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Home » Reviews » Hotel Reviews » Review: Ventana Big Sur, An Extraordinary Alila Resort By Hyatt
Hotel ReviewsHyatt

Review: Ventana Big Sur, An Extraordinary Alila Resort By Hyatt

Matthew Klint Posted onMay 22, 2021November 14, 2023 32 Comments

a sign on a rock wall

My wife and I recently spent a weekend at the Ventana Big Sur, an adults-only, all-inclusive Alila resort along the beautiful California Coast. Not only did we have a fantastic stay, but by using our World of Hyatt points to pay for it we enjoyed one of the best values in the entire world of miles and points.

In This Post:

Toggle
  • Ventana Big Sur Review
    • How I Booked The Ventana Big Sur
    • Ventana Big Sur Location
    • Ventana Big Sur Check-In
    • Ventana Big Sur Guest Room (Suite)
    • Ventana Big Sur Pools
    • Ventana Big Sur Spa + Sauna
    • Ventana Big Sur Fitness Center
    • Ventana Big Sur Japanese Baths
    • Ventana Big Sur Dining
      • Room Service
      • Ventana Big Sur Restaurant – The Sur House
        • Dinner
        • Breakfast
      • Glass House
      • Ventana Big Sur Smokehouse
      • Coffee
    • Should I Tip At Ventana Big Sur?
    • Ventana Big Sur Service
    • Ventana Big Sur Late Checkout
    • Ventana Big Sur Parking + Tesla Supercharger + Grounds
    • CONCLUSION

Ventana Big Sur Review

The Ventana Big Sur is the first Alila property in the United States, a division Hyatt acquired in 2018. In 2020, the resort became all-inclusive, meaning all meals are included with your stay.

How I Booked The Ventana Big Sur

Paid rates run over $2,400/night at this hotel. Or you can use Hyatt points at a rate of:

  • 30,000 points/night for a guest room
  • 48,000 points/night for a standard suites
  • 60,000 points/night for a premium suite

The hotel has more suites than standard rooms so you may have trouble finding standard room space. I booked my stay nine months in advance. More recently, I booked a stay for my parent’s five months in advance. There was more availably if I paid the 60,000 points per night for a premium suite, but instead I simply booked a standard room and then used one of my Globalist suite upgrades to immediately confirm an upgrade to a Big Sur Suite.

Hyatt is a transfer parter of Chase Ultimate Rewards, so keep in mind you can transfer your Chase points to Hyatt on a 1:1 basis and the transfer is instant.

If you do end up paying, understand your stay comes with all meals included whether you pay with dollars or points. If you pay cash, expect a $50 resort fee while there is no fee if paying by points. Dogs carry a $150 fee, but are welcomed.

Ventana Big Sur Location

Located on the California coast in Big Sur, California, the Ventana Big Sur is a surrounded by the beauty of nature. Ocean views, Redwood forests, and lush greenery make this one of the most beautiful resorts I have ever stayed in. It is rustic like the Hyatt Carmel Highlands down the road in Carmel, but far more luxurious.

a car driving on a road with a body of water and mountains in the background

a cliff with grass and rocks by the ocean

a road on a cliff with a body of water in the background

a landscape of a cliff with trees and water

a sign on a street corner

a house with a stop sign on the side of the road

a sign in a circle with grass around it

Listening to guests converse, it was immediately clear that most guests had driven up from Los Angeles (including us) or down from San Francisco. Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) recently re-opened and now links San Luis Obispo with Big Sur along the soaring coast of California.

I outlined my drive up from Los Angeles here.


