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Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort in Big Sur, California – Review

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Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort is one of the most exclusive hotels in the world thanks to its luxurious and rustic accommodations coupled with its awe-inspiring scenery that can’t be replicated anywhere else.

Located in Big Sur, California, Ventana Big Sur is located atop a hill overlooking the beautiful Pacific coastline, just off of the famous Pacific Coast Highway.

And with the property joining forces with Hyatt, it represents a massive points opportunity for an opulent stay without having to venture too far from home.

I luxuriated at this adults-only resort in early August 2020 for my birthday — along the way I enjoyed top-notch service, an all-inclusive meal plan, and easy access to some of the most picturesque hiking trails I’d ever had the privilege of walking on. Best of all, however, I was able to take advantage of redeeming World of Hyatt points for a secluded stay on this 243-acre property in northern California.

So, what was it like to stay at this all-inclusive Californian resort for free during the COVID-19 pandemic? One word: breathtaking.

Overview

Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort, also referred to as Alila Ventana Big Sur or just Ventana Big Sur, was inherited by Hyatt in 2018 after the Chicago-based hospitality company acquired Two Roads Hospitality and its collection of luxury hotels.

Since Alila fell under the Two Roads Hospitality contract, Alila properties joined Hyatt’s loyalty program, World of Hyatt. And in the blink of an eye, Hyatt gained access to one of the truest aspirational hotel brands in the world.

Fast forward to today and you can earn and redeem points at Alila properties, use suite upgrade certificates, and much more!

Recently, Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort changed its rates to all-inclusive only, so guests can enjoy:

  • 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

This was an incredible addition because the rates catapulted overnight 2 to 3 times — today, cash rates start at $1,600 and go all the way to $2,000 for a standard room. On the flip side, points rates didn’t change in the slightest!

Ventana Big Sur offers lavish, rustic rooms in a 5-star luxury hotel setting, which is extremely rare in the heart of Big Sur.

Truly, we were in for a treat when we arrived at Ventana Big Sur.

Hotel Location

Ventana Big Sur is located at 48123 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920, just off of the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1).

Most of the accommodations in Big Sur are no-frills 2- or 3-star lodges with few options for luxe stays. And on top of this, many of these lodges don’t enjoy a favorable location; you have to drive at least 30 minutes to access the state parks.

Enter Ventana Big Sur.

Sure, Ventana Big Sur boasts some of the most incredible rooms and facilities in all of the U.S., but it also enjoys a superb location nestled half a mile from Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park a short drive from Andrew Molera State Park!

Ventana Big Sur’s biggest competitor is Post Ranch Inn (located just next door), but we are definitely partial to Ventana Big Sur, thanks to its partnership with World of Hyatt.

There are several ways to get to the hotel:

  • Fly into Monterey (MRY) and drive 1 hour to the property
  • Fly into San José (SJC) and drive 2 hours to the property
  • Fly into San Francisco (SFO) and drive 2.5 to 3 hours to the property
  • Fly into Oakland (OAK) and drive 2.5 to 3 hours to the property

Booking Ventana Big Sur with Hyatt Points

As mentioned earlier, cash rates at Ventana Big Sur were around $800 to $1,000 before the all-inclusive offering. Now, paid rates start at $1,600 and can go up to $2,000 for standard room rates.

If you redeemed World of Hyatt points, you could book standard rooms for 30,000 points per night!

Here is the breakdown of room types and their corresponding points rates at the time of booking:

  • 1 King Bed — 30,000 points per night
  • 1 King Bed with ADA Tub — 30,000 points per night
  • 1 King Bed with Fireplace and ADA Tub — 30,000 points per night
  • Big Sur Suite — 48,000 points per night
  • Big Sur Forest Shower Suite — 60,000 points per night
  • Big Sur Spa Suite — 60,000 points per night
  • Vista Hot Tub Suite — 60,000 points per night

Hot Tip: This property has moved from a category 7 up to a category 8 so the cost in points has increased as well. Standard rooms now cost 35,000 (off-peak), 40,000 (standard), or 45,000 (peak).

Booking standard rooms at Ventana Big Sur using points is incredibly challenging, but booking standard or premium suites is much easier, though those will inevitably be more expensive.

