Well, wonder no more, the word “Limousine” is quite old and originates from the 18th Century and is derived from a region in France called Limousin.

Shepherds, 300 years ago, in the area of “LIMOUSIN” in France needed to protect themselves from harsh weather (eg driven snow) so they constructed a special coat in order to survive the wet and cold in the mountains.

The coat was so effective that it’s use caught on with other people in the area and then further away throughout France.

As it originated in “Limousin” people called this coat after the locality that it was made in, and other workers also started to dress for bad weather in the same way, especially the chauffeurs of the very best horse drawn carriages.

Clearly these poor chaps too were exposed to all weather conditions as they were obliged to sit on top of the carriages in the open air. The transport they were driving attracted much attention as it carried the high classes on their journeys and were ornately decorated.

The shepherd’s favoured type of big coat, the “Limousin” was made of sheep’s and goat’s wool and very effective in it’s purpose.

After a brief period the Limousin-clad chauffeurs were so closely identified with the coat they wore and subsequently the carriage that they sat on, that the carriage began to be linked to the drivers (and coats) in peoples’ minds and the transport soon began to be called the “Limousine” by the public after a period of time.

The horse-drawn carriages were an extremely posh way of travelling and I am sure you can now guess where this is going.

After many decades the first motorised car, another form of extremely posh transportation for the upper classes, was invented and the word Limousine became quickly linked by natural progression (or chance) to the longer, more elegant styles of motorcar.

History tells us that in 1902, the world’s first “Limousine” included a hood to cover the driver’s area, thus similar to the “Limousin” coat hood for the wearer, which is partly why this term is now applied to all long luxury cars.

A separate compartment at the front of cars with a partition, for the high classes and fare-paying passengers.

During the last 100 years is the time that Limousines have had huge changes to their look, amenities, length and insides. A Limousine now refers to all cars that have been stretched for style or luxury purposes, in particular in the USA, where virtually anything on four wheels has been extended into a Stretch, Superstretch or Superlongbody Limousine.

Over the decades this includes such marques as Audi, Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Chrysler, Ford, Holden, Hummer, Infiniti, Jaguar, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce and Volkswagen etc..

Notwithstanding the plentiful choice of stretched cars, the one that has now become almost synonymous with the word “Limo” is the Stretch Lincoln Towncar Limousine. The word Limo is now widely accepted as the slang term for all Limos.

The world of Limos in the 21st Century now offers the great Hummer Limousine, that seats up to 24 passengers in stupendous comfort.

The Hummer Limousine is by far the largest and most sought after Limo from the hiring public than any other marque, due it’s ample interior and incredible length.

Now then – What’s in a name – you might ask ?

FRI – Just finished work and am getting the grand tour through Machina Electrica, learning all about the bells and whistles of this fascinating vehicle. We were lucky enough to be given a very thorough explanation of the hybrid but as my partner and I both discovered, we were a little bit too excited about the whole thing to have actually listened. Note to self, when someone is explaining information to you about how something works, it is best to listen and stop your mind racing a million miles an hour thinking about all the fantastic things you are about to see! 

We arrived in Paihia about 11pm at night after being stuck in typical Friday afternoon traffic leaving Auckland and some roadworks along the way. Nothing could faze us however and we easily found some signs leading us to a camper van allowed pay and display car park that would be our sleeping arrangements for the night.

SAT – Waking bright and early Sat morning to get to our day tour which left just after 7:30am we headed out of our Spaceship to find where we had slept the night before was also housing about 20 other camper vans. We must have hit the jackpot as nothing looked as beautiful as our bright orange Machina! We headed to a local bakery for some brekkie and chatted to the owners who were talking to us about the Keri Keri half marathon assuming that was why we were in town. As I scoffed down my pie for breakfast they changed their mind very quickly and asked where we were from. I love the friendly nature of small town New Zealand, who when they ask about you, are actually interested in what you have to say.