> Read More: My California Road Trip From Los Angeles To Big Sur


Ventana Big Sur Check-In

Arriving around 4:00pm, we parked and headed up to the “Social House” to check in. In the pandemic era, it should have been called the “social distance house” as coffee and wine were not available, masks were required, and plexiglass shields divided staff from guests.

a wooden structure with a circular door

a sign on a wood ceiling

a building with a porch and a walkway

a row of chairs on a porch

a room with a pool table and chairs

a pool table with a bowl of food on it

a pool table in a room

a pool table in a room with windows and a view of the ocean

a room with a table and chairs

a room with a table and chairs

a sign on a wall

Rather than a check-in counter, we sat down at a desk and where an associate welcomed us to the property and explained the amenities and how to get to the restaurant (more on that below). We were offered a welcome drink and opted for a bottle of water.

a room with a wood floor and a stone fireplace

Staff offered to take our bags or drive us to the room in a golf cart, but that simply was not necessary. We were only staying for two nights and had each just brought a small carry-on bag. The walk to our room gave us a chance to explore the natural elements of the property.

a stone sculpture in a garden

a stone patio with plants and a building in the background

a patio with chairs and a fire pit

a fire pit with chairs and a lamp in the middle

a fire pit with a square fire pit

a wooden structure with a stone walkway and trees in the background

a path with a garden and a house

a building with trees and plants

a road with trees and plants on the side

a building with trees and bushes

Ventana Big Sur Guest Room (Suite)

As I mentioned, I used a suite upgrade to move up from a standard room to a Big Sur Suite, the base suite at the property. We were assigned room 48, which was located on the ground level of a two-floor building.

a building with a tree in the back

a door of a building

a forest with trees and mountains in the background
View outside our door
a white paper on a door handle
Sealed for our protection…

The room was rustic, with wood accents and a fireplace. My wife loved the design while I found it fine (I tend to prefer a more modern/minimalist look). But it was very trendy indeed. The suite did not have a separate living room, but was 619 square feet and included:

  • King bed
  • Sitting area
  • Wood-burning fireplace
  • Wet bar
  • Stone bathroom
  • Soaking tub
  • Double vanity sinks
  • Separate shower and dressing area
  • Large deck
  • Hammock

a room with a table and chairs

a room with a table and chairs and a lamp

a table with chairs in front of a glass door

a table with a vase of flowers and a lamp in front of a window

a room with a bed and a bathtub

a room with a fireplace and a bed

a room with a bed and two chairs

a room with a bed and chairs

Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks at the minibar are free, while alcoholic items carry a charge.

a counter top with a sink and bottles of wine

a drawer with food items on it

a refrigerator with bottles and cups

I appreciated the Bose wireless music player, though I could not figure out how to get Google Chromecast synced with my laptop.

a speaker on a table

We spent much of the weekend in our room and found the chairs and bed extremely comfortable.

My favorite aspect of the room was the fireplace. There’s nothing like waking up to a fire in the morning while nice and cozy in bed.

a fireplace in a room with leather chairs and a television

a fire in a fireplace

My wife appreciated the beautiful flowers in the room, which we took home and enjoyed for another week.

Inside the bathroom, the body wash, conditioner, and shampoo was in large bottles, though the bar soap was wrapped and sized for single-use. One closet included a safe while another included plush bathrobes, which we did use…mornings were quite cold.

a bathroom with a large mirror and a tub

a bathroom with double doors and a bathtub

a bathtub with a tray on top of it

a toilet in a bathroom

a shower head on a tile wall

a bar of soap on a brown dish

a soap dispenser and soap in a bathroom

a closet with clothes on a rail

a small white shelf in a closet

But as the afternoon sun peaked through the clouds, we enjoyed moving out to the spacious balcony, even eating our lunch there.

a deck with chairs and a table

a person's feet in a hammock

Ventana Big Sur Review
View from the balcony

Ventana Big Sur Pools

While the rooms are nice, the true beauty of this resort is the common areas. We enjoyed the sunset both nights from the beautiful mountain pool, overlooking the ocean in one direction and forest in the other.

a pool with chairs and a building in the background

a pool with a railing and chairs

a pool with chairs and umbrellas and a view of the ocean

a pool with chairs and a deck overlooking a body of water

a pool with chairs and umbrellas in a backyard

a pool with a deck and chairs and trees

a pool with a railing and trees in the background

a pool with a deck and chairs and trees

I loved the infinity-edged hot tub, though I ended up spending much more time in the Japanese baths.

