Serana — Hotel in Giddings

First of all, as our waiter at the restaurant we went to after putting our things inside our tent said when we were telling him why we were in town, "That looks better than the rooms in my house!" Let's be honest, it's glamping, not camping, but it was still a worthwhile experience. My wife and I had the pleasure of staying there one night this weekend, and we enjoyed ourselves and the peaceful surroundings. We've camped in a tent before overnight, but we had a regular old tent. It wasn't the size of a bedroom, it didn't have a queen mattress, sitting chairs and most importantly, a wood burning stove. It was pretty much the Ritz of tents, even a welcome basket. My only "gripes" were, 1) though that stove was amazing at keeping us warm, we went through ALL the wood and they provided quite a bit. Though instructions were provided, I need them put into rich dummy terms for me, WITH pictures, because I'm pretty sure we weren't supposed to go through all that wood for one night. 2) their 2 tents were away from one another, but still closer than I expected them to be. Could have been twice the current distance apart for me personally, but again, you weren't right on top of each other. Lastly it was great that they had showers available out there, but the heads were the type that just come straight down from above, and to be blunt, black people don't really get down with those. We don't generally go camping as a people either, so there's something to said about that I guess lol. We try to avoid getting our hair wet unless we're washing it when in the shower. That being said, the shower/bathroom area was very clean, did not smell and offered privacy, so overall great for those who want a little of their dignity while sleeping under the stars, which were very pretty out there. Walking around the grounds really put you in a tranquil state, and we saw that they were building an outdoor gym, for the camper who also likes to get a weight workout in. It's dog friendly, as long as it's on a leash when outside the tent, and the owners were nice folks. If you live in the Bastrop area, and want to go camping, but don't want to go bare bones camping, this is the place. It can be your gateway into camping, and a nice little...

(original stay Nov 2023) I spent three nights here for a self-prescribed retreat. It was absolutely everything I hoped for: quiet, centering, and restful. The Field Cabin was comfortable and well-furnished. I enjoyed doing morning runs on the perimeter of the property (about 1 km loop) and was greeted by friendly cows and cats during my stay. The kitchen facility was well-stocked, with ample cookware, dishes, and utensils. They even offered free, farm fresh eggs!

I would advise future visitors to prepare for trips to/from the common restroom facilities (i.e., sandals/light shoes). They're very clean. I recommend bringing your own washcloths and spare body towels, just as backup. The Turkish towels are very nice, but may be small for some people. Update 06/25: they now include very nice Turkish robes!

Carlyle and Zach have created a wonderful oasis and it was a pleasure to meet them both during my stay. I've already booked another return stay in a couple months.

Follow-up on second visit (Feb 2024): I spent a couple nights in Kampina No. 2. We were graced with some amazingly wonderful weather and, as before, Serena was very nicely accommodating. The days were warm (80's and nights rather cool (lower 60's) but the Kampina stayed very temperate.

Update June 2025: I returned for four days at the Field Cabin, which was fantastic as a "restful workplace" for me (songwriting and journaling). The new Post Oak Cabins are gorgeous and perfect for couples with their own bathrooms and huge beds. They are building new kitchen and workout facilities and should be done by fall of 2025. It's become one of my favorite places to escape and...

Stayed at Serana—an oasis getaway just 50 minutes from Austin. After an easy drive, we arrived to the cutest wood cabin with all the essentials for a perfect ranch stay.

It was fully stocked with plush robes and towels, a luxurious king bed, and a great coffee & tea bar. The cabin was beautifully designed for comfort but also utility with big closets, a kitchenette area, spacious bathroom with two sinks, luggage racks, ample lighting and even a desk. The shower had high quality soap and shampoo, a large tile bench and natural lighting.

The highlight was definitely the views. From the bed you could open the curtains to the massive glass doors and see acres of live oaks, cows milling about in neighboring pastures, and that Texan orange sun stroking through the trees for sunset and sunrise. We loved our stay and plan to come back again to use the pool and communal spaces. Might even go with a group or a few other couples as it would be perfect for that and the owners are currently adding a lodge,...