Camp Hideaway - Gruene — Hotel in New Braunfels

Horrible Experience at Camp Hideaway – Do Not Book! I cannot express just how beyond furious I am with Camp Hideaway in New Braunfels, Texas. I made a reservation months in advance for Memorial Day weekend (May 24th-26th, 2025), understanding that this is a busy time in the area. I thought by planning ahead, I'd avoid the stress of last-minute booking, only to have my trip ruined by the sheer incompetence, dishonesty, and lack of customer service from this property. Let me start from the beginning. A couple of months ago, I received an email from the property manager asking if I would be okay with being relocated to a “farmhouse” further away from the wedding venue on the property. I understood that the property was hosting a wedding that weekend, and they didn’t want us to be disturbed by loud music, which seemed reasonable. I agreed without hesitation, as I thought it was a minor adjustment that would make sense. Fine. I had no issues with that. Then, THREE WEEKS AGO, I get an email that was completely casual and nonchalant in tone, informing me that my reservation had been canceled. No apologies, no empathy, just a quick “oops, we double-booked” message. I had already paid in full, back in the summer of 2024, and suddenly this reservation I had locked in so far in advance was just gone. The property manager didn’t seem the least bit concerned about the inconvenience this caused me. The whole thing was brushed off like it was no big deal, but it was an absolutely huge deal to me. Here’s where I get suspicious. The property manager claimed it was a double-booking issue, but I’m not buying it. I believe the wedding event they’re hosting is being given priority over paying guests like me. The whole thing seems shady as hell. I had reserved and paid for my accommodation first, and yet, it feels like they’re dumping me to give the room to some wedding party that likely hasn’t even paid. They are clearly prioritizing this wedding over paying customers who have already committed and paid. But wait—this gets worse. After receiving that cancellation email, I attempted to contact them multiple times to discuss what happened and how they could rectify this situation. I could never get anyone on the phone who would actually help. They promise to get back to you, but it’s all lies. I was told the managers were “in a meeting” every time I called, even when it was only 11 AM, and I was assured that someone would call me back. Spoiler alert: no one ever did. Then there’s Ali, the manager (I assume), who told me they would make this right. He mentioned some other property in Fredericksburg as a potential replacement for my reservation and said he’d call me back with availability. Guess what? He never called. Not once. I’ve been left completely in the dark, with no resolution and no follow-through. I had to do all the legwork, and still, nothing. It’s beyond frustrating. Ali had the audacity to tell me that I would need to cancel the reservation myself on Booking.com in order to get my refund. Excuse me? This is a cancellation they initiated, not me. Why should I be the one doing the work to get my money back? What kind of customer service is that? Now, here's the kicker: when I went to Booking.com to cancel the reservation, they still show availability for that weekend! Even though they canceled MY reservation, they still make it look like you can book with them. So, if you're thinking about booking here, don’t be surprised when they do the same thing to you. You could end up in the same mess I’m in—cancelling a trip you already paid for, while they continue to lie and act like nothing happened. It's pure bait-and-switch. In short, I would strongly advise against booking with Camp Hideaway. They have no respect for their customers, they lie, they don’t communicate, and they will absolutely ruin your plans. I’ve wasted HOURS trying to resolve this. This place is a complete joke, and they should be ashamed of how they treat people. Do yourself a favor and find somewhere else to stay. Do not waste your time,...

I recently booked out camp hideaway for a four day wedding weekend and my experience was a complete nightmare from beginning to end.

When I toured the venue everything seemed amazing and I took extensive notes as I toured the site. Then they sent over the contract so I signed and paid not combing through the details. (My Fault). If you book a wedding here READ YOUR CONTRACT.