Just outside our room was a second pool, called the meadow pool. Throughout our stay, I did not see it in use once.

a pool with chairs and a fence

a patio with chairs and a tree

a patio with chairs and umbrella

Unlike the Andaz Hollywood, even though the hotel was full of millennials, not one was trying to show off their bodies in these pools…it was too cold! When Heidi and I spent an evening at the pool watching the sunset, we worse our bathrobes and had blankets wrapped around us!

a pool with a deck and chairs in the back

two chairs on a grassy lawn

Ventana Big Sur Spa + Sauna

The indoor spa was closed during our stay, though massage treatments were offered in a tent beside the pool.

a wooden deck with chairs and a window

a sign on a wood wall

A barrel sauna also sat in the pool area and was turned off due to a Monterey County health ordinance. As California prepares to lift all restrictions in the days ahead, expect the sauna and indoor treatment area to re-open.

a barrel shaped building with a door and a window

a sign on a wood surface

inside a wooden room with benches

Ventana Big Sur Fitness Center

Like the sauna, the fitness center was also closed. In fact, I could not even get a peak inside it because the windows shades were down. The resort claimed this was due to county restrictions, but the gym could have been opened at a limited capacity and cleaned after each use. Nevertheless, it was nice to take a weekend off from the gym and there were still a pair of exercise bikes sitting outside the gym, which I also skipped.

a building with a pergola and exercise bikes

If you do seek a workout while there, just go walking. You can walk around the premises or even up the hill, which leads to a number of very-secluded homes high up the mountain.

a walkway with bushes and trees

a hammock between trees

a wooden railings on a trail in a forest

a house on a hill with trees

a trail with trees and blue sky

a yellow flowers on a bush

a small house on a hill

a house with a roof and trees

Ventana Big Sur Japanese Baths

Ah, my favorite amenity of the resort. I injured my wrist about six weeks ago (sprain) and it has been quite painful. Hot water, however, helps it and so I made several trips here each day to soak in the bubbling water.

When checking in, we were advised that the Japanese Baths were “clothing optional” and so…well, you would have found me naked there several times during the day.

The pool is divided into three areas, a male side, female side, and mixed area in the middle. Each part of the pool is partitioned by a a wood barrier, with a gender-designated changing room on each side. Due to pandemic restrictions, only two people were allowed in each pool (six total) at a time. I only encountered another a guest once, though, the entire weekend.

a wooden shed with a sign in the corner

a sign on a pole

a bathroom with a shower and sink

a wooden sauna with a round mirror and towels

a pool with a hot tub

a pool in a wooden building

I prefer hot water over Advil and found the Japanese baths quite therapeutic.

Ventana Big Sur Dining

While I knew the food would be good, I was not expecting it to be as tasty as it was. The food is another highlight of this hotel.

Generally, you receive three meals per day. The day you check-in, dinner is your first meal. The day you check out, breakfast is your last meal. Lunch is included on your full stays. That said, you really can eat when you want, as much as you want. You will not go hungry at this resort.

Room Service

If you don’t feel like emerging from your room, you can take all meals in-room and order just about anything you can in the restaurant. But since Heidi and I don’t go out much at home (with two young children, it just isn’t fun right now), we enjoyed actually going out to the holel restaurant to eat.

