Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa

Style

Empire strikes back

Setting

Va-va-voom vineyards

Perched above rolling vineyards in the picturesque village of Champillon, Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa is a pampering retreat that knows a thing or two about the finer things in life. The former coaching inn has been cleverly made over with a heady dose of contemporary flair. There’s plenty to savour here, from bubbly tastings to Michelin-star feasts; however you choose to while away your days, don’t miss a visit to the sleek, seductive spa.

Facilities

Rooms

47, including two suites.

Checkout

3pm; and check-in is at 4pm.

More Details

Rates usually breakfast.

Also

The hotel’s public spaces are all accessible to disabled guests. One Garden Junior Suite and one Royal Junior Suite have bathrooms adapted for wheelchair users. Help yourself to soft drinks from the free minibar.

Fitness Center

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Pet Friendly

Pool

On-Site Restaurant

Room Service

Spa

At the Hotel

Spa, gym, yoga classes, electric bicycles to borrow (€50 a day), free WiFi throughout. In rooms: flatscreen TV, air-conditioning, minibar, Illy coffee machine and Diptyque bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

Delicately dressed with ombré floral wallpaper, pale wood and the softest of linens, the suites are all enticing. If you’re forced to play favourites, go for the Josephine Apartment – strategically poised for sweeping valley views – or plump for the Marie-Louise Suite, a sprawling hideaway with a private terrace just made for bubbly sundowners.

Poolside

Pale and interesting, the hotel’s striking infinity pool (open 8am to 8pm) overlooks the vineyards and has an inviting terrace kitted out with parasols and sunloungers to take in the view. It’s open from April to October and heated, so you can take a dip on sun-kissed spring and autumn days. Open year-round, the 25m heated indoor pool is equally sleek, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and elegant grey loungers strategically positioned to make the most of the tranquil vistas.

Spa

Decked out in pale wood and metallic tiles, the Royal Champagne Spa has nine treatment rooms, including two for couples, and you’re free to use the sauna and hammam. Book ahead for body-and-soul ministrations at the hands of expert therapists, from champagne facials to candle massages. High-tech treatments from cult beauty brand Biologique Recherche can be tailored to your needs for a two-hour beauty-and-wellness boost.

Packing Tips

Bring some stylish (but sturdy) flats to pootle around the vineyards, plus yoga wear to join in with sun salutations.

Also

Borrow an e-bike from the hotel to explore the postcard-perfect hills – the extra power will come in handy on some of the steeper inclines.

Children

Welcome. Extra beds and cots can be added to the rooms, and the restaurants have high chairs, colouring sheets and baby-changing facilities, and will happily cater to little ones with half portions. Babysitting is available for €35 an hour.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

If you’re dining en famille, Le Royal’s central wooden table is the most dramatic. Nab a window table at Le Bellevue for glorious countryside views.

Dress Code

Suits and silks wouldn’t go amiss in Le Royal: pick something high-waisted, perhaps, to echo the Empire silhouettes in the dining room’s oversized portraits. Le Bellevue’s vibe is more laid-back: think chinos and impeccable breton stripes.

Hotel Restaurant

Tasteful, grown-up Le Royal is dressed in interesting greys and shades of honeycomb, with plenty of space around the linen-draped tables for intimate conversation. Book at least three weeks in advance for a chance to sample chef Christophe Raoux’s effervescent cuisine: his deft use of Aubrac beef, local game and the garden’s own produce has earned the spot its Michelin star. Chic brasserie Le Bellevue is more casual, but no less enchanting: feast on crowd-pleasing Reims ham, herb-crusted chicken and ice-cream sundaes.

Hotel Bar

Take a stool beneath the crystal chandelier at sophisticated Abysse, where bartenders are as likely to tempt you with an expertly mixed cocktail as a glass of Pinot-rich Leclerc Briant champagne. Apéro hour is best savoured on the terrace; if you’re feeling peckish, nibble on caviar blinis or squid tempura from the tapas menu.

Last Orders

Le Bellevue serves breakfast 7.30am to 10.30am; lunch from noon to 1.30pm and dinner between 7pm and 9pm. Le Royal is open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday, 7pm to 9pm. Abysse pours 11am to 11.30pm.

Room Service

Simple salads, sandwiches and pasta can be brought to your room.

Planes

Paris Vatry airport, a 50-minute drive away, serves low-cost flights to Portugal, Spain and Morocco. The international hubs of Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports are just a 90-minute drive away,

Trains

Services from Paris Est, Strasbourg and Reims stop at Épernay station, a 15-minute drive away.

Automobiles

It’s worth bringing your own wheels to explore Champagne’s rolling hills and under-the-radar cellars at your own pace. Drop your bags off in front of the hotel on arrival; there’s free valet parking on site.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

There’d be no shame in staying put: a few laps of the pool, a gentle wander around the surrounding vineyards or an afternoon at the spa may be just what the doctor ordered. Rich with culture and tradition, the Champagne region begs to be explored. Pack an Hermès head scarf to keep those locks in place during a cabriolet tour of the nearby villages or a hot-air-balloon ride, both of which the hotel can arrange. A drive down Épernay’s Avenue de Champagne acts as a Who’s Who of top producers: grand maisons such as Moët & Chandon or Mercier host tours of their impressive estates and cellars. Make time for family-run smaller labels, too, who often host drop-in tasting sessions of lesser-known vintages and can happily part with a case or two to take home. Ask hotel staff for a recommendation, or drive around the villages of Aÿ or Avize (easily spotted by its towering oversized bottle of champagne) to see where luck takes you. If you’re craving a spot of urban buzz, make time for a day trip to Reims, if only for the spectacular cathedral where French kings were crowned for 1,000 years. The hotel also has a flock of e-bikes (€35 for a half day, €50 a day) for bombing through the countryside; hire also includes a satchel, bottled water, helmet, a regional map and padlock.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .