tl;dr – Go budget but live large?
Recently, I wrote about several options for accessing hotels and resorts on a daily-use basis. In addition, in a recent installment of Deal’s I’m Booking That You Should Too, I wrote about how you can access the popular Impressions by Secrets Isla Mujeres resort for a fraction of the nightly cost (including a food and beverage voucher). In putting these two ideas together, it got me to thinking: In certain markets, Cancun comes to mind (could also work for the Riviera Maya), one could build a fun day pass crawl, getting a chance to check out several different properties.
So for one, I’m not much of an all-inclusive person. But for those who are folks and value variety, this might be just the type of thing you’d appreciate. A daily all-inclusive day pass to several resorts in Cancun is significantly cheaper than the daily night rate. You could build yourself a varied vacation, getting the chance to check out several different properties while camping out at a crash pad at night. As a bonus, you’ll (in theory) enjoy different foods to break the mold.
So, how to go about this? First, you’d want to find a reasonably well-located crash pad. You’re not looking for anything out of the ordinary here. A clean, serviceable hotel, with the ‘keep things running’ amenities – a gym, maybe a pool for an early morning dip. This well-located Hotel Zone Aloft seems to check that box. Many nights can be had for sub-$100, inclusive of tax.
Firing up the day pass apps, and you have your pick of the litter on where to go and what to do. Taking a look at ResortPass, I’m finding several hotels providing daily access with all-inclusive rates (Referral link for $20 off here):
The same for DayPass:
What you make of your day? Up to you! For a chill day, you can even book a spa pass to the Intercontinental for just $30:
I should add that there is flexibility in many of these day rates. Let’s say you planned an excursion in the morning but wanted to post up somewhere at night to enjoy the resort’s evening entertaining and dinner. A night pass can help you do that:
Keep in mind that for some of these properties – the luxe ones like Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets and the Almare a Luxury Collection Resort, Isla Mujeres, you’d be looking at several hundreds dollars for just one night.
Enjoying all of the properties amenties for a fraction of the cost could be a much better proposition, for the right person.
Again, not for the faint of heart, but for that traveler who doesn’t mind themselves a little “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” this is for you. Stringing together a few of these bookings over a five-night stay could make for some interesting variety. And here’s a referral link for ReportPass if you’re planning to get after it!
