Save while Sleeping in Luxury Comfort near GVA Cointrin Airport
The Novotel Suitehotel Genève, conveniently close to Geneva Airport (GVA) in Switzerland, is a comfortable three-star hotel with cheap rates. Rooms sleep up to four people and children often stay for free.
Cheap hotels in Geneva, Switzerland are far and few between. The recently opened Novotel Suitehotel Geneva thus offers a very pleasant place to stay on a reasonable budget. The hotel is comfortable and very modern. Rooms can sleep up to four adults while a microwave, fridge, and some worktops allow meals to be taken in room. The hotel is across the road from Balexert – the second largest shopping mall in Switzerland with a large supermarket, cinemas, and several restaurants.
Room rates at the Novotel Suitehotel, Geneva often fall to a very cheap less than Sfr100 (US $90) per night – all taxes included – for advance reservations. Even the standard Sfr200 rate is very low by Geneva hotel standards.
It is generally a good idea to use different hotel reservation services to see what cheap hotels and deals are available in a city at a given time. However, I usually finding making reservations on the applicable hotel’s website to give the best price, best cancellation options, and the room is seldom charged upfront even when the booking conditions claims to do so.
The Modern Novotel Suitehotel Geneva, Switzerland
The Genève Novotel Suite Hotel is like a breath of fresh air on the affordable hotel scene in Geneva. The hotel is thoroughly modern with none of the staid, 1980s styling that still typifies many Geneva hotels. Furthermore, up to four adults can comfortably share a room allowing for huge savings for small groups and families.
Rooms are reasonably spacious although not as large as may seem from the skillfully taken photographs used in the hotel advertisements. Most rooms have a standard double bed with a full-size single bed sliding out from the foot-end of the double bed. The couch is a second full-size single bed.
- If traveling with small children, only part of the single bed needs to be slid from under the double bed allowing for more floor space even at night.
Screens can be used to divide the room into two for some privacy but these of course do not guarantee much privacy either visual or sound wise. Screens are also used rather than curtains as window coverings. These work surprisingly good to keep light out and look more modern than standard curtains too.
- A free safety deposit box is available and large enough to house some notebooks or bulky documents.
Meals in the Novotel Suitehotel Geneva
Each room – and it really is more a large room than a divisible suite – comes with a kettle, microwave, fridge, and a small worktop area with additional sink for food preparation. Eating utensils, plates, and cups are not provided but are easily enough bought at the supermarket across the road.
Although small meals and drinks are for sale in the hotel lobby, hotel guests are actively encouraged to use the cheaper options and wider choice available in the Balexert mall across the road. Shops here include the large Migros supermarket with many ready and microwaveable meals while other restaurants, including McDonals, can provide takeout meals too.
- Free coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and cake are available for breakfast in the hotel lobby each morning. Fuller breakfasts can be taken in the restaurant or across the road in the Balexert center.
Bright lightening is provided in most of the room making for easy reading both in bed and at the reasonably large table. Several electrical sockets are also easily reached without having to crawl underneath furniture.
Minor irritants in the room include: a lack of storage and hanging space for clothes. The limited space available is hardly suitable for one, never mind four guests. Although four full beds are available, each room makes do with two chairs only.
A computer with fast-internet and a printer are available in the lobby for free but on a first-come, first-served basis. More expensive options are available in rooms too. A very small gym room is available 24h but frankly walking around the block is a more attractive option.
Bright, Modern Bathrooms in the Novotel Suitehotel, Geneva
The Novotel Suitehotel Geneva has lovely modern bathrooms. Although mostly prefabricated units, it still looks fairly upscale for the genre. The bathroom has a separate bath and shower with shiny stainless steel taps and an endless supply of hot water. For some it may be important to note that the doors to the bath-shower area do not allow 100% privacy from the bedroom area – the upside is better ventilation and not too steamed-over mirrors.
A separate toilet is available rights at the entrance to the room. Unfortunately the lightening here is rather poor and this bathroom mirror cannot be used for shaving. A towel rail or even just a hook would have been useful too. However, the weak light is pleasant on the eyes during the night or first thing in the morning.
- Kudos for the Novotel Suitehotel Geneva’s housekeeping section – more than sufficient towels are provided to keep up to four occupants dry. Unfortunately, railing space is limited so more slightly wet towels ended up on the floor for daily replacement as would have been necessary.
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Location of the Geneva Novotel Suite Hotel
The Geneva Suite Hotel is very conveniently located on the main bus route from Geneva Cointrin Airport (GVA) to downtown and the main station (Cornavin) area. It is across the road from the Balexert shopping centre – the largest shopping mall in Geneva and one of the largest in Switzerland.
Although double glazing is used, it is probably worth asking at reservations for a room facing the garden to ensure a quiet night. The hotel shares the building with the generally cheaper Etap hotel but uses separate entrances separated by the modern and cheery Swiss restaurant.
- Accor seems to have more special offers for the Novotel Suitehotel Geneva than for the adjacent Etap hotel. Frequently Sfr100 deals are available, which is just one franc more than the Etap, which can sleep three in far less comfort.
Transportation to the Genève Novotel Suite Hotel
Bus 10, which connects Geneva Airport and Geneva Cornavin Station every few minutes, stops right in front of the hotel – stop Balexert. Traveling time to Geneva Airport is about 10 minutes and around 15 minutes to down town.
Note that bus 29 can also be taken from the hotel to downtown but bus 29 in the reverse direction, as well as tramlines 14 and 16 in both directions stop at the opposite side of Balexert Shopping Center. From here it is an easy walk to the Suite Hotel but it can be a bit disorientating the first time, especially at night, if the traveler was expecting to get off at the front rather than the back of Balexert mall.
Presently, all guests sleeping in a Geneva hotel qualifies for a free transportation pass – enquire at reception.
Around a dozen free parking spots are available on a first-come, first-parked basis right in front of the hotel. More parking is available in the parking garage in the basement of the hotel – payment is per 24 h with in/out privileges.
Novotel Suitehotel Genève, Avenue Louis Casaï 30, 1216 GENEVE- COINTRIN, SWITZERLAND, Tel : (+41)22/7104646.
