Affordable Ways to Enjoy High-End Resort Amenities

Whether you’re soaking up the sun on an island vacation or just looking to shake up your usual routine at home, the infinity pools, fancy spas and other amenities typically reserved for high-spending resort guests are within surprisingly easy reach. Best of all, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars for an overnight stay to enjoy them. Instead, try a program (available via website and app) that matches hotels looking to fill up slow times with travelers and locals seeking to sample a property’s wares for a few hours.

In addition to populating half-empty spas and pool decks, participating hotels bank on the likelihood that day-trippers will (hopefully) spread good word of mouth and spend extra cash at the hotel’s boutiques and restaurants. While the service keeps a portion of each sale, the hotel reaps the bulk of the money. It’s a win-win-win for all parties.

The handful of options works similarly. After guests set up an account, their “membership” is free, although some platforms offer extra perks—like priority access or VIP treatment—for an annual fee.

Once you’re in the system, you’ll probably start your exploration by selecting a destination and then narrowing down the choices by factoring in the type of daycation you’re seeking (family friendly, wellness, luxury), preferred inclusions, and your dates and budget. Day passes typically start in the $35–$65 range (plus taxes and local fees) per person and go up from there, depending on the amenities and access included. Generally speaking, the results can range from booking a quick dip in the hotel pool to indulging in an all-day splash for the entire family.

With a portfolio of nearly 2,000 hotels, including AAA Diamond-designated properties from brands like Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott, ResortPass is the largest of these services. Because its partner properties are overwhelmingly located in North America, it’s an especially good bet for those in search of a special break in their own hometown.

Freezing during a Chicago winter? Spend $40 for a day at the InterContinental’s coveted indoor Olympic-sized swimming pool, soaking up its 1920s Spanish-tiled splendor high above the Magnificent Mile. Aching to cool off during the Miami heat? Take a shower and a nap at the celebrated Eden Roc hotel, where $180 during the off-season gets you and your companion not only the use of a guest room until 5 p.m., but also two passes for access to the complex’s three pools.

Another option, offered by Dayuse, is entirely devoted to this model, which works most typically for travelers with time on their hands before checking into or after checking out of their own hotel. Guests can select among destinations in major American cities or spots in Europe and Asia. At $99 for six hours, for example, the funky Hotel on Rivington on Manhattan’s Lower East Side lets you sneak in a few extra hours of work, sleep or play.

For more exotic territories, turn to DayPass, with offers from globe-spanning destinations like Bangkok and Marrakesh. You’ll find a preponderance of Club Med properties in the listings, but there are also higher-end deals like one from The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, where a pool and beach day pass costs about $80 and offers access to any (or all) of the property’s six pools, its private beach on the Persian Gulf, and food and beverage credits for lunch. This kind of destination works best for vacationers looking to splurge at a fancy hotel while staying at less expensive digs.

Whatever your reasons, kicking back your heels for a few hours and indulging your champagne tastes on a beer budget has never been easier.