The snowbirds have flown the coop, the summer swelter has peaked, and we can picture no better staycation oasis than lapping in luxury at a hotel swimming pool.
Hear us out: We don’t mean renting a room before you soak (although you can). We mean buying a day pass — a flat-fee passport that grants all-day access to swanky hotel pools, spas, hot tubs, beach access, chairs, fitness rooms, even free cocktails and water in some cases — without splurging on an expensive overnight stay. This summer, such day passes range in price from $25 to $75 for adults and less for children. (Be sure to call ahead to confirm availability.)
For those craving a relaxing splash in posh surroundings, here are 10 South Florida hotels, boutique resorts and a hotel water park (!) with lush pools you can visit now.
Amy Beth Bennett / Sun Sentinel
Downtown Fort Lauderdale can be seen from the 14th-floor rooftop pool deck at the recently opened Aloft Fort Lauderdale Airport hotel. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
BROWARD COUNTY
Aloft Fort Lauderdale Airport hotel
501 SE 24th St., Fort Lauderdale; 754-285-4848; Marriott.com
On clear days, the 14th-story rooftop deck at this Marriott hotel offers visions of cruise ships docking at Port Everglades to the east and Fort Lauderdale’s ever-widening skyline to the north. Aloft, which debuted in January, touts a $30 pass for access to a 540-square-foot swimming pool, plus cocktails from WXYZ Lobby Bar (weekends only), a gaming area, TVs, cabanas, loungers and a fire pit.
Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel
This 2022 file photo shows the Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach rooftop pool deck and High Tide Lounge. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel file)
Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
801 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-764-2233; Hilton.com
Offering picturesque views of the Intracoastal Waterway to the west and the tranquil Atlantic Ocean to the east, Bahia Mar’s $30 day pass grants access to its High Tide Lounge and outdoor heated pool, plus a key card for the beach and tennis court. Passholders also receive a complimentary bag with water bottles and towels, and there’s discounted valet parking ($20) or self-parking ($5/hour).
The Atlantic Hotel & Spa
601 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-567-8020, AtlanticHotelFL.com
As A1A beachfront pools go, the Atlantic’s $40 day pass is loaded with more amenities than its neighbors. There’s a fifth-floor, outdoor heated pool, an oceanfront hot tub, free Wi-Fi, and first-come-first-served access to sun loungers, pool umbrellas and towel service. For savings, use metered street parking, or splurge on a $65 day pass that includes free valet service. 
The boutique hotel Dalmar, which overlooks downtown Fort Lauderdale, offers a heated saline pool with towel service and lounge chairs with its day pass. (Michael Stavaridis for The Dalmar Fort Lauderdale / Courtesy)The Dalmar
299 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale; 954-945-9500; TheDalmar.com
Retro mod-style furnishings, classic and tiki cocktails and sweeping skyscraper views distinguish this luxe hotel’s sixth-floor pool perched on the edge of the exploding Flagler Village neighborhood. Yes, you’re in the thick of the downtown with a $35-$45 day pass and swimming in perks obvious and subtle: an outdoor heated saline pool, first-come-first-served lounge chairs and free towel service and Wi-Fi. The pool shares its building with a killer rooftop cocktail bar, Sparrow — and we hear the hotel even has a Champagne vending machine, which is nice.
B Ocean Resort / Courtesy
In addition to the pool, guests at the B Ocean Resort Fort Lauderdale Beach can enjoy mermaid shows at The Wreck Bar. (B Ocean Resort / Courtesy)
B Ocean Resort Fort Lauderdale Beach
1140 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-564-1000; BOceanResort.com
A $35 day pass here buys you access to a beachfront infinity-edge pool in the shadow of this ship-shape hotel icon (formerly called the Yankee Clipper). While its Wreck Bar mermaid shows are worth the detour alone, the pass also grants sun-seekers a pair of outdoor heated pools, beach access, first-come-first-served poolside and beach chairs, and free Wi-Fi and towel service.
Sands Harbor Resort & Marina
125 N. Riverside Drive, Pompano Beach; 954-942-9100, SandsHarbor.com
A trout’s throw from seriously scrumptious seaside eats (ahem, Oceanic) and pelican-watching on Pompano Beach’s Fisher Family Pier, this 5-acre Intracoastal hideaway plants you right in megayacht central. The ground-floor pool puts sunbathers eye-level with fleets of passing pleasure boats, and its $50 day pass comes bundled with a hard-to-beat perk: a free rumrunner cocktail. The nearly 60-year-old hotel also offers access to a waterfront heated outdoor pool, first-come-first-served lounge chairs, towel service, a poolside shower and free Wi-Fi.
The Ray Hotel / Courtesy
The swimming pool on the rooftop of The Ray hotel in Delray Beach has cabanas, umbrellas and tropical foliage. (The Ray hotel / Courtesy)
PALM BEACH COUNTY
The Ray
233 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach; 561-739-1700; TheRayHotel.com
What The Ray’s rooftop lacks in height (four stories), it makes up for in tropical splendor: A lush wall of palms, wood accents and white sunbrellas frame its 20,000-square-foot pool deck, which is attached to an equally luxe cocktail haven called Rosewater Rooftop. Sure, that it’s within walking distance to Atlantic Avenue’s restaurant row is also appealing — but why bother escaping this playground? A day pass ($40 Monday-Thursday, $50 Friday-Sunday) includes first-come-first-served lounge chairs, access to its fitness center, free towel service and Wi-Fi.
Renaissance Boca Raton Hotel
2000 NW 19th St., Boca Raton; 561-368-5252; Marriott.com
Sure, you might have a better view of Bowlero or Bloomingdale’s instead of the beach at this 184-room Marriott resort overlooking the Town Center at Boca Raton Mall. But it’s tough to overlook this $30 day passport, which offers access to a ground-floor, outdoor heated pool and waterfall backdrop, along with free Wi-Fi, towel service and self-parking. There’s also first-come-first-served lounge chairs and complimentary bottles of water.
Hilton Palm Beach PBI Hotel
150 Australian Ave., West Palm Beach; 561-684-9400; Hilton.com
Sunbathers will hardly mind that one of West Palm Beach’s best staycation spots overlooks Palm Beach International Airport after spotting its raft of perks. A $25 day pass includes access to the outdoor heated pool and hot tub, first-come-first-served lounge chairs, free Wi-Fi and self-parking. There’s also a complimentary swag bag at check-in, a 15% food discount at the tiki bar, and access to outdoor games such as Connect 4, cornhole and a billiards table.
Moris Moreno for JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa / Courtesy
Tidal Cove boasts one of the region’s strongest pool passes, which includes access to seven water slides and this lazy river. (Moris Moreno for JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa / Courtesy)
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
Tidal Cove at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa
19999 W. Country Club Drive, Aventura; 305-932-6200; TidalCoveMiami.com and JWTurnberry.com
Seeking poolside relaxation in blissful solitude? You came to the wrong place. If there’s one drawback to splashing around at Tidal Cove — arguably the crown jewel of day passes — it’s the noise from guests taking the plunge down the park’s seven water slides. If crowd size isn’t a dealbreaker, though Tidal Cove’s offer ($75 Mondays-Fridays, $95 Saturdays-Sundays, free for age 3 and younger) provides full waterpark privileges, including the lazy river, a cove pool and splash pad, plus a changing room, free Wi-Fi and towels. Our suggestion? Go on a weekday and dodge the $36 self-parking fee by hailing a rideshare.
B Ocean Resort / Courtesy
The B Ocean Resort has a beachfront infinity-edge pool. (B Ocean Resort / Courtesy)