Château de Sacy Review — Luxury Dog-Friendly Hotel in Champagne

Just outside Reims and worth every mile of the drive

Hotel: Château de Sacy Location:

Champagne region, France, just outside Reims

Dog-friendly rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Perfect for: Couples, dog owners, wine lovers, anyone who deserves something beautiful

I didn't expect the first stop on our drive to Marbella to become one of my favourite places I've ever stayed. But that's exactly what happened at Château de Sacy, a gorgeous vineyard château just outside Reims, and I've been recommending it to everyone who'll listen ever since.

We pulled up after a straightforward drive from the Eurotunnel (it's really not far at all) and I genuinely cannot overstate how dreamy the drive up to this place is. The moment you turn off the road and the château comes into view, it looks like something out of a film. Rows of vines stretching out on either side of you, this stunning stone building ahead, and you're just sitting there in the car thinking….. is this real? It looked like a dream. The kind of place you see on someone's Instagram and think there's no way it actually looks like that in person. It does. It absolutely does.

The Dog Welcome — Genuinely Five Stars

Let me start here, because this is the thing that made me fall properly in love with this place.

When we arrived with Ralph, there was no awkward conversation, no restricted areas, no being asked to keep him on a lead at all times in every corner of the building. The staff welcomed him like a guest in his own right, which, let's be honest, he is. Waiting in our room was a proper dog bed (not a thin mat — an actual comfortable dog bed), a little bowl of doggie snacks, and water and food bowls already set up. Someone had thought about this. Someone had cared enough to make sure my dog was as comfortable as I was going to be.

And that set the tone for everything that followed.

Dogs are allowed everywhere in the hotel. Everywhere. The lounges, the terrace, the breakfast room — Ralph padded around the place like he owned it, and not a single member of staff made us feel like he was anything other than completely welcome. If you've ever had the experience of travelling with a dog and feeling like you're slightly inconveniencing everyone around you, this place is the antidote to that.

The Room

We were lucky enough to be in an upgraded room and honestly…..wow. I was not prepared for how beautiful it was going to be.

The view from the bedroom is everything. Floor to ceiling vineyard as far as you can see, and watching the sunset from that window with a glass of something in hand is just next level. Ralph immediately positioned himself at the window and just stared out at the vines like he absolutely knew how good this was, I got the most gorgeous photo of him there that I'll be adding to this post, because it genuinely captures the magic of the place better than any words can.

The bed was one of those beds you sink into and immediately start wondering how you're going to get back on the road in the morning. Properly luxurious, properly comfortable — the kind of sleep you wake up from feeling like a new person.

But the bathroom. The bathroom! I'm calling it a princess bathroom and I'm not sorry. A stunning marble bath that looked like it belonged in a five star spa — the kind you sink into after a long day of driving and immediately forget that you were ever tired. Dreamy is the only word. Everything was beautifully designed, beautifully stocked, and felt genuinely indulgent rather than just nice.

In the evening the hotel brought us the most beautiful French biscuits — a lovely little touch that felt very considered and very French, and which went down extremely well after a long day on the road. It's the small things like that which separate a great hotel from a truly special one.

The Hot Tubs

Outside, overlooking the vineyards. I'll say that again: hot tubs, outside, overlooking the vineyards.

This is the content. Sitting in a hot tub with a glass of champagne — actual champagne, because you're in Champagne — looking out over this insanely beautiful view as the sun goes down? That's a core memory right there. If you're coming here with a partner this is going to be one of those trips you talk about for years. It's that kind of place. Romantic doesn't even cover it — it's just next level.

Breakfast

The kind of breakfast that makes you rearrange your morning plans so you can linger longer. There's a full buffet — fresh, beautifully presented, abundant without being overwhelming — and you can also order from an à la carte menu on top of that, which I thought was a really nice touch. It means you're not just loading up a plate and sitting down; you can actually sit there, take your time, and have exactly what you want.

And the setting for breakfast. My goodness. Looking out over those vineyards with the morning light coming in, Ralph settled at your feet — I mean, this is the life. I went back for more than I'd like to admit.

The Location

Just outside Reims, which is a gorgeous city worth exploring — the cathedral is seriously impressive if you fancy a quick trip in. But honestly? I barely wanted to leave the hotel. The grounds are stunning, Ralph was in his element exploring the vines, and there was always a reason to stay put — another coffee on the terrace, another dip in the hot tub, another moment just soaking up how beautiful it all looked.

And the Eurotunnel is so close. That's the thing that really hit me. This isn't a far-flung destination — it's genuinely accessible for a weekend. You could do Friday evening through Sunday and it would be one of the best weekends of your year. I'm already planning a return trip just to Château de Sacy — no need to drive all the way to Spain. Just the château, Ralph, that view, and a hot tub.

The Verdict

This place is special. Not in a showy, look-at-us way — in a quiet, confident, we-know-what-we're-doing way. The dog welcome alone puts it in a category of its own, but add the vineyard setting, the hot tubs, the stunning bedroom, the breakfast, and the proximity to the Eurotunnel, and you have something genuinely exceptional.

I will absolutely be going back. Probably sooner than I'm planning.

Would I recommend it to dog owners? Without hesitation.

Would I recommend it to everyone? Equally without hesitation.

This is the first in a series of dog-friendly hotel reviews from our drive from Surrey to Marbella. Up next: our beach hotel in the south of France. More soon. 🐾