How travellers are buying cheap day passes to five‑star hotels to use luxury facilities

Travellers can book single‑day access to five‑star hotel rooms and facilities for a fraction of the cost of an overnight stay, using third‑party booking platforms, according to an account shared by an Instagram travel creator.

Em, who posts as @emsbudgettravel, said she booked a day pass at the Aurika by Lemon Tree Hotel near Mumbai’s airport so she could use a room, the pool and other hotel facilities before an evening flight. She posted video footage showing the room and pool and said the day rate cost £36 for the room rather than per person. During the daytime booking she ordered a meal that she said cost about £5, swam in the pool, took a long shower and rested in the room before taking an Uber to the airport.

Em said hotels "rarely advertise" day passes but that she regularly finds them while travelling. She recommended apps such as Resort Pass, DayPass and Hotel Treats as sources for single‑day access, and said prices on those services are often around £30. The creator described the arrangement as particularly useful for travellers with late departures who do not want to carry luggage around the city after checking out.

Day passes typically provide temporary access to hotel amenities such as pools, gyms, day rooms and sometimes food and beverage services without the cost of an overnight room charge. In Em’s example the fee was charged per room, which she noted could be shared between two travellers to lower the per‑person cost.

The Instagram account also recounted that the Mumbai trip came after warnings from others about safety when travelling alone. Em said she stayed in a hostel in the Bandra neighbourhood to meet other travellers but chose a five‑star hotel day pass for the final hours of her visit.

Third‑party platforms that list day passes allow hotels to offer daytime inventory to walk‑in customers, airport layover travellers and others who want short‑term access to facilities. Prices and inclusions vary by property and by platform; consumers using such services should check whether the fee covers access to rooms, specific amenities, food or other services.

Travel creators and consumer reports have highlighted day‑use bookings as a cost‑saving option for those who want hotel conveniences for part of a day, including travellers with late flights, business visitors needing a quiet workspace between meetings, and locals seeking a short leisure escape. Services that aggregate day passes say they make these options easier to find because hotels do not always promote them directly.

Consumers considering day‑use bookings should confirm terms and availability directly with the booking platform or property and verify what is included in the rate. Em’s example illustrates one use case: a short, lower‑cost way to access hotel facilities and a private room after checkout and before a departing flight.