Unbelievable! This Cave Hotel in Turkey Will Leave You Speechless (MDC Urgup)
Unbelievable! (But Seriously, Actually Believe It) MDC Cave Hotel Urgup: A Review That's Less Flowery, More Me
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I’m about to spill the (Turkish) tea on the MDC Cave Hotel in Urgup. Forget those glossy travel brochures – this review is going to be less "pristine paradise" and more "confessions of a slightly-hungover travel blogger." We're talking warts and all, my friends. And trust me, after experiencing this place, there are definitely some warts… in an incredibly charming, almost fairytale-like way.
SEO & Metadata Stuff (Don't Worry, I'll Break It Down):
- Title: MDC Cave Hotel Urgup Review: Stone Chic, Surreal Views, & Seriously Good Turkish Delights
- Keywords: MDC Cave Hotel, Urgup, Cappadocia, Turkey, Cave Hotel, Luxury Hotel, Spa, Pool, Reviews, Things to do Cappadocia, Accessible Hotel, Romantic Getaway, Unique Hotels, Turkish Breakfast, Wi-Fi, Best Hotels Turkey.
- Meta Description: My raw & real experience at MDC Cave Hotel in Urgup, Turkey. From the fairy-tale cave rooms to the jaw-dropping views. Discover if this unique hotel lives up to the hype (spoiler: mostly, but with some unexpected hiccups!) Accessibility, dining, spa & more!
Okay, Let’s Get Down to the Dirt… Err, I Mean, Stone:
First off, let's address the elephant - or should I say, the cave cat - in the room: Accessibility. Okay, so this isn't Disneyland. Facilities for disabled guests are listed, but… let’s just say, navigating ancient cave structures and Turkish cobblestone streets requires a degree of agility. Elevator? Yes, there is one. But I only saw it once, and it looked like it was the size of a phone booth. The hotel is built into the terrain, and while the lobby is mostly accessible, expect some steps. Not ideal for anyone with serious mobility issues, but if you can handle a few uneven surfaces, you should be fine.
Now, onto the good stuff… and trust me, there’s a lot of good stuff.
The Rooms – My Room Was My Castle (Literally):
Right, so the rooms. They are the whole reason you come here. Seriously. They’re carved into the… well, the caves! My room, categorized as a non-smoking (non-smoking rooms for the win!), was a total showstopper. I mean, Air conditioning (thank freaking goodness), a gigantic bed, extra long bed with fluffy pillows, and a bathroom that felt like a Roman bathhouse. I had a bathtub with a view, and a separate shower – luxury! They even had a hair dryer, bathrobes, slippers, and complimentary tea. It felt like living in a fairytale. The blackout curtains were also a lifesaver from the Cappadocian sun, which rises bright and early. There was a little seating area, perfect for sipping the free bottled water they provided. I did, however, have issues with the Internet access – wireless, but that's pretty normal in Turkey.
Room Features: (As noted, great additions!)
- Additional toilet.
- Alarm clock.
- Bathroom phone.
- Carpeting.
- Closet.
- Coffee/tea maker – essential for those early morning sunrise views.
- Complimentary tea.
- Desk.
- Free bottled water.
- Hair dryer.
- High floor.
- In-room safe box.
- Internet access – LAN.
- Internet access – wireless.
- Ironing facilities.
- Laptop workspace.
- Linens.
- Mini bar.
- Mirror.
- Non-smoking.
- On-demand movies.
- Private bathroom.
- Reading light.
- Refrigerator.
- Safety/security feature.
- Satellite/cable channels.
- Scale.
- Seating area.
- Separate shower/bathtub.
- Shower.
- Slippers.
- Smoke detector.
- Socket near the bed.
- Sofa.
- Soundproofing.
- Telephone.
- Toiletries.
- Towels.
- Umbrella.
- Visual alarm.
- Wake-up service.
- Wi-Fi [free].
- Window that opens.
The Views – Seriously, Prepare to Swoon:
The whole of Cappadocia is a visual feast. And from the hotel's terrace and pool with a view, it was insane. Imagine hot air balloons gently floating over a landscape that looks like another planet. (I went for a hot air balloon ride, and WOW! What a perfect proposal spot!) The Poolside bar was an incredible place to enjoy a cocktail or a bite to eat.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – My Stomach Was Very Happy:
Okay, let's be real. I went to Turkey for the food. And the MDC delivered. The Breakfast [buffet] was legendary. A mountain of Turkish delights - think olives, cheeses (alternative meal arrangement available), honey, fresh bread, and the most amazing Western breakfast options. I’m talking eggs, sausages, and all the fuel you needed for a day of exploring. They also had a delightful Asian breakfast.
- A la carte in restaurant for lunch and dinner.
