Where to stay in Champagne?

For clarification, are you wanting recommendations for places to stay in the Champagne area? I understand a daytrip to be a visit for part of a day, but not sleeping there that night.

It’s been over 20 years, so I don’t recall the actual establishment where we stayed, but if you’re actually seeking lodging in Champagne, I’d be considering either in the town of Reims or in Epernay.

Yes we plan to stay a night! As I was looking into it more it seems Remis may have more of what we would be looking to do (visit the wine caves and Veuve Clicquot)

Our favorite hotel in the area is perhaps Château de Courcelles, a Relais & Chateaux 4-star hotel. The GM - Morgane Anthonioz - and her team do an exceptional job! Rooms in May 2022 will start at perhaps 215 Euro/NT.

I would stay in Reims. Epernay is now the wine center, but nearly all the caves/tours are in Reims as well as lots of restaurant choices. I took 3 tours, Tattinger and Martel in Reims and Mercier in Epernay. Each was different, Mercier was the most fun. Each tour tells you the same stuff about the méthode champenoise but little details are different and each tour focuses mainly on the history of the winery. The tastings come after the tour and that's when you learn about the grapes and the wines themselves.

I have visited both Reims and Epernay. They have quite different champagne vibes in my opinion.

Reims is a much larger town. The champagne houses are spread out. Other than champagne, there is the cathedral and the magnificent Marc Chagall windows. The school where Germany surrendered in WWII might be worth a quick look.

Epernay is small and walkable. A stroll down the Avenue de Champagne lined with the champagne houses is very unique. The tour opportunities (Moet, Mercier and more) are numerous and they are close together. However, since Epernay is small there are fewer hotels and restaurants for sure. I stayed at La Villa Eugene in Epernay. It was memorable but pricey.

The vineyards & countryside in the champagne region are lovely. I rode a bicycle to the small village of Hautvillers and the Abbaye d’Hautvillers where Dom Perignon is buried. The village ahas a number of family-owned champagne houses (sorry I don't remember which ones I visited) that offer tasting.

Once you understand the production process, seeing multiple tours can get dull so carefully read the descriptions and decide what might ofer the best combination of learning, tasting, and thrills.The tour fun often depends on your guide. The best guide I had was at Ruinart in Reims. The tasting was also excellent with a large selection available.

A few years ago we visited Epernay and stayed at Hotel Jean Moet which was a sweet, small hotel within an easy walk to Avenue de Champagne. Epernay seemed like a village with very little traffic and some marvelous restaurants within walking distance in the town center. We visited and toured Moët & Chandon and, of course took a photo beside Dom Perignon. Buying champagne by the glass in restaurants was very reasonably priced and there were many choices. If you just go in for the day from Paris, it is a very short train trip of @ one hour.