Getting to Val d’Isère
04. Driving
For those travelling from further afield, driving to Val d'Isère often isn't the most practical option.
However, if you're based on mainland Europe or Southern England, it can be one of the cheapest ways to get here, particularly if there are several of you travelling together. It also gives you complete flexibility.
Chuck everything but the kitchen sink into the car at home, kids in the back, skis on the roof and off you go.
Coming from the UK, allow around 10 hours from Calais in good conditions, although at peak periods you should expect the journey to take longer.
It's motorway almost all the way from Calais to Moûtiers, with French motorway tolls of around €100 each way.
From Paris, the drive takes around eight hours and motorway tolls are approximately €50–60 each way.
Before setting off, make sure you're familiar with the legal requirements for driving in France.
As well as carrying the usual compulsory equipment, including a warning triangle and high-visibility jacket, UK-registered vehicles may also need a UK sticker and headlamp beam deflectors.
Between 1 November and 31 March, vehicles travelling in the French Alps must also either be fitted with suitable winter tyres or carry approved snow chains or snow socks.
Don't forget to budget for parking in Val d'Isère if your accommodation doesn't include a private parking space (very few do).
There is virtually no free on-street parking in the resort, but the underground town centre car parks are reasonably priced, typically around €20–30 per day depending on the time of year.
The outdoor car parks on the edge of the village are cheaper still. We strongly recommend booking your parking space online well before you arrive, particularly during the busiest weeks of the season.
Finally, if you're driving a diesel vehicle, it's worth arriving in resort with your fuel tank fairly low and filling up locally.
Winter diesel sold in the Alps is specially formulated for very low temperatures and is much less likely to cause starting problems during prolonged cold spells. Temperatures in Val d'Isère do occasionally fall below -20°C.
