Thrifty Traveler posted today that there is once again excellent Sunday to Thursday availability at Ventana Big Sur. We’re making a quick update to republish this older post for main details, but note that currently availability is pretty good from November 2023 to June 2024 (not the 2023 dates previously covered in the post below). I picked a random Monday to Thursday in May just now and found standard rooms, suites, and premium suites available. Keep an eye on the cancellation policy, but if this availability interests you, you’ll probably need to move on it quickly as standard rooms often get booked up.
A previous post with more details about previous availability follows.
It’s no secret that Greg the Frequent Miler is big fan of Alila Ventana Big Sur, he was blown away with his first stay in 2020 (before it was all-inclusive) and rewowed by his second go-round. On a recent podcast, Greg also discussed how difficult it is to find standard room award availability…I’ve heard a rumor that he installed a designated “Ventana” phone-line strictly to be able to keep tabs on up-to-the-minute inventory.
Yesterday, one of the members of Frequent Miler Insiders alerted us to a significant tranche of Ventana availability that has opened for Spring 2023. It starts in February and goes through the end of the calendar In May. Both weekend (Feb/Mar only) and midweek (Feb-May) stays are available. At 40-45,000 points per night, it may not be the hot ticket it was before moving to category 8, but I still imagine this availability won’t last long.
What’s Open
Many Sunday through Thursday nights from November 2023 to June 2024. Fridays and Saturdays are not currently available.
for 40,000 points/night (standard)
M-Thurs each week in February (including President’s Day weekend)M-Thurs until March 10th
for 45,000 points/night (peak)
Every weekend in FebruaryTwo weekends in March (3-5, 10-12)M-Thurs, first and third weeks of AprilM-Thurs, every week in May
Quick Thoughts
Ventana availability seems to go in fits and starts, it seems like it gets dropped in chunks with little-to-no rhyme or reason. The fact that both weekends near Valentine’s Day are open, as well as every midweek in May, is pretty amazing given normal availability patterns. This might indicate a slackening of points demand since the standard rate was hiked-up 33%…although with nightly rates that start at around $2000 (all inclusive), it’s still a very high-value redemption.
I’m going there this weekend with my wife and there are some change to the included activities since Greg was last there in February. Falconry and Beekeeping were complimentary then, but are now supplemental…$200pp for Falconry and $90pp to “be put in mortal danger” with bees, as Nick puts it:). I doubt that change will be a deal killer for anyone already interested, but it was disappointing to hear.
Keep in mind that Hyatt Globalists can book a Points Advance Reservation, where you can make a reservation without having enough points in your account. The reservation is made with no points deduction but then you need have the points in your account by 7 days from arrival or else your reservation gets converted to a paid stay. I often do this intentionally with more expensive stays, even if I have access to enough points to make the reservation, as it keeps those points from getting tied-up for months. The easiest way to make a Points Advance Reservation is to call the Globalist line.
Ventana Big Sur isn’t the screaming deal that it used to be, 90,000 points for a weekend is steep, indeed. That said, if you’ve got the points and you’ve been wanting to try this property out, book sooner than later…especially if you’re looking for a weekend or for a time in May.
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Can you apply suite upgrade awards here?
I grabbed a 2 night stay in late June in a standard room. Thanks for the heads up!
Changing My question. Is it worth applying a suite upgrade award. Other than the larger sq footage is there an advantage to the suites?
If you have a SUA to burn, use it. If you want to use them somewhere else, I would say do that. They try to upgrade folks anyway when they can, and even so, the regular rooms (as long as you have fireplace) are plenty serene. There are some outliers, there are some suites that are newer in design, but i like the rusticness of the regular rooms and all of the standard suites pretty much have that same design.
We visited in October 2021, and then again July 2023. It has taken a couple steps back. The service was significantly worse. The restaurant experience (food and service) was so poor we got room service after our first night. Waited 2+ hours for lunch by the pool. The garden is no longer being kept up. Seems they have done some cost cutting, or too much turnover. Still a great place! Rooms, views, etc. But you might want to temper expectations. It is no longer marked by top level service.
I’ve heard conflicting information on if you can make a points advance reservation when you DO have the points available, and only being able to make a points advance if you do not have all the points.
This place is the new Park Hyatt Vendome.
Yup. Still fun though. Been there twice when points cost was much lower. Still borderline worth it imo, though if they raise the points cost again, maybe not. Granted we drive Route 1 to get there. Not sure I’d go if I had to pay this points price and take a domestic flight.
Going on a California trip for our 25th anniversary
3 nights in Napa then I had 2 nights at Carmel valley ranch and 2 nights at ritz half moon bay. All on points except Napa trip
On our actual anniversary, there was suite availability at ventana with outdoor shower for a steep 90k points. I ended up grabbing it so now doing 1 night at Carmel valley ranch and one night at ventana. Lots of points for one night but it’s a special occasion. Looking forward to our trip !
I’m not finding any availability now in February-March. Already booked up?
Going there this weekend, I’ll keep an eye out for you. 🙂
Thanks for the summary. They also have standard rooms at 35k/night. I got an alert on Friday and was lucky to book 1 night on Aug31st for 35K.
Really look forward to it.
Great! I wasn’t able to find any off-peak nights and you got one in August! Well done!
Tim – I hope to see a trip report soon on your upcoming stay! If you can sort out what a “standard room” looks like (I booked a ‘1 King Bed with Fireplace’ prior to deval; room description mentions ‘a private deck with forest or ocean views’). I’m curious what the chances of getting one of those “ocean views” base rooms without status is….
I’ll investigate and see if I can get a picture of the standard rooms.
Grabbed 2 nights/3 days in May for a total of 90,000 pts. Thanks for the heads-up, FM! You’re the best.
unfortunately they changed what a premium room is. it was a Vista hot tub suite – no more. in addition to the devaluation of points what sometimes gets missed is a devaluation of the rooms as well.
Completely agree about changing room categories, but not sure I understand what you mean by “premium room.” Do you what you get for a premium suite redemption?
We just booked a weekend in October this morning. Went there last spring – we love this place!
All I see left is 45k (when available).
Wow, that was fast. I still see a couple of Mondays left at 40,000, but the rest is either gone of 45,000
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