Cancun has it all, from budget digs to high-class gigs. But you don’t have to limit yourself; you can have it all, getting the very best Cancun has to offer without re-mortgaging the house. To get this, Day Passes are the answer! With one of these, you can rent affordable accommodation and use the Day Pass to visit high-end hotels during the day, and soak up the sun, sand and sea for a snippet of staying in an eye-wateringly expensive, ultra-luxe hotel. Read on to find out how you can have the best of both worlds on your Caribbean getaway!
Get a Luxury Cancun Vacation Without Costing the Earth
Picture your dream holiday in Cancun, with azure blue waters lapping at your feet and the pure white sand between your toes. Now imagine being told that all this is yours for the pricey cost of a long stay in a high-end hotel when all you need is a couple of days to recharge. Well, and we’re sorry to say this, many of Cancun’s best hotels require you to fork out for lengthy stays, often with a 2-week minimum.
But for those in the know, there’s a secret to enjoying all the luxury without the hefty price tag. Here’s the inside scoop: rent a cozy Airbnb, without the sky-high prices, then use a Day Pass to access top-notch hotels’ lavish amenities at your leisure. Seems a waste to pay for luxury while you’re sleeping! Using this option gives you the best of both worlds: budget-minded accommodation mixed with beachside bliss and ultra indulgence for the savvy traveler.
What is a Cancun Day Pass?
The key to this ‘best of both’ worlds is the Day Pass. But what is a Day Pass?, we hear you ask. Well, typically a Day Pass will bestow access to all its ultra-luxe amenities for a fixed daily price, and we can assure you this will be much lower than staying at the hotel. Each hotel lists its own rules and regulations regarding the Day Pass, but all-inclusive options tend to just throw everything in, so keep an eye out for those. Other hotels may provide a credit that you can spend on food and drinks, whilst accessing everything else they have to offer.
A Day Pass lets you optimize your holiday experience. You get the best luxury on demand, but while you’re sleeping, you’re saving.
The Day Pass system is widely offered by beachfront hotels in Cancun and is becoming increasingly popular for tourists. With a Day Pass, you can quaff poolside cocktails, experience delicious meals at the restaurant, let the kids make their own (safe) adventures, or even take a water sports lesson with an experienced instructor. Get it all, just sleep somewhere else. It really is that simple! With Cancun’s abundant transport options, the possibilities for saving are many.
As mentioned, the cost of a Day Pass is a snippet of the daily price to stay at a hotel. You have the added benefit of knowing exactly what you’re going to spend, helping you stick to a budget. Kids usually go half price, sometimes for even less, and babies get in free with a parent.
How to Find Your Ideal Cancun Day Pass?
Where can you buy one of these incredible Day Passes? A cursory Google search will bring up a plethora of options that offer Day Passes at resorts across Mexico, and some hotels even sell them directly on their website. If there is a particular hotel that has caught your eye or has the perfect location, for you, your first port of call should be the hotel’s website. You’ll also be able to find more detailed terms & conditions there which will explain what services are included on the Pass.
If you’re less sure of exactly where you want to spend the day luxuriating by the pool, we recommend you start at two of the most popular Day Pass vendors, ResortPass and Daypass. (*We are not affiliated with these companies.) As always, before making the commitment to purchase, have a good poke around the different sites to find the best deal. It’s hard to say which vendor exclusively has the best prices, so be nosy and scope out the best bargains.
Tips for Getting the Most from your Cancun Day Pass Experience
It’s important to stay savvy when choosing your Day Pass. Consider the price and the included amenities, and don’t be seduced by the photos alone: read reviews to get the nitty-gritty details about a hotel or club. While one location may offer the perfect beach, with beautiful white sands stretching out into a turquoise infinity, but may be packed during the day, and replete with rowdy partygoers intent on spoiling your calm inner Zen. If you’re looking for great food and drink, the best option may not be the one with the nicest looking pool and beach club. And certainly not all options will be suitable for kids. Read around to find the perfect option for your vacation.
If you only plan on spending part of the day at the hotel, you can find even cheaper deals depending how many hours you book. But typically, the Day Pass is valid from morning to evening, so if you aren’t planning to luxuriate all day, seek out options including shorter time frames. Oh, and remember that the Day Pass price doesn’t include tips for staff.
Another crucially important thing to remember is to check the weather on the date you’re planning to use your Day Pass. Many of the options are non-refundable/changeable, so it’d be an awful shame if your perfect day were to be ruined by a pesky hurricane. All jokes aside, the weather is nearly always perfect in this part of the world, so we’re sure you’ll be just fine, but check ahead.
It is also worth noting that not all beach clubs and hotels charge an entrance fee to gain access to the premises. But usually there is a catch where you have to spend a minimum amount on drinks and food during your visit, paying when you leave.
Is a Cancun Day Pass for You?
To sum things up, we believe the Day Pass presents a fantastic opportunity to optimize your holiday and get a more diverse experience from your time in Cancun. People who pay for the long 2-week stays at luxury hotels tend to spend all the time there to ‘get their money’s worth’, but with a Day Pass, the choice is yours. Just take the luxury for a while and use the rest of your holiday to explore all the other gems Cancun and the Yucatan Peninsula offer.
Ready to experience the ultimate Cancun getaway? Start exploring day pass options today!
If you’re a shopaholic and love a bargain hunt, why not head over to Mercado 23 and Mercado 28? Two very different markets in the heart of Cancun: one for souvenirs, tidbits and trinkets, the other for shopping like a local and immersing yourself in Cancun’s vibrant culture. Check out our articles to boss your vacation like a local.