- Alternative meal arrangement.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant.
- Bar that's open late.
- Bottle of water given.
- Breakfast [buffet].
- Breakfast service.
- Buffet in restaurant.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant.
- Coffee shop.
- Desserts in restaurant.
- Happy hour.
- International cuisine in restaurant.
- Poolside bar.
- Restaurants.
- Room service [24-hour] – because sometimes, a girl just needs a late-night plate of meze.
- Salad in restaurant.
- Snack bar.
- Soup in restaurant.
- Vegetarian restaurant.
- Western breakfast.
- Western cuisine in restaurant.
The restaurants themselves were gorgeous, with the coffee shop being a great place to get a cup. I didn’t try the Asian cuisine, but heard good stuff. They have a salad in restaurant and a soup in restaurant that was really, really good.
Spa & Relaxation – Time to Get Pampered:
The Spa area was another highlight. I indulged in a massage, and it was pure bliss. They also offer a body scrub, body wrap, sauna, steamroom, and **Foot bath. I even had a sneaky peek at the *Gym/fitness*, but my idea of “fitness” is generally walking to the bar. I am a terrible person. The *Pool with a view* was something to behold on a hot day.
Things to Do – Beyond Balloon Rides:
Well, Cappadocia is a hotspot for a reason! The concierge can help you arrange tours and activities. CCTV everywhere helps with security. And there is a Shrine for some quiet time. You're close to all the main sights like the open-air museum: CCTV outside property, CCTV in common areas.
Cleanliness, Safety, and All That Jazz – Pandemic-Appropriate & Beyond:
Okay, let's be real, pandemic stuff is on everyone’s brain. I will say that they took it seriously. I saw evidence of Daily disinfection in common areas, hand sanitizer everywhere, and staff trained in safety protocol. They had Individually-wrapped food options, a Sanitized kitchen and tableware items. And the staff were all generally masked up. I did feel a bit weird about the room sanitization opt-out available, but I didn’t utilize that. Professional-grade sanitizing services were in place. Staff trained in safety protocol.
There was a doctor/nurse on call, fire extinguisher, first aid kit.
- Anti-viral cleaning products.
- Cashless payment service.
- Daily disinfection in common areas.
- Doctor/nurse on call.
- First aid kit.
- Hand sanitizer.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing.
- Hygiene certification.
- Individually-wrapped food options.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services.
- Room sanitization opt-out available.
- **
Okay, buckle up, buttercup. This isn't your perfectly polished, symmetrical travel brochure itinerary. This is my trip to MDC Cave Hotel in Ürgüp, Turkey, warts and all. Prepare for some serious rambling.
MDC Cave Hotel: My Ürgüp Unraveling (…or, Attempted Relaxation)
Day 1: Arrival – The "Wow, This Is Actually A Cave" Moment
- Morning (7:00 AM, Istanbul Airport): Ugh. Istanbul. Let's just say I'm not built for airport chaos. Missed my coffee by a mile, almost tripped over a suitcase stuffed with aggressively patterned socks, and now I’m convinced I’m developing a stress-induced rash. Turkish Airlines, though, bless their heart, they got me to Kayseri!
- Afternoon (1:00 PM, Kayseri Airport): Pre-booked a transfer. The driver, Hasan, had a mustache that could rival a walrus. He also spoke about zero English, BUT he understood the unspoken language of pointing and grunting when I desperately needed a bathroom stop. Success! The drive through Cappadocia was… wow. Like, seriously, wow. The landscape is insane. Like some kind of alien planet threw up a bunch of Dr. Seuss architecture.
- Afternoon (3:00 PM, MDC Cave Hotel): Pulled up to the hotel. And I swear, my jaw actually dropped. Photos don't do it justice. This is… a cave hotel. Inside a cave. It’s like something out of a fairytale, and I’m secretly hoping a talking teapot offers me tea later.
- Afternoon (3:30 PM, My Room - "The Rock Room"): My room? Even better. Cozy, carved directly into the rock. Okay, maybe a little too cozy, like, the walls are actually touching the rock. I was so excited, I immediately dumped my suitcase on the bed and… took a nap. Jet lag is a cruel mistress.
- Evening (7:00 PM, Hotel Terrace): Woke up, dragged myself to the terrace. Sunset over Cappadocia. The hot air balloons are already up, floating. Just… stunning. My rational brain tells me to take a picture, but my emotional brain is just completely frozen. I didn't even remember to use my phone until the sun had practically dipped below the horizon. Started sipping the local wine, and whoa, this is good. Vaguely regret asking for "the dry red" because, apparently, that's a very specific request… maybe I should get some practice ordering.
