I have been to France several times and it never fails that each time I go, people always remark- “I’ve heard the French are rude…” My latest trip to the Champagne region has once again shown me that this couldn’t be further from the truth. This trip for me was “educational” as I was going to “study” champagne for four days. My friends and I had the great fortune to stay at The No. 8 B&B and Madame Malissart’s B&B in the small town of Mailly, five minutes from Reims by car.
The No 8. is owned and run by a British man named Andy. My French is less than spectacular and it was a delight to stay with someone who had endless knowledge about the area and spoke English. I found the No 8. lacking in nothing- the rooms were clean and bright, the view was perfect, the location couldn’t have been better. Andy even provided us with wine glasses and champagne flutes (AND a disgusted look when we tried to just wash out the wine glasses for the champagne because we didn’t want to bother him or think to ask for multiple glasses…) Breakfast came with an large pot of coffee , fresh crossaints and baguettes, and the most wonderful homemade jam. Andy was able to provide several helpful suggestions about what champagne houses to visit and which ones were overrated.
My friend who I was traveling with was not able to book a room with Andy and stayed up the street at Andy’s recommendation of Madame Malissart’s B&B. He assured me it was clean and quiet and altogether satisfactory. My only warning is that she’s a dog owner, so if you have any sort of allergies this may pose as a problem. Her breakfast is complete with jam that she makes herself from her own chardonnay or pinot noir grapes (lucky for me, she gives her jam to Andy to use at his own B&B). She claims her English is terrible, but I was able to understand her without difficulty. Compared to my French, her English is amazing 
I can not say enough about the kindness and overall welcome Andy and Madame Malissart provided me and my friends. Both of them provided my vacation with memories that will be with me for a lifetime. Madame Malissart’s primary business is running her own champagne operation. She was gracious enough to take us on a tour of her vineyards and give us a tour of her press! After touring the major champagne houses with their cylinder steel towers that don’t allow you to see how the grapes are pressed or the juice extracted, it was amazing to see Madame Maliassart’s old fashioned press and listen to her explain the harvesting process. Afterwards, she was kind enough to share a plate of cookies made especially in Reims and we ended up buy a case of her bubbly. (Did I mention the Veuve Cliquot is one of the major champagne houses who buys her juice?) So overall, if you’re looking to do a little “research” about Champagne and are looking for the quaint village with warm hospitality (even down to the local cab driver and his wife!) I would look no further than Millay. Complete with homemade jam…

http://no8bedandbreakfast.com/
http://www.anglofrenchbedandbreakfas...lect.php?id=12

Great information--I will certainly consider this info for our trip next summer...by any chance, did you get to a Champagne town named, Bouzy?

Did you ever go into Reims? If so, did you go by car or public transportation?

Did you go to any of the Champagne houses in Reims? Did Andy recommend any to visit in Reims?
I'll be there for 2 days in October (without a car, so can't do your wonderful-sounding B&B's).

Anyway, I'm trying to decide which champagne house (or 2) to visit. I would love to be doing this trip your way (I love driving around the smaller villages and country roads of France), but this trip I can't do that. Thanks.

suspicious first post. no other recs during the entire trip other than this b+b.

After I wrote, I was hoping I had not bitten hook line and sinker! I would like to hope that the OP will come back and contribute to this and other threads.

Hi wren! We didn't make it to Bouzy, definitely next time. We did drive into Reims a few times! We had a rental car and I completely recommend it. Driving was easy and the city was fairly easy to navigate (nothing like Prague, if you've ever had the um...pleasure...of driving there). We did a tasting at the Veuve Clicquot- 13 euro for a tour that lasts approx. an hour and half and includes a tasting. We also drove over to Epernay to Casterlane (sp?) and did a tour and tasting for about eight euro. I feel whatever house you visit will be great because how can you go wrong with champange? Enjoy your trip!!

p.s. suspicious first post?!? i'm a definite newbie when it comes to posting mainly because i feel like i never have anything new to add and deep down, i'm a little afraid of rex but no one had posted anything about mailly that i was able to find so i decided to take the plunge!! i think for anyone traveling to the region- i would recommend touring one major house (i did the veuve cliquot) and then several smaller local ones. its an interesting comparison with not only the actual champange tasting, but the entire presentation/tour/packing etc. that the viewer is allowed to see. If you go to epernay, we also did a tasting at Castellane (Sp?). They have tours in English and are super easy to find- Just go to the tower in the middle of the city. You can climb the tower and get some stellar pictures of the whole region...

my apologies..glad you enjoyed your trip. Nice to hear more detail about it. Any restaurant recs? This is an area I have always wanted to visit.

Thanks for your details. Since I won't have a car, I might not be able to do any of the smaller houses, but will look into that anyway. I'm looking forward to Reims - definitely want to see the Cathedral, too, as I'm into history.

Hi Red--

Thanks for your great info about Reims and the champagne houses! I am amazed that the prices are so reasonable at Veuve Clicquot.