1. Introduction
Alila Hotels are redefining the luxury travel experience across the Golden State.
2. Exploring California’s Diverse Wonders
California encompasses 840 miles of coastline, from sandy beaches to craggy cliffs; 33 million acres of forest land, home to sequoias, redwoods, and pines; 352 mountain ranges, from the Sierra Nevadas in the east to the Coastal Ranges in the west; three major deserts; and more than 427,000 acres of grape vines. As a traveler, it can be difficult to choose just one vacation vibe. Even locals can’t decide: completing the “California Double” — surfing and skiing or snowboarding in the same day — is a great source of state pride.
Moreover, luxury-minded travelers will want to try what I’d go so far as to call the “California Triple”: staying at all three Alila resorts, from Alila Marea Beach Resort in Encinitas, a beach city in San Diego County; and Alila Ventana Big Sur, where coast meets forest near Monterey; to Alila Napa Valley in St. Helena, the heart of wine country.
3. The Unique Charm of Alila Resorts
To capture three different sides of the California spirit so authentically is no small feat, especially for a brand that’s relatively new to the U.S. Though it’s long been a renowned hospitality brand in Asia, Hyatt’s Alila only debuted in the States with the acquisition and multimillion-dollar renovation of Ventana in fall of 2017, followed by the openings of both Alila Napa Valley and Alila Marea in March 2021.
4. Immersive Luxury Experiences
Mark Ley, director of sales and marketing at Alila Ventana Big Sur, says the secret is redefining luxury travel to focus on experiences that immerse visitors in their surroundings: “We’re going to take you hiking… we want to get you dirty, get you involved… and then we’re going to clean your boots,” he told me with a laugh as we walked among the trees. “I think luxury is changing; I think travel is changing. People are much more concerned with where the money goes and how it’s used… and they want to feel a connection to the place.”
5. Community and Sustainability Initiatives
The hotels all have connections to local businesses and initiatives to benefit their communities. At Alila Marea, sustainability efforts are done in partnership with the Rob Machado Foundation, an organization founded by surf legend and Encinitas resident Rob Machado to “educate and empower young people to make sustainable choices.” Proceeds from quarterly Alila Sessions, a seaside concert and dinner series, benefit the foundation.
Rooms are decidedly plush, yet each in their unique way. At Alila Ventana, they feature rustic-chic wood accented by stone and leather; in Napa, they have a modern farmhouse feel. “Since each hotel is innovatively designed in harmony with the environment to preserve the extraordinary, natural beauty of their destination, the architecture varies from destination to destination,” Crystal Vinisse Thomas, vice president and global brand leader, lifestyle and luxury brands at Hyatt, shared.
6. Weekend Getaway Essentials
All of them are inviting enough to happily get lost in for a weekend (or more), but they’re not meant to be all-day hideaways. Although Alila’s business is hotels, the settings and programming — always led by local guides — make it clear that your room is intended to be a comfortable place to rest your head or relax with a warm bath after a day of exploring. “A key pillar of the brand is creating opportunities to immerse our guests in the beauty and awe of a destination,” Vinisse Thomas said. “Each hotel celebrates the uniqueness and authenticity of the location it calls home.”
Wellbeing is a common theme across culinary programs and activities, with a focus on the healing properties of nature, be it through meals made with seasonal ingredients grown in on-site organic gardens or outdoor meditation classes and mindful hikes.
7. Your Guide to the “California Triple”
Here’s how to complete the “California Triple” and plan the perfect trip across all three properties, covering over 500 miles of Golden State scenery and three unique vacations in one.
8. Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas
“Our location is truly unbeatable,” says Ben Thiele, general manager of Alila Marea. “We are one of the few luxury beachfront resorts in San Diego, and our talented designers did such a fantastic job at tastefully integrating the property into the coastal bluff, drawing on the unspoiled beauty of the San Diego coastline to boast some of the best views in San Diego.”
The hotel was built so that 95% of rooms have either ocean or lagoon views, and the water was calling from the moment I arrived. Fortunately, Alila Marea collaborates with Dan Mori, the founder of Encinitas-based surf school Fulcrum Surf and the most effective surf instructor I’ve ever encountered. There was no better way to feel the rush of arriving in a SoCal beach city than to grasp, even slightly, the technique of a seasoned pro.
If you’re not the surfing type, chase that rush by hopping on one of the hotel’s electric bikes, grabbing some insider tips, and heading into downtown Encinitas. Don’t miss Herb & Sea, a coastal-chic seafood restaurant by Brian Malarkey of Top Chef fame; local favorite Lofty Coffee; Modern Times Brewery’s buzzing Far West Lounge, and the original outpost of Vuori, a California-born athleisure brand travelers swear by.
You’ll also want to spend time in a cabana by the oceanfront pool and catch sunset cocktails beside a fire pit at the bar at Vaga before sampling chef Claudette Zepeda’s farm- and ocean-fresh San Diego cuisine.
9. Alila Ventana Big Sur
“Coming to Big Sur, you naturally disconnect from the world,” Ley said. “It’s a place that attracts people who want to disconnect so they can reconnect to something else… a partner, a project, their sanity.” Alila Ventana houses just 59 rooms on 160 acres, so it’s easy to find solitude. A customized hiking route or visit to the spa for a massage with wild herbs soothes the body and mind, but for me, the best place to bask in solitude was the hot tub on my deck, overlooking the misty forest.
On a clear, blue-sky morning, I got to enjoy the view and some vintage vinyl at a yoga class in The Glass House, a structure among the trees that’s exactly what it sounds like. “We have wonderful bohemian roots here at Alila Ventana, and we are consistently looking for new and fun ways to pay homage to them,” Ley said.
Behind The Glass House is The Sur House, a stunning restaurant and bar with views of everything Big Sur’s dramatic landscape has to offer. Seasonal and locally sourced food is all-inclusive, complemented by fairy lights and fire pits that light up the night.
Although it’s easy to forget the rest of the world in this clifftop setting, you can’t omit a drive down the area’s iconic main drag, Highway 1, from your itinerary. Alila Ventana collaborates with Monterey Touring Vehicles for guests to access 40 classic car rentals. The team will pack a beautiful picnic for you to enjoy on Sand Dollar Beach, or drive north to see the Bixby Creek Bridge.
10. Alila Napa Valley
Vineyard-view rooms at Alila Napa Valley look out directly over Beringer Vineyards, the oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley. Private balconies with fire pits or soaking tubs add to the wine country magic.
Before or after the wine, Alila Napa Valley is the perfect place to sneak in some wellness: attend a yoga class or sound bath, or experience Spa Alila’s Euphoric hot-stone massage (using rocks found along the California coastline). Amenities include handmade products from neighboring biodynamic Be Here Farm, and guests are invited to develop their own bespoke room spray using “scents of the valley,” including rose and lavender.
“We hope our guests leave with a deeper connection to this region, which is primarily known for food and wine,” said Ty Accornero, the hotel’s general manager. “Our goal is to provide a more focused experience that extends outside the expected.”
The hotel is just a short bike ride from St. Helena’s posh yet quaint Main Street, bustling with galleries, shops, and restaurants. Start your mornings at Model Bakery, an Oprah favorite, and browse fine art at the Christopher Hill Gallery. For more intrepid cyclists, the team at Alila Napa Valley will set up a wine-tasting bike tour to family-owned estates like Spottswoode Winery.
Ultimately, many hours were spent at 810 Foothill Wine Collective, where renowned Napa winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown crafts unique wines. As we sipped the day away with local experts who quickly felt like friends, I realized that connecting with the destination and creating an unforgettable experience was the essence of my journey.
