Site Visit at Le Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa in Champillon, France

This is an over-the-top modern, luxury hotel about 10 minutes outside Epernay. It was recently awarded three Michelin keys - one of a handful in France. It is set in the countryside among vineyards and boasts beautiful vistas from just about every single room. The property is built into a hillside with the spa, gym and pools (indoor/heated outdoor) on the second floor. Rooms are on the third and fourth floors and food/beverage on the top floor, along with an expansive outdoor bar and terrace (seasonal). A tennis court is a short walk away.

All of the rooms are in the style of a junior suite and luxurious with a sitting area and four-fixture bathrooms. There are also two signature suites on site — the Marie-Louise Suite and the Suite Josephine. I personally stayed in the Suite Josephine. It is a one-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath suite with a very large sitting & dining area, walk-in closet, substantial bedroom and bathroom and multiple terraces. If your client is looking for space and luxury, I would suggest booking this accommodation. The suite is set at the far end of the fourth floor — overlooking the pool side of the hotel and very quiet.

Rooms on the third floor are the lower category rooms and have a slightly obstructed view. Rooms on the fourth floor all have unobstructed views of the French countryside, including the towns of Champillon, Ay, Epernay, as well as others.

From a food and beverage standpoint, the fifth floor boasts two restaurants and a bar. One restaurant is slightly more casual where breakfast is served. The other is a Michelin-star dining experience open only for dinner certain nights of the week (closed Monday). There are also a couple of meeting spaces. The bar also serves lighter food and snacks and boasts a substantial wine and champagne list.

What really sets this hotel apart is the service. The hotel is partially owned by Americans (Leclerc Briant Champagne) and so they understand service and providing guests with an unbelievable experience.

The hotel can support small groups and event planning. The hotel has access to local vendors that it can coordinate with for events (floral, etc).

This hotel screams romance. If you are looking for luxury, or expect luxury, I highly suggest this hotel for the ultimate champagne getaway.

Note: It is not necessarily a child-friendly environment and there are no children's activities.

From a location standpoint, this hotel is closest to Epernay, but still roughly a 10-minute drive away. It is at least a 45-minute drive from Reims. The area of Champillon is very sleepy, although there are restaurants in Epernay and others reachable with a 20–30 minute drive.

The hotel can arrange transportation from the Champagne-Ardenne TGV station (about 30 minutes away). Transport directly from CDG (close to 2 hours by car/ 40 minutes by train) is also available. The hotel also has a helipad for the ultimate VIP arrival experience.

If your client is looking for a lively Champagne environment and bars, staying in Reims would be a better option. Reims is also the location of some of the more famous Champagne houses - Veuve Clicquot, Tattinger, Billecart-Salmon), although there are famous houses scattered everywhere. If your client is looking to spend most of their time exploring the Avenue d'Champagne - it is located in Epernay.

Depending on the comfort level of your client, a rental car should be considered. There is a a Sixt outpost at the TGV station (located roughly between Reims and Epernay).

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our France page.