We then headed down to the wharf which was where our BRUCK (truck front, bus back) was picking us up from to take part in the Dune rider tour. We were welcomed on board by the friendly driver and took our seats on what was going to be a very long, but very rewarding day. My partner and I both noted how spacious the vehicle was which considering my partner is nothing short of a giant,  was very much welcomed and incredibly comfortable for the both of us.

We were out on the road and soon at our first stop, a Maori Pa site that overlooked the beautiful Doubtless Bay. A few of us were willing to brave the windy conditions and take a short walk to the top of the site which was definitely worth being blown around for – the view was stunning! We then hopped back on board and headed for our morning tea and lunch pick up spot of Coopers Beach cafe which impressed me very much by the variety of food on offer.

Then it was on to Gumdiggers park where we were greeted by a gumboot fence and learnt that the term gumboot came from New Zealand which everyone was very surprised by. This place is amazing! Surrounded by ancient Kauri trees we got out and stretched our legs on a short stroll through part of the forest and were shown through ancient gumdiggers huts and stores. You could really feel the history of the place and were in complete awe as we walked through these massive trees that had seen so much in the world throughout their time. Now it was time to head to the top (or bottom if you go by Maori legend) of the North Island to see the beautiful Cape Reinga.

Along the way, we stopped off at the giant sand dunes and rode on the bus through Te Paki stream or quick sand stream as the locals call it. I was very happy to have someone else with so much experience driving through this terrain, as I was not feeling very confident we could have made it otherwise!! A huge walk up the dunes (which I nearly gave up on half way through as I couldn’t see me making it to the top) and a thrilling ride down on a boogie board I felt like a kid again and enjoyed every single minute of it .

Hearing the Maori tales of the Cape being where spirits come on their journey back to their ancestor’s homeland, I was prepared for a place of huge spiritual meaning – I was not disappointed. Seeing the 2 oceans (Pacific ocean and Tasman Sea) come together is something that words just can not describe. My partner and I spent a good 40 minutes out at the Cape just appreciating how lucky we were to be able to see this with our own eyes and enjoying every minute of it.

After such an awakening it was then back to our BRUCK to make our way to 90 mile beach. A beach that is only actually 60 miles in length, really does feel like 90 miles of white sand and pure beauty. Indulging myself in a bit of the Tuatua twist I discovered this beach was abundant with seafood and shellfish which got my tummy rumbling and scheduled the end of our 90 mile beach visit as it was time to head elsewhere.

Heading back to Paihia we stopped off along the way at Wanui and the ancient Kaori Museum which had the most elaborate staircase built inside the trunk of an enormous Kaori tree and then Mongonui fish and chip shop which is famous amongst New Zealanders and allowed me to get my seafood fix after getting so hungry at 90 mile beach earlier. Then we were back in Paihia and ready to get to a camp ground for the night.

SUN – We were lucky enough to have a bit of a sleep in as our Dolphin Discovery tour didn’t start until 9am. This cruise took us around some of the 144 islands that make up the beautiful Bay of Islands in the most comfortable catamaran. As someone who often gets sea sick, I am very pleased to say even though the water was very choppy, I remained feeling incredibly healthy. The cruise took us searching for dolphins through the scenic Bay and right through the hole in the rock. Going through an island on a catamaran is something that sounds surreal but is seriously an amazing experience. From here our cruise through the islands continued and included tails of Maori battles and European battles – we were lucky enough to set foot on one of the islands and walk up another Pa site. This site was an extremely important one as it was where France tried to colonise New Zealand not realising Britain had done so years earlier. The island itself is gorgeous with perfect white sandy beaches and crystal clear water.  This cruise lasted about 4 hours and really did cover the islands at a high level. Obviously to visit all 144 islands would take much longer, but all the major islands and important sites were covered and having the time to get off the boat and explore an island really just capped it off. A welcome crew member on board the catamaran was a photographer! She took photos of everyone on the tour and all places we visited. This is perfect especially if your camera was to be left behind of batteries stop working. All in all the entire weekend was perfect, it was difficult to come home and head back to reality.