Nevertheless, we did have lunch in the room one day. You can order off the iPad in your room. I ordered Arctic char while Heidi ordered a salad with chicken breast. She had chicken bone broth (with cider vinegar, rosemary, and turmeric) to start while I had a green salad. For dessert, we split an apple goat cheese tart.

a hand holding a tablet

a plate of food on a white plate

a plate of salad with grilled chicken and vegetables

a bowl of brown liquid

a plate of salad with greens and carrots

a close up of a salad

a plate of food on a table

One word: delicious. The food arrived sealed and was still hot when we unwrapped it and dined on our patio.

a tray of food and drinks

a table and chairs on a deck

a table with plates of food and glasses on it

Later on, we ordered charcuterie and cheese as an appetizer, and that turned out to be huge plate and very delicious. See what I mean about the quantity of food?

a plate of food on a tray

a plate of food on a table

Had we been hungry, a 24 hour menu would have offered snacks and meals even in the middle of the night.

You can review the full menu here.

Ventana Big Sur Restaurant – The Sur House

We ate breakfast and dinner at The Sur House, the hotel’s main restaurant.

The restaurant, typically open to the public (though not during the pandemic) is physically separated from the rest of the resort. From our room, it was a 3/4 mile walk through the forest to the resturant, which I found highly appropriate to work off our three-course meals.

a sign on a path

a path through a forest

a view of a forest and the ocean from a hill

a tree with red leaves in a courtyard

a patio with furniture and trees

a row of chairs outside

a path with plants and trees in the background

a sign on a wood wall

a tree with red leaves and flowers in front of a building

At The Sur House, outdoor and indoor seat was available. We’re big LA wimps and cannot tolerate cold and the first night was incredibly windy.

a room with a wood ceiling and a table and chairs

a room with tables and chairs

a bar with shelves of liquor and glasses

a room with tables and chairs

a wine cellar with many bottles of wine

tables and chairs outside a restaurant

a patio with tables and chairs

a group of people sitting at tables on a wooden deck

a table and chairs on a patio overlooking a vineyard

a patio with a fire pit and chairs

a tent with lights from the ceiling

a covered patio with tables and chairs at night

a bar with drinks on it

Despite sitting under a heat lamp (which intermittently went off and on) and having blankets, we were absolutely freezing.

a group of speakers from a ceiling

Dinner

That took away a bit from what was a very delicious meal. I had kale and white bean soup to start followed by pacific bass, while Heidi had Spanish octopus to start followed by chicken in a mole poblano sauce.

a plate of food on a white plate

a plate of food on a table

a plate of food on a table

a plate of food with fruit on it

Everything was tasty, though I found Heidi’s octopus my favorite dish. Note the quality of the presentation as well.

For dessert we had coffee, fruit, and a wonderful dulcey brûlée (chocolate sable, apricot, guanaja ganache meringue).

a plate of fruit salad

a plate of food on a table

two round objects on a black square

However, we left with our teeth chattering and literally ran back to our room and jumped into a hot shower.

The next night, we first sat inside but later moved out to the terrace when a seat opened directly next to a fire pit. I ordered the mushroom “chorizo” (beyond meat) tostada, which was tasty but not much bigger than a tortilla chip. Heidi had the octopus again.

a fire on a stone wall

a plate of food on a table

For our main course, Heidi ordered the sea bass I had eaten the previous night while I tried the short ribs, which were succulent and some of the best short ribs I’ve ever had. Not only was the meat extremely tender, but the French-style sauce was rich and a perfect accent.

a plate of food on a table

For dessert, we had more coffee and split a “Cambozola Sundae” with spiced pecans, honey, pears, and vanilla ice cream in a snickerdoodle waffle bowl.

a bowl of ice cream

a cup of coffee with a spoon

chocolate candy on a plate

You can review the full dinner menu here and breakfast menu here.

