Alila Ventana Big Sur

The property is beautiful and dining was top-notch. Our room's balcony overlooks the hills and forest, which was amazing. The outdoor Japanese hot bath was very relaxing. We signed up for a couple of add-on activities - cold-pressed soap-making and dive into the beehive - both of which were very enjoyable. The only blip we encountered was the incorrect charge on our final bill, which we had to go back and have it corrected.

This place is amazing, and the food is fantastic! Dris has a wonderful kitchen in the morning. Sophia was so helpful in getting us a nice table at the Sur house, and Carlos was outstanding in serving us at the restaurant.

If you're looking for a Big Sur getaway with a luxury feel, Alila Ventana is the place. We had our wedding ceremony at one of the venues on the grounds and it was spectacular. The staff was unbelievably accommodating. Everyone seemed genuinely happy to assist with any request we had. The food was incredible, ambiance and views second to none. We will certainly be back.

I used 90k Hyatt points for a two-night stay. Since meals were included, I think a 3-star rating is fair. If I had paid cash, it would definitely be a 1-star stay. From check-in there were problems. Then the toilet was broken, and even after one repair attempt it still didn’t work—someone had to come again late at night and spent more than half an hour. We were also woken up by a knock late night because room service delivered the neighboring room’s order to our room by mistake. There was no bottled water provided; we had to walk quite a distance to refill it ourselves. To top it off, the final billing was incorrect. Big Sur is really nice, but that’s not because of the hotel. The only thing I can genuinely praise is how quickly they responded via text message. If you plan to pay cash, I think Post Ranch Inn is much better—service, views, everything.

We stayed at Alila Ventana on Hyatt points, and while I'm glad we experienced it, I think future guests should go in with realistic expectations. Like many others, I was heavily influenced by the resort's marketing and the countless Instagram videos and blog posts featuring stays at this property. The beautiful forest views, hammocks, private decks, and peaceful atmosphere are all real—we absolutely experienced those moments. What social media doesn't capture is everything in between. The biggest surprise was how much the experience depended on room location. Marketing creates the impression that every room is tucked away in the redwoods with a private, secluded feel. That wasn't our initial experience. Our first room overlooked a resort pathway, where we could hear valet conversations and regular golf cart traffic. After moving into a true forest-view room, our experience improved dramatically. If the redwood atmosphere is what you're coming for, I would strongly recommend requesting a forest-facing room. Our biggest takeaway is that true luxury should feel frictionless. We experienced waits for seating at Sur House, delays with golf cart transportation, no available pool loungers during peak hours, slow restaurant and pool service, and instances where service items had simply run out. None of these were major issues individually, but together they created enough friction that our overall experience never felt as seamless as one would expect from a Category 8 Hyatt property charging $2000+ a night. The property itself is undeniably beautiful, albeit a bit dated. However, luxury is more than beautiful scenery — it's an experience where the logistics disappear into the background. Instead, the beautiful moments were often interrupted by small operational hiccups that made the resort feel busier and less polished than I expected.