Arinna Cappadocia

The tour with Mustafa was one of the best we've ever taken. It was just my wife and me in a private van with Mustafa and the driver, so the day felt comfortable, personal, and never rushed. We covered the main Cappadocia highlights: Pigeon Valley, an Underground City, Uçhisar Castle, Ortahisar Castle, the Red River, Avanos, Imagination Valley, pottery workshops, Turkish carpet demonstrations, and a jewelry stop where we learned about local stones like sultanite and turquoise. The full itinerary somehow never felt tiring, and there was time at each stop for questions, lunch, and a rest. Mustafa even added Avanos, which wasn't part of the original package, because he wanted us to see what a Turkish town is really like. He welcomed us into his home, showed us his beautiful garden and fruit trees, and offered us cherries. That hospitality made the day unforgettable. He explained things with detail and passion, and clearly loves his work. I asked lots of questions, and he answered patiently and thoroughly. We learned about the region's food, language, history, culture, and daily life. At the pottery workshop, we watched a professional make pottery, and my wife got to try a small hands-on lesson that she loved. At the Turkish carpet cooperative, we saw carpets being made by hand and learned how Persian and Turkish carpets differ. They showed us many carpets side by side and offered tea, but there was no pressure to buy. The tour was informative, rich, comfortable, and genuinely special. I feel like we paid too little for everything we experienced. Mustafa is an exceptional guide, and I can't recommend him highly enough.

The morning balloon view was especially good, and the room was large. But the floor heating made it too hot, so I had to turn on the air-con, which felt wasteful with the cold outdoor temperature. The internet was very slow. Breakfast and service were good, but the open-kitchen dining room had poor ventilation and left my hair and clothes smelling of omelette. Bathroom items like a shower cap, cotton buds, toothbrush, and razor weren't provided, only shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner.

Those views! The balloons filled the sky right in front of us, so there was no need to leave the hotel. From our private balcony we took photos every morning against an incredible backdrop. Even the dress rental staff said we were lucky to have the best balloon view. Arina Hotel is family-owned, and the owners are among the kindest people we've met. They went out of their way to help with anything we needed, offered complete tour and activity packages, and we booked most of ours through them. We even had a private tour with the owner as our guide. They spoke great English, the food was delicious, and the ladies in the kitchen were so sweet. We felt like kids being looked after by loving parents. The hospitality was exceptional, and we're already planning to come back next year with our in-laws.

The owner and staff were friendly and helpful, and breakfast was great. We had a lovely room with beautiful views, watching the balloons both from the room and the hotel terrace. Free parking was a nice extra.