Accommodation
Geneva has a wonderful selection of accommodation of all types and budgets. Even in the busy periods when the majority of Geneva's hotels are booked up, local French villages and towns around Lake Geneva usually have vacancies - though it always pays to book ahead! By far the busiest time of year in Geneva is March, when the world famous Salon International de l'Auto (Geneva Auto Show) is held.
Budget
Fortunately for budget travellers there are a number of cheap options in Geneva and the surrounding area. Hostels abound, with Youth Hostel Geneva, City Hostel Geneva and Cite Universitaire all offering budget prices. The University of Geneva often has spare dorm rooms that they use for temporary accommodation for back-packers, so this is also a possibility. The French towns of Gaillard and Annemasse also have cheap accommodation.
Bed and Breakfasts are another cheap alternative, of which Geneva has many. Several are located in the surrounding rural areas, most of which are actually over the French border. Hotel de la Coche in Geneva runs bed and breakfast style packages, whilst Hotel Bel'Esperance tries a different method - they have a large municipal lounge and kitchen for the use of guests.
Mid-Range & International Chain Hotels
As one of the largest cities in Switzerland it is unsurprising that there are so many moderately priced hotels available. Many of these hotels belong to international chains and thus guarantee a standard of service and quality that is not always present with independent hoteliers.
Novotel has two hotels within Geneva, the Residence Studio and the Hotel Novotel Geneve centre. Ibis also has two (Hotel Ibis Geneve Airport and Hotel Ibis Centre-Gare), as does Ramada (Hotel Ramada Encore Geneve and Hotel Ramada Park). Best Western's Hotel Strasbourg, Holiday Inn's Hotel Express and the Hotel Savoy round up the other international brands present in Geneva. On the French side of the airport, Accor Hotel Formule 1 provides another option.
Five Star & Top of the Range Hotels
One thing that Geneva has plenty of is beautiful hotels in park settings and stately palaces decked out as five star experiences. Many of the five star hotels in Geneva are so well regarded that you have to book months in advance - they are, after all, the hotels used by royalty, visiting dignitaries and the super wealthy.
The Four Seasons Des Bergues is one of the most famous hotels in Geneva and occupies an incredibly palace-style building. Another similar hotel is Les Armures, which is inside a palace built in the 17th century. Beau Rivage is another of these traditionally decorated and architecturally pleasing hotels. The Hotel Crowne Plaza, the Hotel Intercontinental and the Swissotel Metropole Geneve are also five star hotels.
Outside of Geneva
If you prefer, there are a few other accommodation options for staying in the area surrounding Geneva. Though they are less conventional, they are certainly just as enjoyable as your average hotel, if not more so! Given that Mont Blanc is only a short drive away and there are a number of snow-capped ridges around Geneva, it should be little surprise that one of the most entertaining places to stay whilst visiting the city is in one of the ski resorts that are dotted around the region. In summer it's possible to get a real bargain on these chalets and resorts but in winter you may need to book ahead!
Likewise, if you enjoy the rural lifestyle, you may want to look for cottage accommodation either in the French regions surrounding Geneva or around Lake Geneva itself.
