NEW YORK — As an independent business consultant, Jen Ford of Austin, Texas, is the master of her own schedule. Twice a month, she takes time for herself. In the hot summer, that means relaxing by the pool at one of her hometown’s many hotels and resorts.
Instead of checking in, Ford relies on day passes, an increasingly popular option for locals and travelers alike in popular destinations in the U.S., the Caribbean and a number of other countries.
She enjoys the experience so much that 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 Ford, 46.
During the pandemic, the day pass industry at resorts, spas, water parks and hotels – from luxury to low-end – came to life as more people craved a way to break the monotony of isolation while maintaining social distance.
The passes are a win-win-win situation. Locals get a cheap rest, travelers don’t have to commit to a night’s stay, and hotels take advantage of available spaces, knowing that day guests will spend freely at restaurants and bars while relaxing at the hotel pool or spa.
Passengers with long layovers also use day passes to bide their time, especially if they have small children with them who need a nap. The same goes for travelers on late flights who are forced to check out of their rooms at 11 a.m. or noon.
One of the better-known third-party booking portals is ResortPass, which lists around 1,600 hotels and other accommodations in 27 countries, from the five-star Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego to the trendy French Leave Resort on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas.
The majority of the site’s users are locals, said CEO Michael Wolf. Founded in 2016, the company has sent day passes to about 3 million people, most of them in the last two years.
“The hotel industry is very much modeled on the airline industry and has seen that the airline industry has successfully monetized many different aspects of travel,” Wolf said. “The amenities offered by hotels are dramatically underused.”
About 70% of the day passes offered by ResortPass cost less than $65. In addition to locals, users include cruise ship guests and even cruise ship employees who want to enjoy some rest during their port stay.
Cole Stanbra, 39, is a figure skater who performs on cruise ships. He has also toured the United States with the show Disney on Ice.
“I look for places where I can relax and not necessarily go on a strenuous hike or long walks. On my days off, I just want to relax,” he said.
He has already recommended day tickets to many crew members.
Day passes are valid for pools, spas, and sometimes fitness centers. Extras for an additional charge include a poolside lounger, cabana, or lounge area. Some passes offer food and drink vouchers. Day passes may or may not include a guaranteed beach chair and parking.
Travel experts recommend checking the cancellation policy carefully. ResortPass allows cancellation for a full refund up until midnight the night before.
Other companies include DayPass, Daycation, Resort for a Day, which specializes in cruise ship guests, and Swimply, which offers hourly bookings for private pools.
A person looking for a day ticket can also simply call the accommodation directly.
Aaron Sutherland is a curator of bespoke luxury travel and has also seen an increase in the use of day passes, including among business travellers who want to work while enjoying luxury amenities without the high cost of an overnight stay.
“The work-from-home society has grown exponentially. Now, instead of just working from home, I can go to a beautiful property, set up shop there all day and work from there,” Sutherland said.
He recommends that users contact accommodations directly before departure to ensure that all promised amenities are available on the day in question.
“The pool may be undergoing maintenance. There may be a private event on the beach. It’s always good to double check.”
Day passes are not just for off-peak times like midweek out of season, said Wolf. In some hotels, you can book them six months to a year in advance, and there are no blackout periods for holidays.
“July 4th was our busiest day in company history. We sent well over 20,000 people to hotels,” he said.
For hotels, day passes are a big help in filling gaps, says Mary D’Argenis-Fernandez, president and founder of industry training and strategy consulting firm MDA Hospitality Solutions.
“For example, the resort may be occupied by guests attending a conference. These guests are unlikely to spend time at the pool, beach or areas where the resort pass could be used,” she said.
