Big Sur recommendations

[Anonymous]

Traveling for a workshop at the Esalen Institute in June and have two nights free before we fly back to DC from Monterey. Have stayed in Monterey before, fwiw. Could again, but looking for other recommendations? No major budgeting constraints.

[Anonymous]

Ventana or Post Ranch if you have no budget.

[Anonymous]

https://www.treebonesresort.com/

This place is really cool!

[Anonymous]

You are going to get the best of Big Sur (the ocean, cliffs, views, peace) at Esalen. If you want something different, stop in Carmel before flying out. It's really cute and posh beach town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ventana or Post Ranch if you have no budget.

Post Ranch > Ventana, if you have the budget.

Alila Ventana Big Sur has become a Hyatt points factory (so if you have the points, stay there - although you should've booked before the big Hyatt devaluation today!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ventana or Post Ranch if you have no budget.

Post Ranch > Ventana, if you have the budget.

Alila Ventana Big Sur has become a Hyatt points factory (so if you have the points, stay there - although you should've booked before the big Hyatt devaluation today!)

Thanks, this is good context.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. OP here. I’m familiar with the Post Ranch Inn and Alila Ventana, and neither have availability unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

I’d second Carmel. Lots of cute boutique hotels and a short drive from Monterey plus close to Big Sur. You also have 7 mile drive.

[Anonymous]

Inn at Spanish Bay along 17 Mile Drive in Carmel. Get an ocean view room. So beautiful there. I love happy hour at Roy’s outside with the bag piper.

[Anonymous]

I just saw a recommendation for Treebones somewhere— more like glamping with yurts but I think they have restaurants (and it was like $400/night)

[Anonymous]

Big Sur, for an overnight, was not for me. No or limited phone service, expensive lodging, and generally unfriendly customer service. There’s definitely an anti-tourist undertone to the town, even in the “hospitality” industry. But it’s a beautiful spot, and would make a great day trip from a home base in Carmel. Nepenthe doesn’t get a lot of love on this forum, but my travel companions and I really enjoyed it for lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d second Carmel. Lots of cute boutique hotels and a short drive from Monterey plus close to Big Sur. You also have 7 mile drive.

Having just returned from Carmel on Tuesday, let me warn you. It is an overrun sh*thole filled with obnoxious Indian programmers. It is 100% different than it was even a decade ago.

I'd go down to Cayucas where the soul of Big Sur is still alive and well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d second Carmel. Lots of cute boutique hotels and a short drive from Monterey plus close to Big Sur. You also have 7 mile drive.

Having just returned from Carmel on Tuesday, let me warn you. It is an overrun sh*thole filled with obnoxious Indian programmers. It is 100% different than it was even a decade ago.

I'd go down to Cayucas where the soul of Big Sur is still alive and well.

What???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Big Sur, for an overnight, was not for me. No or limited phone service, expensive lodging, and generally unfriendly customer service. There’s definitely an anti-tourist undertone to the town, even in the “hospitality” industry. But it’s a beautiful spot, and would make a great day trip from a home base in Carmel. Nepenthe doesn’t get a lot of love on this forum, but my travel companions and I really enjoyed it for lunch.

This is funny to me because I would describe Nepenthe as a beautiful spot with unfriendly service.

Mostly I go to Big Sur for the scenery not the service though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d second Carmel. Lots of cute boutique hotels and a short drive from Monterey plus close to Big Sur. You also have 7 mile drive.

Having just returned from Carmel on Tuesday, let me warn you. It is an overrun sh*thole filled with obnoxious Indian programmers. It is 100% different than it was even a decade ago.

I'd go down to Cayucas where the soul of Big Sur is still alive and well.

What???

What part do you not understand? SF is full of programmers from India making 7 figures.