Hi Frances,

1)Even though I don´t live in Ville Le Grand, I spend most Saturdays there shopping. It depends where exactly, but it´s very industrial the places I generally see, whether it´s close to the Casino (supermarket) or Leroy Merlin. There might be nicer places in the area, but it´s not that interesting... apart from shopping.

2)Check train connections: www.sncf.fr

3)Check times of line 3 here: http://www.reseau-tac.fr/fr/deplacer/horaires.html

I would seriously advize you to first spend a Saturday there, taking the bus from Annemasse border and walk around before taking the place. With all respect, Annemasse and that surrounding area is not very charismatic.. (well perhaps the centre is nice, but apart from that...not much.) That´s my personal opinion!

Good luck!

hi 

there are no night buses from vlg to geneva

http://www.reseau-tac.fr/pdf/l02a26.pdf

http://www.reseau-tac.fr/pdf/l03a48.pdf

any train for germany leaving from annemasse will go through geneva

if you think of living there, you either need a car or a scooter bike

It's an OK place to live, and worse case you can come to GVA on the weekends. But your main issue will be getting to the UN area in Geneva in the mornings and in the evenings on weekdays - it will take you up to an hour each way during rush hour, if not more. 

 I would strongly advise against living in Ville-La-Grande because of the time it will take you to get to and from work, especially in the evenings.  Interns often work a long day!

Also, Annemasse is, and always has been, a frontier town.  It has agreeable areas but there are also some parts where you won’t want to be walking alone late in the evening.

What’s more, you’ll find that most of your colleagues live in Geneva or, if in France, in and around Ferney, so you’ll miss out on active social life if you stay in V-L-G.

Accommodation is cheaper in France and there’s more of it available, which is why the rent is so much lower.  It’s your decision, but you could be buying a pig in a poke if you opt for Annemasse and its surroundings.

All the best in finding somewhere  suitable to stay.

Ritchie

Thanks to all...such prompt and useful responses!

> I would seriously advize you to first spend a Saturday there

actually a weekday would make more sense, the tram is extremely busy at peak periods and a long schlepp to the UN. As other posters have said Ferney would make more sense and you can get a train link to Germany from the airport.

Annemasse has an edgy feel to it, the shopping is good and cheaper than GVA although the center is going to be transformed into some kind of mall, so I've heard.

I wouldn't live in VLG without a car, or at least a bicycle.