Also, Ventana Big Sur has a minimum stay of 2 nights if you want to redeem points, so keep that in mind.

To book this room, we waited until less than a week before our stay. Luckily, availability showed up in the system, and we immediately capitalized on it.

As a reminder, you can transfer Chase points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. And since Chase has some phenomenal rewards credit cards, it’s easy to rack up points for your stay here.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
60,000 points
$1,200
$95
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros

  • 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
  • 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
  • 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
  • 2x points on all other travel worldwide
  • $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
  • Excellent travel and car rental insurance
  • 10% annual bonus points
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
  • Complimentary Spot Club Platinum status with The Parking Spot for 2 years, 20% off of your first reservation, and points for 1 free day of parking (enroll by October 26, 2023)

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 points
$1,200
$550
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-850)

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros

  • 10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
  • 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
  • 5x points on airfare booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit
  • Priority Pass airport lounge access
  • TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
  • Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
  • Rental car elite status with National and Avis

Cons

  • $550 annual fee
  • Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Business owner? See our list of the best Chase business credit cards.

Checking In

After a long, scenic drive from Los Angeles to Big Sur, we were excited to step out of the car, stretch our legs, and explore the glorious property.

Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort is a securely guarded compound — you can’t even drive up to the reception without providing your name and your stay details to an intercom system. After the reception agent confirms your stay, the gate is opened, at which point you can either utilize valet or self-parking, both of which are complimentary.

Valet stand

We opted for the complimentary valet and then walked up the stairs to the reception.

Reception entrance

Due to COVID-19, Ventana Big Sur took a litany of measures to make sure our stay was flawless and executed perfectly.

Our check-in process was at the Social House area.

Reception exterior

Social House is where the front desk manager and concierge are located, and the space was decorated beautifully.

Reception interior

There was a simple game room in the space next door, complete with chess boards and literature.

Social House

Just outside the Social House was an outdoor deck for relaxation.

Social House outdoor deck

There’s a lot to keep track of at this property since there are so many activities, amenities, and facilities. During our seamless check-in, we were introduced to the hotel and provided with a property map, as well as a list of popular hiking trails and their descriptions.

The staff at the property did an incredible job with guest orientation, and before we knew it, we had dinner reservations all taken care of and our itinerary built out!

We finished our efficient check-in process and were offered lunch at the sun deck while waiting for our room to be ready.

Elite Benefits

We didn’t have any special elite status — I used my Discoverist status as a holder of The World of Hyatt Credit Card to get upgraded from a 1 King Bed room to a 1 King Bed with Fireplace room.

The Room

Ventana Big Sur has about 60 rooms, though due to the coronavirus, its occupancy was intentionally limited, despite massive demand.

As regular guests using points without any top-tier elite status, we were upgraded to the 1 King Bed with Fireplace room. We were assigned room 24, on the second story of the Meadow House complex.

Guestroom exterior door

Our room was just sanitized, and there was a sanitization sticker attached.

Room sanitization sticker

Our gorgeous room featured muted wooden tones, a vaulted ceiling, and rustic accommodations.

Entryway

The design was reflective of the local area, and we felt continually in tune with the surrounding nature. It truly felt like we were staying in a luxurious cabin!

The room featured an eastern king bed — oh-so-comfortable and spacious.

Bedside view

Just to the right of the bed were a desk and a chair.

Bed

Guestroom perspective

Power outlets and a reading light could be found on each side of the bed.

Outlets

Bedside reading light

On the desk were an old-school rotary phone and an in-room tablet for dining service, housekeeping, extra amenities, and virtually anything else you might need!

Telephone and desk

In-room tablet

In-room tablet

There was also a dining table with a chair and a welcome amenity.

Dining table

Welcome amenity, close up

Just next to the dining table was a window seat, complete with cushions, blinds, and a lamp.

Window nook seat

Every room had a private deck, and ours faced the forest.

Private outdoor deck

Our private deck had a pair of chairs and a side table. Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is strictly prohibited everywhere on the property except on your private deck. The surrounding area is extremely fire-prone, so remember to exercise extra caution when extinguishing your cigarettes.

Private outdoor deck seats

As we explored the rest of our room, we saw a dry bar with a Nespresso machine, a water boiler, a snack drawer, and a complimentary minibar.

