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No one knows better than I do that family-friendly public pools in the Oakland/Berkeley area are lacking. The hours are limited, and parts of the facilities are endlessly closed for construction. Every year, I do gobs of research on where to swim, and every year, I find myself facing two frustrating truths:
First, it’s just not warm enough for most of our summers in the {510} to demand a pool day. At the time of writing, I don’t see a single day reaching 70 degrees in Berkeley in the 10-day forecast. Second, when we do get a taste of that sunny summer weather, we don’t have the pool capacity to match community interest.
One solution is a staycation, a day spent by a hotel pool within an hour or so of home, and Resort Pass allows you to do just that.
How much does a Resort Pass cost?
For a basic hotel pool, surrounded by lounge chairs with an adjacent hot tub, like Hyatt House in San Ramon, day passes cost $22 for adults cost $22 and $13 for kids. San Ramon also tends to run about ten degrees warmer than Berkeley, so yay! This one is not a full-service resort, however. In other words, pack a lunch!
Want to stay closer to home? A Resort Pass for Hyatt House in Emeryville (pictured above) costs $17 for adults and $11 for kids.
If you want to kick it up a notch, the Meritage Resort in Napa offers a beautiful family pool, priced at $66 for adults and $55 for kids. Guests will have access to towels and poolside dining. Or, book a cabana for $279 for the day to secure shaded seating for up to 6 people, which is the scenario I had in mind for a bougie summer playdate, split by three households. Plus, you’re more likely to find that 80-degree weather in Napa!
The prices go up from there, and you can search for yourself, using their filters for things like indoor pools, hot tubs, or family-friendly options.
For private pools, there’s Swimply
Your family can rent a private pool from someone’s backyard, too. Just like Airbnb, the Swimply app and website allow the homeowner to set their rental rate — by the hour — and you, the renter, can browse photos and features of the pools. I booked a pool in Pleasant Hill on a hot day and invited my sister and her little one to meet us there.
When your pool-time approaches, you’ll get the exact address and instructions for how to enter the space.
You can browse the amenities, such as hot tub, pool toys, bbq, and more. (Learn from my experience: Book a pool with access to a bathroom!)
Capacity limitations may apply, so don’t picture hosting a full-blown pool party. Most of the pools cost $60 to $100 per hour for up to 8 guests. So, pool your resources with another household or two.
