One 10km drive later, I was parked exactly 10m (on the other side of a fence) from where I had tried to drop off on the Swiss side. CHF300- saved and a lesson learned.
Car rental is a bit tricky -- cheaper on the French side but the French cars don't have vignettes, so not much good in Switzerland. I also mistakenly returned a French car to the Swiss Hertz counter -- was told it was a CHF300- drop-off fee, or I could return it on the French side.
Off topic, but have you got any recommendations? I just paid CHF50- for a half-sole in my village.
20 CHF for two heels (men's shoes) - Gundelitor Migros.
What kind of price would you have got for a full soul?
You sold your sould to the Devil?
Perhaps about CHF for a whole sole (but a bit cheaper for a trout).
I must say living right on the border is very useful, as prices are indeed much cheaper over t'over side (we do not have Swiss salaries, but UK pensions..)
Man. Will you just shut up. What'you go tell them about that for?
I was paying US$20/day to park at work. Imagine my delight when I transferred to a position where I could park for $10/day.
Come to Zurich-Airport with your car. And then you will realize how cheap and social parking even on the CH side at BSL-MLH airport really is
Not a "rip-off" but simply the difference between CHF and Euro. When the Euro regains by exchange-rate, the difference will amost disappear. Do not forget that the CH side of BSL/MLH purchases things in Switzerland and so has to charge CHF prices
Hi,
I was more mysterfied why on earth you would drive to Basel airport and leave your car there. If you live in Basel the bus back to the sbb is regular and cheap.The only people I can imagine needing to part there are people coming from France where there is very little public transport.
Have fun
Martin
Which might be the reason parking fees are kept lower on the french side !
Just park in Basel close to the line 50 bus and the cost is around 4CHF for as many days parking as you want!..................Simples click.
I don't live in the centre of Basel, and while I can use public transport to get to the airport, it's much quicker and more convenient to take the car, especially if I'm travelling with heavy luggage. Moreover, public transport is tricky if you're catching a very early (eg, 6am) flight.
When the parking charges were set on the 2 different sides at somepoint in the past, it's highly probable that the then exchange rate meant they were more comparable.
As the exchange rate has tumbled, the fixed costs, wages, rent, maintenance and insurance etc for the Swiss side operator in Swiss Francs have remained static. The Swiss operator couldn't tell their staff to take a 30% pay cut because the exchange rate with the Euro has changed.
Your complaint would only really be valid if the management for the whole parking operation worked out of Euro land with all costs being paid in Euros.
I live in Baselland. I need to take 2 buses and a train to get to the airport, not forgetting the 10 minute walk (part of it across a rough field) to the bus stop. All this is to be negotiated with two children, luggage for usually a few days/weeks away - oh and the smaller child is still in a buggy.
Tell me how taking public transport for that trip is better than the car?
Different people, different circumstances.
well if it's just a random pair you want to squeeze a bit more wear out of, then there is shoe repair in Geant Casino.
But if it's a nice pair then go to Engler Roland, 45 Avenue de Bale, Saint Louis. The most beautiful work I have ever seen.
The car park "staff" amounts to two ticket machines. And from what I can tell, 90% of the staff at BSL airport are from the French side. Presumably because they'll work for lower wages.
Quite obviously the price difference is down to your car not smelling of garlic when you get it back if you choose the Swiss side.
Won't you think of the trees and polar bears?
AFAIK, Basel Airport is actually primarily Mulhouse airport - i.e. French run operation, given that it is actually situated on French soil.
My experience of/perception from using Basel, is that 100% of staff on the French side are from France, while 99% of staff on the Swiss side are from France too. Indeed land-side they do interchange them, while air-side it is all French run.
Anyone actually know if this is true and how this translates to employee wages?
This is wrong. The airport is owned 50% French Republic, 25% Basel-Stadt and 25% Basel-Land. And in practice the airport is actually primarily a Swiss run operation on French territory. 99% of the 99% you mention are Alsace people who speak German dialect. On the cargo-side for example, it is 70% Swiss. More than half of the passengers are from the Swiss side. And most airtraffic takes place under Swiss licences and under the BSL airport code, and only a minor part goes under the MLH code. Technical aircraft handling is mainly Swiss. Just look at the transit-road to BSL-CH apt : Police in charge is the St.Louis/Blotzheim Gendarmerie, but the road maintenance is conducted by the government agencies of Basel-Stadt. Go to the toilets. Installations of toilets on the CH side of BSL/MLH come all from Switzerland. And finally, Jürg Rämi is the Director of BSL/MLH airport.
Quite the other way round, to work more closely with the French side could save the Baaaslers heaps of money, but if you ever have realized the incredible arrogance of many of them towards the Alsace-folks, you may realize that believing in progress on that front is wishful thinking