Day Passes for Staycation Bliss

COVID-19 laid waste to life as we knew it, and it's not quite behind us yet. The hospitality industry took a particularly big hit in 2020. Declining occupancy has been bad for them, but it can be good for you. Several hotel chains are selling day passes in 2021. Goodbye, familiar walls. It's time to put your feet up poolside, even if it's just for a few hours.

A day pass is exactly what it sounds like – you can enjoy a resort's amenities for a day without committing to a whole week away.

Access to pools is the most common perk. You can usually reserve your own lounge chair. You'll probably be assigned a locker as well. Some resorts include credits for use in their bars and access to fitness centers or shower facilities.

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There's one small hitch. Ideally, you live in or nearby to a metropolitan area or a popular vacation spot, because many of these resorts are located there. Spending a lot of time traveling to the location can negate the whole purpose.

Websites abound that will hook you up with a reservation. ResortPass and Daycation are two of the most well-known. You can check for participating resorts and hotels near you on their sites, and determine day pass availability for the date you have in mind. You can even sign up to be notified when openings become available.

You'll definitely want to reserve your day – don't just show up, tote in hand, hoping for the best. Establishments tend to allot just a certain number of passes per day.

Day pass prices can depend on whether you're going it alone joining up with some friends to really make a day of it. Group packages are sometimes available that will provide you with a whole poolside cabana.

​​ A day pass is exactly what it sounds like – you can enjoy a resort's amenities for a day without committing to a whole week away. ​​

Day passes per person can start as low as $20, ranging up to as much as $125 or even $150. Expect prices to be higher on weekends. And you might have the option to buy even more fun. That $20 might only give you access to the pool, while higher price ranges include access to other amenities, such as visits to the spa, golf range or tennis court.

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Some hotels even have you covered if you're not looking for a staycation day. Maybe you have an important project on your hands and you're still working remotely from home, where your dog barks each time a leaf falls from a tree. Some day passes will simply provide you with a private room for the day, and at least one hotel in New York City will throw in rooftop sunning with pool access while you're there.

Marriott has seized on this concept. The room is yours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and you'll have access to all the hotel's business perks: fax, Wi-Fi, printing, and scanning. Unfortunately, this option was only available stateside in New York, Toronto, Atlanta, Phoenix and Dallas as of October 2020.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 isn't quite a memory yet. ResortPass warned in April 2021 that many resorts and hotels are facing personnel shortages, so you might not get the top-of-the-line service you can expect in another year or so. Some are selling fewer day passes in light of this dilemma, so availability might be limited. You can work around that, however, if you reserve your day well in advance.

Some resorts are even limiting pool reservations to under two hours to allow time to disinfect the areas before the next guests arrive. But an hour poolside with a cocktail in hand is still far preferable to your sofa.

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