A TikTok travel influencer has shared her “favourite” trick for enjoying five-star accommodations and facilities around the world on a budget, with a single-purchase day pass
A budget-conscious travel influencer has shared one of her top tips for being “bougie on a budget”. This little-known hack allows travellers to enjoy luxury service without the hefty price tag.
Em, aka @emsbudgettravel on TikTok, frequently shares cost-efficient travel advice and tips with her over 100,000 followers. On a recent solo trip to Mumbai, the content creator disclosed one of her favourite hacks to indulge without breaking the bank.
At the tail end of her trip, Em booked herself into a five-star hotel—but only for a day. In her TikTok video she shares: “As my flight isn’t until this evening, I thought I’d treat myself with a day pass to a five-star hotel.”
The travel influencer shared that while “hotels rarely advertise” the day passes, but she opts for them “all the time” during her many adventures.
“It’s perfect if you have a flight home in the evening as it means you don’t have to drag your bags around the city after you’ve checked out,” Em said. She also emphasises that the often cushy accommodations are a “great way to relax after a busy trip.”
This hack is a great way to experience a hotel you may not otherwise be able to afford. “It’s usually way cheaper than actually staying the night, but you still get full use of the facilities,” she confirmed.
Em strategically booked her day pass for the Aurika by Lemon Tree Hotel, which sits conveniently close to the Mumbai airport. “Literally [the] perfect location as well,” she said, “so I can go straight there in the evening and I don’t have to worry about traffic.
But what exactly is the price for a day pass at a five-star hotel? “It cost me £36 for the day rate—and that’s per room, not per person,” Em states. “So if you’re travelling with someone else, it would be even cheaper.”
In her TikTok video, Em shared footage of her luxe single room and the pool area where she was able to relax and recharge before her evening flight. “The room was really nice and I got food delivered for lunch,” she said, which amounted to a cost of £5.
During her day, she “spent a few hours chilling by the pool and having a swim” heading back to the room to take a very long shower, wash her hair and enjoy a nap before catching an Uber to the airport.
She ended the video by saying how she felt it was an “excellent” way to spend her final day in Mumbai.
To get access to a day pass like Em, you can head to Resort Pass, DayPass and Hotel Treats—these are only some of the apps offering a day’s access to facilities for around £30.