Smoking and vaping are not allowed inside private transfer vehicles, and that is standard practice for professional chauffeur services in Switzerland and France. On longer drives, such as the 2 h to Verbier or 3 h 15 towards Zermatt, you can simply ask for a short stop to step outside. AirportsTransfers.ch chauffeurs are happy to plan a break, and a light snack and water on board are generally fine as long as the car is left as you found it.
- Smoking: not permitted inside the vehicle
- Vaping and e-cigarettes: treated the same as smoking
- Breaks: ask the chauffeur, ideally note it when booking
- Food: light, tidy snacks are usually fine; strong-smelling meals are best avoided
- Alcohol: ask first and keep it moderate
Why vehicles are smoke-free
A transfer vehicle is a shared space. The next passengers may be a family with a baby, someone with asthma, or a business traveller heading straight into a meeting. Smoke and the sweet residue from vapour cling to leather, headlining and carpets for a long time, and no amount of airing between journeys fully removes it. Switzerland and France both restrict smoking in enclosed workplaces and public transport, and a professional car is the chauffeur's workplace for the whole shift. Keeping the cabin smoke-free is therefore a matter of law, health and basic fairness to the next guest.
Vaping is sometimes seen as a grey area, but in practice it is handled exactly like smoking. Heated tobacco devices and nicotine pouches that produce vapour fall in the same category. Nicotine gum or patches, which produce nothing, are of course no issue at all.
Planning a break on longer journeys
Short rides, such as Geneva Airport to Lausanne at around 45 minutes or to Annecy at about 40 minutes, rarely need a stop. Longer mountain transfers are a different matter. The motorways towards Valais and the routes into the French Alps have service areas and rest stops where the chauffeur can pull in safely for a few minutes. The easiest approach is to mention when booking that you would like a break, so the chauffeur can choose a sensible place rather than an improvised stop on a busy road.
Keep in mind that stops add time. On a Saturday in the ski season, when the valley roads are crowded, a ten-minute pause can become longer once you are back in the queue. If you have a timed connection, such as the shuttle train from Täsch to Zermatt or a hotel check-in window, discuss it with the chauffeur so the break fits around it.
Eating and drinking on board
Most people arrive hungry after a flight, and a sandwich, fruit, a cereal bar or a bottle of water are perfectly reasonable on a transfer. The things to avoid are those that linger or spill: hot fast food with strong smells, flaky pastries that scatter crumbs into seats, sticky drinks in open cups on winding mountain roads. If you are travelling with young children, a few dry snacks and a lidded cup make the journey calmer for everyone.
Alcohol is a question of courtesy. A celebratory glass on the way to a wedding or a chalet is usually something to ask about first rather than assume. Groups planning to drink should keep it moderate; motion on mountain roads and alcohol are a poor combination, and a chauffeur may stop the journey if behaviour becomes unsafe.
Simple courtesy for a pleasant ride
A transfer works best when it feels relaxed for both passengers and chauffeur. A few habits help:
- Take your rubbish with you, or ask where to leave it at the destination.
- Keep wet ski boots and clothing in bags rather than on the seats.
- Use headphones for music and calls in a shared vehicle.
- Seatbelts stay fastened for the whole journey, including on stops in slow traffic.
- If you feel carsick on mountain bends, say so early: a window and a short pause help.
None of these are strict rules for their own sake. They keep the vehicle pleasant for the whole group and for the next passengers, and they let the chauffeur concentrate on the road, which matters most on snow-covered passes.
Booking with your preferences noted
The booking form is the right place for anything that affects the trip: a requested break, a child seat, skis, or a stop at a shop. With AirportsTransfers.ch you see a fixed price per vehicle before paying online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, so extra passengers in the same car do not change the fare. Your chauffeur waits in arrivals with a sign bearing your name, tracks the flight and adjusts if you land late. Business Sedan, First Class Sedan, V-Class van and Sprinter minibus options cover couples through to large groups. For anything unusual, call or message +41 78 346 56 77, any day and any time.
