Wonderland on Points | Credit Card Rewards & Budget Travel 125. Dreamy California All-Inclusive: How to Book the Alila Ventana Big Sur on Points
In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most aspirational redemptions in the world of points and miles—Alila Ventana Big Sur, a luxurious adults-only, all-inclusive Hyatt resort tucked along California’s stunning coastline. We’re joined by social worker and points enthusiast Deb, who shares how she booked this $1700+-per-night property using points, and why she says it was 100% worth it.
Deb opens up about how travel has become a vital outlet for avoiding burnout in her emotionally demanding career, and how discovering points and miles through a Chase Sapphire Preferred bonus changed everything. She walks us through her strategy for locking in a three-night stay at Ventana using Hyatt points, including how she searched for elusive award space using hotel search aggregator tools. She also shares details about getting there with airline miles, her room upgrade to a Big Sur suite, and all the stunning extras that made the trip unforgettable—like forest bathing, coastal hikes, beekeeping, and nightly s’mores.
If you’ve ever dreamed of staying at Ventana—or wondered whether luxury travel on a budget is really possible—this episode will inspire you to dream bigger and dive deeper into the world of points and miles. Deb also gives us a preview of her upcoming session at the Travel More Conference, where she’ll be teaching others how to find award availability for high-end hotels using advanced search tools.
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