The article “Keys to the Pool, Not the Room” from The New York Times explores the growing trend of hotels offering day passes to their amenities, particularly pools, spa facilities, and other leisure spaces, without requiring an overnight stay. This trend has gained momentum post-pandemic as hotels look to monetize underused spaces.
[Note: To gain easy access to day passes in Las Vegas, check out ResortPass.]
Key points include:
- Day Passes for Amenities: Hotels are increasingly offering day passes to their pools, spas, and other facilities as a way to generate revenue from local visitors or travelers on layovers. Services like ResortPass have facilitated this by partnering with hotels like Hilton to sell these day passes.
- Economic and Social Benefits: This practice allows travelers to experience luxury amenities at a fraction of the cost of an overnight stay. It’s seen as both a thrifty traveler’s splurge and a local’s daycation. According to a 2023 Booking.com survey, many Americans are now more budget-conscious with travel, making such day passes an attractive option.
- Examples: The article mentions specific hotels, like the Great Wolf Lodge chain offering passes to their indoor water parks or Botánika Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica providing day access to their resort pool and fitness center.
- Pricing: Day passes can start at $25, with many hotels offering access for under $65, significantly less than the average luxury hotel night rate of $381 in May 2024.
- Cultural Shift: This reflects a broader shift in the hospitality industry towards more flexible, experience-based offerings, allowing hotels to cater to a wider audience, including those not staying overnight, thereby maximizing the use of their facilities.
Enhance your travel stay by purchasing a hotel day pass without the full commitment of a hotel stay.