From Check-in to Check-out

The Best and My Favorite Hotels Around the World

By Angela Parinas

Graphic by Catarina Koehler

From a young age, my parents began taking my siblings and I on yearly trips—stressing the importance of knowing many cultures, meeting different people, trying diverse foods, and exploring unique cities. I fell in love with travel, with the history, the plane food, the sights, the languages, and the traditions. But what I have fallen in love with most are the hotels. I’ve had a couple unique experiences, from rainforests to deserts, that have left me with unforgettable memories I could only dream to relive. So, I couldn’t help but reminisce by sharing some of the places that have stayed with me long after I left.

Amazon Rainforest - Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge

The Amazon Rainforest is already an exciting adventure, with rivers dark enough you wouldn’t be able to see your feet, caiman hiding in the brush, and rainstorms appearing at the drop of a hat—it is truly an incomparable experience. But what made the trip all the more memorable was the Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge.

This small lodge is tucked along the banks of the Rio Negro, with rooms (or cottages as they call it) scattered across the property, offering privacy to every guest, and a communal lounge in the middle. The hotel offers all that is expected and more, with a pool overlooking the Rio Negro and the forest across the river. There is locally sourced Brazilian food, and a private floating bar right on the water.

Anavilhanas takes it a step further, incorporating tour experiences with the stay, offering three-to-six day experience bundles. With the lodge and their guides, you are taken through the forest on a boat, rain or shine. On another day, you are woken up bright and early to go hiking through the trees, rushing back when the wind signals a storm. The next day, you are taken to a local Amazon village, learning how they cook, work, and live. It was one of the most unique stays I’ve ever had, and though it may have felt like I was on Survivor at times, I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

Turkey - Museum Hotel

The Museum Hotel is located in Cappadocia, Turkey, and is built within caves. Each room is made to look different, uniquely carved within the mountainside to mirror the region's historic cave dwellings and underground cities. The furniture and decor are invaluable antiques, adorning the rooms, hallways, and dining rooms—hence the “Museum” Hotel.

What makes the stay so extraordinary is the historic atmosphere it transports you into. From the small desserts they put on your bed to the Turkish rugs laid in every room, the hotel skillfully weaves their culture and traditions into the entire experience. On top of the extraordinary rooms, every part of the property has a panoramic view of the mountain range and the ancient caves dotting the valley. As an added bonus, if you’re up early enough, you can catch a glimpse of the air balloons that rise into the sky every morning and get a full picture of Cappadocia’s beauty.

While the hotel itself was exceptional, what made the stay even more unforgettable was the kindness and hospitality of the staff. The hotel feels like a family, with the owner living on the property through parts of the year, and his two dogs, Joe and Cimbiz, wandering around to greet each guest. All together, it’s an experience that not only shocks you with awe but warms you with a sense of home and comfort.

Morocco - Merzouga Desert Camp

The Merzouga Desert Camp is better described as a glamping experience rather than a hotel. The property is located in the Sahara Desert, requiring off-road cars to reach the camp. Once you arrive, you are taken to the dining tent where they serve you local Moroccan cuisine before taking you to your own private tent. From there you are free to relax before you begin your desert explorations the next morning.

The Merzouga Desert Camp was similar to the Amazon Rainforest Lodge in the way that it incorporated experiences into the stay. Being in the Sahara Desert, the camp made sure to provide a camelback-riding experience to every guest. Along with that, they offered SUV tours to take you around the desert, taking a stop at rocky terrain to show you the fossils scattered around.

If you’re not up for a whole exploration, the camp offers its own activities with sleds propped by the tents. My siblings and I spent a majority of our time here sand sledding at one of the nearby dunes, often leaving sand in our shoes, ears, nose, and hair.

There is one “catch” to the stay: there is little to no internet. But don’t let that deter you, because it was what made the experience all the better. The camp took you both physically and mentally outside of the urban world, giving you that space to truly disconnect and fully immerse yourself in the grandness of the desert. It forced you back into reality and allowed you to really admire the beauty of the region with no disruptions.

I’m beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to experience the uniqueness of each and every hotel, camp, and lodge—each one showing me different ways to live in and see the world. And while I could ramble for days on each of these stays, I’ll have to leave it at the highlights. After all, there are still so many more places to check-in—and even more to discover before check-out.