Introduction | Alila Ventana Big Sur

When Hyatt in 2018 announced they were acquiring the international lifestyle management company Two Roads Hospitality, this opened up new doors to some of the most exquisite and rare properties found around the world. For Hyatt members, this is a huge win as your status and points can be used their properties.

Ventana Big Sur is one of the most exclusive hotels in the world thanks to its jaw-dropping scenery, luxury vibes and fantastic dining in the heart of Big Sur. It also represents itself as one of the hardest properties to book with points, and rightfully so.

This is an all-inclusive resort, meaning that all meals were included, as well as access to various amenities spread across the massive Ventana grounds.

What does this include?

3 full meals (excluding alcohol)
Snacks and complimentary keepsake reusable water bottles
Access to Signature Experiences, such as yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, and daily hikes
Ventana Big Sur picnic program
Access to indoor and outdoor fitness studios
Volvo house cars for use within a 3-mile radius
Access to private reservation-only indoor and outdoor wellness studios
The Excursion Outpost, featuring complimentary items for use during hikes, picnics, adventures, and more
New outdoor lounging nooks across the grounds, perfect for couples

First Impressions | Alila Ventana Big Sur

We drove down from the Bay Area to Big Sur, with a stop at Carmel for breakfast. From Carmel onwards, we drove for around 35-40 minutes to Ventana Big Sur. Notably, if you never been to Big Sur, you may want to incorporate several stops like Bixby Ridge, Garrapata State Park and other Vista Points. They’re worth seeing and visiting.

Please note there are no cell phone service - so getting your GPS set ahead of time may be wise. As we drove into the property, we accidentally took the wrong turn and ended up at the Sur House and the Loft, which is the resort’s restaurant and private event room. After admiring the views, we drove back to the entrance, where a gate awaited us. A bellman warmly greeted us and took our car (free valet parking) and told us to visit the Social House to check-in.

Check-In | Alila Ventana Big Sur

When entering into Ventana, you must first go through their gates via intercom system. After the reception agent confirms your stay, you can then enter the resort grounds and utilize their valet parking or self-parking, which are both free. Check-In was as at the Social House, where the front desk manager kindly greeted us and began the check-in process.

Because we arrived a bit early, my wife and I opted to tour the resort - the place itself is huge with many hiking trails, with over 240+ acres of land. We ended up going all the way down to the glamping sites, where we eagerly pretended we were on some adventure, scouring the forests for some treasure. Even when my wife was pooped out, I took our corgi on an adventure that involved seeing owls and falcons, which was a cool experience.

The Room | Alila Napa Valley

The design was incredibly cozy and represented the local elements of Big Sur. It definitely a bit more luxurious than most forest cabins, with a massive king bed that was very comfortable. Power outlets are easily accessible near the bed and around the room. There was even an old-school rotary phone that made for some moments during room service!

Our room also came with a lovely dining table next to a window seat - it was great sitting there in the morning with a cup of coffee while enjoying the crisp, fresh weather in the morning. Our room had a private deck that was great for watching (or people watching) the sunset.

In addition, there is the typical dry bar with the Nespresso machine, water boiler and a complimentary mini-bar. We actually were given a ton of snacks during our visit and felt a bit embarrassed with the riches granted to us during our stay.

The Bathroom | Alila Napa Valley

The bathroom was very inviting, and featured a beautiful full-size soaking tub that opened up into the bedroom. There was a single vanity sink with a mirror and all required amenities. The toilet was separate. We were also given bath salts and a sponge pad, to which we greatly enjoyed at night. There was also their bath amenities, which was from Body Bliss.

Overall, the rooms (even the standard rooms) are spacious and well designed. With over 480+ square feet of space to unwind and relax in, a private deck, a beautiful opening to the ocean and a fantastic tub, it’s no wonder everyone spends so much time in the room.

The Social House & Smokehouse

The check-in and meeting point for most guests is called the Social House. Located close to our room, it was easy access from our room and provided a great place for us to relax. The building is separate into three portions - one is for check-in, another is a game room/work room and the last portion is where people can get coffee, tea and at 4-5pm, cheese and wine night. Outdoors, the Social house contains a plenty of outdoor seating, including seats on the patio, which is nice when the sun is out.

Regarding the cheese & wine hour, each guest can get a plate of cheese, spread and certain crackers along with a selection of wine. Actually, the offering here is quite spectacular. We were here for two nights and the wine selection rotated daily, along with an awesome sommelier that explained the concept of each bottle.

The Sur House

Serving as the only full-service restaurant, it’s located a bit far from the main part of the hotel, although it’s a beautiful walk from our room to the restaurant. It took me around 10-15 minutes to get there. If you’re booking any special events like the Falconry class, you can locate them near the Redwood Cathedral area during your walk, which included several pews and chairs.

And if you’re just plain lazy and want a ride then yes, they do have a house car to bring you around. When we first arrived at Ventana Big Sur, we had mistaken this place for check-in, but was kindly told this was their restaurant.. The staff and crew are incredibly friendly and super welcoming, including our dog, which made for eating out so much easier at times.

The All-inclusive plan features 1 appetizer, 1 main course and 1 dessert per person. Of course, alcohol is extra, but you can still order still or sparkling water or non-alcoholic drinks for free.

For breakfast, we had the mushroom omelet, the Sur House Breakfast and Queta’s Cinnamon Rolls. These were fantastic and I wished I didn’t stuff my face with so many of those rolls. Take your time with breakfast, as it’s incredibly beautiful outside.

Although not open during our time there, there is also the Big Sur Smokehouse, which is just located off the Pacific Coast Highway. It has indoor and outdoor seating which, on a good day, could probably see a ton of guests.

Amenities | Alila Ventana Big Sur

Most of the guests here are all about the infinity hot tub, which is located across from the first pool, and it’s definitely an awesome place to be. There are multiple lounge chairs scattered across the pool and deck area, which is nice to catch sunsets, although during oust stay it became quite wet due to a rainstorm. In addition, there is another pool called Mountain Pool, and is on the more quiet side of the area - still beautiful, though not as scenic as the first one.

There’s also an organic garden on the resort grounds that the chefs use for their produce. It’s a great walk up and down and you can enjoy a nice walk.

Finally, there is a Japanese Hot Bath, which plays in homage to Japanese onsen, and is quite a beautiful area to be in when the jets are on full blast. Men and Ladies are split into two different areas, though they can converge in the middle if they so choose.

There’s also a small, though nice efficient gym, which included two peloton bikes and a few weights that would definitely benefit any quick-and-go workout enthusiast. Heck, there’s even a TRX hook outside of the gym. Not bad.

Conclusion | Alila Ventana Big Sur

The Alila Ventana Big Sur is perhaps one of the most memorable hotel experiences that anyone will enjoy.

I can’t rave about this place enough and with the enough Hyatt points, this place is one of the best resorts to be with someone who loves the outdoors and loves their dog to be with them. In essence, the Ventana Big Sur is a fantastic win for Hyatt and for its members. Now that’s all-inclusive, it’s worth researching for days that are off-peak and maximizing your Hyatt points for a redemption.