Air Canada Vacations

Before You Leave Canada

Entry requirements

It is your sole responsibility to ensure that you - and any child travelling with you - have all the travel documents necessary to enter or transit through each country on your itinerary. Please ensure you verify the requirements for each country as the required documents for the outbound portion of your travel may differ from those required on the return.

Please refer to Air Canada for complete information on travel requirements and regulations.

Baggage

Please refer to Air Canada for up-to-date baggage allowances.

Airport check-in

Please present yourself at the airport counter or self-service kiosks of the airline indicated on your e-ticket. Web check-in and mobile check-in are also available.
Please refer to Air Canada for recommended check-in times and more details.

Your arrival at destination

Transportation from airport to Geneva

The airport is located 4 km from Geneva city centre. Only one single ticket is required to travel by train, tram, bus or boat in the area of France-Vaud-Geneva.

By train

It takes only 6 minutes to Geneva city centre by train (every 12 minutes at rush hours). You can easily access the train station from the arrivals level. All trains stop at Geneva-Cornavin station (city centre).

By bus

Bus 10 runs every 8-15 minutes at rush hours to the city centre. The bust stop is just outside the arrivals hall.

Hotel check-in

Upon arrival at your hotel, please identify yourself at the front desk with your Air Canada Vacations voucher. You will then be assigned your accommodation. Passport must be presented upon check in.

Hotel check-in times may vary depending on the hotel but is generally 3 p.m.

During your stay

If you need help or assistance with your vacation, please contact Air Canada Vacations Customer Care.

Shopping

The city, of course, is known for its watches and jewellery, but it's also a good place to buy embroidered blouses, music boxes from the Jura region, cuckoo clocks from German Switzerland, chocolate, Swiss Army knives and many other items.

Avoid purchasing a Swiss watch in one of the souvenir stores. If jewelleers are legitimate, they'll display a symbol of the Geneva Association of Watchmakers and Jewelers.
Store hours vary in Geneva. Most stores are open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Tipping

In Switzerland tips are included on all hotel and restaurant bills. It is neither necessary nor expected to give an extra tip. But it is fine to tip when the service is nice and friendly

Water

Water is safe to drink all over Switzerland, whether from taps or from the ubiquitous public street-fountains. These fountains almost always run with pure spring water.

Electricity

Electricity supply in Switzerland is AC 220 V, 50 Hz. Sockets use the round-pin European system. Most hotels have adaptors.

Currency

The currency in Switzerland is Schweizerfranken (Swiss Francs), also called Franken.

Banking

Banks are usually open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Currency exchange can be carried out at all bank branches and Post Offices. Bureaux de change can also be found in large department stores, railway stations, airports and near to tourist sites.
Many banks in Switzerland have equipped their ATMs with the CIRRUS or MAESTRO system, so cash is readily available.

Long distance calls

Telephone calls from your hotel to Canada can be very expensive and service charges are high.

Prepaid calling cards are readily available.

To call Canada dial 001 and then the number.

Language

The national languages of Switzerland are German (North, Central and Eastern Switzerland), French (Western Switzerland), Italian (Southern Switzerland) and Romansh - a form of Latin (South-Eastern Switzerland). English is also widely spoken. 

Time zone

UTC/GMT +1 hour
Daylight savings time UTC/GMT +2 hours

Emergency

You can ask for a doctor or a dentist through your hotel. Keep all your receipts. 
Tourists requiring urgent medical care should go to the nearest hospital emergency room (airports and many train stations also have medical teams and first aid facilities).

Getting around

Sightseeing

Air Canada Vacations offers a huge selection of day tours and activities in Geneva that you can easily add to your shopping cart when you book. Enjoy the Geneva City Tour or the Day Trip to Gruyères including Golden Panoramic Express Train.

Rental car

Air Canada Vacations offers convenient short-term and long-term car rentals throughout Europe.

On foot

Geneva is easily conquered on foot but there are a number of transportation options when you need it.

Local bus

The bus system covers virtually every square metre of the city and is highly efficient. Tickets can be bought at the machines next to most stops or at newspaper stands. Prices vary according to the number of zones crossed and duration of validity. Be aware that ticket machines take only coins and do not give change.

Lake boats

Part of the local TPG system includes ferry shuttles connecting the right and left banks of the city. The service operates year-round during daylight hours and is a cheap way to see the city from a new perspective.

Intercity bus

The central bus station, Gare Routiere, located at Place Dorciere, is the primary departure point for destinations within and outside of Switzerland.

Bicycles

Free bicycles are available with deposit behind Gare Cornavin and at Quai du Mont-Blanc near the Bains des Paquis. The steep slopes of the Old Town and lack of bike paths in the city are a deterrent for most cyclists, but the paths along the lake are excellent.

Train

The central train station, Gare Cornavin is a beehive of activity with rail links to the airport and just about anywhere else you can think of.

Your departure

Hotel checkout

Hotel checkout times may vary depending on the property, but generally you must vacate the room by noon.

Duty-free exemptions

Please refer to the Canada Border Services Agency for up-to-date information on personal exemptions.

Airport check-in

Please present yourself at the airport counter or self-service kiosks of the airline indicated on your e-ticket. Web check-in and mobile check-in are also available.
Please refer to Air Canada for recommended check-in times and more details.

Customer care

For any inquiries regarding your travel plans, please contact Air Canada Vacations Customer Care.