Limousine’s are well known for their classy reputation , which comes from their historical past as a vehicle that is for the rich and famous. In 1902, a time where only the rich owned cars, the first limousine was created and manufactured. Unlike today’s limousine, the design was distinctly different. In fact, the driver sat outside in a covered compartment. It is said the limousine’s name derives from this cover, which resembled the hood worn by Shepherd’s in the Limousine area, France.

In the year of 1928, the first stretch limousine was used by an American coach company. The main purpose of this stretch limousine was to transport Big Band leaders, their musicians and equipment. From this period onwards, the limousine was employed as a way of transporting the rich and famous around.

In recent years, the limousine design has altered with changing styles and technology. Traditionally, an extension of a large car, with a longer frame and wheelbase, this original design was still small in comparison with some of the beasts on the market today. Today, a divider, often made of glass, separates the driver from the rear passenger area in order to give passengers more privacy. Limousines also have much more variation than their previous generation, as you can hire various sized limos, from the small and sweet Baby Bentley limousine to the gigantic Hummer.

Unlike prior generations of limos, which were used to get from A to B, modern limousines are used more regularly for entertainment purposes. These days limousines can hold up to around 10 passengers; provide a mini-bar, a cool sound system, DVD players and cushy seating. Beautifully decorated interiors give the effect of being in a luxurious room, rather than a automobile!

Limousines have gone from private to commercial use for all over the last century. With this commercialization of limousines, we have also seen the limo become a means of entertainment, over just a way of travelling.

Interested in limo hire Peterborough? Take a look at www.limowebsite.co.uk for more information on what limo’s are available to hire.

Of course their were other considerations too such as an old friend of mine was having a 50th birthday party, and there were my two brother-in-laws that my wife and I hadn’t seen for over 2 years.

I thought long and hard about how to do all this: it was my plan to drive my car to England, but then what? This was August, which is prime time holiday season in the UK – places to stay would be either booked up or just simply too expensive. So I thought about camping, but only for a minute, before my wife pointed out that this very very impractical with a newborn baby. I had to think of something else…

I decided to hire a motorhome from a UK based company. The company had nearly 500 motorhomes dotted around the UK and surprisingly enough still had some available for August even though I was making my enquiry at the end of July. I chose to hire a motorhome in Reading, Berkshire which was a fairly central location for our travels. I called a UK Freephone number, 0800 612 8719 to make the enquiry and I spoke to the very pleasent Sheena who helped me with my booking.  I was surprised how easy it all was, a credit card number confirmed the booking and then there was a minimal amount of paperwork just to provide the ‘legalities’ for the motorhome insurance.

On arrival in the UK I decided to drop my family off at my brother-in-laws in London, I then went off to the motorhome hire pickup point in Reading where I met Anne who showed me around the motorhome, a 2004 Eldiss Autoquest 200. She showed me all the features that I would be using such as hot and cold running water, gas central heating (yes it can get cold in the UK, even in summer!). My only concern at this point was how I would fit my child car seats into the motorhome for when they are travelling along. Lap belts were provided in the rear but they weren’t facing forwards, which meant I couldn’t point my kids in the right direction.  I decided to ‘work something out later’ as it was getting dark now. I left my car at the pick up point as agreed.

The drive back to London was fine, I’ve driven some quite large vans in my time, so the size wasn’t a problem and indeed the 2.0l diesel engine seem to take it along the M4 at 70mph with no problem. The radio/CD player kept me company on the way back into London.  When I got back home I realised there was a way I could thread the rear seat belts differently to at least give my baby the correct orientation.

