Bubble up in the jacuzzi at lakeside Golf hotel in Chamouille

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 JACUZZI 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.