Grove Acres Vacations from $838

Mattress was uncomfortable. Did not feel like a hotel-quality mattress. Rug between the beds was so dirty and worn. The Quail advertises free electric bike rentals but they have 3 for the entire resort! I even called to inquire about them and they didn’t tell me there were only 3 for the entire place. It’s misleading. Overall it was a nice stay but I wasn’t impressed with the rooms.

Excellent all around.

The staff and the property were awesome.

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.

Our room was beautiful and the ocean view was wonderful.