Arrival/Check-In: The House Hotel Cappadocia, in the town of Ortahisar, overlooks the area’s fortress and fairy chimneys. Housed in a complex of ancient caves and stone houses, the hotel exuded the feel of an intimate apartment complex rather than a hotel, but it certainly wasn’t lacking for luxury amenities. My stay came after the hotel’s first phase opening in July 2015; Phase One boasted 29 rooms, and its second phase, coming soon, will complete the hotel with 45 rooms. Check-in was quick with a friendly attendant at the unassuming front desk. Off to the right of the front desk, the lobby offered comfortable seating but also seemed less like a typical hotel lobby and more like an intimate living room in a private home. Guest Quarters: What truly makes The House Hotel Cappadocia unique is that each guestroom is different — no two rooms look alike. My deluxe room opened into a light-filled space, with a fireplace angled in the left corner and a padded bench and cabinet in front. To the right sat the king-sized bed, with a desk and mounted TV directly across. The bathroom was spacious. The guestrooms do have a few elements in common, including but not limited to Turkish marble floors and bathrooms, heated or cooled floors, stone walls, blackout curtains, LCD TVs, iPod docking stations, rainfall showerheads and Lokum Istanbul amenities. My in-room fireplace was an added perk. I had only a short, one-night stay that left me longing for more time in my gorgeous, comfortable guestroom that uniquely blended ancient elements with modern design and technology. Services/Amenities: Fresko Restaurant has indoor seating as well as a large terrace and serves Turkish cuisine. With a stone oven, local specialties are prepared as well. Design touches include frescoes and original stone arches. Room service is available from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m., and a bar will be opening on the reception level. I enjoyed dinner one evening, and the breakfast spread filled me up before my international flight the morning of my departure. The romantic underground chapel began hosting weddings, concerts and other meetings for up to 100 people in January this year. The hotel’s underground spa features a Turkish hammam, sauna, steam rooms, four treatment rooms and two adventure showers. The Experience: My visit to The House Hotel Cappadocia, albeit brief, delivered all the modern, luxury conveniences I crave with the unique twist of its location. The House Hotel Collection also includes properties in Bosporus, Nişantaşi, Vault Karakoy and Galatasaray.

GT CHECKLIST

[checklist] [item check=yes]Doorman/valet[/item] [item check=yes]Less than 10 minutes for check-in[/item] [item]Separate tub and shower[/item] [item check=yes]Large vanity[/item] [item check=yes]High-quality towels[/item] [item check=yes]Powerful, unattached hair dryer[/item] [item check=yes]High-quality bed linens[/item] [item check=yes]Large, flat-screen television[/item] [item check=yes]Large desk with convenient outlets[/item] [item]Large, complimentary laptop safe[/item] [item check=yes]Complimentary in-room WiFi[/item] [item check=yes]Complimentary bottled water[/item] [item check=yes]Stocked minibar[/item] [item check=yes]Ample lighting[/item] [item check=yes]In-room coffeemaker[/item] [item]Iron and ironing board[/item] [item check=yes]On-site restaurant[/item] [item]24-hour room service[/item] [item]24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center[/item] [item]Turn-down service[/item] [/checklist]

The House Hotel Cappadocia

Ortahisar Merkez Cappadocia, Turkey tel 90 384 343 2425 thehousehotel.com