We are drving from Paris to Brussels through the Champagne region and have many days to make the journey. I need help with finding hotels between Paris & Bruge. We are looking for the country feeling with a bit of luxury. So far considering Le Royal Champagne and Chateau de Fere but they seem pretty pricey. Any suggestions are welcomed. We are just in the planning stages, spending a lot of time on Google Earth to find nice driving routes and interesting history and all plans are changeable at this time. So far it is flying into Paris and 3 weeks later flying out of Brussels via Bruge & Gent. Help with the inbetween is what we are looking for. Thanks!

We liked very much Chateau Etoges, really good ambiance, very good food, inexpensive champagne:

www.chateau-etoges.com

If you are going there, do not miss a visit of Launois caves and museum:

www.champagne-launois.fr

Although technically not within Champagne (but closeby), for real country feeling, this one might appeal to you (with an indoor pool, also good food):

www.chateau-de-barive.com

Or, if you want to go more upscale, this one with Michelin starred restaurant:

http://www.labriqueterie.fr/

I've only stayed th Le Royal Champagne and it was worth every penny. The food is excellent

This isn't in the countryside, but last month we stayed at La Villa Eugene in Epernay. The hotel is lovely-it faces a park of sorts-they have their own locked (at night)car park and a pool with outdoor patio. They are at the far end of the Avenue Champagne so away from tourists. They serve a breakfast, which we didn't have, but no restuarant attached. They do have a website that is very accurate in describing what is actually there. We wish we could have had more time to spend there.
Our one night's dinner in Epernay was at Grillade Gourmande, a recommendation from the hotel which we enjoyed very much! It was about a 15 minute walk from the hotel-we didn't have a car.

Thank you for your suggestions! I am going through each website as we plot our drive through the region. I like the looks of chateau etoges and also Le Royal. Was dinner at either or both of these places relaxed? We want a nice atmosphere but not stuffy or too formal. Thanks!

Dinner at Le Royal was very relaxed but perfectly served. One night my husband ordered the same thing he had the night before, because it was so darn good he wanted it again. The waiter said sir, you had that last night, If there is nothing on the menu that pleases you I can have the chef do anything that you'd like. DH explained why he'd ordered it again!