Minibar and dry bar

Nespresso machine

Complimentary snacks

Minibar contents

Just to the right of the dry bar was an ice bucket, 2 complimentary keepsake reusable water bottles, and a bottle opener/corkscrew, all of which were all placed on top of a storage drawer.

Complimentary water bottles

Above the storage drawer was a DirecTV box.

Arguably, the centerpiece of the room was the fireplace setup that was located just below the wall-mounted HDTV.

Fireplace and TV

There was a woven basket with single-use log packs. All you have to do is toss one of the packs into the fireplace, light a match, and you’ll enjoy a lovely evening fire.

Log basket

Lastly, there was a double-door closet that housed a safe, 2 comfy robes, and iron, a stool, hangers, and more.

Closet

Since we were located in Meadow House, we were within easy walking distance to the Social House, as well as the front section of the property.

The drawback, however, was that other guests could see you if they were walking to the Social House and you were standing on the private deck.

Our room was the left-most room on the second floor.

Exterior

Bathroom

The bathroom was spacious, welcoming, and resembled a campestral setting. The bathroom also had a set of folding doors that opened up the bathroom to the bedroom for a more open-air feel.

Bathroom

First, there was a single vanity with a bright pair of lights, a spotless mirror, and a vessel sink. There was also a separate toilet — a huge perk.

Vanity and toilet

Separate toilet

Additionally, the deep soaking tub was gigantic!

Soaking tub

Deep soaking tub

We were provided with bath salts and a loofah sponge pad.

Deep soaking tub amenities

There was a separate walk-in shower with a seating area at the back, as well as branded Body Bliss bath amenities.

Shower

In addition to shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, there was a delightful spearmint rosemary body soap, also exclusively from Body Bliss.

Body Bliss bath amenities

Bottom Line: Even the standard rooms at Ventana Big Sur are spacious — with 480 square feet of space to relax in with a cloud-like king bed, forest canyon views, a private deck, a fireplace, and a fabulously-appointed bathroom, there’s a lot to love about the room itself.

Dining

Part of the holistic experience at Ventana Big Sur is curating wellness and peace as purely as possible. Ventana Big Sur’s food and beverage program is all-inclusive, so you’ll definitely have an opportunity to savor inspired culinary delights.

There are 5 main dining options you can enjoy:

  • The Sur House (full-service restaurant)
  • In-Room dining (a full dining menu delivered via complimentary room service)
  • Poolside/sun deck dining (Small bites and cocktails)
  • Picnic kits (Gourmet meals prepared for the excursionist or nature junkie)
  • Glass House (private dining room overlooking the Pacific Ocean)

The Sur House

As the hotel’s only full-service restaurant, The Sur House is reserved only for overnight guests during breakfast and dinner. And the property is perched so beautifully above the Pacific Ocean that you ought to savor the ambiance every moment you’re dining there.

The seasonal menus focus on delivering contemporary modern American cuisine and feature ingredients grown at the on-site organic garden (more on that later)!

The Sur House offers some of the most elegant food we’ve ever had at a hotel in California. As major foodies, The Sur House wowed us with most, if not all of its creations.

There’s a beautiful Japanese onsen/hot bath decoration at the entrance.

Sur House exterior

As soon as you enter the restaurant, you’ll notice a massive, 10,000 bottle cellar of small-production Central Coast wines, carefully assembled at the leadership of The Sur House sommelier.

Sur House wine cellar

The indoor dining space isn’t open due to COVID-19, but you can begin to grasp how awe-inspiring the design and architecture of this space are.

Sur House interior

Sur House indoor dining room area

The restaurant now features a more exclusive and spacious seating plan in line with COVID-19 regulations. There’s tons of outdoor seating if you’re waiting for your table.

Sur House outdoor seating

As mentioned, the all-inclusive plan offers 1 appetizer, 1 main course, and 1 dessert. Alcohol is extra, but you can order still/sparkling water or other non-alcoholic drinks free of charge.

We enjoyed the best Aperol Spritz we’ve ever had, as well as the Bridge & Tonic.

Sur House cocktails

We also ordered a classic raspberry mojito.

