Is ResortPass Worth It? My First Hotel Day Pass Experience

By Brian Dohrn | Dohrn Travels | ResortPass Review

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When it’s over 90 degrees outside, I’m not looking for another activity to squeeze into the day. I want a pool, some shade, beach access, and somewhere nearby to grab a cold drink.

That’s what led us to try ResortPass for the first time at the Holiday Inn Express Orange Beach in Orange Beach, Alabama.

What surprised me most was how easy ResortPass made the day. We had parking, pool access, the beach right there, and no need to pay for an overnight hotel stay.

After trying it once, I can already see where ResortPass could fit into future beach days and even cruise port stops.

In this ResortPass review, I’m sharing what the experience was like, what our day pass included, what I’d check before booking, and whether I think ResortPass is worth it.

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Table of Contents

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What Is ResortPass?

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ResortPass lets you book access to participating hotels and resorts without staying overnight.

Instead of paying for a hotel room you don’t need, you can purchase a hotel day pass and use certain resort amenities for the day.

What’s included depends on the property. Some hotels offer pool access, while others may include beach access, hot tubs, fitness centers, spas, cabanas, or other amenities.

That flexibility is what makes ResortPass useful.

Maybe your hotel doesn’t have a great pool. Maybe you checked out in the morning but have several hours before your flight. Or maybe you just want a resort-style beach day without paying for another hotel night.

For us, it was a simple way to spend the day at a beachfront hotel in Orange Beach, Alabama, without booking a room we didn’t need.

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How Does ResortPass Work?

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Using ResortPass was pretty simple for us.

We searched for properties in the Orange Beach area, compared what each day pass included, and booked the one that fit the kind of day we wanted.

When we arrived at the hotel, we checked in at the front desk, and then had access to the amenities included with our pass.

The biggest thing to know is that every property is different.

One resort day pass might include parking, pool access, and the beach, while another may only include the pool. Food, drinks, beach chairs, umbrellas, cabanas, and other extras may cost more.

Before booking, I’d take a few minutes to read the property details closely so you know exactly what’s included and what you’ll need to pay for separately.

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Our ResortPass Day Pass in Orange Beach

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We chose the Holiday Inn Express Orange Beach because the location fit exactly what we wanted for the day (pool and beach access).

Since we live near the Alabama Gulf Coast, we don’t always need to book a hotel when we head to Orange Beach or Gulf Shores. Sometimes we just want an easy beach day with a pool, parking, and somewhere to relax.

Our ResortPass included:

• Hotel parking
• Heated pools
• Hot tub
• Beach access
• Fitness center
• WiFi

Poolside food and drinks from The Sand Bar were available to purchase, and beach chairs and umbrellas were available to rent separately.

For us, the combination of parking, pool access, and direct beach access made the pass worthwhile. We could spend the day at the hotel, walk out to the beach when we wanted, and head home without paying for an overnight stay.

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Parking Was One of the Best ResortPass Perks

Hotel parking might not sound like one of the biggest ResortPass perks, but around Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, I wouldn’t overlook it.

Beach parking can fill up quickly, especially on weekends and during the busier travel season. Having parking included meant we didn’t have to drive around looking for a spot before we could even start enjoying the day.

We pulled into the hotel, parked, and stayed there for the day.

That made the whole experience noticeably easier.

It’s a small thing, but if you’ve ever tried to find parking near the beach on a busy afternoon, you know how much of a difference it can make.

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Is ResortPass Worth It?

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After trying ResortPass for ourselves, I feel it is worth it — but only when the pass gives you something you actually need.

I wouldn’t book a hotel pool day pass just because one happened to be available nearby. The value really depends on the property, the price, and what’s included.

For us, the combination of pool access, beach access, parking, and a comfortable place to spend a hot Alabama day made sense.

For what we wanted that day, I felt like the convenience and included amenities made the pass worth it

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ResortPass Pros and Cons

After using ResortPass for the first time, I think the biggest advantage is convenience. You can enjoy resort amenities for the day without paying for a hotel room you don’t need.

Pros

• Access to hotel pools and other resort amenities without staying overnight
• Can be useful for beach days, late flights, and cruise port stops
• Some properties include valuable extras like parking or beach access
• Easy way to turn part of a trip into more of a daycation

Cons

• What’s included varies a lot by property
• Food, drinks, chairs, umbrellas, cabanas, or parking may cost extra
• The value depends on the price and how much you’ll actually use
• Some locations may not be convenient for your schedule or transportation plans
• Prices varies a lot property to property

For me, ResortPass works best when the amenities solve a real travel need and make the day easier.

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What I Liked Most About Our ResortPass Day

The biggest thing for me was the flexibility.

We were able to enjoy the parts of the hotel we actually wanted without paying for an overnight stay.

I also liked knowing where we were going to park and having the pool and beach right there. Once we arrived, there really wasn’t much planning left to do.

That’s exactly what I want from this kind of travel day.

