8.26.22
If I asked the layperson what Ventana Big Sur is, many might say it sounds like a Mac OS, but in the points and miles world, and especially among Hyatt enthusiasts, Ventana is well known and often discussed. This is because it is an aspirational points redemption, perhaps one of the best uses of points in North America.
Ventana Big Sur is an Alila property, Hyatt's luxury brand that is most prevalent in Asia but has only three California locations in the US. This 160 acre, 59 room property is nestled high above the Pacific coastline in Big Sur, California, about 140 miles South of San Francisco. Originally opened as the Ventana Inn in 1975, Alila Hotels renovated the property and opened Ventana Big Sur, an adults only resort, in 2017. As I began my points journey, I kept seeing VBS mentioned again and again, so I planned a trip with my wife to see it for myself. Our 2021 trip got Covid-ed, so I rescheduled for summer 2022. This trip report will inadequately try to portray what a magical place this is and how you can stay there for free one day.
Rooms
The 59 rooms are spread throughout the property in various buildings as you can see on the property map.
Staying on points, I was booked in the basic One King with Fireplace room. I was planning to use a Hyatt suite upgrade for my 2021 reservation which would have confirmed into the Big Sur Suite, however that room wasn't available for my 2022 stay. The King room featured a rustic, log cabin-like decor and feel but with modern amenities. The vaulted ceiling, fireplace, and well appointed bathroom all lent to a clean, if not ultra luxurious feel. Our view of the surrounding redwood forests was peaceful and tranquill, despite the woodpecker banging outside as our wake up call.
Food
Breakfast and dinner were served at the Sur House, a building at the end of the property that required a 5-10 minute walk through the woods.
I should mention here that part of what makes VBS so valuable on points is that it's an all inclusive resort. All food, soft drinks, snacks, valet parking and gratuities are included. The only excluded item is alcohol, so any of those drinks are extra. The menu at Sur House is set, but has a good vairety. Your starter, main course, and dessert are included. We tried a good portion of the menus below and, while not overwhelmingly wowed, really enjoyed the food. The Chorizo scramble for breakfast, Beef Tenderloin for dinner, and the Chocolate Tort for dessert particularly stood out. The menu was the same for our stay but changes often.
There is also a Happy Hour from 4-5 at the Sur House, where they feature a complimentary Marine Layer drink, a gin and prosecco concoction with a smoke bubble on top.
But the main attraction of the Sur House is the view. The restaurant and outdoor patio are perched on a cliff, high above the Pacific. The views both morning and evening are spectacular. The hues were like a painting, the contrast where the ocean meets the sky defined like I've never seen it before.
Lunch can be done poolside, with a simple menu of appetizers and light meals, or at the Smokehouse, a BBQ restaurant at the base of the property. We tried each, and while not compelling, were an aduquate filler before dinner.
You can also have any meal delivered via room service.
Service
Speaking of service, it is attentive and outstanding at Ventana Big Sur. It seems the staff far outweigh the guests here. The staff at the Restaurant, Pool, Housekeeping, Valet, and Front Desk all made us feel special and went out of their way to help. They give you a number to text with any request, and those texts were met with immediate assitance.
Activities
There are several free activites such as hiking, yoga classes, stargazing and S'mores at the property as seen below. Although we didn't partake in any, several guests we talked to enjoyed them, especially the Bee Keeping and Coastal Ridge hike.
There are also several other experiences as seen below that come for a fee. We also passed on these, electing to spend our time relaxing on the property as well as hiking off property. In our current stage of life, which includes running 3 kids around like an Uber service, the relaxing and unwinding vibe Ventana oozes is just what we needed.
We hiked at Andrew Molera State Park, just 15 minutes north of Ventana. We did a 2.5 mile hike down to and along the beach, with great views of the coast. There is also an 8 mile loop trail here with a steep ascent, then amazing ocean views as you descend back toward the beach.
We also hiked in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, doing the 1.5 mile Pfeiffer Falls trail, an easy trail through the Redwoods up to a waterfall. This trail just reopened last year after being closed for 10 years due to reconstruction from fire damage.
Property
The property consists of two main areas. Reception is in the Social House, which also houses some reading areas and game room with a pool table. Adjacent is the Alila Spa, with a full menu of spa services for purchase. My wife said the massage she got here was among the best she's ever had.
Below the Social House is the Meadow Pool. Although small, the views while you relax are unparalleled, with ample lounge chairs and day beds. Behind the pool is the large infinity-edge hot tub, with views of the woods behind the property. We frequented the hot tub at sunset; it was must see.
Meandering up the path between the rooms is the Mountain Pool and Japanese Hot Baths. This area is less busy and another perfect place to spend time sunbathing, swimming, or soaking in the baths after a day of hiking. There is a fitness center here also, with two Peloton bikes, a tread, and several free weights.
Behind the property, there is also a campground, with glamping tents that you can reserve on the Alila website. The glamping sites do not get access to Ventana's facilities. The surrounding forest area of the campsites lend itself to quite a peaceful experience.
Value on Points
Although I would usually start with booking, I purposely left this part to the end. It brings up an interesting dialogue. After seeing the property, understanding everything is included but alcohol, and hopefully inferring what an incredible stay we had, you may be asking, how much does Ventana Big Sur cost? Well, the one king room we stayed in for a night in August is $1913.
Ventana, when I booked using points last year, was a category 7 hotel, so I used 30,000 points/night for my 3 night stay. That yielded me an extaordinary 6.3 cents/point (1913/30000) value. As I descibed in my article on points valuations, you can see how extraordinary that is compared to a 1 cent/point cash back strategy. Since then, Hyatt has introduced peak and off-peak pricing as well as moved this property to Category 8. So now this will cost between 35,000-45,000 points/night. With the above cash rate, that would now yield 5.4-4.2 cents/point value, still impressive.
Points can be earned through stays with Hyatt, through spending on Chase's Hyatt branded credit cards, or by transferring points from Chase Ultimate Rewards or Bilt points.
This brings me to a touchy subject among those debating point valuations, which is "is it worth it?" I would never pay almost $2000/night for probably any hotel, and Ventana Big Sur is no different. The rooms and property did show some wear, the food was not over the top amazing, and sure, for the hefty price tag it's a little disappointing that alcohol is extra (and not cheap). So maybe the proper question should be, how does Ventana compare to other properties at that price point? That I can't speak to.
But I will say this. I had to book my original trip in 2021 and my reschuduled trip this year roughly 11-12 months in advance, and even then it was hard to find dates to use points. Searches on Hyatt tell me there are limited days bookable with points over the next 12 months. The reason dates are so scarce is because it's such a sought after location and property. Route 1 winding down the coast from Monterrey to Big Sur and beyond is jaw-dropping around every turn, and creates an idyllic backdrop for this resort. So while I would never stay here on cash, many do and would, and that's great. I started in the points game with goals like this in mind, experiences I would otherwise never have. So for 30K, 35K, 45K, or almost whateverK Hyatt makes Ventana Big Sur in the future, is it worth it? 100%
So if you have points or want to earn points for an amazing couples retreat on the blissful shores of California, Ventana is calling.
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