Hotel and Inn Review: Solem Cave Suites (Urgur/Nevsehir, Turkey)

 Date of Stay: June 24 to 25, 2024

 

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: ********

Rooms: ********

Condition and Cleanliness: *********

Staff Performance: **********

Room Comfort: *********

Food and Beverage: ********

Other Amenities: ********

Value for Money: *********

 

Solem Cave Suites

Our overnight home during our two-day tour of Cappadocia was the beautiful, stylish and very peaceful Solem Cave Suites, a charming boutique hotel built on the street and nestled in the heart of Urgup.  The hotel consists of a combination of 3 different usage areas that have been used, for centuries, as a madrasa (an educational institution), inn and agha mansion. It was meticulously restored by architect Fevzi Aysu and Muzafeer Büyükbaş (Solem Cave Suites Chairman), adhering to the past without damaging its historical texture.

 

Sun Deck - East Side

Sun Deck - West Side

The hotel has 17 non-smoking, allergy-free rooms - two 80 sq. m. (431 sq. ft.) King Suites (202 and 305), four 60 sq. m. (646 sq. ft.) Queen Suites (102, 108, 201 and 203), eight 40 sq. m. (431 sq. ft.) Deluxe Rooms (101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 109 and 302) and three 20 sq.m. (215 sq. ft.) Standard Rooms (301, 303 and 304).  The King and Queen Suites have a bathtub, balcony/terrace and garden views. Spa and wellness facilities, including a hot tub and a hammam (Turkish bath), are at guests' disposal during their stay at Solem Cave Suites.

 

Deluxe Room (103)

Bathroom

The Deluxe Room (103) we stayed in had air conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen Smart TV with satellite channels (plus paid platforms such as Netflix, YouTube and Amazon); coffee and tea facility; heated floors; laptop-compatible work desk and safety deposit box; phone (with free local calls); minibar and a spacious private bathroom with a hot and cold shower, bathrobes and slippers and equipped with bed linen and towels. The bed and pillows were super soft and very comfortable.  The room was very clean and nice and the price versus quality was unbeatable. 

 

Grace, Jandy, Paula, Manny and Selena at the Shared Lounge

The hotel features a 24-hour Front Desk, a garden, terrace, a bar (in Urgup), business center (with a fax machine and photocopier) as well as a shared lounge. Free high speed wireless internet access is available throughout the property and so many electrical outlets were available for us in our room.

 

Restaurant

Bar

During dinner, we met up with the genial and kind Ercan Ozcan, a retired high school teacher, at the onsite restaurant set in a modern style setting. He made dining at the restaurant a delightful experience, personally serving us a delicious array of reasonably priced dishes – vegetable salad, soup, the traditional testi (meaning “jug” in Turkish) kebab (placed in a single-serve clay pot) of Cappadocia, Turkish rice and a chocolate souffle for dessert.  

 

Breakfast

Dining Area

After our hot-air balloon experience, we again met up with Ercan during our a la carte breakfast (available 8 to 11 AM) which offered Continental, Full English/Irish or Italian options.  The over-the-top breakfast was also delicious and filling, with various kinds of jams and cheeses; omelets, bread, juice and hot Turkish coffee or chocolate.

 

Garden facing our room

They offer express check-in (12 noon) and check-out (10:30 AM), room service, airport shuttle service (surcharge), luggage storage, concierge, daily housekeeping, valet parking, laundry service and currency exchange for guests. The area is popular for cycling (bike rentals are available) and car hire is available at the hotel. The hotel also has a tour desk offering hot-air balloon flights, ATV tours, off-road tours, one-day private Cappadocia tours and horse riding tours. 

 

View from outdoor sitting area

The staff was very friendly, professional, kind and helpful.  From the hundreds of “cave hotels” in the area, this is exceptional as it is away from busy and noisy touristy area.  The only downside of this hotel is that it is that it does not have ramps or elevators for the disabled/handicapped, it being a cave hotel (the upper floors are only accessible by stairs)).  Still, I give the hotel five stars. Truly, a highly recommendable hotel.

Solem Rooftop Wine Bar

The hotel, with its stunning, awe-inspiring and panoramic views of beautiful cave houses in the Urgup Region, is located 150 m. (a 2-min. walk) from Turasan Winery, 490 m. from Nikolos Monastery, 520 m. (a 5-min. walk) from Temenni Wishing Hill, 1 km. from Urgup Museum, 11.3 kms. from Love Valley, 11.7 kms. from Red Valley, 12 kms. from Zelve Open-Air Museum, 13 kms. from Uchisar Castle, 28 kms. from Özkonak Underground City and 48.966 kms. (a 45-min. drive) from Nevşehir Kapadokya airport.

 

A trellised outdoor dining area

Solem Cave Suites: Temenni, Tevfik Fikret Cd. No:25, 50400 Ürgüp/Nevşehir, Turkey Tel: +90 384 341 33 00.  E-mail: info@solemcavesuites.com. Website: www.solemcavesuites.com.