I would have never thought I'd go this long without traveling somewhere. As mentioned in
my last post, our grand plans in 2020 were canceled due to the pandemic. Kaleb and I made the most of the lockdown by doing home improvement, catching up on TV shows, taking lessons on the internet and ahem...eating. At times, I was antsy to go somewhere, but was able to suppress the urge, though we did dine at a restaurant with outdoor seating for our anniversary in October. In November, I decided to be optimistic and redeemed Hyatt points for an April 2021 stay at the all-inclusive adults-only
Ventana Big Sur resort, using Kaleb's birthday as an excuse for a staycation. If things weren't better by then, then the situation would be quite dire.
Award night availability at Ventana is scarce; booking way in advance is the best option. Cancellations do occur, so it helps to check the Hyatt website often. Weekends are usually booked solid. I ended up booking Sunday and Monday night in a king room with fireplace for 30,000 Hyatt points per night, a total of 60,000 points. I didn't have enough in my Hyatt account and needed to top off by transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Cash rates for our 2-night stay was upwards of $3200. As our check-in date drew near, the price went up an extra $2000, probably due to increased demand. It's undoubtedly a fantastic point redemption value, considering that three meals a day plus snacks, late night dining and all gratuities are included. (alcohol and specialty non-alcoholic beverages additional) How does one collect Hyatt points? Besides staying at Hyatt properties, you can quickly amass points by earning the sign-up bonus and spending on the
World of Hyatt credit card, or transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points earned from sign-up bonuses and spending on
Chase Sapphire and
Ink Business credit cards.
At the beginning of 2021, vaccines were slowly being rolled out to the public in phases. Kaleb and I weren't expecting to be vaccinated before the trip to Big Sur, but we'd go anyway, taking the recommended precautions. Our stay had the potential to be canceled - Ventana closed on December 13, 2020 due to Monterey County's stay-at-home order, but re-opened on February 5, 2021. Then a few weeks later, a mudslide took out a section of Highway 1; since it happened a few miles south of Ventana, we could still drive there without detouring.
It was announced that California would open up vaccinations on April 15 to all ages 16 and up, so we might have a chance at getting the shot before our trip. Then we found a local medical group starting earlier, on April 6. We were fortunate to find appointments on that day. First shot accomplished!
About a week or so before our stay, the Ventana concierge sent an email with details about the resort and provided an opportunity to reserve dinner times at
The Sur House restaurant as well as optional activities such as hiking, private picnic, and stargazing. The picnic used to be included as part of the stay last year, but now, there is a $100 charge per couple. I personally wouldn't have partook, even if it was included, as I didn't find the menu appetizing.
 |
| private picnic menu |
Finally, the day came and we drove to Big Sur. There wasn't much traffic coming in - more on the other side as people were leaving from weekend stays. The weather was perfect - it was hard to keep my eyes on the road, lured by views of the ocean along the Big Sur Coast Highway.
The last time we were at Ventana was during our wedding photo shoot amongst the redwoods of their campground. If you don't have Hyatt points or the deep pockets to stay at the all-inclusive resort, the campground is an excellent alternative. You can pitch your own tent, or go "
glamping" in a tent cabin with a real bed, USB ports, lights, you name it. Campers don't get to use the hotel resort facilities but the bath houses in the campground offer piping hot showers, a true luxury in the wilderness.
 |
| what a nice place to camp |
A large metal gate stood at the entrance to Ventana resort. A staff member found our names on a list, said "Happy birthday!" (I had noted on the reservation that we were there for a birthday celebration), asked if we wanted to self-park or valet (both options are included with your stay) then opened the gate to let us in. I chose to self-park on the gravel lot adjacent to the resort.
