On your first day relocating to Geneva, the priority is simple: get yourself, your family and your luggage from the airport to your temporary accommodation with as little effort as possible, then rest. A pre-booked private transfer with AirportsTransfers.ch takes care of that first leg at a fixed price per vehicle, so you can save your energy for the paperwork and house-hunting that follow.
- First priority: Reach temporary accommodation and settle in
- Vehicle: Van for families or more than three large cases
- Hand luggage: Passports, contracts, rental documents, chargers
- Week one: Registration, bank, phone, transport, school visits
- Useful extra: Chauffeur by the hour for apartment viewings
Arriving with a family and a lot of luggage
People moving to Geneva for a new role at an international organisation, a bank, a trading company or a multinational often arrive with far more than holiday luggage. Even when furniture follows by removal lorry, the first flight usually carries several large suitcases, children's essentials and anything too valuable to ship. Getting that lot onto a train after a long-haul flight is tiring for adults and miserable for children.
A pre-booked vehicle sized for the load solves the problem at a stroke. A Business Sedan suits a single person or couple with three bags, but most relocating families need a Mercedes V-Class van, which carries up to seven passengers and ten bags. If the luggage count is truly heavy, a Mercedes Sprinter minibus gives room to spare.
Be precise about the number and size of bags when booking. It is far easier to send the right vehicle than to squeeze cases into the wrong one at the kerb.
Getting to temporary accommodation
Most newcomers start in a serviced apartment, a hotel or a short-term rental while they look for a permanent home, often provided or recommended by the employer. These are spread across the city and its surroundings, from the centre to residential communes and across the border in neighbouring France, where some families choose to live.
Before you fly, confirm the exact address, the check-in procedure and any key collection instructions. Serviced apartments sometimes have a reception with limited hours, while private rentals may use key boxes or a meeting with the owner. Share these details when booking so the driver can bring you to the right entrance and, if needed, stop at an agency to collect keys on the way.
If your accommodation is in France, mention it at booking so the route and timing are planned accordingly. The route simply crosses the border into France.
What to keep in your hand luggage
Relocation involves documents, and the first week depends on having them to hand. Keep anything you will need for registration, renting or banking in a cabin bag rather than in a suitcase that might be delayed. The same goes for medication, a few days of clothes and anything the children cannot sleep without.
- Passports and any residence or work permit documents
- Employment contract and letter from your employer
- Rental agreement or booking confirmation for temporary housing
- Swiss plug adaptors and chargers for every device
- Children's comfort items, snacks and a change of clothes
The days that follow
Once you have rested, the first week is usually about administration: registering with the local authorities, opening a bank account, getting a Swiss phone number, arranging health insurance and, for families, visiting schools. Your employer or relocation adviser will normally give you a checklist and deadlines, which vary depending on your situation.
House-hunting in Geneva often means visiting several apartments in different districts in a single day. Booking a chauffeur by the hour, with a minimum of two hours, can make viewing days far more efficient, especially when properties are spread between the city, the lakeside communes and the countryside. You move from one appointment to the next without worrying about parking or connections, and children can stay comfortable in child seats between visits.
Many families also take the chance to explore the region they will be living in. Lausanne is around 61 km and 45 minutes from the airport, Annecy roughly 44 km and 40 minutes, so a weekend excursion is easy once the essentials are done.
Booking your arrival transfer
With AirportsTransfers.ch you see the fixed price per vehicle before paying online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and companies can receive invoices for relocation budgets. Your chauffeur meets you in arrivals with a name sign, tracks your flight and waits if it is late. Child seats are available on request, and if you are bringing skis or other sports equipment, declare it at booking.
For relocations with several stops or special requirements, call or WhatsApp +41 78 346 56 77, available around the clock.