Breakfast

Breakfast was a treat, with flaky pastries, fresh fruit, and tasty dishes like Chia seed breakfast bowl, Greek yogurt parfait, roasted chicken hash (my personal favorite), avocado toast, bagels and lox, French Toast, and a squash frittata.

a croissant and jam on a plate with a glass of juice on a table

a plate of food on a table

a bowl of cereal with blueberries and milk

a plate of salad with a glass of juice

a plate of food with a cup of coffee and a cup of coffee

a bowl of fruit and nuts

a bowl of fruit on a table

a plate of food on a table

food on a plate

a cup of coffee and glasses on a table

The resort boasts “farm to table” food but this is not an exaggeration here: you can literally see where the food is grown in a garden below the pool area.

a garden with a shed and a fence

Glass House

The resort has turned a shipping container into a premium dining area adjacent to The Sur House. If you wish to dine privately, you can while enjoying “breathtaking ocean views” which “create a private dinner experience like no other.”

a sign on a building

a building with a metal structure

a building with a glass door and a balcony overlooking the ocean

But the price is not cheap…you will pay $2250 location fee, $500 per person, plus tax, plus service charge. More info here.

Ventana Big Sur Smokehouse

I love BBQ…one of my favorite meals is a sampling of ribs, brisket, beef, and sausage with cornbread and macaroni & cheese. Sadly, the smokehouse was closed due to the pandemic (and to date as not re-opened). It is located just off CA-1 at the entrance to the resort.

a red house with white trim and a sign

Coffee

A complaint. The coffee is not great, here, which is really a sad missed opportunity. Forget ordering a cappuccino in your room, it arrived like this:

a cup of coffee and a bottle of water

But even though the cappuccinos were better in the restaurant, they were simply machine-dispensed and the coffee beans lacked the sort of rich flavor that marks (my admittedly subjective) preference for espresso.

Should I Tip At Ventana Big Sur?

Ah, the great tipping debate. Personally, I hate tipping but do so because it is so ingrained into American culture and because the waiters and waitresses should not be victim to my social experiment (to abolish tipping…).

At the Ventana Big Sur, a 22% gratuity is included...at least supposedly.

Still, I left $10-20 tip with every meal. I won’t say you MUST tip or even justify tipping by the value of using points to stay here. Still, it is a nice gesture and the staff is very pleasant and professional. It’s not like the Ventana discourages this, either. You are presented a “check” at the end of your meal with a gratuity line.

Had I been tipping 20% of the bill (in theory), a $50 tip would have been more appropriate, so this was a compromise; a cherry on top of the gratuity already included.

Ventana Big Sur Service

Most of the service took place via mobile phone. When checking in, we were advised simply to text the hotel for anything. And we did…once for a toothbrush, once for more firewood, and once for coffee service in the morning. Responses were always prompt and courteous.

Service overall was close to perfect. One annoyance was that the hostesses at The Sur Hour could have been friendlier. Twice when we checked in for dinner (same woman), we were not greeted. Instead, we were simply asked, “Room number?” It’s always nice to say “good evening” isn’t it?

The rest of the staff, however, were wonderful.

Ventana Big Sur Late Checkout

If the hotel is full (and it does run full on most days), forget about late checkout. Globalists used to checking out at 4:00pm should adjust expectations accordingly, as this is a Hyatt resort that does not have to honor late checkout for World of Hyatt elite members.

This was not mentioned to me during check-in and I intended to stay until 4:00pm. At 1:00pm, we received a call to the room asking us to vacate immediately. It was polite, but very stern and somewhat urgent. The hotel was full and they needed the room…

Keep in mind, checkout is at 12:00pm for everyone.

I apologized for checking out late and was told it was no problem and they’d love to extend later checkout, but could not, particularly with the enhanced cleaning protocols in place.

Ventana Big Sur Parking + Tesla Supercharger + Grounds

If you are driving a Tesla (which seemed to be a huge plurality of guests), superchargers are available near The Sur House. Otherwise, parking is free below the resorts. You’ll have to go through a gated entry and a road through the forest to reach the parking lot and hotel.

a row of white cars parked in a parking lot

The entire area has beautiful common areas in which you an enjoy the ocean views.

a circular object in a circle surrounded by logs

a table and chairs on a stone patio with a hill in the background

a path with a green arch over it

And the stars at night:

a group of trees at night

CONCLUSION

The Ventana Big Sur, an Alila resort, is one of the best uses ever of your points. It is a wonderful resort with kind staff, delicious food, superb amenities, and breathtaking natural beauty. I look forward to returning and highly recommend it as one of the best resorts in California.