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| Ventana property map |
While getting our bags out of the car, a golf cart happened to pass by; the driver asked if we wanted a lift to reception, not too far away. At first, we politely declined, since we weren't accustomed to being served, but he cheerfully insisted, saying it's not a problem, so we took him up on it. To be fair, given the level of accommodation and price point, such service is not out of the ordinary; it just takes us time to get used to it. It was neat to watch him drive along the narrow pathways, deftly squeezing through archways with barely an inch to spare, not at all like the roller coaster ride we experienced at the
Grand Luxxe in Nuevo Vallarta a couple of years ago. As Kaleb and I got out of the cart, the driver said that our bags would be waiting outside our room. Since gratuities were included, we didn't tip the driver or any other staff for that matter, nor did it seem expected. We didn't observe anyone tipping with cash throughout our stay. It felt weird at first, but it was quite refreshing to not have to worry about it.
With no line at reception, we sat down with one of the front desk staff to check in. A window of plexiglass stood between us; the staff member wore a mask plus latex gloves to handle my credit card. There was a jar with clean pens, and one to put used pens in after signing. Maybe due to Kaleb's birthday or my
Hyatt Explorist status, we were upgraded from the king room with fireplace to a
Big Sur Spa Suite located in the Canyon House!
The few guests we passed during the short walk to our suite were wearing masks. Our door had a sticker affixed to show that it hadn't been opened since it was last cleaned. We broke the seal and walked into our beautiful suite for the next two nights. A half-bottle of champagne with birthday wishes from the general manager, along with three treasures to take home, were displayed on the dining table.
The Big Sur Spa Suite was quite spacious. You certainly would need to be a couple to stay here, as there was no door to the bathroom. The toilet itself had a door, but there was a window to the outside, despite having an exhaust fan. (thankfully, there was a wooden shutter for privacy) The sitting area in front of the wood-burning fireplace was cozy. The best part was the deck, containing two lounge chairs, a large hammock and a hot tub with an expansive view of the forest and hills.
The minibar was complimentary (not the alcohol), though it was never replenished when housekeeping came by (twice a day). I was surprised not to find reusable water bottles in the room, as mentioned in the amenities list (typical of Hyatt properties) as well as in reviews. Fortunately, we had our own, refilling them at several water stations located throughout the resort. There was an ice machine near the fitness center.
 | | our original room floorplan, courtesy Ventana |
|  | | spa suite floorplan, courtesy Ventana |
|
 | | comfy bed; rotary phone and services tablet on nightstand |
|  | | fireplace; never turned on the TV |
|
 | | wet bar (coffee complimentary but not the alcohol) |
|  | | complimentary snacks and PPE |
|
 | | complimentary drinks in the fridge |
|  | | view from the large tub, supplied with bath salts |
|
 | | spacious vanity |
|  | | rain shower with view outside |
|
 | | local organic toiletries |
|  | | spearmint rosemary scent |
|
 | | closet with robes/slippers |
|  | | hello! |
|
 | | large hammock |
|  | | lounge chairs and hot tub |
|
It wasn't long before our 6pm dinner reservation at Sur House restaurant, about half a mile walk away from our room. I got a text beforehand from the staff, informing guests that the temperature would be low in the evening and to have a jacket in case there weren't enough heaters in the outdoor dining area. There would be limited seating indoors available as well.
The lighted gravel path to the restaurant twisted and turned through the forest. If guests aren't inclined to walk, a golf cart can be requested. It was nice to take a stroll through the trees. Halfway down the path, there were hand-crafted wooden tables and chairs set up in the Redwood Cathedral for private picnics.
 | | gravel path to the restaurant |
|  | | tables in the Redwood Cathedral |
|
 | | zen water feature in front of the restaurant |
|  | | firepit seating with views in case there's a wait |
|
When we checked in with the hostess, she instructed us to scan a QR code with our smartphone to get a link for the menu, due to health protocols. If you didn't have a phone, I'm sure there were printed copies for perusal. Masks were required as expected, to be removed during the meal. We were led outside to a table with a nice view of the surroundings and ocean; there were others that had unobstructed panoramas, but were already occupied. I'd get here at 5:30pm if you want those. It was still pretty warm outside, no jacket required.
The seasonal dinner menu would stay the same throughout our stay. There was even a selection for canine guests (extra cost). We saw several dogs, large and small, accompanying their owners around the property.
 | | dinner menu |
|  | | doggie menu |
|
Dinner consisted of a starter, entree and dessert. Our server mentioned a rib eye special not on the menu, for $50. An extensive wine and alcohol menu was presented, but we went with sparkling water, brought in a large glass bottle.
