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World's Most Unusual Hotels: A Luxury Cave Hotel in Turkey

Feb. 27, 2017
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4 min read
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World's Most Unusual Hotels: A Luxury Cave Hotel in Turkey
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Cappadocia, a region in central Turkey, is known for its cave hotels, and the Aydinli Cave Hotel may be one of the most luxurious ones out there.

The boutique guesthouse is located in Göreme, Turkey, and has been restored to offer all the modern comforts of home while still retaining its historical charm — some parts of the hotel are thought to be up to 500 years old. The building itself was carved out of the natural stone of Cappadocia, which is ideal for creating rooms, but also holds up under pressure and withstands extreme weather conditions.

The Aydinli Cave Hotel, both a rock and a hard place.

The Aydinli Cave Hotel offers 14 rooms, each unique and furnished with local handmade goods and Turkish antiques.

Hole up in one of the 14 cave rooms.

Rooms offer amenities such as wardrobes, towels, slippers, Wi-Fi, hair dryers, telephones, heat, fridges, coffee makers, a safe and air conditioning. A few rooms even have fireplaces.

Another of the cave bedrooms beckons.

Some of the rooms offer natural light. There are spaces for solo travelers, couples and families, so you have options when it comes to choosing the one that's right for you. If you're in the mood to splurge, the King Suite is the perfect place to relax and recharge. One of the largest cave rooms in Cappadocia, it was once used as a barn for more than 20 animals, but there's nothing barn-like about it now. The massive luxury space comes with a dream bathroom: an antique claw-foot bathtub, a huge Jacuzzi and Turkish hammam (steam room), plus a makeup table with a huge mirror.

Who wants to hang out in this bathroom? I do!

The hotel is family-owned and has friendly, personal service. Though sleeping in the cave is amazing, the terrace, which juts out of the stone, may be the best part of this hotel, as its stunning panoramic views over the city of Göreme and the Rose Valley are incredible. Just a five-minute walk from the town center, this hotel gives you easy access to cafes, restaurants and shopping, though you may never want to leave.

On a clear day, you can even spot the mountains in the distance.

The hotel even has a cool wine cave (a literal cave, in this case) that you can check out.

Stay for a tipple in the cave wine cellar.

Room rates start at about $50 for a standard room and $95 for a suite, and include a Turkish breakfast with cheese, bread, jam, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, an egg or two and tea. The hotel can also organize guides, tours and other activities like hot air balloon rides over Cappadocia's stunning scenery.

Hot air balloons drift over Cappadocia. Image courtesy of Ayhan Altun via Getty.

Getting There

From the US, fly into Istanbul (IST), then take a short hop on Onur Air or low-cost carrier Pegasus to one of the closest airports, Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV), located about 40 minutes away by car, or Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR), which is about an hour from the cave hotel. Buses also run to Göreme from Istanbul, but the ride takes about eight hours.

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Would you stay in this wacky hotel? Have you stayed there before? Sound off below!

All images courtesy of the Aydlini Cave Hotel unless otherwise noted.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

American Express® Gold Card

TPG Editor‘s Rating
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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.