Let's calculate the cost of a vacation in Geneva, considering at least four expenses: visa, airline tickets, hotel, and meals.
Geneva, often considered the pearl of Switzerland, ranks high in terms of lodging costs. Based on vacation reviews, the average tourist can expect to spend 80-100 EUR per night for a double room. The minimum accommodation price in Geneva starts at 35 EUR for a bed in hostels.
The average dinner bill at Geneva's best restaurants ranges from CHF 70-100, but it's possible to find dining options for CHF 20-30.
Here's some good news: public transportation in Geneva is essentially free, as the fare is initially included in hotel rates. If you plan to rent a car, you can expect an additional cost of around 100 CHF per day. For 120-140 CHF, you can travel to destinations like Milan or Paris (both approximately 4 hours away). Exploring Lake Geneva by train, such as a visit to Montreux, can be done for CHF 30-40.
So, how much would a vacation in Geneva cost? You can expect expenses such as 75-90 EUR for a visa, a minimum of 240-270 EUR for round-trip airline tickets (for one person), and minimal transportation costs (e.g., cabs in special cases - 20-30 CHF). On average, for a week's vacation for two people in Geneva, you may need to budget around 3000-4500 CHF.
When making room reservations in Geneva, be aware that a certain amount of money is often temporarily held on your card. This amount can only be unlocked after you've settled your hotel bill and might take 20-30 days to become available again. It's advisable to carry twice the amount of your planned accommodation costs with you.
