Staying in a cave hotel had been on my bucket list for years, so in 2020 (just before covid) I was privileged to get to stay in one. Myself and my friend stayed in the fabulous 5* Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa in the ancient city of Matera a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is also the third oldest city in the world!
My mother always says ” You can’t put a price on an experience”, and I am inclined to agree with her on this one. So much so, I apply her words to a lot of my travel experiences.
Cave hotels offer a unique and captivating experience, combining luxury with the natural beauty of the caves. These hotels provide modern amenities while preserving the rugged charm of the cave environment. They’re most popular in areas with unique geological features such as Matera in Italy and Cappadocia in Turkey.
Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa offers all the amenities one would expect to find in modern accommodation, including plush bedding, sleek bathrooms, and in-room technology. It feature an on-site restaurant serving up delicious local cuisine made with fresh seasonal ingredients. The restaurant also has an outdoor area in a private courtyard. All the rooms in the property face out into the ancient city of Matera offering breath taking views of the city.
The wellness centre of Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa is a journey through time where you can relax in the beautiful heated swimming pool, set in the natural rock. It has to be seen to be believed.
For me, the most magical aspect of staying in the Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa in Matera was the sense of history that fills every corner. My imagination ran riot, taking me back to what it must have been like to live here 7,000 years before. As I drift off to sleep surrounded by the coolness of the stone walls, you can’t help but feel connected to generations of people who called these caves home over the centuries.
If staying in a cave hotel is not on your bucket list, I’d highly recommend adding it. FYI there are no bats living in the cave hotels!
It’s a unique experience and as the very famous writer & novelist Mark Twain very eloquently said “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
