Alila Ventana Big Sur is one of the most coveted hotels in California. What better way to spend the holidays than at this stunning property, surrounded by the breathtaking natural beauty of the Central California Coast? With its all-inclusive offerings, all you need to do is relax and enjoy!

Pre Stay Research

Leading up to our stay, I found it difficult to find detailed information about the special Christmas offerings at the hotel. So, let me share our experience as Globalists to give you a better idea of what to expect. This was our second stay at Alila Ventana Big Sur, and we were excited to return.

Booking

A Standard Room Free Night at this hotel costs 45,000 Hyatt Points and typically averages around $2,000 per night. Availability is scarce, as this property is on many travelers' bucket lists. We managed to secure a reservation in February for a one-night stay on December 24–25. Since we’re from the Bay Area, we felt that one night was sufficient to enjoy the property while conserving our points. The hotel allows early check-in and offers lunch on both arrival and departure days, maximizing your experience.

Travel

From the Bay Area, the drive took us approximately 2.5 hours, with slight traffic. Most people seemed to be at home celebrating Christmas Eve with their families. It was a rainy day, but fortunately, the skies cleared up just in time for our arrival.

Arrival

Upon reaching the property at 11am, we handed our car and luggage to the valet and proceeded to the Social House for check-in. As expected, our room was not yet ready, but we received a complimentary upgrade to the Hot Tub Suite! Since we anticipated a wait, we headed straight to The Sur House for lunch. You can either do a ~10 minute walk to the Sur House or get driven around in one of the hotel cars/golf carts.

Lunch

Lunch might just be my favorite meal at Alila Ventana Big Sur. The menu offers a fantastic selection, and you can order anything you like (excluding alcohol). There were so many tempting options! We tried not to go overboard since we had a dinner reservation at the Sur House for 5pm.

We enjoyed:

Rose Lemonade
Chips and Guacamole
Market Fish - Chef’s Daily Selection (Salmon)
Churrasco
Veggie Burger & Fries
Dulce De Leche Chocolate Cake
Roasted Pineapple Tapioca Pudding
Pumpkin Tart

Yes, three desserts were absolutely necessary. My favorite dish was the churrasco, served with a red onion and cilantro salad, chimichurri, and cilantro lime rice. I had ordered this on our previous visit and made sure to get it again. The steak was incredibly tender and flavorful, enhanced by the fresh herbs. However, the service was somewhat lacking—It was hard to find our server at times and I was only provided a butter knife to eat my steak. Despite this minor hiccup, we left the restaurant completely satisfied and returned to the Social House to check on our room. Luckily, it was ready—perfect timing! After such a large meal, I was definitely ready to relax.

Room

We were upgraded from a Standard King Bed to the Hot Tub Suite. According to Hyatt’s website, “This 500-square-foot suite encompasses one king bed, forest or ocean views from the private deck, and an outdoor hot tub for a relaxing Big Sur getaway.” Our room was #59, located near the valet parking. Despite the proximity to the valet, our room felt very private, as it faced the woods and had minimal foot traffic.

After capturing some content in our room, we couldn't resist taking a dip in our private hot tub. On our previous visit, we had spent a lot of time in the Infinity Hot Tub by the Meadow Pool and Spa. However, with our own private hot tub, we didn’t feel the need to visit those or the Japanese Hot Baths this time. We also did not do any activities since it was cold and wet from the earlier rain, so you won’t find any information about them in this blog post.

Social Hour

At 4 PM, we wandered back to The Sur House for Happy Hour. Guests receive one complimentary signature drink: The Marine Layer, a gin-based cocktail. They also offer a mocktail version for those who prefer a non-alcoholic option.

Sur House Christmas Dinner

Since it was Christmas Eve, the restaurant offered a special five-course menu:

We enjoyed the following:

Amuse Bouche: Chef’s Tasting Bite
First Course: Ahi Tuna Crudo / Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad
Mid Course: Squid Ink Bucatini with Poached Lobster, Saffron Cream, and Herb Gremolata / Wild California Mushroom Risotto with Truffle
Entrée: Seared Sea Scallop / Char-Grilled Cauliflower Steak
Dessert: Buche de Noel / Sticky Toffee Pudding

I absolutely loved this five-course meal. Tuna, lobster, and scallop—three of my favorites! By the mid-course, I was already feeling full, especially after our large lunch, so I was glad I opted for the scallop entrée instead of the Beef Wellington. My fiancé’s meal was good but not exceptional, as there was only one vegetarian option per course. Service during dinner was much better, and the restaurant was fully packed with other hotel guests celebrating Christmas!

Winding Down for the Night

After dinner, we decided to hop back into the hot tub as it was so relaxing earlier and we didn’t spend enough time in there. The stars were shining brightly and the air was so fresh and crisp after the earlier rain. While we were away at dinner, someone had brought a welcome amenity with cheese, crackers, dried fruit, and wine (I couldn’t look at anymore food after our large dinner so I set it in the fridge for tomorrow).

We also requested turn-down service and returned to a lovely note and a set of jade stones. Another highlight of the room was the in-room fireplace, one of my favorite features! The hotel provides bags of wood and matches, and in the evenings, you can grab a s’mores kit to enjoy by the fire. It was the perfect way to end our magical Christmas Eve stay at Alila Ventana Big Sur.

Christmas Morning

Somehow I managed to wake up early despite my food coma to see the sunrise. Maybe I was just eager for Christmas! Before brunch, I squeezed in a quick workout at the gym. The gym is fairly small, but it does have some nice equipment, including a Peloton rower, which I had never seen before at a Hyatt. Whenever I stay at a Hyatt property, I try to use one of the Peloton machines to earn 100 points per workout.

I also took a short hike along the walking trail that loops around the property. It was peaceful, and we didn’t encounter anyone else.

Brunch

I was excited for our final meal on the property. Normally, breakfast and lunch are separate, but brunch was ideal given how much we had eaten in the last 24 hours.

For breakfast, we had:

NY Prime Steak, Eggs, and Hashbrowns
Seafood Risotto
Egg White Frittata
Winter Vegetable Hash
Pressed Juice

Service was disappointing this time, so we left fairly quickly and headed home. I’m starting to think that because gratuity is included, the service quality suffers. The steak and eggs were pretty good, though!

You Should Visit

Overall, the property is stunning, the rooms are gorgeous with possible upgrades, and the all-inclusive aspect is a major perk. This hotel is definitely a favorite of ours, and we plan to visit every year or so. It’s worth the Hyatt points, and if you can afford the $2000+/night cash rate, go for it. For now, we’ll stick with the points!