The Summit at Big Bend — Hotel in Manuel Benavides

The short version is that if you're even a teensy bit outdoorsy this is 100% going to be an incredible experience. Don't think about it, book it, thank me later. But I'm going to get SUPER detailed for anyone who wants to know.

We stayed for two nights in Dome 2, which is a stargazing dome. It's one of the closest domes to the road, and the front window faces the road/sunrise. When the curtains were closed we felt we had complete privacy. There are no other domes blocking the view.

We arrived the first night with time to unpack and hike to the summit. We didn't realize that there was a parking area slightly higher, but it was wonderful! We carried plenty of water and then filled our empty bottles with trash on the way down. There's a picnic table at the top but no shade so once you commit to going up, be ready for the sun!

The roads are all well maintained and although we did not have an off road vehicle we had no problems coming and going. The bathrooms and showers were all immaculately clean and well stocked, including complimentary shampoo/conditioner/body wash. The shower stalls are generously sized with TWO rain shower heads and hot water. There is also a little bench if needed. It felt very luxurious, especially after long days hiking in the dust and heat. My one suggestion would be to have small red LEDs in the bathroom stalls at night to preserve night vision. Some guests kept leaving the bathroom lights on and they are VERY bright and defeat the purpose of us traveling to a dark sky area.

The inside of the dome is nothing short of heaven. My jaw absolutely dropped when I saw the bed. The mattress, pillows, and linens were all amongst some of the most comfortable I've ever slept on. The AC unit had no problem keeping us cool, but the additional fan in the room has very bright lights that we ended up covering with a washcloth to keep the dome nice and dark. While I appreciate that the owners obviously wanted to provide the very best, I'd have been happier with a simpler/cheaper fan in the room if it meant that it didn't have all the lights BUT I say this fully acknowledging that it was our choice to use it AND there was a simple solution to make it dark.

The floor of the dome is smooth concrete. The sink was amazing to have inside the room because my partner wears contacts and I have braces, both of which were so much easier to manage by having our own sink/mirror in the room rather than using the ones attached to the exterior of the bathroom building. There was also a little Keurig fully stocked with coffee and tea, but unfortunately ours was not working and only leaked water out. This wasn't a problem as we packed a cooler with provisions and weren't counting on having that luxury. The only other thing we noticed that was problematic was a lantern/flashlight inside the dome had a broken button, but the property was so well set up that we didn't need to use the light. There are small solar lanterns marking the paths.

The fire pit was stocked with wood, the mini fridge in the room had some complimentary drinks, the night stands had eye masks and earplugs provided. The hosts truly thought of everything!! There was even a barbecue grill available to be borrowed from the bathroom building's outdoor area. There were Adirondack chairs set up around the fire pit, which we used to the fullest. Each night some employees arrived to uncover our dome and each morning they would cover it back up.

The dome itself isn't the clearest to see out of. You'll get your best stargazing by being outside. Our second night we got a notification from the owners that it was going to rain, which was so thoughtful since we had largely been without cell service and didn't think to check the weather. They warned us that some domes may leak but said if it was a problem don't hesitate to reach out. Our dome did leak a little, but we weren't worried about it and chose to just stay in bed and snuggle on the side that wasn't dripped on hahaha.

I cannot recommend this place highly enough. I hope to come back...

This was absolutely one of the most unique glamping experiences of my life. As soon as we arrived at Crystal Cave we found another couple inside our cave lying on the bed. Although this was very upsetting the host sorted it out very quickly. Because the cave door isn’t operated by code entry, there is a key that dangles openly from the keyhole for guests to use during their stay. Obviously, this presents the opportunity for anyone to walk up to the cave and go right in when the key is left unattended. I’m sure our situation was just a one off and this type of thing is not common. However, I hope the host takes this into consideration and invests in a more secure entrance to the cave for future guests.

