I have a little not-so-secret tip for travelers: You can book hotel day passes that let you occupy a room for the day. No overnight stays required.
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Hotel day rooms, hotel day passes, and hotel day rates are three ways to describe the same type of deal. They’re one of the best ways to deal with unpleasant travel surprises that leave you with whole days and half-days to fill.
Here’s what you need to know about hotel day passes, including when you might need to book one and how to book a day room.
What are hotel day passes—and when would you need one?
Again, if you’ve seen someone discuss hotel day rates, day passes, or day rooms, they’re talking about a partial room rental that doesn’t include an overnight stay. Usually, that rate gives you access to the hotel’s top amenities, from pools to gyms to spas.
When I first learned about hotel day rates, I clumped them in with hotels where you can rent by the hour. After all, what’s the point of spending just a morning or an afternoon at a hotel? And… why would a hotel want to offer that type of partial-day booking?
Turns out, there are many reasons hotel day passes exist.
For travelers, they’re one of the best ways to fill an awkward travel day. For example, if you need to check out of your hotel by 10 am but your flight isn’t until 8 pm, a hotel day pass gives you the chance to relax in a place that isn’t the airport or a tourist hub. Business travelers are usually the first to take advantage.
Travelers can also use hotel day passes when unexpected delays and cancellations occur. Given the current state of domestic US air travel, this is important to know.
If your flight is delayed for most of the day or even pushed to the next day, day passes let you kick back and actually relax—far from the stress of the airport. (Unfortunately, you have to go back through security.)
Lastly, hotels offer day passes because it helps them make money when rooms aren’t filled. With little work on their part, they can earn part of a standard nightly rate in just an afternoon. In short, it’s a win-win for travelers and hotels.
Which chains offer day passes? And how can you find them?
Hotel day passes can almost always be found at airport hotels. Additionally, some hotel chains are known for offering day passes at almost all their properties. These include: Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, and Fairmont Hotels.
The easiest way to locate properties that offer hotel day passes is to use a third-party platform. There’s Dayuse, Daypass, and ResortPass. You can use these platforms to easily discover hotels with full or partial day rates. I recommend sticking with Resort Pass—it’s the preferred partner of most major chains, including Hilton.
For example, some hotels might offer day passes to their swanky pools and spas, but that’s it. Others might offer actual rooms that you have access to until late afternoon or another predetermined time. You’ll see those options listed at the top of the page when you select your destination and dates.
