Escape in Luxury Without Breaking the Bank
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With luxury hotel room rates in July expected to be 85% higher than in 2019, enjoying a day by the pool with a drink in hand can sound a bit out of reach this summer. A majority of U.S. travelers said they would be willing to pay for day passes to use the amenities in a five-star hotel without staying there, according to a Booking.com press release about the survey. The survey included nearly 28,000 adults from 33 countries who said they planned to travel over the next 12-24 months. The hotels below are now day pass programs for locals looking to escape in luxury without breaking the bank.
MIAMI
The Gabriel South Beach
The Gabriel South Beach is a modern boutique property centrally located on Ocean Drive directly across from South Beach. The 132-room hotel is on ResortPass, welcoming visitors and locals to spend a relaxing day indulging in the hotel’s luxe amenities. The hotel features two outdoor heated pools, both providing breathtaking views of dazzling South Beach, a state-of-the-art fitness center and five-star dining options. Featuring a lush landscape, the garden pool, adjacent to the hotel’s outdoor eatery, offers a tranquil retreat amid the bustling city; the showstopping glass-bottom rooftop pool is situated six stories above the open atrium. Guests can spend the day poolside, sipping on delicious cocktails and snacking on light bites from the hotel’s five-star Mediterranean restaurant, Meet Dalia. Rates for a day pass start at $30/day/person.
Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club
Located along the Miami Beach boardwalk, Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, Autograph Collection is a 357-room oceanfront resort in the heart of the Mid-Beach neighborhood at 39th Street and Collins Avenue. The modern resort has a preserved art deco aesthetic with original terrazzo floors in the lobby area, lush greenery and a wraparound mezzanine balcony overlooking the check-in and lounge area. Just beyond the lobby, guests will find The Lobby Bar, an intimate lounge where they can grab a drink or bite or linger over conversation. As guests walk through the bar and outside, they’re introduced to the resort-style family pool lined with gorgeous palm trees and Miami pink design elements. Access to the resort is available through ResortPass.
Locals seeking a perfect daycation can book a Day Pass ($50 for adults; $25 for children), which includes access to the family and kids pool, the adults-only pool, pool lounge chairs (first come, first served), poolside F&B service, a 10% discount on F&B, outside showers, discounted valet parking and complimentary Wi-Fi. Beach chairs are available for an additional cost.
The Adult Pool Cabana option ($350 for four people max) includes all amenities in the Day Pass, plus a shaded cabana with premium-comfort couch seating, a flat-screen TV and complimentary ice water. This option is only available for adults 21+. Locals looking for a daycation can also book the Beach Club Day Pass ($65 per person) on the hotel’s website, which includes a 10% discount on F&B, access to both swimming pools, pool lounge chairs (first come, first served), food and drink service, discounted valet parking, complimentary Wi-Fi and more.
The Gates Hotel South Beach
The Gates Hotel South Beach is a tranquil retreat located along the Indian Creek Canal on beautiful Collins Avenue in the heart of Miami Beach, where the timeless allure of South Beach meets a sanctuary for wellness and sustainability enthusiasts. The hotel offers locals and discerning travelers an immersive Miami Beach experience with pristine beach access and programming catered to those who appreciate art, culture, design and self-care. Locals and visitors can indulge in the hotel’s amenities with Resort Pass. Those looking to unwind can book the Day Pass ($30 for adults; $10 for children) to enjoy the outdoor pool, hot tub, towel service, poolside F&B service, beach access, complimentary Wi-Fi, a $10 discount on valet parking and more fun programming. The Cabana Day Pass ($125 for four people max) includes all the amenities included in the Day Pass, plus a partially shaded premium-comfort reclining daybed, four complimentary bottled waters and one complimentary bottle of prosecco.