The next day we packed up the motorhome with all our things and set off for Paignton in Devon, where my ‘little’ brother-in-law lives. This was an easy stop as we just parked in his driveway and ran everything off the auxilliary battery and gas. We stayed in Devon a few days, which included 3 nights at Beverly Park – a campsite with a kids club, crazy golf, plus indoor and outdoor pools. We had a day at Paignton Zoo and a day on the beach at Torquay, so all was good.

The next stop was my parents up in Stoke-on-Trent, not the most amazing of places, but 5 year old Maddy loved seeing her Grandparents. The motorhome just about fitted in the driveway of their bungalow and we had to level it using the ramps provided. I had thought of hooking it up to the mains, but it seemed to be no problem to just use 12 volts and gas.  Our trip was sadly coming to an end now, but we still managed to squeeze in my ‘in-laws’ in Leighton Buzzard, an annual reunion from my wife’s ‘art school days’ in Muswell Hill, London and even the 50th birthday in Watford and a trip to see some old friends of ours from France who now live in Toppesfield, Essex.

Overall I was pleased with the Eldiss Autoquest motorhome and the overall motorhome hire experience, but next time I would probably look for one with a permanent double bed at the rear and some single beds nearer the front that would double as seating for the passengers. I will probably buy a motorhome one day, but I really do think I will hire a few first to get a feel of what is on offer by different manufacturers and which is perfect for my family and the way we will use it.

The first stretch limousine was developed over eighty years ago in Arkansas in 1928. These limousines were called “big band buses” because they were used to transport famous big band leaders, as well as their entire orchestras and instruments around the United States. Then in the 1930’s limo hire really started to become popular as limousines were used to transport hotel guests to the airport as well as on general sightseeing tours. It wasn’t long before the movie industry caught the bug and they began to use limousines to carry film crew around movie sets. It was at this time that they became ‘de rigeur’ for the top movie actors and actresses. They just had to be seen arriving in stretch limousines. It created an aura of glitz and glamour around them that is still attributed to stars from that time to this very day.

In recent years the arrival of new technologies has allowed different types of vehicles to be made available in a stretch format. This has led to a phenomenal rise in the “new style” limos. We can now see anything from a stretched Lincoln Town Car or “Baby Bentley” Chrysler 300 limos right through to huge 4×4 limousines such as the Audi Q7 and Hummer limos. Limo hire is ideal for transporting large numbers of people in the most glamorous style to every possible event we can imagine. Weddings, special birthdays and school proms are among the most popular but we can still see plenty of limos on other special occasions such as corporate away days, Royal Ascot and even family Christmas parties. At weekends most cities in the UK have their share of limos running around, filled with party-loving people enjoying stag nights, hen nights or travelling to rock concerts and theatre first nights.

If we’re thinking about limo hire for the first time a few tips might help. Firstly, researching the market will give us a better understanding of what is available in our locality. These days we can do everything on the internet so it doesn’t take us long. It’s also a lot of fun. We can imagine ourselves in all sorts of great vehicles! If we get different prices and options we’ll get a better idea of what we can expect to pay before we actually hire a limo. This will also give us a good sense of what the limo hire market has to offer so we can make an informed decision.

Then we’ll need to be sure that the size of our party matches some of the different types of stretch limos available. Some limo hire companies are only licensed to carry a maximum of eight passengers so they are likely to operate the Lincoln Town Car, Chrysler 300 “Baby Bentley” and smaller H3 Hummer limos. Others may have on offer the twelve to sixteen seaters such as the Lincoln Navigator, Ford Expedition and larger H2 Hummer limos. We’d be right to imagine that these will cost us quite a bit more to hire so we either need to stick to eight, or get our numbers up around the twelve and sixteen mark to fill one of the bigger vehicles, thereby spreading the higher cost among more people.

