With little kids, I’d pick a stone room with a proper opening window and easy access. Stay at a cave hotel, enjoy the terrace, take the photos—you don’t have to sleep in a windowless room to get the experience.
The catch is that “cave hotel” doesn’t tell you what you’re booking. The same place can have rooms carved into rock and rooms built from stone. Even one category can include completely different layouts. That bright room in the photos might not be the one waiting for you.
Ask which room those pictures show and whether you can reserve that room by name or number. Some hotels will confirm it, others only book the category. “We’ve noted your preference” is just a request, so don’t pay a non-refundable rate assuming you’ve secured the sunny room.
For fresh air, ask whether the window actually opens **to the outside**. A little window onto an enclosed passage won’t do what you want. If it’s windowless, ask how fresh air gets in; “there’s air conditioning” doesn’t answer that.
Cave rooms aren’t automatically damp. But if recent reviews keep mentioning musty smells, damp bedding or poor ventilation, I’d move on. And if yours smells musty when you arrive, ask for another room before unpacking. “That’s just how caves smell” isn’t a reason to put up with it.
For stairs, be blunt: can you push the stroller from reception to the room, or do you have to carry it up steps? Ask the same about getting to breakfast. “Ground floor” can still involve outdoor stairs on a hillside. Also ask whether there are steps inside the room—some suites put the bathroom or extra beds on another level. Lovely in photos, annoying with a sleepy toddler.
Make sure they’ve allowed space for the cot or extra bed with everyone’s ages included in the booking. A “family suite” label doesn’t tell you where the kids will actually sleep.
One last thing: I’d avoid a room directly under the shared balloon-view terrace. People get up early, move chairs and walk around while you’re trying to sleep 😅 Give me an opening window, proper beds and no steep stairs. I can walk to the terrace when I want the view.