Sur House raspberry mojito

To start, we ordered the California halibut ceviche, complete with sweet potato, hominy, and shiso.

Sur House halibut ceviche

We also ordered the roasted beets with strawberry, fennel, dukkah, hyssop, and pistachio seed oil. It was wonderfully flavorful and refreshing.

Sur House roasted beets

We then ordered the Fogline Farm chicken with Ayocote Blanco beans, nasturtium salsa verde, Hakurei turnip, and arugula. The exterior crispiness of the chicken complemented the paradoxical moisture of the inner white meat.

Sur House Fogline Farm chicken

We also ordered the Flannery beef NY striploin, garnished with cauliflower, pinot juice, cabbage, Tropea onion agrodolce, and carrot confit.

Sur House Flannery beef New York striploin

We were so blessed to have been stuffed to the brim with top-quality food, but we simply couldn’t resist a slice of carrot cake to enjoy in our room, and we definitely didn’t regret the decision.

The carrot cake was moist, flavorful, and just the right amount of subtle sweetness.

Sur House carrot cake

We also had the opportunity to savor breakfast at The Sur House, and the view of the ocean and forest was spectacular.

First, I ordered a cup of coffee, served with brown sugar cubes and fresh milk.

Sur House breakfast coffee

We started off our breakfast with a lovely pastry basket.

Sur House pastry basket

We ordered the mashed avocado — an open-faced avocado toast served with arugula, sunflower, tomato, cucumber, lemon, and egg atop an Ad Astra seeded loaf.

Sur House mashed avocado

We ordered a Ventana breakfast, as well, that was phenomenal. With 2 farm eggs, herb roasted potatoes, charred tomato, grilled bread, and a choice of bacon, sausage, chicken sausage, or a Smokehouse hot link (pictured), it’ll fill you up in no time.

Sur House breakfast with Smokehouse hot link

We took our time to enjoy our hefty breakfast, the amazing scenery, and a warm cup of coffee.

Our second dinner reservation featured a table at the edge of the restaurant, with sweeping panoramic views to die for.

To start, I ordered a Paloma, Mexico’s most beloved cocktail.

Sur House cocktail

We also ordered Jasmine green tea, offered by Rishi teas.

Sur House Jasmine green tea

We were served a small plate of warm, complimentary bread with strawberry whipped butter.

Sur House warm bread

To change things up, we opted for the Dungeness crab cocktail, impeccably presented and unbelievably delightful.

Sur House Dungeness crab cocktail

We simply had to have the California halibut ceviche again, so we did. The freshness of the citrus and the sweetness of the halibut was to die for.

Sur House halibut ceviche

For our main course, we ordered the Skuna Bay salmon that was served upon a bed of mashed Yukon gold potatoes and garnished with cucumber, buttermilk, watercress, Ikura, and borage.

Sur House Skuna Bay salmon

We also ordered the durum wheat spaghetti adorned with green chile, almond pesto, tomato, and Grana Padano. The dish as a whole was delicious, but the pasta, in particular, was perfectly al dente.

Sur House durum wheat spaghetti

As we continued stuffing ourselves, the time for dessert rapidly came.

We ordered the stonefruit galette topped with crème fraîche ice cream. So delicious and artisanal.

Sur House stonefruit galette

To top off our experience at The Sur House, we ordered the raspberry ripple raw milk sundae, featuring a Guanaja cake, ganache, and dried raspberries.

Sur House raspberry ripple raw milk sundae

Bottom Line: The food at The Sur House blew me away. I had lofty expectations for a hotel of this caliber and reputation, but I was surprised to find that we were being served fine dining-level food and beverage at The Sur House. Well done!

In-Room Dining

In-room dining/room service is also complimentary at this hotel. One morning, we decided to enjoy breakfast in-room, and we were glad we did.

We ordered our breakfast from the in-room tablet, and the food actually arrived just a bit earlier than the estimated time.

Remember that the in-suite dining menu is different from other menus — sure, there are shared dishes here and there, but about 60% to 70% of the menu is unique.

But, because we actually missed breakfast narrowly by waking up too late, the tablet had automatically removed any breakfast items. We dialed up the front desk and asked if they could make an exception for us, and the executive chef himself prepared our meal. This is just a taste of Ventana Big Sur’s incredible service offering.

