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FTF's pick of unusual "hotels" in Brazil, Japan and Turkey and how to enjoy them as a family traveling with children.

Sometimes in our travels we encounter a perfect place to sleep, one so in sync with its cultural and physical environment that our journey is transformed. The very adventure of 'living like the locals' is enough to dispel our family's usual demand for wired, boxspring'ed, air-conditioned comfort. These places are often small (intimate), family-run (great with kids), very simply furnished in the local style (rustic), inexpensive (for us), and scenically situated off the beaten path -- rarely in a town we thought we'd visit for very long. That's what makes them such a find, and to be there, wherever there may be, is enough of a reason to come. Let's take a look at what Brazil's Pantanal, Japan's Takayama and Turkey's Cappadocia regions have to offer in the way of environmentally sensitive, culturally specific resorts. 

Brazil: Pantanal Welcomes Families

The Ministry of Tourism likes to describe the Pantanal of central Brazil in deserved superlatives: it is the most bio-diverse region in the world, with 4,000 miles of beach-lined coast free of hurricanes or earthquakes. More than 700 species of birds, reptile, wild cats, deer and monkeys populate the world's largest freshwater wetlands.

At its heart in the Caiman Ecological Refuge is the Caiman Lodge, where families can explore the region by horseback, canoe, small motorized boat, by foot, or on photo safari, or fish for any of the 260 species populating the surrounding waters.

Four guest lodges dot the 131,000-acre property: the main lodge typifies the pantaneiros farming lifestyle; two others are rustic waterfront units on stilts. Each has a pool, a buffet restaurant, bar and reading lounge with TV; simply furnished rooms have ceiling fans and A/C, hammocks and private bathrooms. 

Daily rates begin at $128 p.p. triple occupancy; children 3-12 years start at $96 each in parents' room. Two eco-activities daily led by local, bilingual Portugese/English guides, evening lectures, all meals and insurance are included in rates; certain river excursions and in the summer, a cattle drive (!) are adrenalin-producing activities for a fee. December through March are rainy and buggy; the dry months of July through September can be cold at night, but are ideal for wildlife viewing. Contact your travel agent or Caiman directly at  55 11.3079-6622; fax 55 11.3079-6037.