Once we’re ready to choose a limo hire operator we need to establish a few important facts. Firstly we need to make sure that they are properly licensed. This will ensure that they can provide a satisfactory service. In other words their licensing authority will be monitoring their vehicles to see that they are properly serviced, maintained and MOT’d. Their licensing authority will also insist that their drivers are licensed and CRB checked and that their bookings are reliable. Evidence that they are licensed should be clearly displayed on their website, including their limo-operator’s licence number.

Before we actually pay a deposit for our limo hire we need to be very confident about the limo we’re hiring. We need to get what we were promised and what we demanded on the company’s website. Good limo hire companies advertise what they actually provide. It is a good idea to check the terms and conditions of the hire, especially the rules regarding damage and over -runs on the hire. A good set of T’s and C’s will be easy to find on a website and should reflect a fair agreement for all parties. That way, the interests of both the consumer and the limo operator are protected, and a few of the most probable eventualities, liabilities and responsibilities are considered and covered.

If we consider exactly what we want from our limo hire and plan things out carefully we can often get great value. First, we have to consider the fact that the major expense in limo hire is in providing a first-rate U.S. stretch limo, along with a chauffeur for that particular day and time. So, if what we need is a journey to the city, it is not going to cost the company much more than what it would for a local ride. That way, if there are eight people in our group, the cost of taking them to a city and dropping back will be included within the rent for the limo. The extra miles would actually come free!

Another brilliant example of getting value for money from our limo hire is weddings. If we hire a limo for the bride and father on her wedding day, then if the journey to the church is a short one we can request a second run for her bridesmaids, and even get the bridegroom and his ushers beforehand to make sure they are arriving first! This provides more wonderful memories for more people on that day by hiring just one limo. Don’t forget, though, they may need a bit of help from friends or relatives in getting to the reception as the limo is normally reserved for the bride and groom after the ceremony.

What should be special and important about a limo hire is that you are provided with a wonderful service that includes a great limo and a friendly and professional chauffeur. Last, but not least, you should get the feeling that your operator really cares about your event and that he’s nt not just offering you the cheapest but rather the most fantastic limo hire service at a great price. After all it promises to be a very special day in our lives so it’s important to get it right. That way we’ll be coming back for more – any excuse will do!

As you traverse it there is even the possibility of spotting flamingos from your hire car, a rare experience in Europe. With fascinating historical sites and picturesque villages dotted throughout the countryside it really is a worthy holiday destination.

As you trundle along in your hire car you will pass the infinite lavender fields that not only make a strikingly beautiful landscape but with warm winds, the scent envelopes you in perfumed majesty. This is the lavender producing capital, not just of France but of the world and this is clearly evident from the amount of purple fields you will pass while travelling.

Of course it is not just lavender that this area of France is famous for; Provence has a long heritage of producing some of the finest cuisine in the whole of France. The use of garlic is extensive and has been described by some as the truffle of Provence. Fish and seafood make up a large constituent of menus due to the close proximity to the sea, of these seafood dishes Bouillabaisse is the most famed. If it is warmer, a perfect local dish is the salad Nicoise; a beautiful seafood and egg salad that will refresh you after spending hours in your hire car.

With all this fine cuisine if would be a shame not to sample the thing France is most famous for; wine. Touring the various wine making regions in a hire car is truly pleasurable. The regions in this part of France consist of Chateuneuf du Pape, Cotes d’Aix and the most famous, Cotes du Rhone. These vineyards produce fabulous reds and sumptuous whites that will match anything you may decide to eat whilst on your journey.

Provence has a rich history and was widely inhabited during the Roman period. As a result while you tour the region in your hire car you will see many architectural sites and awesome engineering feats. The Pont du Gard aqueduct near Avignon can be seen as one of the best preserved examples of Roman engineering in the world.

Constructed without mortar it is held together purely by iron clamps, this method has kept it standing for over 2000 years. After experiencing some years of neglect UNESCO and the government of France have put in place development efforts including a museum and extra parking, making it a perfect destination if in a hire car.

