And though your primary reason for booking it could be that it’s a well-located stopover hotel for the Champagne region or your skiing holiday (it’s a hotel near the A26 motorway), Hotel-du-Golf in Chamouille, is also a fabulous weekend destination in its own right - with at least five good reasons why you might not want to dash off too soon!
For starters, as well as a big French buffet breakfast, you can take all the stress out of restaurant research by opting to DINE IN in the evening. The hotel’s restaurant - L’Albatros - has a great reputation, not least for its modern décor, warm ambiance, view over the lake and refined gastro cuisine. That said, if you’ve had a long drive and you simply can’t move an inch, the hotel does in fact do le room service!
And who exactly could blame you for that, especially when you’ve got this generously proportioned, CONTEMPORARY BEDROOM SUITE to cocoon yourselves in for the weekend. Think big bed, balcony with panoramic views over the lake and Vauclair forest beyond – even breakfast in bed if you like!
Now that you’re building up a picture of Hotel-du-Golf’s relaxed retreat vibe, it’s a good time to remember that the two of you also have the PRIVATE HOT TUB all to yourselves for half an hour during your stay – not an outdoor hot tub but a gorgeous, beautifully-lit private spa room (let’s call it your zen den!).
And then there’s reason number ‘Fore!; as the name of the hotel suggests, there’s a GOLF CLUB on Hotel-du-Golf’s doorstep, where - right on the water’s edge - you can squeeze in a pleasurable and memorable 9 or 18 holes before you head back to the hotel for a drink (top tip: head to the wooden decking platform overhanging the water, c’est très romantique!).
If you find yourselves with time to spare, spend it well as there’s so MUCH TO SEE here in this part of Northern France. You could hop in the car to buy a case of fizz direct from a champagne cellar, explore lovely Laon (a gorgeous town with medieval ramparts, historic tunnels, a wowsome cathedral and great shopping), borrow bikes to follow the ‘Voie Verte’ to Vauclair abbey, or do something spectacularly different on your romantic weekend break: take a microlight flight over the WW1 site Chemin des Dames. Whatever you choose to do, a stay at Hotel-du-Golf-de-l’Ailette blows other romantic weekend breaks out of… yep, the water.
Insiders Tips
Get in touch with the locals! They live on site and know how to make the most of your stay. They'll be happy to answer your questions and help you build a tailor-made, off the beaten path itinerary.
Stock up in the Champagne region
If you are stopping over close to Champagne on the way to or from your ski trip, its a great idea to stopover a bit longer and fill up the boot with some bubbles. You can head into the larger towns like Reims or Epernay where yu will find the bigger Champagne houses, or why not hunt out a few bargains from the lesser known, but equally delicious, smaller houses? “Maison Lévêque-Dehan”, a family of winegrowers for five generations. Mr Lévêque-Dehan will take great pleasure in showing you round the vineyard, adapting the visit to your wishes. Two fabulous features: discovering the different varieties of grape and his delightful little museum. What’s more he’s a genuinely warm and friendly gentleman.