You can travel by car, train or plane – all have advantages and your choice will depend on your needs and circumstances.
We usually travel via Eurotunnel and calculate that with minimal stops it takes us around 8/9 hours driving from Calais. We have tried numerous autoroutes and the quickest seems: A26 from Calais towards Reims, A4 towards Lyon rejoin A26. This changes to the A5 towards Dijon, merge onto A31, which becomes A6 towards Lyon. At Villefranche take the A46 towards Lyon St Exupery, then A43 towards Turin.
Take exit 29 on A43 to St Michel de Maurienne, then through the town and turn right on to D902 towards Valloire / Valmeinier and start climbing. About 3/4 of the way up the mountain, turn left on to D215A towards Valmeinier 1800. You bypass Valmeinier 1500, keep climbing until you arrive at a one way car park at Valmeinier 1800.
You will see the Maison de Valmeinier at the end of the car park. You can turn left up the hill here into the village, so after another 100 metres, turn right past the cinema and bowling alley and follow the road around to the right until you come to a cul de sac. You will see the Spar, ticket office and the apartment is on your left. (Please only drive up to drop off or load your vehicle – the police will remove your vehicle if left in the village area).
By train
We have travelled from the UK by train, Eurostar to Lille or Paris, then TGV to Lyon and local train to Chambery and then St Michel de Maurienne. The taxi from St Michel up to Valmeinier was about 40 euros last time.
By air.
Nearest airport is Chambery but offer limited flights from the UK. We normally drive to Lyon St Exupery or via Grenoble, both are around two hours drive in a hire car.