a sign in the grass

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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32 Comments

  1. Amol Reply
    May 22, 2021 at 2:06 pm

    Great review Matt. Very detailed. Will be referencing this. How many nights would you say is good here? Attending a Santa Barbara wedding next spring and I’ve been thinking of driving up afterward to Big Sur to spend a couple days here.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      May 22, 2021 at 2:15 pm

      Thanks! I think three nights is perfect. Two felt too rushed.

  2. Willem Reply
    May 22, 2021 at 2:34 pm

    I’m convinced now! Will book something before peak pricing takes effect…

  3. Stuart Reply
    May 22, 2021 at 2:40 pm

    This review is why you do the best and most thorough hotel reviews out there. Great photos and you really did give a total of the property and what to expect. Well done Matthew.

  4. Billiken Reply
    May 22, 2021 at 2:53 pm

    Matthew, Hyatt’s website says that “For your convenience, a daily gratuity for our service team members will be added to your guest folio. Additional a la carte beverages and services will be assessed a 22% gratuity that will be added to your guest folio.” On an award redemption, is the daily gratuity not added to the bill? If it is, why is an additional gratuity necessary? That seems like it would be a double-gratuity.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      May 22, 2021 at 2:55 pm

      It’s true, gratuity was supposedly included and I should make that clear. However, I question whether that actually makes it to the servers.

  5. Sara Reply
    May 22, 2021 at 3:43 pm

    Please tell me your vacinated?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      May 22, 2021 at 4:28 pm

      Yes, I got vaccinated in February. Why?

  6. Mike Reply
    May 22, 2021 at 3:58 pm

    Fantastic reviews and pics. Shame the sauna was close, but feel the same way about the Japanese baths – must more relaxing. The fact that saunas, tubs have been closed has kept me from hotels.

    Thanks for a great review

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      May 22, 2021 at 4:28 pm

      Mike, let’s just say the sauna was left unlocked and there was just a switch to turn it on…

  7. mojo Reply
    May 22, 2021 at 4:49 pm

    Yes, that restaurant hostess was distinctly less than pleasant – a glaring pox on the otherwise great service and demeanor of the rest of the staff that we experienced on our last stay there in October.

  8. Heidi Myer Wong Reply
    May 22, 2021 at 5:30 pm

    My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this articulate and detailed review and outstanding photos. Having partaken of many delicious and memorable meals over 40 years at the main restaurant (open to the public) as a lifelong Pfeifer Big Sur State Park visitor, lottery winnings notwithstanding, as educators, staying there shall remain an elusive dream. Thank you for sharing.

  9. Matt Reply
    May 22, 2021 at 7:01 pm

    Thank you for a fantastic review. How was availability for dining? Did you have to wait and/or reserve a time in advance, or could you pretty much just walk in whenever?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      May 22, 2021 at 7:17 pm

      Reservations were scarce, but walk-ins always accepted (with both indoor and outdoor seating available).

  10. Jay Reply
    May 22, 2021 at 8:31 pm

    Just never been excited about this property. Going all the way to Big Sur and not camping or hiking does not work for my wife and I. If we traveled all the way there, we’d want to camp and hike and explore the surroundings. But if we spent that many $$ or points, we’d want to stay and enjoy the property, and then we’d feel like we wasted our days when the views and scenery are so much more beautiful while hiking.

  11. Mike Reply
    May 23, 2021 at 4:50 am

    Meadow Pool is clothing optional as well if they didn’t tell you that at check-in. Very surprised you were only upgraded to a Big Sur Suite considering we booked on points as well and I’m just a lowly Explorist and we were upgraded to a Forest Shower Suite (early March)

  12. Jenn Reply
    May 23, 2021 at 4:53 am

    I just love this property. My fiancé and I stayed here the weekend he proposed. Reading your post almost makes me want to plan our wedding up there. You really couldn’t ask for more romantic surroundings.