The food was nice and light, with good portions. Everything was flavored nicely, not overly salty or heavy.
 | | mushroom tostada |
|  | | Spanish octopus |
|
 | | short rib |
|  | | arctic char |
|
We were pretty full after dinner, so for dessert, we ordered the fruit salad, espresso and peppermint-cardamom tea. The fruit was topped with a lovely granita, so yummy! Kaleb got a little "Happy Birthday" chocolate on his.
 |
| dessert menu |
At the end of the meal, we were presented with a check for $0.00, requiring just a signature. There was a line for additional tip, but it was only used if you had purchased alcohol or other extras. We also got a couple of after-dinner sweets which I forgot to take a picture of.
We walked back on the same gravel path, hardly passing anyone coming or going. Most people probably took the golf carts, as the restaurant had a decent number of diners. We headed to the Ocean Meadow area of the resort to enjoy the remainder of the sunset.
A large fire was burning in the firepit near reception; turned out it was for s'more making, an activity held in front of the Social House from 8-10pm. A staff member handed out cellophane bags packed with two graham crackers, an individually wrapped piece of
Tcho milk or dark chocolate, and a marshmallow.
Ghirardelli hot chocolate was also served in small Dixie cups. S'mores could also be made in the comfort of your own fireplace; the staff member gave us long thick wooden skewers to take back to our room. The entire process could be skipped as pre-made s'mores were also available; I grabbed one to compare the difference.
Handy bags of re-purposed wood made by
Goodwood were stacked in a basket next to our fireplace along with a box of matches. I didn't think it lasted 2 hours though, maybe from the initial lighting. The hot coals were perfect for marshmallow roasting. How fun to make s'mores in our room! The pre-made s'more didn't taste the same as the marshmallow was probably warmed in a microwave.
That night, we tried out the open-air Japanese baths, located close to our building. I didn't bring my phone to take pictures, so a Ventana pic is included below. It wasn't a true Japanese bath (
onsen) in the sense that you weren't obligated to strip naked (though the area was clothing-optional) or shower down before entering. There were separate men's and women's dressing/showering room entrances, which led into the baths. It was like a large jacuzzi with jets, partitioned into three semi-private sections. The pic below shows the larger center section - smaller sections were to the left and right. No one else was around, else occupancy was limited to two people per section. One section did not have jets. The water was comfortably warm as the outdoor temperature grew colder. There were plenty of towels available in the dressing rooms.
 |
| Japanese baths, courtesy Ventana |
After we frolicked in the baths, we dashed back to our suite, then jumped into the hot tub on the deck. Its heavy cover was awkward to remove. The water was toasty, needing a few minutes to settle in. Having the opportunity to soak in the darkness, high in the trees, serenaded by sounds of the night, was pretty awesome.
Still hungry or want to extract maximum value from your stay? Late night room service is available. We were too full, especially after the s'mores, so we didn't partake tonight nor the next night. I read in reviews that the chocolate chip cookies were good.
 |
| late night room service menu |
The next day, we enjoyed breakfast at Sur House around 10am. There weren't many people around at that time but must have been a mad house earlier as I overheard a server apologize for the service delay to a couple seated nearby. The sun was unexpectedly blazing today, so I would recommend bringing a hat and sunscreen on sunny days, especially when seated at a table without shade.
We each ordered an entree, plus coffee, tea and orange juice. I asked about adding sides of fruit, which was no problem at all. Total bill was $0.00.
 |
| breakfast menu |
 |
| avocado toast and Ventana breakfast with sides of fruit |
I had tentative plans to go hiking on the Coast Ridge Road (as indicated on the resort property map) and to drive down to
Partington Cove, but ended up just relaxing at the resort. It was hard to leave the tranquility. Having our own hot tub didn't hurt either. We did do the walking trail around the resort and checked out their organic garden.
