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A new Amex Offer for ResortPass appeared a week or two ago. I’d never heard of ResortPass before this and I only got around to checking it out last night. While it’s not something I’m likely to make use of myself, I can see it appealing to those with children as a staycation opportunity and/or as an alternative to a visit to a potentially more expensive waterpark.
The Deal
- Spend $100 with ResortPass & get $20 back with an Amex Offer.
Key Terms
- Expires September 30, 2023.
- Offer valid online only at US website resortpass.com or through the ResortPass mobile app.
- Valid only on purchases made in US dollars.
Quick Thoughts
ResortPass gives you the ability to take advantage of some hotel amenities without needing to actually stay at the hotel. Seeing as these are one day passes, ResortPass refers to what they offer as being a daycation rather than a staycation.
What’s on offer varies depending on which property you look at. For example, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, AZ has a wide range of options. The lowest priced option is a day pass which gives you access to their numerous pools, hot tubs, free Wi-Fi and also includes complimentary parking. That doesn’t come cheap though – at least not for adults anyway – as it’s $70 per adult and $21 per child. In addition to the day passes at this property, they have a number of other packages that include day passes along with daybeds, cabanas, dive-in movies passes and more.
More reasonably priced is the Hilton Orlando. Day passes cost $29 and $19 for adults and children respectively, with this Hilton offering access to their large main pool, whirlpool, adults only pool, kids splash pad, 892 foot lazy river and discounted parking (or free parking if spending $75+ at their restaurant). That compares favorably to the cost of a visit to a waterpark, especially if your kids are content with swimming pools, slides and a lazy river rather than needing all the additional rides and features that a waterpark has.
The price you see isn’t quite what you get though. Tax is added, while ResortPass also charges a platform fee which appears to be 8.75% of the base charge. While that’s not ideal, it could prove useful for the purposes of this Amex Offer if the extra amount pushes you over the $100 threshold to get the $20 statement credit. For example, if you wanted to get day passes for two adults and two children at the Hilton Orlando, it would come to $96 – just short of the $100 needed to trigger the Amex Offer. However, tax and the platform fee push that total over $100 and so your net cost would be $91.19.
Depending on how many of you will be visiting, it might make more sense to just book a stay at the hotel, especially if you have older children. That’s because the child rate for day passes appears to be for children ages 12 and under. That means children ages 13+ get charged the adult rate which, at some of these hotels, can be very pricey.
It’s not only access to pools that you can get through ResortPass. Some properties have a spa pass that gets you access to a variety of spa features. For example, a day pass for the the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa provides access to the following:
- Women’s and men’s locker rooms
- Storm and rain showers
- Alpine dry sauna
- Inhalation room infused with essential oils
- Steam room with chromotherapy
- Hot plunge
- Cold plunge
- Private co-ed outdoor mineral pool with poolside service
- Relaxation room
- Well balanced snacks, tea station, and infused waters that change three times a day
- 10% discount on spa services
If you live in or are visiting Scottsdale and want to treat yourself, the $85 (+ tax and platform fee) cost for that package might compare favorably to spa packages through other means.
Question
Have you ever used ResortPass? If so, what was your experience like? Did things work as smoothly as expected? Let us know in the comments below.
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I am surprised to see the HR Scottsdale on the ResortPass list, as since I believe early June the pool area is under renovation! I emailed to confirm this back in late spring, and the reply said they’d be done with construction in January of 2024…
Many moons ago, I was a massage therapist at a high-end spa, and paying for spa/pool access was an insider secret. This is going to end up being like airport lounges… overcrowded. Once hotels/spas realize this, they will start to institute policies where you will have to purchase a service or a stay.
Used ResortPass last month. Super easy process, great experience for the day, and plan to use it more often!
I haven’t used this service yet but I am planning to on cruise stops in San Juan and the Dominican in January so the offer comes at a good time for me, especially with P2. It is important to read the reviews. Some have written that at some beach properties ResortPass customers have access to beach areas, pools and food outlets on property other than that used by actual hotel customers.
I know someone who was staying in Hawaii but the beachfront hotels were too expensive for their taste. They stayed at a cheaper hotel but purchased a Resort Pass and spent the day at the resort pool and beach.
This explains why the Confidante pool is always so crowded even when the hotel is at low occupancy. Thanks for sharing Stephen.