Slates Hot Springs Vacations from $335

The room was so small. I felt like I was in a shoe box. Everything about the place was small. You walk right into a bed just inside the door. Carpet was dirty, and the bathroom like as big a shower stall. For the money, I know it was Carmel, I would never go back.

The place is absolutely beautiful and the views are breathtaking and mesmerizing. This was my second visit to this magnificent place. The staff was wonderful. Stephanie at the front desk a pleasure to work with and very professional. Will be back soon. Thank You.

Room was very spacious and clean.

Very cute property. I marked it down for 2 reasons: (1) bathroom has a sliding door with a 2” gap that is easy to peer in and out of and is not private so if you’re traveling with a new partner, just something to be cautious of, and (2) my room was not quiet at all. I’m not a light sleeper but I could hear road noises and sounds of people walking by and setting up at the park across the street. Overall, the property is cute, and I love the patio social hour. I would probably come back!

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.