These Mind-Blowing Hotels Are Built Into Actual Caves
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Would early Homo sapiens, while they made fires in their cave dwellings more than 170,000 years ago, ever think that one day, their iPhone-toting, gig-working, bouclé-obsessed descendants would aspire to live like them? Like antiquing and record collecting, we are in constant pursuit of retro, which might be why hotels seem to be trending neolithic. If it was good enough for the Upper Paleolithic folks who innovated hand-painted wallcoverings in Lascaux thousands of years before the advent of Gracie and de Gournay, then it should be good enough for modern man.
From the Catskills to Cappadocia, luxury hotels with cave accommodations have popped up everywhere. Even the black-clad French Pritzker Prize laureate, Jean Nouvel, has been working on his own in the Saudi Arabian desert—one with 40 suites and three villas carved into the sandstone of Sharaan Nature Reserve—that’s set to open this year. So pack your pelts and flint stones and get yourself a reservation at one of the 12 best international cave hotels out there.
Cap Rocat, Mallorca, Spain
Set within Mallorca’s ancient limestone cliffs, the cave accommodations at Cap Rocat were carved seamlessly into natural rock formations. The chicly muted outdoor furniture on the private terrace and pool overlooking the Mediterranean Sea contrasts nicely with the raw, bulging canopy.
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Six Senses Ibiza, Ibiza, Spain
Ibiza has no shortage of rugged cliffs along its coastline, and the Six Senses makes very good use of them. Each cave accommodation is carved into the natural rock formations and is minimally landscaped with Mediterranean flora on the terrace. Inside, the cave aesthetic is kept to a minimum with an emphasis placed more on the brand’s signature boho luxury look.
The Roxbury at Stratton Falls, Catskills, New York
The “Crown of the Pendragons” Roxbury at Stratton Falls brings the fantasy of Game of Thrones and King Arthur together to experience the best of both worlds. The expansive room features its own turret that doubles as an extravagant bathroom with an 85-gallon circular bathtub and three-tiered, 20-foot crown chandelier.
Canaves Oia Hotel, Santorini, Greece
Have the best of both worlds—a secluded pool but that’s outdoors. That’s the Canaves Oia Hotel’s take on cave luxury with its newly renovated large one-bedroom, 0ne-bathroom Executive Suite. In 2018, Canaves Oia hotel was named Hotel and Resort of the Year by the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World association. We think the cave pool just may have helped win them that accolade...
Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Nassau, Bahamas
Famed for its swim-up aquarium with nurse sharks, stingrays, and sea turtles and adjacent 15-foot-tall “cliff” jump, the Dean’s Blue Hole pool at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, a luxury beachfront resort in Nassau, features an underwater marine cavern inspired by one of the world’s deepest saltwater sinkholes in Long Island, Bahamas.
The Argos Cappadocia Hotel, Cappadocia, Turkey
A project 20 years in the making, the Argos was built from the ruins of an ancient monastery complex with interconnecting caves and underground tunnels, houses, and mansions. The restoration and transformation of spaces were based on the principal structural elements of the ancient buildings. They have modern touches and comforts, like private swimming pools, in certain “Splendid Suites.” Other design aspects such as stone soap holders, wooden toilet paper holders, or rock or stone carved lighting fixtures were conceived as fine design products that draw attention to the space itself.
Brasada Ranch, Butte, Oregon
Brasada Ranch, a rustic retreated located just outside of Bend, in Powell Butte, Oregon, has a new outdoor adventure program called Outside Brasada, launching this month. Guests seeking the ultimate snow-cation can now book a Snowcamp Weekend, during which they can experience the thrill of sleeping in an outdoor snow cave in the Deschutes National Forest of the Cascade Mountain Range–that they build themselves–overnight.
The Meritage Resort and Spa, Napa Valley, California
Here you can really tune out the world—the Meritage Resort and Spa’s Spa Terra is a cocoon of wellness. Considered one of Napa Valley’s best spas, they recently added a CBD wellness experience—this is California, after all—that includes the calming, soothing effects of CBD coupled with organic herbs like arnica and ginger.
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, Maui, Hawaii
Swim-up bars don’t have to mean cheesy spring-break destinations. The elegant Grotto Bar at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa takes the concept of aquatic drinking to the the next level. Located between waterfalls in a rustic cave setting, you’ll never want to drink a piña colada anywhere else.
Iconic Santorini, Santorini, Greece
You know when a property has the word cave in its description, it is serious about this type of dwelling. Perched 1,000 feet above the sapphire waters of the Aegean, Iconic Santorini calls itself a boutique cave hotel and has both Cliff and Cave Suites with amenities like private indoor plunge pools.
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, Mexico
Talk about a dramatic entrance. There’s just one way into the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, and it’s through Mexico’s only private cave tunnel, which cuts through the Cabo San Lucas mountains and separates Cabo San Lucas from the resort. Spelunking gets an upgrade at the five-star Waldorf Astoria: Guests are greeted with a margarita as they walk through the cave tunnels.
The Caves Hotel, Negril, Jamaica
There’s no secret about what to expect at the Caves Hotel in Jamaica. But this isn’t a completely underground warren of rooms. Hardly a generic Caribbean resort, this natural preserve has cliffside cottages, a grand villa, private caves, and the signature Blackwell Rum Bar. The spa, Jacuzzi, sauna, hot tub, and saltwater swimming are just steps from the sea.
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