Yes, everything is beautifully decorated, the bed is comfortable, and the surroundings are breathtaking. The cave greets you with a fairly challenging incline from your parking space to the cave landing. We brought a wagon and made several trips up and down this incline while unloading our gear. If you aren’t in shape, it will not be easy. There are some stone steps, but they are not all even, and the loose rocks can cause you to lose your footing. Be advised, be prepared, and don’t do this in the dark. If you are not able to handle this kind of physical challenge, request the Onyx Cave as you can just park right there next to your cave with no obstacles.

The host mentioned prior to our arrival that there would be firewood & that the first bundle was free and then $10/bundle after that. Luckily, we brought our own firewood because there was none upon arrival (hence several trips for our wagon haul). The next day two workers dropped off four small bundles of firewood. If you plan to use the firepit as much as we did, the four bundles they provide will not last long.

Plumbing. Where do I begin? The water from the faucets in the kitchenette and washroom worked only part of the time. Once turned on, water would flow for a few seconds then large air pockets would burst out. Water would then barely trickle from the tap then eventually, nothing. We'd wait for a while, I guess for the water tank to fill back up, then start the process over again. Washing dishes, washing hands, and brushing teeth were a struggle. Same thing with the shower. I contacted the host and they said they were sending maintenance right away. They never showed up. We spent two nights there unable to shower but for a few seconds at a time. It was miserable. Basically, we had to sponge bathe once we were able to halfway fill the sink. I didn’t wash my hair until the morning we left to which it was difficult to rinse out the shampoo. Thank goodness the toilet worked!

As mentioned, it was an incredibly unique glamping experience. Met with challenges and inconveniences such as plumbing issues which upset me the most. However, we could not have been more thrilled to be high on that hill with some of the most amazing views and a gorgeous cave room all to ourselves. Breathing in the cool crisp air, watching the gorgeous sunset, cooking over an open fire on our cast iron pan, gazing at the darkest starry sky in Texas, and absorbing the peacefulness that surrounded us. That’s what brought us to The Summit,...

This is “Glamping” at its finest! Husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our several day stay. They have reflective tape on the outside of the short doorway on the stargazer dome but also warn you of needing to duck in several places. You’re in a desert so dust will be everywhere but it never obstructed our view of the stars at night while laying in bed. Sitting up by the fire pit was a clearer view and saw many shooting stars nightly. They provide ear plugs so if the wind picks up you don’t have to worry about listening to the dome fabric moving and sleep masks which may help people when the moon is directly overhead and shining bright (we didn’t need to use either). The dome cover was removed each evening and put on each morning without us being interrupted. The curtains were great for keeping the sun and heat out. The split AC/heat worked great but they also provided additional heat source since temps at night are currently chilly. The bed was surprisingly comfortable and feather duckie was heavy and warm. The sink, fridge and keurig are a bonus since you don’t get those luxuries while camping. We were able to easily cook our meals in the fire pit. We did enjoy several meals in Terlingua and didn’t experience bad food or service nor did we ever feel unsafe in any area we were. Our dome did not lock but as experienced campers anything high value stayed with us. We did not have any issues of people bothering our dome/items left in it. Booking was easy and everything was straightforward regarding cancellation policy. This is actually stated several times via email so no surprises. Very easy drive to Big Bend (National Park or the Ranch)The Summit has great area for sun rise/set viewing (about 3.5 mile round trip hike from our dome) but we had an amazing view right from our dome. The flushing toilets (even though in the middle of each area/shared) are clean and were not freezing (some areas in Big Bend National Park only have vault toilets). They have electricity so you’re not having to balance a flashlight. Same with showers. Electricity and big rain type shower heads with soap and shampoo/conditioner provided if you want. They also have a towel for each person and a hand towel for in the dome. They have a straightforward Welcome Book with all the needed info AND important information! They describe exactly what to do in urgent situations and advise what not to do. This entire area (including Big Bend National Park, Terlingua and to Lajitas) is not a solid place for WiFi. The Summit offers pretty darn good connection but it’s still Texas and when the winds/weather moves in I’m sure it can be affected. We will definitely be back and hopefully we can book one of the caves on our next travels...