Hyatt’s Alila Ventana Big Sur All-Inclusive: Everything You Need to Know to Maximize Your Stays

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Alila Ventana Big Sur is an all-inclusive resort located in Big Sur, California. The all-inclusive offering includes the following:

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Dessert.
• Non-alcoholic beverages.
• Alcoholic beverages such as beers, wines, and cocktails are not included. 
• In-room service 24 hours a day. 
• Complimentary mini-bar featuring healthy snacks, reusable water bottles, assorted beverages, and sweet offerings.
• Complimentary Signature Experiences activities include:
• Tai Chi
• Yoga
• Meditation
• Property Hike
• Takes place daily at 10 a.m.
• S’mores 
• Take place at Social House. Nightly from 8–10 p.m.

• Alila Big Sur is an adults-only resort. So you must be at least 18 years old to stay at the resort. 
• The only clothing-optional part applies to the Mountain Pool close to the Japanese baths. 
• A word of caution here: Some rooms are close to or have views of the Mountain Pool. So if that bothers you, you may want to request a different room. 

Ventana Big Sur is located in Big Sur, California. You can fly into the following airports to get to the resort:

Driving from North:

• Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY) is a 1-hour drive to/from the resort.
• San Jose International Airport (SJC) is a 2-hours drive to/from the resort.
• Oakland International Airport (OAK) is a 2 and half hours drive to/from the resort. 
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a 2 and half hours drive to/from the resort, and it can take up to a 3-hour drive with traffics. 

Renting a car is entirely up to you. But people going to Alila Ventana Big Sur enjoy the stops along California’s famous Pacific Coast Highway 1. The drive is beautiful and breathtaking, with twists and turns. However, you should always check the Highway 1 condition for any road closure information.

With that being said, while it may be possible to get an Uber ride from the closest Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY) to Ventana Big Sur, it can be more challenging to get Uber rides from other further airports. Moreover, it is also challenging to get an Uber ride from the resort. Therefore, if you absolutely do not want to rent a car, you may want to consider pre-arranging transportation in advance or contact the resort directly to help arrange an airport shuttle or transportation. 

Ventana Big Sur’s check-in time is 4 p.m. Like many other hotels and resorts, early check-in is possible and subject to availability. 

• If you arrive at the property starting at 11 p.m. on the day of your check-in, you can enjoy lunch at the property, and it’s included. 
• You can enjoy the amenities such as swimming pools, etc., while waiting for your room to be ready. 
• Having elite status with World of Hyatt will make it easier to get an early check-in. 

Check-Out Time

Ventana Big Sur’s official check-out time is 11 a.m. Late check-out is also possible and subject to availability. On the day of your departure:

• Breakfast is included
• Lunch is also included, even after you check-out at 11 a.m.

The main restaurant at the resort is The Sur House. Your stay includes all meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, including poolside and in-room service 24 hours a day. 

The Big Sur Smokehouse located at the entrance to Ventana Big Sur is also part of the resort, and it’s included in the resort’s all-inclusive package. 

The only dining reservation in advance that is recommended due to limited seating is the dinner reservation at The Sur House, especially if you want to be seated and enjoy the sunset. Please note, the restaurant’s outdoor seatings are open if weather permits. 

To make your dinner reservation in advance, you can:

• Call 831-667-2331 
• Email [email protected]
• Fill out the form via the link provided in the welcome email mentioned above. 
• You do not need to wait 12 days to receive the welcome email that includes the link. You can always contact the resort, and they will be happy to send you the information before that.
• You will go through a series of questions about your personal preferences to personalize your stay at the resort, such as accompanying guest name, housekeeping requests, food allergies, traveling with pets, preferred dinner reservation times, etc. 
• After submitting the form, you will receive emails confirming your dinner reservation times during your stays. If provided times do not work for you, you can reply to the email and ask the concierge to modify them, or respond to the email and ask for outdoor seatings if you’d like. 

• Breakfast from 7 – 11 a.m.
• Poolside from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Dinner from 5 – 9 p.m.
• Ventana Big Sur Menu

• Redwood Cathedral seating (in the redwood forest) is available at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Sur Vista seating (overlooking the Pacific Ocean) is available at noon and 2:30 p.m.
• Picnic menu kits are $100 and will include a meal for two.

Ventana Big Sur Experiences

Complimentary Fitness Classes

For wellness and relaxations at the Ventana Big Sur resort:

• The Meadow Pool and large infinity-edge hot tub offer panoramic Pacific ocean views. 
• The Mountain Pool is secluded and surrounded by trees, and it is a clothing-optional pool. 
• The Japanese baths are adjacent to the Mountain Pool, and the water is heated to 104 degrees year-round.
• The Japanese baths usage will be on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• There are no reservations needed to enjoy the pools and Japanese baths currently. 
• More information about Pools and Bathhouses

At the Excursion Outpost, you can find complementary items for you to use on picnics, outdoor adventures, and hikes through the trails, fields, and forests. 

Tipping is a personal thing. It’s worth noting that the all-inclusive offerings at Alila Ventana Big Sur do include gratuity already. 

However, if you enjoy the services from resort staff at the on-site restaurant, valet parking, or housekeeping, you can always tip more. Personally, I always use 15%-20% as a guideline for tipping. You can carry cash with you or simply charge the tips to your room’s portfolio bill. 

Parking at the resort is valet parking only. The good news is, valet parking is complimentary to all guests regardless of whether you are a Globalist or not; pay for your stay or redeem your World of Hyatt points for free stays. 

Alila Ventana Big Sur resort is also a pet-friendly resort. 

• The pet fee is $150 per dog, with a maximum of two dogs. 
• The fee includes a dog bed and water bowl in your room. 
• A dog food menu is also available. 

• Ventana Big Sur has its own website, and you can access it here. 
• Hyatt’s Alila Ventana Big Sur website.
• Phone number: 831-667-2331
• Email: [email protected]

Yes, absolutely, but it’s subject to the availability of the Standard Suite, which is the Big Sur Suite. You can search for award availability, and if you see Standard Suite is available for booking using World of Hyatt points, you will be able to apply Hyatt’s Suite Night Awards for your stay. You will have to contact Hyatt to do that. 

Suppose you do not see the Standard Suite night award available, but you are a Globalist member. In that case, you can contact your personal My Hyatt Concierge for Globalist to know if s/he can directly reach out to the resort and get your Suite Night Awards applied for your reservation. 

Generally speaking, Globalist members receive a complimentary upgrade to the Big Sur Suite if available upon arrival. Sometimes, you may be lucky to get upgraded further to the Premium Suites at the resort on a case-to-case basis. Using Hyatt’s Suite Night Awards is simply to secure the upgrade before the date of your check-in. 

Ventana Big Sur resort is part of the World of Hyatt program, and it is operated under Hyatt’s Alila brand. This means that you can use World of Hyatt points to redeem your free stays at the resort.