A Chance to Experience the Alila Brand
For Hyatt enthusiasts, the Alila brand represents the pinnacle of luxury. My partner and I had planned a stay at Alila Ventana two years ago, but we had to cancel due to extreme weather conditions. When we learned about the opening of Alila Marea, we saw it as our chance to finally explore this highly-regarded brand. We decided to book an overnight staycation without the kids for my birthday, using points and a Guest of Honor award. The room would have cost $883 per night if we had paid in cash.
Arrival and Check-In
We arrived on a gloomy, overcast day and were greeted by the valet. The check-in process was smooth, and we were offered sparkling or still water, which was a nice touch. I had requested an ocean-view suite twice prior to check-in, but since the hotel was at full capacity, we were upgraded to a shoreline king room instead.
Exploring the Resort
While waiting for our room to be ready, we explored the resort. We stopped by the beautiful Alila Spa to inquire about any Guest of Honor or Explorist benefits, but unfortunately, they don’t honor any status at the spa. However, for $55 (as of September 2024), you can access their sauna and other amenities for an hour. Next, we visited Vaga restaurant upstairs to check out the menu, sat by the pool, and listened to the ocean until we were notified that our room was ready.
The Room
Our room was on the third floor, which I was pleased about since I’d heard complaints about the lack of privacy on the first floor. The room was gorgeous—modern and minimalist with a contemporary boho style. To the left was a bathroom with a rainfall shower adorned with eucalyptus and a separate toilet area. To the right was a closet with robes. A desk was stocked with items for purchase, from alcoholic beverages to snacks. There was also a Nespresso machine, tea bags, and a fridge filled with beverages for purchase. The room featured a king bed with a fluffy comforter, a small seating area, and a table with two chairs. The view included the coastline, lagoon, ocean, and a large parking lot. The room also had blackout curtains and a 65-inch flatscreen TV.
Dinner and Disappointments
We made reservations at Viggaluccis Trattoria, an Italian restaurant 1.7 miles away. Alila Marea offers a complimentary Tesla shuttle service for trips within three miles of the resort, so we requested a ride to the restaurant. Unfortunately, after dinner, the shuttle service was too busy to pick us up, so we had to get our own Lyft due to time constraints.
The next morning, we had brunch at Vaga. If you book with Globalist or Guest of Honor status, you receive a package menu that includes an entrée, side, and drink. I ordered the carne asada omelette with roasted potatoes, blueberry coffee cake, and orange juice. My partner ordered a cinnamon roll, pancakes, eggs, roasted potatoes, and orange juice. Sadly, the food was bland and lacked seasoning—definitely not our favorite meal.
Other Experiences
We then went to valet to request electric bikes, but they were all in use. We also grabbed a couple of salted caramel lattes from the coffee shop, but they were disappointing, lacking flavor. When we requested an umbrella and chair for the beach, none were available. Due to the hotel’s capacity, we couldn’t get a late checkout and had to leave at 2 PM instead of 4 PM.
Final Thoughts
Overall, our stay at Alila Marea had its positives and negatives. The rooms were beautiful, and the proximity to the ocean was a highlight—you can walk down a few stairs and be right on the beach. However, the service was lacking. We requested wine glasses for our room several times but never received them. The shuttle service was unreliable, and when we picked up our car from valet, it had an unpleasant smell. Privacy was also an issue, even with one of the best views, which still overlooked a parking lot. While Alila Marea has potential, it still has some growing pains to overcome. It’s a nice place, but it needs some work to live up to the Alila brand’s reputation.
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