L.A. heat getting to you? Cool off at one of these 20 hotel pools offering day passes

As summer heat rolls in and your search for ways to stay cool ramps up, look no further than your own L.A. backyard, where hotel pools are waiting for you to dive in.

Some pools sit steps from the ocean, while others are perched high above the city with views of the skyline. At a few hotels, you can pair your swim with fresh oysters, a butterfly beach house or a Hydrafacial. (Also, some pools once had a starring role in Hollywood films.)

In the last few years, day passes to hotel pools have surged in popularity. They’re the ultimate workaround: Skip the overnight room rates, soak up the luxury poolside experience all day and still end the night in your own sheets.

For as little as $27, you receive access to pools and other hotel amenities. Some less expensive day passes include Andaz West Hollywood, while day-pass prices can climb to $163 at hotels such as the West Hollywood Edition.

Whether you’re planning a family outing, rounding up friends for a spontaneous escape or carving out a little solo “me time,” a day pass can transform an ordinary afternoon into something that feels worlds away.

“Time is precious for people, and they may not have the time or ability to take an overnight trip, so if they can spoil themselves a little bit with a quick daycation, that’s fantastic,” said Ed Curry, director of sales and marketing at the Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey.

Summer heat can slow down business compared with peak travel seasons, Curry said, so offering day passes makes sense. “We would rather have the pool being enjoyed than just empty,” he added.

On weekdays, some visitors bring laptops and turn the poolside into their temporary office, he added.

Lifestyle

The big, wet guide to water

Liven up your Hydro Flask. Splash your way through Disneyland. Chase a glistening ocean view.

July 22, 2024

Keep in mind, day pass prices often spike on weekends, and most hotels limit availability to preserve the guest experience — so book early. Some properties also have passes with spa access, massages or day-use rooms, and many include perks including gym access.

Most hotels partner with a booking platform called ResortPass. Once you book online and check in at the front desk, you’ll either get a key card or an escort to the pool.

“It takes a lot more time to plan a vacation, less time to plan a staycation and even less time to plan a daycation,” Curry said.

So if a day beneath swaying palms, sunshine and sipping on mojitos or mocktails sounds like your kind of escape, we found some of the best places to make it happen. — Aspen Anderson

Note: This list is not exhaustive. Prices vary depending on season and day of the week. For the price breakdown, $ signals under $30, $$ denotes under $50 and $$$ is for all other prices.