The links I was given for room bookings never worked, it was impossible to ever call and get through to someone, almost all of the information I was given during the tour (including final payment dates and what would be extra) were completely incorrect and when I asked them about it they said she only worked part time? I wasn't given a gate code for the scheduled final walk through so I was calling and emailing for 20 min outside until the wedding planner climbed the gate and found someone to let us in. I was told the reception hall closes at 11pm with vendors gone at midnight. So I booked my entire wedding around this live band, late night food and all. Then at my final walk through they tell me its actually a hour early but I could pay a extra 1k for the extra hour. The original amount also does not include required security, bar cart that sits outside, bar. When it was all said and done this venue far exceeds any in the area because of all the last minute extras. I booked this place to do a outdoor wedding. During the first visit Maria said outside band would be great food outside how fun everything was possible. Then at the final walk through she says there is no power outside and none of that is possible on their side?? So I moved everything inside to the venue that closed at 10pm even through I rented the entire resort Thursday - Sunday.

Start of wedding weekend. We didn't get house and gate codes until day before, every single code was wrong....I asked to see Marias computer and showed her every. code was wrong. I then ran from house to house to let people in. I was told she would be on site all weekend but I never saw her again. Not even a apology she just acted annoyed.

Historic house had no ac and was leaking. One guest is in HVAC and fixed it.

Tiny house was ant infested. My 83yr old Father in law slept on the porch it was so bad. They came and cleaned it each day but every night it was infested again. (we had no food in there) We were refunded for that but what a awful embarrassing experience.

The pharmacy, We sat down on the bed and the mattress sunk into a hole. When we lifted up the mattress half of the pegs holding it up were missing so the bed was basically balancing. (we took photos).

Rehearsal day I had plans to decorate the hall and get flowers ready for the next day. The manager Ollie said I had drop off only access and this would not be possible. I questioned it but he talked to me like I was a idiot so I just let it go. He had a meeting starting soon and insinuated he wanted my mom and i out. The heat was killer that day and the more I thought about it the more I felt that wasn't correct. The internet isn't great there so I called the wedding planner asked her to pull it up.....turns out I paid 7k to use that hall the ENTIRE DAY. He then back tracked and acted like It never happened after placing some calls then asked me who was going to clean up after us???? I paid 7K that didn't include someone sweeping after us if needed?????

This place was so disorganized all of my vendors and planners

were taken back and shocked. I could go on and on with more but this paints a solid picture.

Shout out to the designer this place is stunning, onsite maintenance guy was also incredible and kind. If I knew how to contact the owners I would because as a hospitality business owner they deserve to know how poorly the place they clearly sunk millions into...

Let me just say this from the beginning.

Camp Hideaway lives up to its name.

My kids are grown and growing kids of their own. It was October and we needed a getaway to celebrate fall birthdays, build connections, and deepen roots. We all carved out a weekend from our geographically disconnected, busy IH35 lives and put Camp Hideaway-Gruene on GPS.

I felt the weight of the week begin to loosen and shift as I took the exit from the highway. There's nothing like a dirt road to make you feel, well, different. A good different. Winding through the back roads of Texas is a worthy jam in itself, but coming around a curve and seeing the true-to-its-roots getaway homes nestled among the live oaks of the hill country made my "mom-heart" do a dance! I thought about a weekend with my Favorites, in a place where I did not have to "be the one" to come up with the agenda--this place had done it already--places to wander and for kids to run and play; tired souls to sleep in enveloping, quiet, comfort; active others to swim; and all of us to have time. Time together, around a campfire, a kitchen island, a beautiful pool.--It was all there.

If this wasn't enough we must throw in the fact that we were only 5 minutes from the most iconic Texas experience-place in the state--Historic Gruene. Authentic Texas. No pretending here. As we drove into Gruene, my daughter, looking at the smallness and simpleness of it through the car window said, "What's the big deal? I don't get it." I said, "Just wait." You don't just go to Gruene. Greune comes, and happens to you. And it did. She got it.

If ever you need to deepen a busy family's root system, create cohesion with your stressed-out team or "wed" two families together, this place has no rivals. Do it.

Camp Hideaway, you have given me more than a weekend. You have given me memories for a...