Our breakfast spread was comprehensive, as pictured below.

In-room dining

Firstly, I ordered a delicious latte. We also ordered an iced latte that came separately with cold milk and espresso.

In-room dining latte

I couldn’t resist ordering a Ventana breakfast again, which, of course, comes with 2 farm eggs, herb roasted potatoes, charred tomato, grilled bread, and a choice of bacon, sausage, chicken sausage, or a Smokehouse hot link (pictured).

It was just as tasty the second time around!

In-room dining Ventana breakfast with Smokehouse hot link

We also ordered the bagels and lox — the bagels were accompanied by smoked Scottish salmon, everything spice, sprouts, cucumber, tomato, capers, and cream cheese.

The smoked salmon was wonderfully rich and smooth, while the cream cheese and bagel provided luxurious textures and a subtle sourness.

In-room dining Lox & Bagels

We also ordered the mashed avocado open-faced sandwich again, with arugula, sunflower, tomato, cucumber lemon, and an Ad Astra seeded loaf.

In-room dining avocado toast

The mashed avocado came with farm eggs any style — in our case, scrambled.

In-room dining breakfast spread

Poolside Dining/Sun Deck Dining

If you’re interested in having a meal by the pool or on the sun deck, you’re more than welcome to take your lunch here.

Sun deck lunch

The poolside dining is only available at the Meadow Pool.

Meadow Pool

We went to the sun deck to enjoy lunch while our room was being prepared for check-in. We were famished after a long drive, so the dining options came in very handy.

Sun deck poolside dining menu

Sun deck poolside beverage menu

We kicked off our sun deck meal with a strawberry frosé and a watermelon mojito.

Strawberry frosé

Watermelon mojito

We began with a small plate of chips and guacamole that was made with Brokaw avocados and cilantro.

Guacamole and chips

We also ordered the salmon poke that came with coconut, Opal apple, chili, coriander, and jicama.

Salmon poke

For our main course, we ordered the plant-based variant of the Big Sur Smash Burger topped with smokehouse sauce, griddled onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and smoked cheddar with fries on the side.

Big Sur Smash Burger

We also ordered the daily catch fish tacos.

Daily catch fish tacos

We topped off our lunch with chocolate chip cookies, sprinkled with Big Sur sea salt.

Chocolate chip cookies

Bottom Line: The food and beverage program at Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort is stellar. The culinary masterpieces that executive chef Keith Potter and pastry chef Lauren Browner concoct are such a unique take on modern American cuisine with incredible attention to detail. 

Facilities

The facilities at Ventana Big Sur are breathtaking. And while we couldn’t enjoy all of the amenities due to COVID-19 closures, we were able to snap pictures of a few facilities that were closed.

As we showed above, the Meadow Pool is located just next to the Social House, and there was also an area with couples loungers, perfectly socially distanced.

This area is called the Ocean Meadow, and it boasts sweeping views of the forestry and the Pacific Ocean.

Ocean Meadow

Ocean Meadow perspective

In addition to the Meadow Pool, there was the Mountain Pool, located on the east side of the property.

Mountain Pool

Mountain Pool

Mountain Pool

Additionally, Ventana Big Sur has an organic garden on the premises that the chefs use for their produce.

Organic garden

Organic garden

In front of Social House is a fire pit with large, comfortable chairs.

Outdoor fire pit

Along the east side of the property, there is also an area called the Redwood Cathedral that is used for activities like s’mores and falconry.

Redwood Cathedral seats and fire pits

Redwood Cathedral seats and fire pits

Spa Alila was closed at the time of staying, but the building itself is beautiful.

Spa Alila exterior

There was also an outdoor fitness area with exercise bikes.

Fitness center

Ventana Big Sur also offers Japanese baths that were unfortunately closed, though we were allowed to snap pictures of the baths.

Upon entering, you’ll first see a gender-specific changing room.

Japanese baths changing rooms

Japanese baths changing rooms

After exiting out the back, you’ll see the Japanese baths, which seem relaxing.

Japanese baths

Ventana Big Sur also has an infinity pool, though it was closed at the time.

