Alila Ventana Big Sur

FYI- merged my TA accounts. Just spent an unforgettable 3-night stay at Alila Ventana Big Sur (Nov 24–27) and I’m still in awe! ✨🌲🌊 We flew in the day before and stayed at the Hyatt Carmel in Monterey, where we also had a wonderful experience. They even upgraded us to a complimentary ocean-view room to accommodate my husband’s disability since there are lots of stairs/steps — such thoughtful service. 💙🌊 At Ventana, everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming. We arrived early and were able to enjoy the resort right away — soaking in the Japanese bath tub, relaxing by the pool, and indulging in their amazing inclusive dining. The hot tubs and pools are open 24/7 and clothing optional only at Japanese bath house and the pool next to it. We had a welcome drink at the Social House…Moët & Chandon champagne 🍾 and surprised with a huge complimentary suite upgrade! Waking up to those breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean during breakfast/brunch and ending each day with a beautiful dinner was pure magic. 🌅✨ Highly recommend this whole trip if you’re looking for a serene, luxurious escape. Already dreaming of going back! 💛

We had an beautiful stay at Alila Ventana — my husband and I went for our minimoon. The food and drinks were impeccable .. the staff were incredibly friendly, the property peaceful and very walkable. We also loved the jacuzzi and sauna area. We stayed for 2 nights in a suite, so should we return, we would extend the stay and enjoy the coast ridge hike which we heard was beautiful. One note - if you want to book a spa appointment, take advantage of their pre-booking email. There was no availability to book an appointment during our stay which was a little disappointing. Overall lovely.

Location is honestly a little off from Carmel by the sea downtown area. But once you are in the Alila resort, everything is in there, nothing needs to be done outside. Short hiking, food, pool, spa, service were absolutely amazing. Food was beyond my expectation. Since it was adult only resort, very quiet ambience was great.

This a sumptuous retreat worthy of two or three very relaxing days. I have read recent reviews and offer some insights: 1. make you dinner reservations when you reserve the hotel 2. The smaller clothes optional pools and hot tubs are mostly free of people and the people wear swimsuits 3. At these prices one might expect exceptional service; that was not our finding but it was very clear that everyone in the organization really wanted to help. This is California not Switzerland and the very positive approach went very far to make a positive experience. 4. The walk on the gravel path to the restaurant was very easy and adequately lit in the dark. We recommend it. 5. Our Amex Platinum delivered exceptional extra value for our 2 night stay. 6. We rented a Tesla from Budget from SJC. The afternoon traffic was brutal... try mid day. The hotel valet took care of charging the car like it was part of the deal. 7. The audience is adult. We saw no children nor we recommend bringing them. Nearby travelers had an assortment of Doodle Dogs. 8. We stayed at Post Ranch in the past... this is right up there! One more thing: I live for "helpful" votes

Alila Ventana Big Sur has long been an aspirational Hyatt/Chase redemption, but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to expectations. The setting is absolutely beautiful, and highlights include the Meadow Pool, solid food at Sur House, and cozy in-room features like the fireplace, tub, and hammock. However, the experience felt inconsistent and underwhelming for the price point. Service was the biggest issue. Dining at Sur House was extremely slow (often 2+ hours, even when not busy), and one dinner reservation was mishandled badly enough to impact the rest of our stay. Pool service was minimal, activity booking was disorganized, and there was little proactive hospitality overall. The room itself was nice, but lacked attention to detail—cheap robes, basic toiletries, minor maintenance issues, and scaled-back touches (like no more in-room s’mores) made it feel less luxurious. Even small moments, like the lack of acknowledgment of a birthday celebration, stood out at this level. Bottom line: Stunning setting, but service, consistency, and value don’t justify the cost or points in its current state