susan4

I am helping my brother and his wife take their first trip to Europe next month. I know, and I told him, expensive, crowded and last minute. But he has the opportunity for a backstage visit at CERN some weekend in June. Plan is for a 7-9 day trip to include London or Paris with 2 night visit to Geneva. Hotels are running about $500 a night and up. Less expensive and nice seems to be sold out. Would like $200 a night or less, if possible.

Was wondering if some city in France would have public transport to CERN and Geneva airport.

Any ideas much appreciated. thanks in advance.

StCirq

http://user.web.cern.ch/User/Institu...GetToCERN.html

There are innumerable cities in France from which you could get to Geneva and then to CERN. If they're going to be in Paris, they can get tickets from there to Geneva by plane or train (www.voyages-sncf.com) - the earlier you buy tickets, the cheaper they are.

Not sure where hotel prices are $500 a night and up - London? Paris? Geneva? Certainly there are countless hotels in Paris for less than that - there are loads of Paris hotel threads right here on Fodors with suggestions.

susan4

Sorry for the confusion. Have just started looking for hotels in Paris. It is Geneva that has such high prices. They will probably fly to Geneva on low-cost airline as train prices are already quite high.

kanadajin

For more basic accommodations that would easily fit your budget, I can suggest either the Holiday Inn Express Genève Aéroport or, on the french side and even closer to the CERN the Novotel Genève Aéroport (accor hotels). The HI Express rates normally include buffet breakfast which is very adequate, and also has free to/from airport shuttle every 20 minutes.

The Novotel is in Ferney-Voltaire (France), also very close - not sure if they have airport shuttle but strongly suspect they might. Both of these have access to public transit. In fact, for the HI Express (in Switzerland), you are entitled to a free transit unlimited use pass for the duration of your stay; but you have to ask for it at the reception, it is not automatically offered to you. Very convenient if I may say so! It is factored into the taxe de séjour which you pay for at the hotel anyways (2 or 3 swiss francs per day approx.) It is valid on buses, trams, and in-city train segments.

kanadajin

Forgot to add, I have stayed a few times at the HI Express, and despite the fact that it is next to the airport, noise has never been an issue, quite surprisingly, probably due to the fact that it does not lie underneath the flight path to the (only) runway.

susan4

Thanks so much. Unfortunately HI Exp is sold old both possible weekends.