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A trip to Cappadocia,
in central Turkey, gives you the chance
for a unique lodging experience: staying
in a cave.
The soft volcanic rock has
been hollowed out for homes for at
least two millennia. Recently, Cappadocia's
enterprising hoteliers—led
by Mr Süha Ersöz of Ürgüp's Esbelli
Evi—have restored
crumbling stone-and-cave houses,
equipped the rooms with comforts
such as electricity, modern bathrooms,
telephones, and even fast Internet
connections, and opened them as traditional
Cappadocian inns.
If you don't stay in a cave inn or
hotel during your stay in Cappadocia,
you're really missing something!
Here are my favorite Cappadocian cave hotels and
inns:
Esbelli Evi
This was Cappadocia's
first fine cave inn, and set the standard
for
all the others. It's an exceptional
place to stay because of its owner,
Mr Süha Ersöz.
Besides its beautiful cave rooms, there
are now three extraordinary cave
suites. More...
Kelebek Hotel
& Pension
Two in one! A great, inexpensive
pension with panoramic views of the striking
Göreme townscape, and a fine small
boutique hotel with stone-carved rooms
and local handicraft furnishings. More...
Gül
Konaklari (Rose
Mansions)
In the peaceful farming town of Mustafapasa (Sinasos),
these two fine Ottoman Greek mansions are
superb places to stay, good enough for the Ecumenical
Patriarch and the Queen of Spain—not
to mention for the rest of us. More...
Les Maisons de Cappadoce
A collection of charming hillside cave-villas designed by French architect Jacques
Avizou. Spectacular views abound as
they are in Uçhisar,
highest town in the region.
Here's where you'll find your Cappadocian
designer hideaway. More...
Ürgüp
Evi
Terraces—they
seem to be everywhere in this
hillside inn. Pick your place:
grass, stone, shady, sunny, under
the awnings, under the sun, in
your cozy cave room. It's quiet,
sunny and friendly, with the
best panoramic views in
town. More...
Kismet
Cave House
Who said a cave can't be colorful?
Mr Faruk Keles's cave rooms are bright
with colorful local cloths, handicrafts,
and artistic murals. More...
Kale
Konak Guesthouse
Sit
out on the Roman-arched terrace and
watch the dawn light flood
the sky, or relax in the blissfully
cool and quiet sanctuary of your cave
room after a long day of trekking
through the volcanic moonscape
valleys of Cappadocia,
and the Kale Konak becomes your mansion. More...
Cappadocia
Cave Suites
Mr Bora Özkök is something of a
legend in Turkish tourism lore because of his personally
guided cultural tours. He's now restored cave accommodations
in Göreme Town. More...
Serinn
Another wonderful small cave inn run by a well-traveled
lady, this one with a difference: the tidy cave rooms
are done in a simple, appealing modern style.
The owner, Ms Eren Serpen, worked
for British Airways and speaks Turkish, English and
Italian. More...
Assiana House
Hosted by a family,
you have your choice of five comfy Ottoman-decor
rooms with private baths, and the
enjoyment of panoramic views of Cappadocia in Ürgüp's
quiet Esbelli district. More...
Dört
Oda
The name means "Four Rooms,"
though now it's actually five
nice cave rooms uphill from the Esbelli
Evi. Quiet, comfy, congenial,
and an especially
good choice for single female travelers. More...
Local
Cave House Hotel
This
Göreme cave hotel has just
about everything a modern troglodyte
could want: comfy cave rooms, great
views, a beautiful swimming pool
and poolside restaurant. More...
Sacred
House
Like no other place you've ever seen: the mood is antique,
mystical. As the owners say, "Romantic, full of
memories you never knew you had, and romance you could
only have imagined..." More...
Yasemin
Cave House
Pristine and charming art-accented rooms, and a warm
welcome from a lady named Yasamine (Jasmine in
Turkish), as well as fine views of the Cappadocian
countryside. More...
Yunak
Evleri
Caves in a steep Ürgüp cliff
have been nicely restored and equipped
with all the modern comforts. More...
Anatolian
Houses
Chic, beautiful design, a swimming pool and all the
luxuries are yours at this upscale collection of traditional
Cappadocian houses with cave guest rooms. More...
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