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Whether you're a gap year traveller trying to circumnavigate the globe for £3.50, or you're a bit strapped but need a good break, or you're just a bargain-hunting hound looking for hints on freebies, blagging and upgrades, you've come to the right place. Check out our inside tips and travel secrets on all things budget-related, and if you know any we've missed, tell us about them.
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    tip

    Promenade de Bastions

    Posted by chris2005 5 May 2008

    The Promenade des Bastions runs from the old city down to Place Neuve (the main square of Geneva) and goes past the Mur des Reformateurs - check out the chess boards with giant-sized chess pieces for the public to use for Sunday afternoon games.
    There are also numerous cheap cafés.

    The Promenade des Bastions is a 30 min walk from Cornavin train station and 20 mins from St Peters Cathedral in the old city

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    Co-op

    Posted by chris2005 5 May 2008

    The co-op on Rue du Commerce has sensibly-priced souvenirs for the tourist and of course the obligatory Swiss chocolate. It's also a great place to buy lunch.

    Rue du Commerce - a 30 min walk from Cornavin train station

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    If you want to see the UN building then I recommend that you hop onto Tram 13/15 from outside Cornavin train station heading for Nations - aim to get there before 8am as there is practically nobody there at this time and the hordes of tourists don't descend upon Place des Nations until 9.00am.

    Don't miss the massive wooden chair - a monument to landmine victims.

    Place des Nations
    Trams 13 and 15 depart from a stand directly outside Cornavin train station
    Tram fare is 3 CHF for a one hour ticket (this is perectly adequate if you only want to see the outside of the UN building and not do the whole tour)

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    A walking tour of Geneva

    Posted by chris2005 5 May 2008

    For a comprehensive tour of Geneva I recommend this route:

    From Cornavin train station, go down Rue du Mont Blanc and cross the river Rhône via the Pont Mont Blanc, stopping to admire superb views of Lake Geneva, St Peter's Cathedral, Ile Rousseau and Pont des Bergues.

    Once across Pont Mont Blanc, walk alongside the Rhône river via the embankment to see Port St Gervais and enter the shopping district of Geneva.

    Walk along Rue de la Conféderation, Rue de la Croix d'or and Rue du Rhône.

    Turn off Rue de la Conféderation at Place Madelaine and walk up into the old city to Place Bourg Four (good cheap cafés here) and climb Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville to look at the murals depicting the history of Geneva and the cannons.

    Enter Cours St Pierre and visit St Peter's Cathedral. Then descend back to the shopping district and head to the Jardin Anglais to see the famous Jet d'eau and flower clock.

    Walk alongside Lake Geneva (Rive Gauche) - for children there is a beach on this side of the lake.

    Go through the Jardin Anglais, go across Pont Mont Blanc and walk alongside lake Geneva (Rive Droite) stopping to admire views of Mont Blanc across the lake and see the Brunswick monument.

    Return to Cornavin train station via Les Paquis district (to the west of Quai Wilson). Go up Rue de Lausanne and follow signs to Cornavin train station.

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    Le Caravane Passe

    Posted by Gideon48 2 January 2008

    It is that rarity for Geneva: an inexpensive, unpretentious restaurant, popular with students, immigrants and UN employees. A plate of delicious lamb couscous is 15 Swiss francs and the wine list, while limited, is very reasonably priced. It is in the funky Paquis district. In the summer, there is a casual outside terrace for dining or just sipping the soothing mint tea. And there is even a no smoking section - also rare for Geneva.

    In the Paquis district, at 11, rue du Dr. Alfred Vincent

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