How I Extended a Quick Hawaii Trip With ResortPass

Updated: November 9, 2026, 4:00pm CST

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Table of Contents

What Is ResortPass?
My Experience Using ResortPass in Honolulu
Why ResortPass Is Uniquely Great for Hawaii Trips
Final Thoughts

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Hawaii is a destination I could return to over and over again with little hesitation. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to jet off to Honolulu for 2 quick nights for a Hawaiian Airlines event. I was excited to cover the event and visit the islands, but a little bummed that I’d have so little time to enjoy Honolulu.

When I received my flight confirmation, I saw an opening. Many of the flights departing Honolulu for the eastern half of the country were late in the day or at night — almost an extra day in the islands.

My hotel checkout was 11 a.m., but I extended my day by using ResortPass for the first time. It was the perfect solution for burning almost an entire day in Honolulu. Here’s why the ResortPass platform works so well in a place like Hawaii.

What Is ResortPass?

ResortPass is a platform that offers access to participating hotels. A ResortPass booking doesn’t include a room but does grant access to the property’s amenities.

You can book a visit on the ResortPass website, searching by city to find properties with available space. Hotels typically offer various types of access, ranging from basic access to daybeds and cabanas for multiple people. You can book by selecting the property and access type and entering your credit card information.

Hot Tip:

ResortPass purchases typically code as travel, so make sure you use a travel rewards card for your reservation.

My Experience Using ResortPass in Honolulu

After 2 quick nights in Honolulu, I was scheduled to return to Chicago (ORD) on Alaska Airlines via Seattle (SEA). My first leg departed Honolulu (HNL) around 9 p.m. local time.

My hotel had a strict 11 a.m. checkout policy, and there was no guarantee I could access a hospitality suite to shower before my long overnight journey home.

I turned to ResortPass to find a hotel where I could hang out and enjoy the sun between checking out of my hotel and heading to the airport. There were 3 main things I considered in my property search:

Relatively quiet property
A good pool bar or restaurant
Showers available to ResortPass guests

Access to shower facilities was the most important factor. I didn’t want to spend all day in the hot sun and in a chlorine-filled pool without showering before my long red-eye flight back to Chicago. I found several ResortPass options in Honolulu, but none mentioned shower access, so I called a few before booking.

I was surprised to be turned down by so many hotels, but I found a resort with showers available to ResortPass guests in the hotel’s fitness center: the Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach.

Alohilani ResortPass — I got a day pass to the pool. Screenshot: ResortPass website

I booked access as soon as Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach confirmed I could use its fitness center showers. I didn’t need anything more than a lounge chair and an umbrella, so I went with the basic package: the Swell Pool Day Pass.

It cost $60 and came with the following amenities:

Access to the rooftop infinity pool and hot tub
Lounge chair
Towel service
Poolside food and beverage service
Live DJ entertainment (on select days)
Complimentary Wi-Fi
3 hours of self-parking (or $12 for 3 hours of valet parking for anyone who has spent $30 or more at the restaurant)

After taxes and fees, I spent $70.37 on my day pass, and I paid with my Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card.

BEST FIRST TRAVEL CARD

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome OfferEarn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.49 - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation home rentals with top brands, and streaming services.

It offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and strong travel insurance coverage, including primary car rental insurance. If you travel a few times a year and spend on dining, the card is likely to be a good choice, but it’s hard to justify if you don’t dine out or travel often.

Pros & Cons

Pros

5x points on all travel booked via Chase Travel
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation home rentals with top brands (such as Airbnb and Vrbo), and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

$95 annual fee
Subject to Chase’s 5/24 application restrictions

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Card Highlights

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes at top brands, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.
Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation, and more.
Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $180.
Complimentary DashPass membership, a $120 value for 12 months. Enjoy $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders, plus exclusive Chase savings on grocery, everyday essentials, and more. Activate by 12/31/29.
Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck^® or NEXUS application.
Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.49 - 27.74% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Since it coded as travel, I earned 142 Ultimate Rewards points. The purchase also helped me get closer to meeting the card’s minimum spending requirement for its 100,000-point welcome offer. (The 100,000-point welcome offer has since expired.)

ResortPass Alohilani payment — I paid $70 for the day pass. Screenshot: ResortPass website

After I checked in at the rooftop pool, I felt like a hotel guest even though I didn’t have a room. I found a lounge chair under an umbrella and got to relaxing, just as I would during a stay at any other resort. My chair was in the first row on the deck, so I had an excellent view of the infinity pool and the ocean.

Alohilani Hotel Honolulu Preferred Hotels Pool and Ocean View — Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach’s beautiful infinity pool offered great ocean views.

When I got hungry, I ordered the tuna poke wonton nachos from the pool bar along with a refreshing passion fruit cocktail, both of which I enjoyed immensely.

Alohilani pool deck food — I never skip poke while in Hawaii.

After a few dips in the pool, reading several chapters of my book, and listening to a few podcasts, it was time to get out of the sun. I moved to a covered area and enjoyed a drink before showering and heading to the airport.

Alohilani Hotel Honolulu Preferred Hotels Pool Bar — After hours in the sun, I escaped to the shade.

It wasn’t quite like showering in my own hotel room, but it did the trick. I was grateful to have access before a long journey home, and the shower alone made it worth the price of admission.

Why ResortPass Is Uniquely Great for Hawaii Trips

ResortPass is useful in Hawaii, especially if you’re visiting from east of the Mississippi River and have a late departure. You might waste a day if you can’t get a late checkout at your hotel.

Alohilani Hotel Honolulu Preferred Hotels Lobby Seating and Corridor — Relaxing at a resort and showering before the airport reduces late-departure stress.

You can set yourself up for a low-stress final day to stretch out vacation vibes with ResortPass. Although shower access isn’t guaranteed at every ResortPass property, finding a shower allows you to arrive at the airport fresh before boarding a long flight home.

The $70 I paid to enjoy the pool might seem steep, but it was money well spent. Without access to the resort, I likely would’ve spent much of the day on indoor activities, but that would have been a waste of good time in Hawaii.

Final Thoughts

After my first time using ResortPass, I’m a fan. It was especially helpful in Hawaii, where I had almost a whole day between checking out of my hotel and boarding my flight. It may not be worth it at every destination, but I will check ResortPass the next time I’m in a similar situation.