Castan Centre Interns

Jihan Mirza- Geneva Accommodation and Cost of Living Hints

Accommodation

This should be the first thing you do because unless you want to pay exorbitant fees at a top class hotel fit for a diplomat- finding accommodation in Geneva for more than a month is difficult, as the city is full of interns just like you! To begin with DFAT can provide you with a list of accommodation options which may be of assistance, including student dorms.

For girls, Home St Pierre (www.homestpierre.ch) is a winner, with an amazing location in the Old Town and rooms starting at around $500 a month (sharing with one other girl), which includes free wireless internet, cooking facilities and on request your own fridge box.

Unfortunately staying at a backpackers could be a pain, as most don’t allow stays for longer than a few weeks, so you would have to move from one to another (and maybe back again) during your time. 

For helpful information on accommodation and all other things Genevois, go to the Geneva Welcome Centre (www.cagi.ch/en/but_et_services_du_cagi.htm) which provides great advice as well as the option to send you daily email updates on rental accommodation. If you are a Facebooker, you could join the UN Intern Network Geneva for some advice or search the Geneva Intern Network online at www.genevaintern.proboards37.com/.

Food

Supermarkets such as Coop and Migros can be a bit pricey but in general are pretty comparable with Melbourne. If you are keen, you can make a border run to Ferney in France (a short bus ride) and stock up on cheaper groceries. Beware that most supermarkets in Geneva close around 630-7pm, except Thursday night, which is akin to our Friday late night shopping. Also on Sunday all shops are closed as it’s considered a family day, so don’t leave food shopping or any other shopping til then!

On Saturdays and other weekdays there are wonderful produce and flea markets dotted throughout Geneva, including Plainpalais.

Eating out in Geneva is extremely expensive, as is drinking out unless you stick to beers. For cheap eats check out Chez ma Cousine, which is a hearty chicken restaurant in the Old Town, and you must head to the top floor of department store Manor, next to Gare Cornavin, where you will not only get a superb view of Geneva, but a reasonably priced and mouth watering buffet selection of food.

Transport- Geneva and around Switzerland

The Geneva Public Transport System is easy and very reliable (swiss precision!). You can get a weekly train pass for around $60. You will find all the information you need regarding timetables, pricing etc at www.tpg.ch. You may also be eligible to use the Geneva Transport Card, which provides free travel for those staying at hotels and hostels for the length of your stay. For more information see www.geneve-tourisme.ch/?rubrique=0000000417&lang=_eng.

A great way to travel around Switzerland is to buy a Swiss Pass or a Demi-Tariff Pass (Half-Fare pass). For more information see www.swisstravelsystem.com/index.php.

There are wonderful day trips to places such as Montreux, Lausanne and Gruyere or further a field such as the German speaking city of Basel, or the stunning mountain peaks of Interlaken.

Transport- International

You will have the weekends all to yourself so make the most of it. Travel providers such as Easy Jet (www.easyjet.com) provide cheap travel to all destinations in Europe and beyond from as little as $100 return. Alternatively catch a train to somewhere like Paris, which takes only a few hours on the TGV.

What to wear

At the UN its business suits for men. For women, suits are great, however you can get away with more relaxed attire; mixing some skirts or suit trousers and shirts would be fine. Like Melbourne, Geneva weather is unpredictable, so bring along a warm jacket and a brolly, and of course some comfortable footwear as you will be walking quite allot.  

What to carry

There is a bulk of documents that you will be sifting through at the council, so bring a satchel or a briefcase to lug it around the UN and between the Palais des Nations and the Mission.

In General

Look at the DFAT website for Australia’s key policy concerns and check out the Human Rights Council Website, especially the Extranet, for up to date issues.