Newly opened Iris Motel offers family-friendly day pool passes

The big picture: The Iris Motel is on Tulane near The Drifter Hotel, which is known for its adult party pool.

• Prices start at $20 for adults and $10 for children via Resort Pass.
• The pass gets you access to the saltwater pool, lounge chairs and a motel room for changing and restroom access. Towels are available.
• It's BYOB, so pack your snacks and drinks. No glass.

If you go: A staffer greeted my family at the motel's gate and showed us to the pool, which is in a walled-off area at the back of the parking lot.

• Once you are in the water, you can't see the busy street.
• The pool goes up to 5 feet deep and has stairs on one end and a shallow lounging area with chairs on the other.
• There are no lifeguards. Swim at your own risk.

The vibe: We had the pool to ourselves the Saturday we went, and it felt like a private backyard pool.

• It has a contemporary look with potted plants, white chairs and deep purple walls. Three jets sprayed water into the air, which was a fun water feature.
• We played Marco Polo, tossed a ball around and had fun goofing off.

Between the lines: Staffers told me the pool pass program is new and they are still figuring things out, including the price.

• They cap the passes based on motel occupancy.
• A Saturday pass was $30/adult when I first looked at Resort Pass and dropped to $20/adult the night before.

Family review:

• My 8-year-old: "7/10. It's really good. You can swim. You can bring food."
• My husband: "7/10. It's nice if you're the only people there, but it's a small pool, so if you have multiple people in the pool, it might get a little crowded.

Go deeper:

• New Orleans hotel pools you can dive into this summer.
• Do drop in to the Dew Drop Inn's Haven Pool Club in Central City.