In June a group of 10 of us (in three cars) will be travelling from Geneva airport to Lac d'Annecy. In the past, we have always hired vehicles on the Swiss side, and the route south has been straightforward. This time, we are hiring from the French side (Ferney Voltaire) because car rental there is considerably less expensive, and we are endeavouring to find out what will be the best / easiest / cheapest route south.

Do you think it will be best to stay in France and travel south and east to join the A41? Or is there perhaps an easier route? If we decide to go back into Switzerland - which is the shortest way - and join the A41 next to the airport, what is it likely to cost us in tolls on the A41. I believe that when a vehicle is rented on the Swiss side the tolls are part of the package, whereas hiring on the French side does not include them.

I feel a little bit cheeky asking a question like this on a forum which is obviously designed for much more important matters relating to people living within Switzerland, but if anyone can give me some hints I will be very grateful.

Many thanks.
Jeremy

If you avoid Swiss highways you should be fine. If you enter Switzerland through manned post, they'll make you buy a 40 CHF vignette for every car.

Many thanks russiangeneva. 40 CHF per vehicle sounds like a good reason to avoid Switzerland!

Jeremy

Are you renting all 3 cars from FV?

You should ask the rental agency if the cars have the Swiss vignette or not. If they don't then stay in France, or avoid Swiss motorways.

But I have to say, if you do that it's going to take you a really long time. The small roads take ages. The toll to Annecy is about E4.00 or E5.00 IIRC.

If you rent the cars from the airport, then when you enter switzerland at ferney voltaire, you wont have to pay the vignette. Simply follow the signs (green signs ) to france on the motorway and it will take you through Bardonnex customs and onto the A41 to Annecy. However, on the way back if you enter Swiss territory through Bardonnex you will have to pay the vignette, so therefore you need to follow the motorway (a40) to vallard, just some 10km further on, enter geneva through vallard, cross town staying close to the lake and leave geneva towards the airport. then cross into ferney voltaire but just as you cross the customs you will see the sign to the airport french side.

JeremyB is right. And from my experience renting on french side - maybe 10 times total - I've only had 1 car with Vignette.

It's 6 euros from Geneva to Annecy.

Thanks for your help everyone

Jeremy