I don’t need every vacation day packed with tours and attractions. Sometimes having a comfortable place to relax, cool off, and enjoy the day is the whole point.

That simplicity is probably what I liked most about ResortPass.

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When ResortPass Makes the Most Sense

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ResortPass makes the most sense when it solves a specific travel problem or gives you access to amenities you wouldn’t otherwise have.

For me, that usually means a better pool, an easier beach day, or somewhere comfortable to spend a few extra hours.

Hotel Pool Access Without Booking a Room

One of the biggest reasons ResortPass can be useful is that it gives you hotel pool access without staying overnight.

Maybe you booked a cheaper hotel near the airport, your vacation rental doesn’t have a pool, or the hotel you’re staying at just isn’t where you want to spend the day.

A day pass to a hotel pool gives you another option without changing hotels or paying for another overnight stay.

I could also see this being useful for locals.

Living near the Gulf Coast, we don’t always need a hotel room when we head to the beach. A beach resort day pass can turn a regular beach trip into more of a daycation, with a pool, beach access, and other amenities all in one place.

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Other Times a Resort Day Pass Makes Sense

ResortPass can also be useful after hotel checkout, during a day out with friends, or anytime your hotel or vacation rental doesn’t have the amenities you want.

I’d especially look at ResortPass for:

• Beach destinations
• Cruise port days
• Late flights after hotel checkout
• Hotels without good pools
• Local daycations

For me, the pass needs to solve a real travel problem or make the day noticeably better. That’s the part I’d focus on when deciding whether it’s worth booking.

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Using a Resort Day Pass on a Cruise Port Day

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This is probably the way I’m most interested in using ResortPass going forward.

There are cruise ports where we want to spend the day exploring, but there are also days when our plans are much simpler:

Beach. Pool. Food. Cold drinks.

A resort day pass for cruise passengers could be a good alternative to booking a shore excursion.

Instead of heading to a crowded public beach with everyone else from the ship, you are able to spend the day at a hotel or resort with a pool, beach access, food, drinks, and a more comfortable place to relax.

For me, the big question would be location. I’d want to know how far the resort is from the cruise port, how easy transportation is, and whether the day pass hours work with the ship’s schedule.

I haven’t used ResortPass during a cruise port day yet, so I can’t speak to that experience firsthand. But after trying ResortPass in Orange Beach, it’s definitely something I’ll be checking on future cruises when we want an easier beach or pool day.

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What to Check Before Booking a Resort Day Pass

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Before booking, I’d look past the photos and pay close attention to what the individual property actually includes.

I’d check parking first, especially in beach destinations where it can be a real part of the value.

Then I’d look at pool access, beach access, towels, chairs, umbrellas, food and drink options, and the hours you’re allowed to use the property.

It’s also worth checking what costs extra.

At our Orange Beach property, beach chairs and umbrellas were available, but they weren’t included with the pass.

Those details can make a big difference when comparing one resort pool day pass with another.

For me, the best pass is one that includes the amenities you’ll actually use without adding a bunch of extra costs once you arrive.

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ResortPass FAQ

Can you use a hotel pool without staying at the hotel?

At participating properties, yes. ResortPass lets you book access to certain hotel amenities without staying overnight. What you can use depends on the individual property, so check the listing before booking.

What’s included with a ResortPass Day Pass?

It varies by hotel. A ResortPass day pass may include a pool, hot tub, beach access, fitness center, WiFi, parking, or other amenities. Some extras may cost more.

Does ResortPass include food and drinks?

Not always. At the Holiday Inn Express Orange Beach-on the Beach property we visited, food and drinks from The Sand Bar were available to purchase but were not included with our day pass. Other properties may offer different food and drink options, so check the listing before booking.

Does ResortPass include parking?

Sometimes. Parking was included with our Orange Beach hotel day pass, and that ended up being one of the benefits I appreciated most. At other properties, parking may be limited, paid separately, or not included at all.

Can cruise passengers use ResortPass?

It could be, especially in ports where you mainly want a pool or beach day instead of another organized shore excursion. I’d pay close attention to the resort’s distance from the port, transportation options, and the hours included with the pass.

Is ResortPass worth it for locals?

It can be. If you live near a beach or resort area and don’t need an overnight hotel room, a day pass can be an easy way to enjoy a resort pool, beach, and other amenities for the day.

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Would I Use ResortPass Again?

Yes.

I don’t think ResortPass will make sense for every trip, but it’s now something I’ll check when planning beach days, cruises, and trips with awkward checkout or flight times.

Our first experience was simple, convenient, and gave us exactly what we wanted for the day.

I’m especially interested in trying ResortPass during a future Holland America Caribbean cruise. There are plenty of port days where a resort pool, beach, lunch, and a few drinks sound better than adding another full shore excursion.

For us, ResortPass isn’t replacing hotels or excursions. It’s just another travel option — and one I’m glad we finally tried.

Adventure Awaits. Book It!

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