SairaK

Dear All, I will be working at the WHO headquarters for 2 months - August and September. Housing seems to be super-expensive, and youth hostels allow for a maximum of 10 nights stay. I thought I'd ask if anyone has any advice for me. Are there any women dorms (I am single), or college dorms that I should contact? Would so appreciate your help!
Saira

mokka4

Have you checked into vacation apartment rentals (Ferienwohnungen) at such sites as www.fewo-direkt.de
or www.myswitzerland.com?
Or check Geneva's homepage under accomodations then Fewo.

FeWo's tend to be more economical, and give you more space...

mokka4

http://www.geneve-tourisme.ch/?rubrique=0000000605
Plenty to look at!

mokka4

http://www.homelidays.co.uk/EN-Holid...TION=ch_geneve


I'm on a mission to find you cheap-ER digs!

kanadajin

Just a thought, but have you considered staying on the France side? If the WHO allows this, it will be MUCH less expensive (cross border workers are sometimes an issue in Geneva). Several Geneva city transit (bus) lines cross over to France, so commuting is not necessarily an issue, especially given the small distance involved. I had Korean colleagues who did this during an extended stay, and they saved a bundle.

SairaK

Thank you so much! This is a tremendous help! I will look at these links and respond!

SairaK

Kanadajin, I have never been to Geneva before and cannot even imagine what towns in France I'd look for housing and how long the commute would be. I'm open to any suggestions! Thank you.

kappa1

Since you ask for women's dorm, such places are called les "Foyers" in case you need to google, and one place I know is the following.

http://www.foyerinternational.ch/home_photos.htm

Location extrement central behind Hotel Kempinski, 1 minute walk to the lake front - 7 minutes walk to the train station.

This place is called Foyer International pour Jeunes Filles ( for young girls). You need to be under 30 of age. Even if slightly over 30, I think it's worth asking.

Basically the rent for a studio is CHF600/700 per month ( normal usage of water and electricity included)

kappa1

If you look for a place in France, the closest town is Ferney - Voltaire / France. With a cross border bus "F", WHO is about 15 minutes. It does have a stop that's close to both WHO and ILO.

SairaK

Thank you so much for all of your help!
Kappa1, is there a cost to cross the border? Is it difficult? I have a US passport. Sorry for the question if it is obvious. Border crossing in the US - even between Canada and the US is time-consuming.

kanadajin

Border crossing is a cinch (easy and quick) in my experience. Now that Switzerland is part of the Schengen zone, even more so. It most certainly is not an issue when compared to US/Canada or US/Mexico crossings - do not worry about it. Many people do this commuting every day.

I second the above suggestion for Fernay-Voltaire in France, which would be reasonably close to the WHO and just north of the airport (in fact part of the airfield edge actually lies in France territory!). The Geneva city bus uses a tunnel which goes underneath the airport runway as it travels between the 2 countries.

You will also find food/supermarket costs tend to be significantly lower in France, not to mention restaurant prices.

kanadajin

Forgot to add : no fees\cost for border crossing (just the normal bus fare!).

kappa1

> Sorry for the question if it is obvious..

No problem. As above poster wrote, it's usually quick and cost free. It needs to be as there are many commuters living in bodering French towns and come to work in Geneva everyday.