World's Most Unusual Hotels: A Luxury Cave Hotel in Turkey
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 offers 14 rooms, each unique and furnished with local handmade goods and Turkish antiques.
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.
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.
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.
The hotel even has a cool wine cave (a literal cave, in this case) that you can check out.
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.
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.
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.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.