 | | groomed trail meandered up and down |
|  | | lovely flowers everywhere |
|
 | | part of the organic garden |
|  | | edible pansies |
|
 |
| hard to leave this space |
Lunch was available pool-side or in-room. Since we had a late breakfast, we ordered an afternoon snack using the tablet in the room. The "ASAP" delivery time was one hour from ordering, but you could select a later time. The food arrived as scheduled and was piping hot.
 |
| poolside lunch menu |
 |
| room service menu |
 | | more than a snack: charcuterie, salad, panini, fruit, carrot cake |
|  | | popped open the bubbly |
|
Dinner was at 6pm; a text came again, advising jackets. Tonight, our table was under the covered outdoor patio; there were heat lamps on the ceiling. It was windy today; the condiments on our food (shaved parmesan, microgreens) were sometimes blown off our plates towards the table in front of us. I wore my jacket this time. White caps were visible in the ocean.
The menu was the same, so we ordered some we hadn't tried yet. I opted for the customized preparation on the bottom of the menu, where you select a protein and side dishes. The fruit salad was so good last night that I had to get it again. Another "Happy Birthday" chocolate decorated the plate.
 | | bruschetta |
|  | | squash salad |
|
 | | pacific bass |
|  | | customized arctic char |
|
 | | goat cheese tart |
|  | | another birthday fruit salad |
|
 |
| after-dinner sweets |
After dinner, we checked out the two pools. The Mountain Pool is clothing-optional, but within view of some balconies...hmm! The Meadow Pool area had an infinity-edge hot tub. We watched the sky grow dark on Adirondack chairs on Ocean Meadow.
 | | clothing optional, if you dare |
|
|
We did s'mores in our room again, one with dark chocolate and the other with milk chocolate. At least the wood for the fireplace was replenished by housekeeping.
We tried room service breakfast the next morning. The selections were the same as in the restaurant. Delivery was right on time.
 |
| bagel with lox, pastry basket, fruit, parfait |
Check-out was at 11am - I used the Hyatt app to bypass the front desk, with a balance of $0. We walked our bags down to the parking area ourselves, though I'm sure you could request a golf cart through the room service tablet.
 |
| bye bye to this beautiful view |
Note for Pokemon Go players, there are a few pokestops in the resort; the gym is a bit far:
In summary, I highly recommend staying at Ventana Big Sur, either at the resort or glamping/camping in the campground. The location is spectacular, with sky, ocean, forest and hills all in one place. Kaleb's birthday was acknowledged in many ways during our stay - I'm sure other occasions such as anniversaries or milestones would be treated special by the resort if you mention it to the concierge on the pre-arrival email. Two nights flew by quickly, though one may not want to stay past three nights as the food menus didn't change. Since Kaleb and I shared our selections, we'd already tasted most of the offerings. In addition to the customized protein-and-sides plate, the $50 rib eye special was available to mix things up. On a longer stay, Kaleb and I would have been fine ordering the same food again, but I'm sure some people would prefer more variety. Off-site dining is always an option, but foregoing an included meal would reduce the value of an award stay; I'm sure cash guests wouldn't blink an eye. Our spa suite was certainly romantic, especially with the hot tub, but we would have been content with the base room, as it had a fireplace to make s'mores and a deck with views. The resort and glamping are adults-only, but tent sites are family-friendly, so the kids can also have a chance to commune with the magnificent redwoods. I definitely would return to Ventana - in the resort if I have points to spare, or pay cash for glamping or tent camping.
Now that Kaleb and I are vaccinated, we're making more travel plans, slowly working our way from staycations to international vacations. In fact, we have something planned every month for the remainder of 2021, staying optimistic and making the best of what the world has now become. What's next? A week-long getaway to South Lake Tahoe...stay tuned!
(Missed reading about our last trip in 2020, visiting the Arizona Biltmore Resort? Click here! Don't miss a single update! Click here to have the latest delivered straight into your inbox...opt out anytime.)
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Another disclaimer: The intention of this blog was to remind Future Me in full detail about where I went and what I did. I could have made it private, but I frequently get questions from family, friends and internet folks about how I planned things, got deals, etc., so instead of repeating the story over and over, I direct them here. If you are offended by anything I say or do, save yourself the discomfort and kindly click away from my blog. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!
