Trying to do this on Tapatalk...
We had done a little hike in Big Sur on our way down the pch a few years ago and always wanted to come back and stay at the uber expensive Post Ranch Inn. When we both got vaccinated and then had a personal tragedy combined with way too much work, we decided we needed to get away for a few days and really relax/imbibe some nature.
Part 1 Flights
I found 20k saver fares on business class flights (on on aa jfk to SFO A321 three class plane that I jumped on, using a bunch I had held onto for a few years and having a friend transfer the rest through marriott points. This flight was a 7:30 morning flight so we had to get up early but having the comfy bed (fabric and plush throughout, and imho better than the leather delta one flatbed and the mint bed which is hard in the wrong places) was key to pick up 2-3 hours of sleep so we could last the west coast day. We grabbed some kosher goodies at the aa lounge and hopped on at final call. I’m a bubby so I took extra chobani and bagels just in case. The kosher breakfast was decent and overall the service was excellent, I even got a bourbon to bring to the hotel.
On the way back I booked the latest mint flight Thursday night leaving at midnight for about $500 a ticket with points on my Amex plats (so I get 35% of my points back). About a week after I booked the price doubled and never came back down so I was happy I grabbed em. All the suites were available but my wonderful wife preferred we sit together so alas I gave up on that value (this is the old mint suite anyway, not such a novelty).
Unlike my previous redeye JetBlue mint experience, this one was a bit bumpy. Though the tuft and needle stuff were nice, I felt the seat was pretty uncomfortable for sleeping and had hard parts at places where u place lots of weight (shoulder etc if on your side, and u can’t sleep on your back if you are fat like me bc it’s right). I still got my 2-3 hours but not as great as aa.
Service was also weak, didn’t get headphones til up in the air for a while, no drinks for a while and they forgot to even give us their drink menu at first, and a Pesach meal!! I did eat some gefilte joining the mile chai club, and the raspberry roll was fine too as a Pesach shlishi tribute, but it’s kinda crazy they are still serving these on mint. The raspberry gelato at the end (had to be glidini) was delicious though, and the flight arrived over 20 Minutes early.
on the bright side, i grabbed a small bulleit bourbon for shabbos, and their takeaway am snack bag was all kosher, but that green juice was pretty nasty...
Next we can talk about the actual stops on the way to ventana, an alila (and hyatt) resort.
In the interest of time, if anyone is interested the food from Chabad of monterey supplied by the hotel for a $100 total surcharge for the whole stay was delicious and plentiful, and I highly recommend this for anyone that enjoys the outdoors.