The villages of Provence are no less striking, settled in amongst some amazingly beautiful gorges the rugged terrain frames these picture perfect locations brilliantly. Driving the mountainous roads can be a challenge but if you make sure the car you make sure the car you hire is powerful enough, any problems can be avoided. With waterfalls pouring over sheer cliffs the tranquility and serenity of this region is truly breathtaking. The chance to relax is at every turn in your journey.

Province can be considered one of the most attractive propositions for tourists. From the magical stretch of coast that includes the Cot dAzur to the mountainous areas that border Italy and the Alps beauty is everywhere.

Combine this beauty with a friendly native population, some of the finest wine in the world and a sumptuous cuisine that is wholly unique and you have a trip that will be memorable and enjoyable. Take a car and relax while you traverse the roads and stop at small villages soaking in the local culture, an enriching experience is only a short flight away.

Hire Cars – When hiring a car to drive abroad the car will almost always come with insurance, but that will most probably be third party insurance only. This means that if you have an accident, and it’s deemed to be your fault, you could face a hefty repair bill for all vehicles involved.  Make sure you check out the level of insurance provided by the hire company before you take control of the car, preferably before you’ve even left home to go on holiday. If it is third party then have a look on the internet for companies which offer special cover for hire vehicles, effectively this cover will upgrade any insurance which is included in the car hire to fully comprehensive.

Your Car – It’s important when driving your car abroad to make sure that your insurance broker has covered you to drive abroad.  If you’re not covered you’ll need to notify them of your travel dates and possibly pay a fee. If you are covered you may still need to notify your insurance company of your travel dates as you might be limited to the number of days you’re covered abroad and they’ll need to know when you’re away. If you’re using a comparison site when buying your insurance then you can often select the need to be covered for trips abroad. Kwik Fit Insurance offer 60 days cover abroad when you take out a car insurance policy from their site, which should be enough to cover all of your holidays.  Be careful also that you’re not breaking the law without realising it; things like speed camera detectors might be legal in the UK, but travel across the channel to France and the same detector will cost you thousands of Euros in fines if you’re caught with it in the car, even if you’re not using it. So make sure you know the law when taking your own car abroad, and with all that done, enjoy the sun!

La Bastille: These fortifications sit on top of a mountain over looking the city. They are visible from all over Grenoble and are one of the most visited attractions in the city. At the top of Bastille Hill there are two restaurants where you can enjoy dining and admire the view of the city below you. Be sure to also visit the Mandrin Caves which were secret underground passes leading from the entrance of the fort to the second restaurant on the hill. It’s a great walk and will give you an idea of how the fortification worked.

Museum of Grenoble: The museum was founded in 1798 by Louis-Joseph Jay. The museum is now considered one of the finest in Europe with wonderful Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiques on display it is a great day out for all. When you visit, it’s like you will be taking a tour through history with paintings!

Palace of Parliament: Constructed between 1478 and 1539 it was the parliament of Dauphine until the French Revolution. Today the building is part of the Idere Council and there is an on going project of renovation to make it modern but trying to preserve its character from the 15th century.

Archaeological Museum of Saint Laurent: This museum has collections from the many archaeological excavations that were done on the site of Place Saint Laurent throughout the 3rd century A.D. The museum is actually a Benedictine church which was built in the 12th century, which was actually one of the first monuments classified in France.

As you can see skiing is not the only great thing to do when you stay in Grenoble, so why not consider picking up a hire car at Grenoble Airport and see what other wonderful things this great city has to offer!

So what are these additional charges that a car rental company will add on? There are first of all charges if you want a roof rack, satellite navigation or child seats. Fair enough as these items have to be fitted to the vehicle and take a while to do. I remember in the 1980’s renting a car in Portugal and the majority of the small cars were actually the original small Mini and as there was no real room for luggage in those cars, they all came with roof racks as standard. No doubt as time progresses the majority of cars will have Sat Nav built in.