- Evening (8:00 PM, Hotel Restaurant): Dinner was at the hotel's restaurant. The food was delicious, but I got overzealous with an entree. Started feeling a little stuffed and realizing: "oh yeah, I've only been travelling for 24 hours.”
Day 2: Hot Air Balloons and the Valley of the Ridiculously Named Goblins
- Morning (4:30 AM, Wake-up Call… or rather, Panic Alarm): Okay, so I signed up for the hot air balloon ride. They say it's the highlight of Cappadocia. And I do love a good 'gram. But 4:30 AM? Seriously? I’m not sure if I’m up for this.
- Morning (5:00 AM, Hot Air Balloon Takeoff): Cold. Freezing. And… speechless. The sunrise, the balloons, the landscape below… I felt my heart melt. The feeling of floating above the fairy chimneys was unmatched. I think I even forgot about my fear of heights for a while. I even let go of the railing more than once!
- Morning (7:00 AM, Balloon Ride Debrief): Champagne toast! They give you champagne after the ride. It felt a little odd, like a very fancy picnic in the sky, but you know what? I embraced it. I needed that champagne after the early wake up.
- Morning (9:00 AM, Breakfast): Back at the hotel. Breakfast is a glorious spread of Turkish delights, cheeses, olives, and what I’m pretty sure is the world's best honey. And strong coffee! This is what I needed.
- Morning (10:30 AM, Valley of the Red and the Green): Guided hike. The guide, Mehmet, was a sweet, slightly eccentric man who kept calling me "My Little Bird." The valleys themselves were incredible. We hiked through the Red Valley and the Rose Valley. The sun made the rock formations glow with color. I snapped a bunch of pics, but they don't do anything like the real view.
- Afternoon (2:00 PM, Lunch): Mehmet took us to a local restaurant. The food was delicious, but the bathroom situation was… rustic. Let's just say squat toilets and I are not best friends. I needed to get the hell out of there.
- Afternoon (3:00 PM, Valley of the Goblins): Next stop: The Valley of the Goblins. Okay, listen, I think this is the best way to describe this: the landscape looks like it was specifically designed for a Dr. Seuss book. The rock formations are just… weird. I took way too many photos. I spent probably an hour just looking at them. Is a rock formation in the shape of a penis? Maybe. I don't want to point that out.
- Afternoon (4:30 PM, Relaxation at the Hotel - maybe??): I thought I would have time to go back to the Hotel and sit in silence, but I completely forgot that the hotel had a pool. I’m not sure if i got into it because of the beautiful pool, or the sun, or the fact I was running on 2 hours of sleep.
- Evening (7:00 PM, Dinner at a Local Restaurant): Tonight, I’m trying to do a “full-on Turkish” experience. Went to a restaurant with live music and belly dancing. The food was fantastic, and the music was infectious. The belly dancing was… interesting. I may have clapped a little too enthusiastically. And I definitely embarrassed myself trying a few basic moves.
Day 3: Underground Cities, Pottery, and Tears (Maybe)
- Morning (9:00 AM, Breakfast… again!): I’m starting to think I’m addicted to this Turkish breakfast. Okay, I am.
- Morning (10:00 AM, Derinkuyu Underground City): Visited Derinkuyu. This is one of the largest underground cities in Cappadocia and holy crap, it’s fascinating. The thought of people living down there, in the darkness, is absolutely mind-blowing. It was claustrophobic and the air gets thick, but I’m so glad I went. I felt overwhelmed when I got back to the sunlight.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM, Lunch): Tried a kebab place near Derinkuyu. Nothing special, but it filled a hole.
- Afternoon (2:30 PM, Avanos – Pottery Town): Avanos is adorable. They’re famous for pottery. I decided to try my hand at the wheel. (Big mistake). I made a lumpy, misshapen… thing. And then, in a fit of frustration, I accidentally destroyed it. The instructor smiled, though, and just handed me a new one. I’m still not sure if he was laughing at me or with me.
- Afternoon (4:00 PM, Hotel Time – Or, Trying to Relax): Back at the hotel. I am exhausted. I am trying to sit with a book on the terrace, but I keep getting distracted by the view.
- Evening (7:00 PM, Wandering in Urgup): Walked around the town of Ürgüp. Got a little lost. Found a little café and had more tea. Thinking about the trip ending already makes me incredibly sad.
Day 4: Goodbye, Cappadocia (And Hello, Tears)
- Morning (8:00 AM, Breakfast): Last breakfast. Devouring every last Turkish Delight and wishing I could somehow transport this food to my life back home.
- Morning (9:00 AM, Checking Out): Goodbye to the hotel. Heart. Broken. I took a photo in front of the entrance one last time. I also said goodbye to the staff. I gave them a little hug.
