Hibernate in a cave in Puglia
Italy, Europe
If you’re looking for an experience that is as unique as it is authentic, then staying in the ancient cave dwellings carved into the limestone cliffs in Italy’s magical city of Matera is for you!
Not the type of cave you might find Bear Grylls bunkering down for the night, but a plush cave hotel in one of Europe’s most unusual landscapes. The Italian city of Matera is renowned for its ancient cave dwellings. These intriguing stone residences are cut into rock faces within a labyrinth of narrow streets and tumbling lodgings chipped into the cliffside.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, between the stone churches and ancient alleyways, the caves have been carefully restored in full respect of the local cultural heritage. Fear not, with king size beds and ensuite bathrooms, these hotel caves offer every comfort!
Explore our Italy holidays 6
Explore our Italy tours 24
Explore our Italy cruise 17
Jared Wilson
House of Travel Christchurch City
No. of
countries visited: 40+
Favourite
place to visit: Anywhere in South America
Next
place on the list to visit: Kenya
Quote: “Never pass
up a bathroom”
About
me: With over 2 years of solo travel across 40+ countries,
I am passionate about immersing myself in new cultures and uncovering the
unique experiences each destination has to offer. Fluent in Spanish, Latin
America is my particular area of experience and expertise. Whether you're after
an exciting adventure or a peaceful getaway, I’m committed to designing a
memorable and seamless trip tailored specifically to you.
Why I love travel: It allows
me to escape the sometimes repetitive nature of daily life. I enjoy experiencing
new places or returning to ones that I love. I like making connections with
people from places around the world and having experiences that can’t be
replicated.
My travel tips:
- Meet the locals – Almost all of my favourite and most cherished travel experiences have involved meeting and making friends with the local people. It is a sure-fire way to have a more unique and intimate holiday experience.
- When in Rome – A cliché but one to that will enrich your travel, observe how the locals live and learn from it. Try the local brew or dish, join in on the fun. Also respect local customs and traditions, this will allow a richer and safer experience.
- Expect the unexpected- Be ready
for unforeseen circumstances that will inevitably occur at some point during a
trip. If you are expectant and prepared for troublesome scenarios you can save
yourself a lot of grief. After all, you want to make your break from reality as
stress free as possible.
My top 3 favourite destinations:
- Colombia- An up and
coming travel destination, a country cursed with the reputation earned from its
past. It is extremely geographically diverse and amazing bang for your buck. I
still haven’t found a country with warmer and friendlier people.
- Spain- A country full of amazing destinations to discover, with a rich history and a world class gastronomical scene. The fun loving people, the nightlife and the picturesque towns with uniquely their Spanish architecture are a must experience.
- Mexico- Mexico is
a country which is truly fascinating, an amazing place to get to know. It’s a
big country with lots to explore - like the US it is made up of states (32),
the more you see the more you’ll want to see. It is full of the most beautiful
places you’ve never heard of. The locals are extremely friendly and of course
the cuisine one of the best and most famous on the globe.
What’s in my suitcase:
- Spare phone, cables and a travel adaptor- Fact is electronics are a very important travel tool and to be prepared is important so you don’t have to go in the dark.
- A Journal- A
great way to record all the little details and memorable moments. When moving
fast and or experiencing a lot we naturally forget things. Writing it down will
help to recall in future and also to have what you’ve written forever is
something special.
- Travel cubes- Will help
you to keep your suitcase nice and organised for easy packing and ultimately
will save you time making things easier to find.
My most memorable travel stories:
- Walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain together with part of the Camino
Portugues from Lisbon to Porto – totalling 1200kms. My hiking shoes broke so I
did the last 1000kms in Sandals.
- Doing a 32 day Top Deck bus tour around Europe. Easily one of the best months of my life full of laughs and all round good times. I made some strong friendships and saw a lot in such a short space of time.
Jared
Grace Hadfield
House of Travel Ashburton
I joined the travel industry with House of Travel in 2022 and am so far loving it!
I have already been fortunate enough to do a bit of travelling myself and look forward to seeing more of what the world has to offer in the future!
I love researching and planning a memorable holiday for clients, there is so much to learn about each and every destination. I find that sharing travel stories is a great way to connect with others!
Megan Loughridge
House of Travel High Street Lanes, Christchurch CBD
With over 20 countries
visited and four group tours under my belt, I understand just how impactful a
well-planned journey can be. Each trip has given me new insights—not only into
different cultures and places—but also into what truly makes a travel experience
memorable.
I genuinely enjoy the planning process: mapping out itineraries, uncovering
hidden gems, and making sure every detail is just right. It’s this same
thoughtfulness and enthusiasm I bring to every trip I help design. Whether it’s
a relaxed escape, a cultural deep dive, or an adventure-filled group tour, my
goal is to create travel experiences that are exciting, seamless, and tailored
to you.
When I’m not travelling, you’ll usually find me being a proud (and slightly
crazy) dog lady—spending time with my three dogs and competing in dog agility.
My love of animals flows into my travel values too, and I’m a big believer in
travelling ethically and responsibly, with care and respect for local
communities, cultures, and wildlife.
Megan
Stacey Mullinger
House of Travel Northlink (formerly Northlands)
|
With over 30 years
of experience in the travel industry, I’ve built a career focused on creating
exceptional holidays through expert planning, attention to detail, and
in-depth destination knowledge. |
Stacey
Best. Holidays. Ever!
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