There are other charges that are to be expected which are reasonable like “One-way drop charges.” Whereby you collect and return the car at two different locations and you can be paying anything in the region of €50 to €75 for this service.

Out of hours charges is another “fair charge” The car insurance company advertises its normal business hours and if they have to remain open longer because of flight delays or a late flight for example, they have to compensate staff. I have had to pay this in France on a couple of occasions.

The Location Surcharge is a charge that should be built in and in many cases is as I have been charged around €25 for collecting a car from Dublin Airport and when I questioned this was told all “Operators did this”. I even rented in Dublin on one occasion collecting the car from a city centre location and still be charged an airport collection charge!

Other charges to look out for in Ireland are “Cross border” charges. If you are renting in the Republic and take the vehicle into Northern Ireland or vica versa and you could be paying around €25 for literally staying on the M1 motorway and going from one part of the country to the other.

My research into renting a car in Ireland has found that there is also a “Vehicle Licensing Fee” with some companies and that rentals will incur a charge of €2.64 per day which will be charged locally upon arrival at the collection point. One company even has an “Environmental and recycling charge” whereby they can charge €2.63 per rental and say this is for recycling tyres, batteries, oil, paper, plastic, glass and car wash water”

Finally of course there is Insurance. The most popular one of course is the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). Collision damage waiver (CDW), sometimes confusingly also called loss damage waiver (LDW), is essentially a form of insurance that may or may not come included in the rental price of a hired car. It exists to provide cover for damage that occurs to the rented vehicle itself. If you don’t take out additional insurance, you are liable for the full value of the vehicle.

Car hire companies naturally sell this additional insurance and it can be expensive. My research in April 2010 found that in Ireland it can cost €14 per day and that can be as much as the daily can rental itself. For a two week hour this would be €196. By using the Internet you can now purchase this type of insurance for around €2.99 per day and buy an Annual policy for around €62. If you rent a car several times a year the Annual policy is probably the best solution and some insurance companies offer “family” policies for around €99 per year. These types of products will normally cover theft, the tyres, windscreens and underbody of the vehicle if you happen to damage them plus if you lose the car keys and these can cost around €250 to replace.

About Geneva Airport Car Hire

Geneva airport is a very busy airport which has more than 11 million passengers. That makes it all the more necessary to prebook car hire so you don’t have to queue with everyone else who is waiting for a vehicle. Look out for the car hire offices of all the major companies such as Hertz, Avis and Sixt. Geneva airport has the longest airport runway in Switzerland. The airport serves both Switzerland and France so you want to make sure that you are disembarking on the right side. That way you do not have to waste time going through the wrong set of customs.As the airport is four kilometres to the North West of the city centre you will need some form of transportation. Tourists who are coming in tour groups will also find a large array of coaches waiting to collect them outside of the main terminal building. If you plan to take the bus in Geneva city centre there are free tickets which are valid for eighty minutes worth of travel. You can find them at a machine on your way out of customs. Geneva is a city built around a beautiful lake and a scenic travel option there is to take the intercity lake boats. The boats depart every 10 minutes to half and hour and are inexpensive. To be found on either the right or left bank of the city these boats operate all year around.

Geneva International Airport is situated at CH -1215 Geneva 15. Half of Geneva airport is located in the commune of Grand Saconnex and other half is in the commune of Meyrin. Add the area code 022 if you are outside of Switzerland. The main airlines to have hubs here are Flybaboo and Easyjet. Swiss International Airlines is one of the other forty airlines based there and you can fly to any of the major European cities including Paris, Rome and London. There are also some cargo flights with Farnair Switzerland to Cologne and Bonn as well as DHL Aviation to Brussels.

If you get stuck in Geneva airport due to bad weather or a delayed flight fear not. Geneva airport has some excellent shopping opportunities. To find Geneva airport on an international airport flight board look out for the airport code GVA. You can contact the airport ahead of time by phoning 717 7111.