SVong-Along

If you are a Hyatt member/have Chase points and are visiting Kansai (Osaka area or near Kyoto), I recommend the relatively new Caption by Hyatt in Osaka . Pros:  Concierge via email was helpful in booking dinners in advance Location - close to Namba Station, Dotonbori for food, and generally convenient Has everything you need at a very reasonable points redemption  Cons:  Pretty crowded, usually shared an elevator with others  Not a ton of space for luggage and generally small room (but still comfortable for Japan)  Only 2 sets of washer and dryers for over 100 rooms Booking: 4 nights - 21,500 Hyatt points, 1 night was a Sunday and that night might've been 6,500 instead of the standard 5k.  Arrival from Osaka Airport:  After an evening flight from Narita to ITM (Osaka International), we took a 8:15 pm Limousine Bus (¥650 per person)  and arrived around 9 pm at stop 10 Namba. The bus stop was kind of a random location next to the plaza, and instea...

TLDR: Alila Ventana is a worth a stay if you have $$$ or Hyatt points to spare and want to live the lux life in Big Sur without crowds. This "food-inclusive" experience doesn't include all you can drink or eat (you have to pay for alcohol), but the experience is essentially glamping to a much higher level. I would not recommend if you don't like hiking or are very afraid of bees. I stayed at the Alila Ventana in Big Sur for my "Dirty 30"/"Golden" B-day on the 30th- it felt indulgent, and at times it was very relaxing, as some moments were the most peaceful I've ever had in my life. Social distancing in serenity. How to book: Originally, I saw an article on TPG and had tried calling Hyatt to book with points, but they said there was no availability for a year and a half. I checked availability on the Hyatt app every other day or so, and was able to book a Big Sur Suite about 5 days before for 48,000 Hyatt points (transferred 1:1 f...