This Couple Booked a Resort Keep Value Extra Than $10,000 All On Factors

David Tibbitts, 33, and Eric Naumann, 35, contemplate Massive Sur to be considered one of their favourite locations on the planet. Due to this fact, it’s no shock that this rugged stretch of California’s central coast was the setting for the couple’s long-awaited proposal.

The San Francisco-based couple, who’ve been relationship since 2015, did one thing unconventional. Whereas they legally grew to become husbands through the peak of the pandemic, Tibbitts and Naumann had skipped the entire conventional norms—like a cute engagement, an precise wedding ceremony ceremony, and a honeymoon. 

“We purposefully determined to maintain our union unromantic in the meanwhile, file the paperwork in time for tax season, and save the romance for a later date once we might get pleasure from it correctly,” Tibbitts stated. Quick ahead to 2024, and so they determined to lastly have their “proposal.” 

Dramatically located 1,200 ft above the Pacific Ocean within the redwoods, the Alila Ventana Massive Sur grew to become the perfect place for such an event. In actual fact, Tibbitts and Naumann had stayed on the all-inclusive luxurious property earlier than, utilizing Hyatt factors (which the pair now name “Ventana factors”). 

This lengthy weekend escape can be completely different, although. “We had a visit to Ventana developing, and since we had been earlier than, we each knew we have been in for a soothing and romantic getaway.” Right here’s precisely how they booked the keep and the way the shock engagement went. 

How They Booked It 

Tibbitts and Naumann have been on the Resort Chelsea foyer bar in New York, a number of martinis in, once they peeked at Hyatt’s web site. “We have been lower than one month out [from the trip], so we have been fortunate to search out the supply,” Naumann recalled. 

To redeem Hyatt factors, you want a World of Hyatt account. Conveniently, two of one of the best loyalty packages within the area—Chase Final Rewards factors and Bilt Rewards factors—switch to the Hyatt program immediately, at a one-to-one ratio.

To switch Chase or Bilt factors to journey companions, you must log into your account, navigate to the respective journey portal, and choose the choice to switch to Hyatt. For first-timers, you’ll additionally must enter your World of Hyatt account info.

Naumann, who made the factors reserving, is a World of Hyatt Explorist elite member on the time that they have been reserving a room. In consequence, he acquired an improve to the Massive Sur Forest Bathe Suite.

The Alila Ventana Massive Sur is likely one of the most sought-after lodges on the planet of factors and miles. Few properties can present the extent of luxurious, tranquility, and general worth on a per-point foundation. As an example, at $3,475 per evening and 45,000 World of Hyatt factors redeemed, that’s the equal of getting over 7 cents in worth per level.

As well as, the adults-only enclave is all-inclusive: meals, actions, valet parking, ideas, and even one alcoholic drink per night are totally coated. (Sure, even on factors.) As a result of what you get out of it’s so nice, solely a set variety of rooms are allotted in the direction of factors bookings, which you’ll be able to e book months upfront.

What the Expertise Was Like

The upgraded suite at Ventana had the whole lot Tibbitts and Naumann wanted for a romantic escape, together with a wood-burning hearth, ocean views within the distance, an open-air bathe for 2, and even a personal sizzling tub on the patio. 

On the morning of the proposal, Naumann despatched Tibbitts off for a therapeutic massage as a distraction tactic. “As an govt assistant on the time, I used to be aware of working with lodges for something considered one of my executives would possibly want throughout their keep, nevertheless it was thrilling to do it for myself for a change,” Naumann stated. 

The plan was to go on a hike, and the property kindly supported the couple on this endeavor: Employees provided him with a bottle of champagne, suggestions for a hike, and the world’s heaviest takeout container filled with “sufficient charcuterie for a small military,” as Naumann put it. 

“We reached a vista on the very finish of the hike, and it seems David had additionally deliberate to pop the query, too, however I beat him to it,” Naumann recalled. “That was our first full day on the resort, so we had a ton of enjoyable basking within the engagement glow for the rest of the journey.”

That meant ample time to chill out within the on-site Japanese baths, share their hopes and desires for a future wedding ceremony, and get used to the sensation of rings round their fingers. 

“Our favourite a part of the resort might be the strolling path to the restaurant,” Tibbitts stated. “You get to expertise the attractive forest to and from every meal on the Sur Home, and it is the proper time to decompress as you admire the great thing about Massive Sur.”

A Factors and Miles Tip for Vacationers

Should you’re not seeing availability utilizing factors for a resort like Alila Ventana, examine that property’s cancellation coverage. In response to Neumann, you would possibly see availability seem within the days or perhaps weeks earlier than the cancellation window closes, as was the case for the couple’s keep. 

One other perk of loyalty packages like Hyatt’s is that, when you’re in them, you usually tend to obtain upgrades just like the one Neumann acquired if there may be availability on the property. It’s usually free to join these packages, too.