Arlo Wynwood
Arlo Wynwood is the first-ever hotel in Miami’s preeminent creative and cultural district, which is home to the world’s largest concentration of street art. The experience-driven boutique hotel serves as the cultural hub for residents and visitors while drawing on the neighborhood’s bold and curated artistic nature. The hotel offers guests an unforgettable experience on ResortPass, welcoming visitors to soak up the resort pool vibes at the 76-foot-long heated rooftop pool. If a more relaxing day is in the books, guests can park themselves in the shade on the rooftop and enjoy full service from the Rooftop Pool menu, including summer classics such as chips and guac. Adult passes start at $25, or guests can opt for the ‘Wellness and Fitness’ package, which includes access to the fitness center, a complimentary wellness class and one complimentary mocktail for $40.
KEY WEST
The Marker Key West Harbor Resort
The Marker Key West Harbor Resort is ideally located on the Key West Historic Seaport, just steps from lively Duval Street and Mallory Square. Recently named the “#1 Resort in the Florida Keys” by Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, this modern waterfront resort offers a hidden sanctuary of lush tropical grounds, three saltwater pools, an open-air restaurant and bar for alfresco dining, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. The hotel is on ResortPass, offering locals or visitors to sunny Key West the opportunity to lounge by one of the property’s three pools with food and drink service and luxury daybeds. Rates for a Day Pass start at $32/day/person; rates for a Cabana Pass start at $90 for two, including two complimentary cocktails.
MIRAMAR BEACH
Hotel Effie Sandestin
Set on the lush grounds of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Hotel Effie is a 250-room boutique hotel featuring four culinary concepts helmed by Chef Juan Bochenski, a luxury spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center and the only hotel rooftop pool on Florida’s Emerald Coast. Guests looking for the ultimate daycation can soak up the sun at Ara Rooftop Pool and Lounge, a stylish yet laid-back atmosphere with panoramic views from the beach to the bay. Kick back in a luxurious private cabana or daybed, available for reservation on OpenTable, and indulge in a selection of wines, cocktails and light bites accompanied by soft beats and stunning views.
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
The 2,400-acre Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort invites locals and visitors to escape the daily hustle to experience its seven miles of white-sand beaches and pristine shorelines on Florida’s Emerald Coast. Locals can explore the resort’s lush grounds on land with bike rentals and walking trails or from the water via kayak, Jet Ski and boat rentals. The resort boasts four champion golf courses and 15 world-class tennis courts, making it the perfect playground for your favorite pastimes.
NEW YORK CITY
Arlo Williamsburg
At Arlo Williamsburg, guests and locals can indulge in both relaxation and adventure by sipping cocktails at the Lobby Bar, Mirror Bar and Water Tower Bar or by taking a dip at the Rooftop Bar Pool. Via ResortPass, the hotel offers multiple discounted passes to relax by the 40-foot rooftop swimming pool with luxurious daybeds, spacious shaded cabanas, and delicious poolside food and cocktails while enjoying unmatched 360-degree views across NYC. Passes include the Pool Lounger (starting at $100), with one reserved plush lounge chair for up to three hours and poolside F&B service from the pool bar, and cabana service, which includes a shaded poolside cabana with plush seating for up to six adults and dedicated cabana service with food and drinks available for purchase. Prices vary by time:
- Morning Poolside Cabana (10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.): Starting at $150
- Afternoon Poolside Cabana (1-3:45 p.m.): Starting at $295
- Evening Poolside Cabana (4-7 p.m.): Starting at $300
All passes include complimentary Wi-Fi, outdoor showers and towel service. For those looking for more, guests can enjoy a delicious meal at Arlo Williamsburg’s on-site restaurant, Sungold.
CHICAGO
The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago
Set within the landmark Water Power Place on the Magnificent Mile and close to the upscale boutiques of Michigan Avenue, The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago offers a taste of luxury living in Chicago’s coveted Gold Coast neighborhood. Inspired by the shores of its surroundings, K’Alma at The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago Spa is a luxurious urban retreat for the ultimate daycation with treatments designed to heal, relax and renew. Carlton Club members are invited to take a dip in the hotel’s 52-foot heated indoor lap pool, topped by a glass atrium, and have unlimited, seven-days-a-week access to the expanded fitness center, offering sweeping views of Downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan.
