-magiques.ch/c...sp?c=1&b=1

4) Once you have crossed the border into Switzerland by car, follow the green "Lausanne" signs to get on the motorway towards Bern/Grindelwald.

Hope this helps,
Andre

Many thanks for all your assistance.If we are running late, we probably will just shop in Switzerland - I pinpointed Aubonne and the Divonne exit on a mapping cd, and both look easy enough to navigate. We stayed in Interlaken 2 years ago, and then went on into France - I just thought that in general the French supermarkets were cheaper, though we did most of our shopping in Interlaken in the Interlaken West Co-Op and found it excellent.In France, we normally hit Champion, so I'm delighted there's one close by.Thanks for the airport tips.
An interesting tip for car hire; The reason we are renting from the French side is that National Citer give a good discount for families with 3+ children under 18!