We were planning a couple of nights in switzerland on a driving tour of europe. Finding geneva hotels to be so expensive that I dont think we can afford to go.
Would you advise Annecy, France instead? Is there enough to do for 2 nights?
Thank you for any advise.
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I guess it depends whether you are a city person or a person who appreciates smaller atmospheric places!! We went on a short break to the area a few weeks ago, landing and departing Geneva, and on our way back to the airport, made the mistake of driving through the centre of the city - it is a very big city - so like driving through the centre of Manchester! The lake looked nice enough, but generally the place didn%26#39;t grab me. Very glad we chose to stay in Annecy rather than in Geneva. Annecy is still quite a large town overall, but the old town area is lovely (Venice of the alps with its canals and old buildings) and only about 30mins drive from Geneva on the new motorway, so you can still explore Geneva if you so wish. We stayed at Hotel Palais de L%26#39;Isle which was in a great location right in the centre next to the canals and the church, with lots of restaurants just doors away and the chateau behind. Very nice just to wander the lanes and window shop too - speciality shops galore.
What time of year are you going? We used Annecy as a base to go skiing in La Clusaz, but if you%26#39;re going in the summer I%26#39;m sure you will find plenty to do around the lake, including a cruise on it. I imagine La Clusaz would be nice in summer too - a traditional alpine style village.
If you travel on around Lake Geneva (as we did, as we then stayed in Montreux 1 night after 2 in Annecy) I would highly recommend a visit to Gruyeres, which is a beautiful walled village on a hill about 30mins drive from the far end of Lake Geneva, and where gruyere cheese comes from. There%26#39;s a lovely chateau as well as cheese factories etc which you can tour, and lots of traditional restaurants up the cobbled village street. Stunning spot.
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Annecy is great, especially with a car, and so you could go to Chamonx, for instance, one day and stay in Annecy the other. Other places within reach include Grenoble and Turin in Italy (that%26#39;s a bit further). Depending on the time of year, some Annecy hotels are not cheap either, and can booked up especially in the summer. Lots of caravan sites round the lake as an alternative.
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We will be spending a week in Annecy in mid June. Besides going up into the mountains, and a couple of trips to Lyon, we are looking for other interesting day trips. Guyere sounds great (we%26#39;ve already been to Geneva, been on the lake, and have stayed in Montreaux). My question: isn%26#39;t there some legality to driving in Switzerland, a sticker the car must have or whatever? Would hate to have th eextra cost just for a day.
Merci
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Annecy is fine for a couple of days. Walk around the old town, dine beside the canals. take a trip on the lake, stroll through the park along the lake front.
As an alternative, take a look at Yvoire. It%26#39;s on Lac Leman about 20km SW of Geneva. A beautiful, flowery town with a few good hotels and restaurants. From Yvoire, you can also take the boat trip to Geneva if you want to go there or further up the Lake to Montreaux or Evain les Bains.
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You are supposed to have a sticker to drive on Swiss motorways - and unfortunately you can%26#39;t pay per trip - it%26#39;s an annual pass, which is sold per calendar year. A bit like having to pay tolls on French motorways, I suppose, although at least tolls vary according to distance, and don%26#39;t last for monthes. But you can sometimes avoid buying the Swiss motorway pass, if they dont stop you at the border - often there is no one on duty.
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