The Pinnacle of North American Wilderness Luxury Resorts 🌲✨

Scored a weekend stay at Alila Ventana Big Sur for just 45K points—what a steal, so we went for it! Friends had already raved about this Hyatt Category 8 resort, and after experiencing it firsthand, I can say it’s totally worth it with points—but paying $3,000 cash? Maybe a bit too steep… 💸 Overall Experience As Hyatt’s top-tier brand, it definitely lives up to the hype! Located just over 2 hours from the Bay Area along Highway 1 South, passing through the stunning Big Sur coastline with its clear blue waters. The resort is nestled deep in the mountains facing the Pacific Ocean—views are absolutely breathtaking! Staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. The rate includes three meals a day and all gratuities—only alcohol isn’t covered 🍹, which wasn’t an issue for us non-drinkers. With just 50+ rooms in the whole property, it felt like staff outnumbered guests! Room Experience Our 45K points booked a basic suite, but as Globalist members, we emailed ahead requesting an upgrade—and got a villa! It was a two-story unit around 100+ sqm: • 1F: Living room + kitchenette, plus a complimentary bottle of red wine 🍷. Walked straight out onto a huge grassy lawn—so connected to nature! 🌿 • 2F: Bedroom + bathroom with a spacious balcony. Both floors had fireplaces with plenty of firewood provided—so fun building a fire for the first time! 🪵🔥 Room details were thoughtfully curated: wooden pens, keycards, even wooden hiking poles and a telescope for trail adventures! Dining We skipped lunch but enjoyed Day 2 breakfast and Day 1 dinner—both were excellent! Every dish felt Michelin-level. Breakfast is à la carte (loved their yogurt!), and dinner highlights were the steak and squid. The restaurant overlooks rolling clouds—dining with a view! You can even take leftovers to go. Only downside: one entrée per person at dinner; extras cost more. Amenities Two hot spring pools: • Infinity pool facing the forest 🌊 • Japanese-style onsen nestled in the woods ♨️ (I preferred the infinity pool—clean with better views; spotted bugs in the onsen and left quickly 😅) Also includes a swimming pool, gym, sauna, and more—all set in a vast, serene property. Activities The resort offers many paid and free activities. We only stayed one night, so we didn’t book any—but we hiked the trails, saw giant redwoods, and enjoyed the lush flora! 🌳🌸 Perfect for a weekend recharge—surrounded by forest, clouds, and sunset skies! Highly recommend using Chase/Hyatt points to experience this gem! #LuxuryResort #WildernessLuxury #Alila #HealingRetreat #CaliforniaTravel #BayAreaWeekends #HyattPoints #BigSur #PacificViews #NatureEscape #TravelInStyle