- Morning (9:30 AM, Transfer to Kayseri Airport): Hasan and his epic mustache picked me up. I stared out the window at the passing landscape, already missing it.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM, Istanbul, and the Next Adventure Begins): The plane took off. I looked out to see the landscape disappear in the clouds. Time to go back home. Okay, this trip has been fantastic. I
So, like, *is* this place actually in a cave? Seriously?
Yes. Okay, mostly. It's not like, *The Flintstones*, with a brontosaurus burger on the menu (though, that would be awesome). Think imagine the outside of a volcano that erupted in a fairy tale and then built some rooms inside. Some rooms? Heck, some *suites*! You walk through a carved-stone entrance like something out of *Indiana Jones* (minus the giant boulder, thankfully), and BAM! You're in a room that feels like it's been pulled straight from the earth. It's ridiculously cool. The texture of the walls, the way the light plays... it's just...different. I'm not gonna lie, the first time, I was slightly unnerved. Like, "Am I dreaming? Did I accidentally ingest something I shouldn't have at the airport?" But you get used to it. Quickly.
Is it...comfortable? Because "cave" and "luxury" don't exactly scream the same thing.
Alright, let's be honest. I was expecting damp and chilly. I was *wrong*. This place is seriously luxurious. Think fluffy duvets, fancy toiletries, underfloor heating (thank GOD, because those cave walls can still get a bit cold at night), and enough soft pillows to build a small fort. My *god*, the pillows. I could have died happy wrapped in those pillows. They were like clouds. The bathroom? Huge, gleaming, and with a shower that could probably wash a small elephant. (I didn't see any elephants, sadly. Maybe I missed them.) It's *comfortable* comfortable, but also very unique.
What's the vibe like? Is everyone super fancy and uptight?
Thankfully, nope! Okay, there's a definite air of "this is a special place," but it's not aggressively snobby. People are there to *enjoy* the experience. I saw a mix of couples, families (who, bless them, were probably exhausted from the kids running in the cave-corridors. It's THAT kind of vibe), and a few solo travelers like myself, all just marveling at the surroundings. The staff? Super friendly and helpful. They actually *seemed* to enjoy their jobs, which is always a good sign. Once, my alarm didn't work, (and, well, maybe *someone* forgot to set it for the hot air balloon ride...), and the concierge was up in a flash to rectify the sitch and calm me from a panic attack. Total lifesaver.
The hot air balloon rides. I've heard murmurings. Tell me everything!
Okay, this is where I'm going to get a little...emotional. The hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia is *the most magical thing I've ever done*. Honestly. The picture in my head, I can see everything. The pre-dawn darkness, the nervous excitement, the *sheer volume* of hot air balloons blossoming in the sky at the same time... It's like a dream, a painting come to life. I'd spent my travel allowance for the year, so the experience was that good. It's expensive, yes, but WORTH IT. You float over the "fairy chimneys" (those crazy rock formations), the valleys, the vineyards... it's breathtaking. It's also freezing, so pack layers. And watch out for the landing! Some of them are a bit...bumpy. My face. My soul. Pure elation. But I recommend it.
Food! What's the grub like? I'm there mostly for the food, let's be honest.
Oh, the food! Okay, so the MDC Hotel has its own restaurant, and it's *good*. Breakfast is a buffet of Turkish delights: fresh bread, cheeses, olives, fruits, jams, and eggs cooked to order. The dinners? They're delicious. I remember one night, I had a lamb dish that practically melted in my mouth. And the wine list! Local wines, reasonably priced, and perfect for sipping while you're contemplating the meaning of life (or, you know, just enjoying the view). But, here's my confession: one night, I ordered room service and ate a whole plate of Turkish pizza (lahmacun) in bed. Don't judge me. I was tired. And it was glorious.
Any downsides? Anything to watch out for?
Okay, real talk. The cave rooms, are *cave* rooms. So, the ceilings are high, and the lighting can be a bit… subdued. If you're used to blinding bright lights, bring a friend or pack a sunlamp. Also, the internet can be spotty in some areas, something that really annoyed me. The other thing? The cave rooms can get a bit echo-y. If you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs. And the walk, if you have mobility issues, requires extra effort to the different floors, don't forget to ask for a room closer to the reception. I would 100% return.
Would you go back? Seriously, would you??
In a heartbeat! Honestly, I'm already mentally planning my return trip. It's a place that gets under your skin, that makes you feel... something. I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it's the unique beauty, the sense of history seeping from every stone, The hotel itself? It's gorgeous. But Cappadocia, that landscape? It's more than just the beauty. It's the feeling of being someplace truly special, the feeling you get when all your senses come alive! I'm telling you, cancel your plans, book the ticket, and go!
