Everyone is always very polite & courteous to each other when out and about - say “Bonjour” when passing others on a walk or on entering a store.
Be on time. Or if you are running late, let the person know.
Tipping - You don’t have to tip at a restaurant. If you want to tip you can round up - for example if the meal is 57 CHF then you can round it to 60 CHF.
Pedestrians - have the right away. You are obliged to stop at all crossings if someone is waiting to cross.
Roundabouts - the person already in the circle OR the person to your left has the right of way.
White lines marked on the road at 3 or 4-way routes - the opposite to roundabouts! Give way to the right! Yep, it still messes with our minds!
Vignettes - You must purchase a Vignette each year to drive on the motorway (renewed by 31st January at the latest each year). You can purchase an electronic one online or a sticker at any petrol station or Post Offices.
Parking - White zones are parking places with payable parking meters for short stays (time allowed varies so always check). Blue zones are areas where parking is free for a limited duration (always check the duration!) so you are required to display the time you arrive using the blue timer wheel. You can purchase a blue wheel at a petrol station or grocery store.
Winter Tyres - Not mandatory in Switzerland, but highly recommended. Although the tyres may not be obligatory, maintaining control of your vehicle is, so its probably worth the investment! Note - Winter Tyres are obligatory in France from 1 November to 31 March. Top tip - when the clocks change, its time to change your tyres!
Speeding - Hidden cameras are everywhere to ensure you are not speeding. Pay attention to changes in the speed limits and keep to them. Fines can be pretty heavy, and if you are over the limit by a certain amount, you could lose your license for a period of time.
Car seats - are required for children up to 12 years of age and 150 cms in height.
Biking - is allowed for all ages, but children must be over 12 to bike on the street. Always wear a helmet (not obligatory but highly recommended for obvious reasons!).
Biking classes - will be offered for children within school at different stages.
Bike shops and repair shops near the school include Jumbo, Funny bikes, Velomania (Divonne) or By Karl (comes to your home).
Public Transport App - Download the SBB Mobile App for you and your children to easily check timetables and purchase bus and train tickets. The TPG Mobile App (Transport Publique Geneve) is specific to Geneva.
Half Fare Travelcard - It is worth investing in this Travelcard if you are or your children are frequent public transport users.Find more information at: https://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets-offers/travelcards/half-fare-travelcard.html
Junior Travelcard - find out more at: https://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets-offers/travelcards/travelcards-children/junior-travelcard.html
AG-Flexi (Flexicard CFF) 40 CHF / day from your commune
Dogs or bikes on public transport? - don’t forget to buy their ticket!
TPN Mobile App - for public school bus
Sunday shopping: most supermarkets and shops are closed on Sundays (as well as Swiss Holidays). Carrefour Marché is open until 12:30 on Sundays, as well as petrol stations, and Migros at the airport
Marché de Divonne: is on Sunday mornings and well worth a visit
Supermarkets closest to School: Manor Food (Chavannes-de-Bogis), Carrefour Marché (Divonne), Coop (Versoix), Migros (Versoix or Nyon)
Organic (BIO): most supermarkets stock BIO options now but some stores are specifically organic - Satoriz, SoBio and biobasket (Farmy, Ugly Fruits)
Fresh fruit: Marché de Divonne (Sunday mornings), Grand Frais (Ferney Voltaire), Autocuiellette (pick your own produce), local farms (also cheese, milk, meat, eggs)
Discount: Lidl, Aldi, Denner
Online home delivery: Coop, Migros, SMOOD (MIgros produce) in Switzerland (in France- Intermarche)
Click & Collect: SMOOD (MIgros produce), Intermarche (Gex) and Carrefour (Segny)
Frozen food: Picard (Ferney-Voltaire)
American Market (Nyon and online), Jim’s British Market (Gland), Madhura’s and Shan (Asian in Nyon)
Please note that there are restrictions on bringing food and alcohol into Switzerland from another country. Before you decide to make that grocery trip across the boarder, double check the rules. You can find this information at bazg.admin.ch.
Duty-Free Allowances: Bringing excess quantities of certain goods (e.g. animal products, alcohol, tobacco) are subject to customs duty so please check before you buy too much and risk getting fined at the border!
Online Swiss: Galaxus, Zalando, La Redoute
Amazon: only UK, FR and DE
Watch the duty (65 CHF for merchandise and 200 CHF for books)
Pick up options in France:
Mondial Relay: Avia gas station in Gex 01170 (also in Ferney)
Relais Colis: Carrefour in Divonne 01220 (also in Ferney)
Divonne Post Office
Amazon: drop off boxes at Carrefour Divonne
Good value sports store: Decathlon
Outlet centres in Aubonne (Nike and Adidas), Val Thoiry in France, & Italy
Electronics: Mediamarkt, Fust, Interdiscount, FNAC
Pharmacies: for prescriptions etc. Cosmetics and branded products are cheaper in France.
Car Washes - Migrolino petrol station, Mies; Jet Wash near the Divonne border; Clean Cars Valet at Manor (Chavannes-de-Bogis)
Divonne Sunday morning market
Restaurant delivery:
Meal kit delivery:
Food trucks:
Founex: Creperie Wednesday lunch
Trelex: Fish & chips on Thursday
Grens: Esprit du Vietnam
Divonne: Armfood truck (Armenien), pizza and others
Coppet: Taco Rico
Hiking
Great locations such as Col de la Faucille and Les Rousses
Hiking with Children - Mont Mussy
Hiking in the Snow - St. Cergue and Dole
Hut, Tipi, and Farm Hiking https://www.myfarm.ch/fr
Marcher.ch (plan your hikes), Komoot.com or all trails.com
Visit the tourist offices in Nyon, Coppet, Geneva and Divonne to find even more hikes
Skiing
Renting Ski Equipment = about CHF200 for the season (Decathlon, Migros, SB sport, Sport 2000 & others)
Buy Second Hand BUT do a safety check!
Skiing for Beginners
Col de la Faucille
La Trelasse, St. Cergues
Les Rousses
Other Options
La Dole
Porte de Soleil
La Vattay (Cross country)
Enjoy Lac Leman
Beaches - See https://www.cipel.org/carte-des-plages/ for a list of beaches to visit
CGN Lake Cruises - Yvoire or Evian day trips (https://www.cgn.ch/en/)
SCUBA diving clubs
All year lake swimming group
Sailing courses, paddling courses etc…
Wear a life jacket!!!!! Check the weather!!!
MeteoSuisse Weather Application has great up to date weather information for Switzerland