I paid $50 for a day pass to a 5-star resort in Hawaii, and I would've gone back if the price hadn't increased

Living in a tropical paradise like Maui means getting to explore the island's natural wonders year-round, but the luxurious resort experience that tourists indulge in has always felt out of reach for me.

With one night at a three-star hotel costing at least $300 in Maui, the high prices don't lend themselves to locals looking for an affordable staycation.

But an opportunity presented itself when I recently discovered ResortPass, an online marketplace that facilitates daycations at resorts across the US, including over 25 properties in Hawaii.

I was excited for the opportunity to book a hotel pool pass that would grant me access to most of the amenities that make staying at a hotel appealing, but at a fraction of the cost.

For this experience, I booked an afternoon pass to Fairmont Kea Lani, a five-star hotel in Wailea.

At the time I booked, other offerings available on ResortPass included a day pass ($90), daybed ($300), or cabana ($500) at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort; a room for the day at Maui Beach Hotel ($180) or Maui Seaside Hotel ($219); and access to The Spa at Hana-Maui Resort ($80).

I opted for an afternoon pass at Fairmont Kea Lani, which cost $50 when I booked in February.

The entire island was hit with a massive storm the week I planned to hit the pool, so I changed my reservation online through ResortPass.

Even after I made a mistake while rescheduling, I reached out to customer service and they got back to me the same day to correct the error and help me rebook properly.

The afternoon pass was from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and the full day pass, which cost $50 more, would have allowed me to be on the property from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Since I didn't plan on going in the pool first thing in the morning, the afternoon pass seemed like the better option.

This pass granted me four hours of access to Fairmont Kea Lani's three resort pools, including an adults-only pool and two lagoon-style family pools, as well as the surrounding property.

One of the lagoon-style pools also featured a swim-up bar and waterslide. Other amenities included three hot tubs, lounge chairs, towel service, poolside dining, Wi-Fi, and beach access.

Since I planned to be at the resort during the hottest part of the day, I decided to leave my truck parked in the shade.

The entrance of the resort paid homage to Hawaiian culture through art pieces like a statue of Queen Lili'uokalani, paintings that depicted ancient practices and landscapes, as well as mermaid sculptures crafted from rare local woods.

At my request, we found a spot where I could lounge comfortably in the shade. The attendant then laid out my towels on the chair I had selected and adjusted the closest umbrella to ensure it would protect me from the sun.

I assumed that the swim-up bar was going to be in an adult-oriented area but it was right next to the waterslide, which meant high traffic and lots of noise.

In order to prioritize peace and quiet, I moved to the adults-only pool. The main pool deck was full when I arrived, so an attendant showed me to a lounge chair on the nearby lawn.

The serene environment was my ideal respite from the boisterous family-friendly areas.

I brought my own sun protection but loved seeing that the resort provided some for its guests.

As part of Project Reef, all of the sunscreen and aloe cooling lotion was sustainable, reef-friendly, non-nano, vegan, and cruelty free.

There were also various water stations where I could fill up my reusable water bottle.

While enjoying my lounge chair, I ordered food and refreshments from AMA Bar & Grill through a poolside server.

My drink selections were a non-alcoholic Liliko'i No-jito ($15) as well as the Tidal Wave cocktail ($30), a rum-spiked punch that serves two and comes in a commemorative sand pail.

For lunch, I tried the chicken quesadilla ($25), which was cut into four bite-sized pieces and served with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.

In total, I paid $93 including tax and tip for poolside dining. This was not included in the cost of my afternoon pass.

Most of it wasn't worth the price, in my opinion, but the Tidal Wave cocktail felt like a good deal considering all of the other mixed drinks were $19 each.

Paying $19 for another drink didn't seem like a financially responsible decision for me, but I still wanted to experience the swim-up bar. I ordered a glass of water from the friendly bartender and we talked for a few minutes while I hydrated.

I would have been remiss to pass up the opportunity for my inner child to play on the waterslide, so I went down it a couple of times.

The pool attendant even offered to commemorate my experience with photos of me going down the slide — the images came out blurry, but I appreciated their hospitality.

Of the three hot tubs on the property, I especially enjoyed the one adjacent to the adults-only pool. The heated water loosened my muscles and left me feeling incredibly relaxed.

This lower pool area seemed like it was built with keiki (the Hawaiian word for kids) in mind.

It had a waterslide, waterfall, basketball hoop, bridges to swim under, and a wading pool.

The cabanas offered space for two to six people, with prices ranging from $399 to $699 when I booked.

Although some of them were decked out with lounge chairs, day beds, a mini fridge, and a ceiling fan, the price didn't seem worth it to me, even if I'd had a larger group. My lounge chair and umbrella setup was totally fine and much cheaper.

The pool area was super close to the beach, so I made sure to check it out.

A nearby kiosk provided information about beach conditions as well as towels or chairs and umbrellas that could be set up on the sand upon request.

Nick's Fishmarket is one of six dining options on the property, including the poolside dining by AMA Bar & Grill. The menu's focus is seafood.

Everything was delicious, especially the scallops I ordered as my entrée. The most memorable part was the strawberry flambée dessert, which was finished tableside in a burst of blue flames.

I felt like the experience was worth the $50 I paid when I booked my pass. However, shortly after my visit, I saw that the price of the pass had increased to $75, a 50% increase.

A ResortPass representative confirmed prices are set by the resorts and explained that the increase could likely be attributed to the hotel entering its busier season.

I understand that prices change, but the cheapest pass is now about $75 for four hours at the pools. This experience was nice but I'm not sure I'd return at that rate.

I'd much rather go to one of the island's highly acclaimed beaches or other natural attractions free of charge.