Day passes at hotels and resorts offer downtime, relaxation on the cheap
Day passes to resorts and hotels really took off during the pandemic and have remained popular
NEW YORK — As an independent business consultant, Jen Ford in Austin, Texas, is the master of her own schedule. Twice a month, she blocks out “me” time. In the sweltering summer, that means poolside at one of her hometown's many hotels and resorts.
Rather than check in, Ford relies on day passes, an increasingly popular option for locals and travelers alike in popular destinations around the U.S., the Caribbean and a range of other countries.
She enjoys the experience so much she now books “daycations” with her two teenage daughters, out-of-town visitors and groups of friends.
“It's like being a tourist in my own city,” said the 46-year-old Ford.
The pandemic saw the day pass industry leap to life at resorts, spas, water parks and hotels, from luxury to lower end, as more people craved a way to break the isolation monotony while trying to maintain social distance.
The passes are a win-win-win. Locals soak up some rest time on the cheap, travelers don't have to commit to an overnight stay, and properties make use of available spaces knowing day passers spend freely at restaurants and bars while on site for pool or spa time.
Flyers with long layovers also use day passes to wait out the time, especially if they have young children who need naps. So do travelers with late flights who are forced to check out of their rooms at 11 a.m. or noon.
Among the more popular third-party bookers, ResortPass lists about 1,600 hotels and other properties in 27 countries, from the five-star Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego to the trendy French Leave Resort on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas.
The bulk of the site's users are locals, said CEO
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