Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Escapes To The Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa Countryside Retreat
Summer is calling and the holiday capsules are already being packed. From long walks through the Champagne countryside to posing on the Italian Riviera, the season of sun-drenched escapes has officially arrived
Trade Dubai’s skyline for vineyard-covered hills at the chic Champagne Hotel & Spa countryside retreat…
We’re lucky to call a region of endless sunshine and pristine beaches home – a place where the sea is never far away and summer feels permanent. But sometimes, even paradise needs a change of scenery. For those craving a different kind of escape this summer, think rolling countryside, one-of-a-kind green landscapes and a slower rhythm that feels worlds away from city life.
Enter the Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa – a hillside retreat set among the world’s most famous vineyards, where the air feels lighter and time slows to a far more civilised rhythm. Here, everything is designed to reset you from the moment you arrive: an award-winning 16,000-square-foot spa with steam rooms, saunas, jacuzzis and yoga spaces to kick-start your wellness journey straight at check-in; exceptional five-star dining built around seasonal ingredients, many grown just steps away; and an infinity pool that seems to melt seamlessly into the rolling vines below.
An easy drive from Paris – or just a 40-minute train journey – the Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa sits quietly between Épernay and Reims, perfectly placed yet blissfully removed from it all. Intimate in scale, the hotel’s 47 rooms and suites are part of its undeniable charm, each framing cinematic views across UNESCO-listed vineyards.
Inside, the aesthetic is pure contemporary comfort meets French country-house ease: enormous beds made for slow mornings and deeper sleep with oversized bathrooms with indulgent tubs. All the modern essentials are seamlessly in place too – WiFi, streaming, coffee machines and well-stocked (complimentary) mini-bars in select suites.
As in every corner of France, food here is treated with worship. The hotel offers two restaurants, both consistently buzzing with guests and visitors alike – always a reassuring sign. Le Bellevue is an airy, relaxed bistro, full of easy energy throughout the day, while the more formal dining space, Le Royal transforms into something truly special at sunset, when 180-degree views stretch across the Épernay and Marne valleys in a wash of gold and soft pink light.
Families are warmly welcomed here, with thoughtful touches that go far beyond the expected. Children aged six and over can enjoy specially designed spa experiences that introduce wellness in a gentle, age-appropriate way, while indoor and outdoor pools, bike hire and scenic walking trails ensure there’s always something to explore in the fresh Champagne air.
And for those travelling as a larger group, there’s a rather special surprise. Just a short drive from the main hotel lies Les Trois Clochers – a beautifully restored Art Deco villa set within the vineyards of Villers-Allerand. Sleeping up to 10 adults across five en-suite double rooms, it feels like a private estate brought to life: a villa with its own pool, sun-drenched terrace, generous living room with lounge, bar, kitchen and dining space, plus a curated library of books and games for slow, unhurried evenings. A full team is on hand to attend to every detail, offering all the privileges of the hotel – with the added freedom of total privacy.
Last but not least, the hotel team is effortlessly hands-on, happy to curate itineraries that turn a stay into a string of unforgettable moments. Cruises along the Marne River, horseback rides through vineyard-lined hills or drifting above the landscape in a hot air balloon as the countryside unfolds beneath you – it’s a French escape at its most cinematic, unhurried, and impossibly elegant – the kind of place that stays with you long after you’ve returned home.
Must try: The saffron risotto from the Marne Valley with candied lemon must be eaten to be believed – and once tasted, it’s near impossible not to order again.
Getting there: Emirates operates three daily flights to Paris, from where it’s less than an hour by train or under two hours by car. For more information, visit emirates.com
For more information, visit royalchampagne.com.
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From the Harper’s Bazaar Arabia June 2026 issue