  13. Chris Reply
    May 23, 2021 at 8:16 am

    Great review, thank you

  14. Erik J. Reply
    May 23, 2021 at 9:16 am

    Great review, I am convinced, but I think I will wait and go when California is fully re-opened. Too many frustrating restrictions for me, especially at that price point. Unique property.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      May 23, 2021 at 9:25 am

      June 15th. Coming soon!

  15. Joe Chivas Reply
    May 23, 2021 at 9:30 am

    I can usually find something negative to say about anything, but this is just some damn fine reporting.

  16. Heather Reply
    May 23, 2021 at 9:35 am

    A very enjoyable review, thank you.

    I haven’t been to that part of the country and when I do get there, this resort will be one to seriously consider,

    However, that macrame wall hanging screams sad 70s childhood to me and I would have asked management to remove it, not joking.

  17. Brett Offerman Reply
    May 23, 2021 at 10:35 am

    Great review Matthew, I’ve read several others on this property and you have more details. I’m a Globalist and my wife and are booked there for three nights in late October for my birthday on points, booked a standard room, and upgraded to the Big Sur Suite with my suite upgrades. For reference this area has Indian summer weather in September and October so it should be warm. Booking 8 months out does help secure a suite, unless you use more points. Looking forward to the pools and Japanese baths.

  18. PM Reply
    May 23, 2021 at 12:22 pm

    Really good review. I am always curious in finding out about high-end resorts etc, but I don’t think I could ever justify to myself paying that sort of money for a hotel room. I suppose the mental arithmetic must be different when spending miles/points, particularly if you happen to have a lot of them.

  19. st Reply
    May 23, 2021 at 1:00 pm

    Just sign up for a Chase card…

  20. Dee Reply
    May 23, 2021 at 1:05 pm

    Going to the newly Hyatt Alila in St.Helena this week! Tried to use points but did not work !!! It is not a big property but hope to have a great experience there! Had stsyed there when it was a Marriott.

  21. PM Reply
    May 23, 2021 at 3:02 pm

    @st , unfortunately that kind of thing isn’t possible for those of us living outside the USA. There isn’t much opportunity to collect serious miles and points without travelling.

    Similarly, building hotel status may be tricky without a lot of stays in N. America either because of a tiny footprint (e.g. Hyatt) or a tendency to overcharge due to brand recognition/corporate contracts (e.g. recent stay in Barcelona, the cheapest room at the Hilton was more expensive than the junior suite at a comparable 4* property belonging to a Spanish chain). I have assorted silver status with two or three different hotel chains at any point in time and don’t ever bother trying to consolidate my stays in pursuit of a mid-tier one.

  22. Michael Reply
    May 23, 2021 at 9:23 pm

    Fantastic review! And good job with capturing how special and unique this resort actually is. My partner and I went there last summer, and even in the middle of the pandemic it was fully booked. Personally, my only issue with it is the price. It’s priced for Silicon Valley paychecks, and not everyone gets one of those! But otherwise it’s one of the most relaxing and enjoyable resorts I’ve stayed at anywhere in the world. If you ever have a chance to go, do it!

  23. Greg Reply
    May 24, 2021 at 11:01 am

    How crowded did it feel when at full occupancy? I’m someone who wants a feel of exclusivity in terms of space and not constantly looking for a ‘better’ seat a dining or poolside, etc.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      May 26, 2021 at 2:57 pm

      It never felt crowded. Granted, the restaurant was mostly full at night, but service was good and there were several waiters and waitresses, so wait times were limited (especially with the limited menu).

      Common areas of the resort were often empty.

  24. Ricardo Reply
    September 6, 2021 at 9:52 pm

    Did you do any of the “paid” activities?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      September 6, 2021 at 10:00 pm

      No.

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