Jun 30, 2023, 9:42 pm
Last edit by: SanDiego1K
Dinner reservations and activities: email [email protected]
Big Sur Smokehouse is closed at least thru end of July 2023.
Your stay includes all meals, whether in-room 24 hours a day, lunch on the Sur House Terrace from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or dinner at The Sur House—our award-winning restaurant that is open for dinner from 5-9 p.m. Please see our dining menus here.
Signature experiences:
· Morning Movement (Tai Chi, Yoga, Meditation, Big SurCus Poi Dance)
· Coast Ridge Hike
· Bees and Big Sur
Falconry
· Foragers Hike
· Redwood Hike
· Sur House Social
· S'mores
· Astronomy
July 2023 activity schedule:
https://www.ventanabigsur.com/pdf/JU..._AtAGlance.pdf
Big Sur Smokehouse is closed at least thru end of July 2023.
Your stay includes all meals, whether in-room 24 hours a day, lunch on the Sur House Terrace from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or dinner at The Sur House—our award-winning restaurant that is open for dinner from 5-9 p.m. Please see our dining menus here.
Signature experiences:
· Morning Movement (Tai Chi, Yoga, Meditation, Big SurCus Poi Dance)
· Coast Ridge Hike
· Bees and Big Sur
Falconry
· Foragers Hike
· Redwood Hike
· Sur House Social
· S'mores
· Astronomy
July 2023 activity schedule:
https://www.ventanabigsur.com/pdf/JU..._AtAGlance.pdf
Ventana Big Sur- Alila - REVIEW MASTER THREAD
Aug 10, 2022, 5:20 pm
#2281
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Sacramento, CA
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Hyatt,Marriott,BA,AS
Posts: 4,425
We've stayed there twice but wouldn't return only because it's so far from anything and unless you like to spend all day hiking or just sitting around, there's absolutely nothing to do there. It's almost a 1 hour drive from Carmel. Also views of the ocean -- the prime reason for us to be in the Carmel/Big Sur area- are just in the distance.
Aug 11, 2022, 12:08 am
#2282
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 221
Depends what time of day Friday -- I wouldn't think February would be as bad as summer, but if you hit out of town Friday traffic, I could see it easily adding an hour or 2+ to the drive. But traffic can surprise you (good or bad) -- the worst traffic I've ever hit on a similar route was Monterey to Carmel over a decade ago on a 4th of July weekend (which was the last 4th of July we went to Carmel), but every other trip along that route we've never had traffic like that. We have family both in the bay area and along the central coast, so do similar drives to this a fair amount and fly into all these airports and there are deals to be had on flights/cars at all of them at various times. Personally if I had an option of a non-stop to Monterey and the prices/times worked, I'd snap it up in a heartbeat, but SJC, SFO, and even OAK wouldn't be bad if you time it right and it does give you a lot more flight/car options. Looking in Feb on Alaska the non-stop Friday to Monday into Monterey looks pretty ideal timing but it is only one flight a day so adds a degree of risk if something does go wrong. Or you can fly into OAK but earlier on Friday, say late morning, hopefully you'd beat most the weekend traffic and arrive at Ventana in time for lunch to maximize your time there.
Monday to catch an 11:45a from Oakland I would plan at least 3 hours on the road to get there. Plus rental car return, I would leave Ventana by 6am. For me it feels rushed. I would drive up to OAK area for Sunday night and cut your stay at Ventana a night. Or return to BLI on Tuesday.
Aug 11, 2022, 8:34 am
#2283
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: CHS
Programs: Delta, AA, BA, United, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond, SPG Marriott Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,142
Getting There?
Hate letting a Rental Car sit idle in the parking lot for 7 nights. Yes seven nights. We’ve done it before. We are okay chilling out, hiking and and eating for a week.
Is there A car service or or Uber type service that could get us to and from SFO. Not optimistic We could get an Uber pick up in Big Sur.
Is there A car service or or Uber type service that could get us to and from SFO. Not optimistic We could get an Uber pick up in Big Sur.
Aug 11, 2022, 9:37 am
#2284
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SF
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTP, HH Dia
Posts: 1,132
Hate letting a Rental Car sit idle in the parking lot for 7 nights. Yes seven nights. We’ve done it before. We are okay chilling out, hiking and and eating for a week.
Is there A car service or or Uber type service that could get us to and from SFO. Not optimistic We could get an Uber pick up in Big Sur.
Is there A car service or or Uber type service that could get us to and from SFO. Not optimistic We could get an Uber pick up in Big Sur.
Aug 11, 2022, 10:58 am
#2285
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, National EE
Posts: 1,204
We've stayed there twice but wouldn't return only because it's so far from anything and unless you like to spend all day hiking or just sitting around, there's absolutely nothing to do there. It's almost a 1 hour drive from Carmel. Also views of the ocean -- the prime reason for us to be in the Carmel/Big Sur area- are just in the distance.
Aug 11, 2022, 11:35 am
#2286
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,789
We've stayed there twice but wouldn't return only because it's so far from anything and unless you like to spend all day hiking or just sitting around, there's absolutely nothing to do there. It's almost a 1 hour drive from Carmel. Also views of the ocean -- the prime reason for us to be in the Carmel/Big Sur area- are just in the distance.
Aug 11, 2022, 10:04 pm
#2288
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ABQ & RNO
Programs: AA EXP 4MM, Piper Dakota, Admirals Club, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Gold, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 1,426
Aug 12, 2022, 10:00 pm
#2290
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914
Aug 15, 2022, 9:23 am
#2293
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,894
We've stayed here three times and would return because it feels like a secluded escape. We enjoy spending the day hiking in Big Sur and just sitting around in some of the most beautiful land that is within a day's drive of our home. We don't see any point in going to Carmel and already live near the ocean so that's not really the attraction here for us.
Aug 15, 2022, 10:09 am
#2294
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SF
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTP, HH Dia
Posts: 1,132
Interesting points - I've described this place to Mrs Adelphos, and she is somewhat concerned that there aren't really ocean views from the resort. All there seems to be to do is hike, go to the pool, and eat food, and interaction with other guests seem to be limited. Is this worth a trip for NYC based people, or are other destinations (like Alila Napa) more appropriate given there is more to do? Napa and Half Moon Bay seem much more convenient relative to San Francisco, where I would always be starting or ending a trip anyway
Aug 15, 2022, 12:36 pm
#2295
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,789
Interesting points - I've described this place to Mrs Adelphos, and she is somewhat concerned that there aren't really ocean views from the resort. All there seems to be to do is hike, go to the pool, and eat food, and interaction with other guests seem to be limited. Is this worth a trip for NYC based people, or are other destinations (like Alila Napa) more appropriate given there is more to do? Napa and Half Moon Bay seem much more convenient relative to San Francisco, where I would always be starting or ending a trip anyway
It is not a place to go if interacting with other guests in a social setting is important, or having activities planned for you (for that I would recommend the Miraval). While the food is very good, it's also not a place to go for a culinary journey.
If having an ocean view is important, go to the Post Ranch Inn. If she is already concerned that hiking, relaxing by the pool, eating healthy food with an ocean view aren't enough to keep her busy, then it is definitely not worth the journey from NYC.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Ventana. Think of it as a mini Aman (not necessarily in terms of service, but in terms of size, uniqueness, food) that you can use points and Hyatt status.