Infinity pool. Image Credit: Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort

Service

The service at Ventana Big Sur is really one of the crown jewels of the property. While not everything we experienced was perfect from the get-go, the staff were incredibly accommodating with almost every request we had.

The property does a lot of the selling for Ventana Big Sur, but I personally believe that service can make or break your stay, regardless of how opulent your room is.

Every single person we interacted with at Ventana Big Sur was friendly, happy, and extremely helpful. In fact, many of the staff actually are proud to be working there instead of Post Ranch Inn, a similar hotel located next door.

Overall, the service was consistent, excellent, and memorable.

Local Area

Big Sur is a stunning place, complete with beautiful nature, unique scenery, and splendid views of the Pacific Ocean.

Let’s put it plainly: Ventana Big Sur is heaven for anyone who enjoys hikes, the outdoors, and serenity.

The 2 main attractions in Big Sur for active travelers are Andrew Molera State Park and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The former is located a short 15-minute drive from the hotel, while the latter is less than 5-minutes by car.

If you feel like staying close to the hotel on your first day, there’s even a walking trail we explored called the Coast Road Trail. It’s certainly not scenic in the same way, but it’s peaceful and private.

Coast Road Trail

We headed to Andrew Molera State Park and hiked the Bluffs Trail, the Creamery Meadow Trail, the Panorama Trail, the Beach Trail, and the Ridge Trail. Overall, the hikes totaled more than 8 miles, but the views were so worth it.

Andrew Molera State Park Bluffs Trail

Andrew Molera State Park Beach Trail

We spent an entire day at Andrew Molera State Park, and the next day we spent half of the day at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The hikes were perfect and serene.

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Buzzards Roost Trail

Ventana Big Sur hiking

Final Thoughts

Ventana Big Sur is my favorite hotel in the U.S. Full stop.

Between the ability to actually stay at this property without paying anything out of pocket thanks to points, the thoughtfully-designed hotel, the top-notch food and beverage, and the second-to-none location in Big Sur, Ventana Big Sur has officially become a property that I visit every single year, at a minimum.

The property is exclusive, unique, and close to access while feeling like a completely different universe than anything around it.

What an unforgettable experience!

The information regarding The World of Hyatt Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. All of the guests must be age 18 or older.

There’s tons to do! Within the property, you can pick from a huge list of Alila Experiences in addition to the complimentary Signature Activities included in your stay.

These activities include yoga, meditation, tai chi, s’mores, property hiking, social [distancing] hour, and much more.

Plus, Big Sur is one of the most beautiful places to explore and hike around with 2 gigantic state parks nearby!

Glamping is another offering at Ventana Big Sur. Different from staying in one of the rooms, glamping guests enjoy a different style of safari-esque accommodations.

Currently, glamping tents are around $250 per night.

Big Sur is about 25 miles south of Carmel, located on the central California coast along the Pacific Coast Highway.

You can get to Ventana Big Sur by taking Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) all the way to Big Sur. Here are the directions. The hotel is just off of Highway 1, around 28 miles south of Carmel.

About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

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7 comments

Daniel Young

February 18, 2021

I was just wondering if you book with points are there no service charges or resort fees?

Jarrod West

February 20, 2021

Hi Daniel,

This is correct, when you use your World of Hyatt points you will not be charged any service or resort fee charges.

Steve

April 10, 2021

Great, photos and review. I especially appreciated the “regular” room description, since it looks great and I’m wondering how many Hyatt points to splurge for a stay.

Also, your “Send Feedback” option isn’t working. There seems to be no way to check the “I’m not a robot” function.

Jarrod West

April 12, 2021

Hi Steve,

We appreciate the kind words! Thank you for pointing out that the Send Feedback option isn’t working, we will get that looked into.

Natalie

October 11, 2021

If you book with points and this resort is all inclusive, do you still need to tip for valet and food service?

Stephen Au

October 11, 2021

Hi Natalie,

Yes, you should still tip for valet and food service.

KB

January 05, 2023

Great Review. The World of Hyatt app (as of Jan 2023) does not seem to list the all-inclusive amenity under a points booking (rooms or suites) for Alila Big Sur. Is the all inclusive amenity no longer offered for points bookings at this property?
Also what are your thought on Alila Napa? Which of the two property/experience is superior?

Thanks, KB.

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