First Mayor's House Tours

Clean rooms and magnificent views of the Pacific.

The room was great and everything else. But the room above us has been loud with the kids jumping and running around early mornibg ab late evenings. But because the quiet hours were only from 10 pm to 7 am, it didn't really matter if you complain abouyt

The resort and grounds are absolutely stunning — the perfect place to relax and reset with a peaceful, restorative atmosphere. Most of the staff were a pleasure and made our stay feel special, though we did have 1–2 interactions where it felt like we were a bother for asking for anything. That’s disappointing anywhere, but especially on a $3k+ per night trip. When booking, I chose a suite specifically for its forest view. We came to Big Sur to be surrounded by giant trees. At check-in, we were told we’d been “upgraded” to a Pacific view suite. While well-intentioned, it wasn’t what we came for. From the suite we couldn’t see the water, the outdoor furniture wasn’t comfortable enough to enjoy, and it lacked the lounge chairs/hammock the original suite had advertised. We asked to move back to our booked room but were told the property was fully committed. I understand that happens, but it was frustrating to have our experience shifted by a change we didn’t request. Overall, Alila Ventana Big Sur is a breathtaking property with (mostly) a wonderful team. But if you’re going for a specific experience — like the forest views we wanted — make sure your reservation is honored as booked. At this level, the details really matter.