With the holidays upon us, many people are planning a 2025 trip. Traveling is often stressful, but there are things you can do to feel less stressed.
Here are seven ways to book in advance and save this year.
The Lyft-DoorDash partnership
Lyft and DoorDash users who link their accounts can take advantage of several benefits throughout the year, including:
- 5% discount on rides if needed
- 10% off up to four scheduled airport rides, up to four rides per month
- Two free upgrades for essential downloads every month
- DashPass free three-month trial for new members
Lyft often offers time-sensitive travel promos throughout the year, so be sure to check your Lyft account for those discounts.
To participate, link your DoorDash and Lyft accounts here.
UberX and Shuttle sharing
Uber has released two options for airport travelers to save money. It also introduced the UberX Share booking option at 10 airports, specifically:
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, DC
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
- Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Riders who book an UberX Share can save up to 25% off regular UberX fares, even if they’re not matched with a passenger.
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For passengers traveling to and from New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), consider booking an Uber Shuttle. For $18 one way, users can book a shuttle to the airport, seating up to four. Users can book an Uber Shuttle up to seven days in advance and five minutes before a scheduled departure on three different routes to or from LGA. The service is available weekly every 30 minutes, from 5am to 10:45pm
Rebook your reservation if the price drops
To get the best airfare, book your airfare and hotel reservations at least one to two months in advance for domestic travel and about three to four months in advance for international travel.
In addition to using points and miles to book your travel reservations, consider monitoring your bookings to see if the price drops. If it happens, your reservation type is pending, you can cancel and rebook at the new price. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of your booking to confirm this is an option. For example, most basic fares are non-refundable.
Although all airlines offer a free cancellation window of 24 hours, you are subject to individual airlines’ different policies 24 hours after booking.
Generally, full fare tickets or premium tickets are the most flexible, basic economy tickets are the most restrictive.
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines all allow passengers to change their tickets without paying a change fee. In general, you can rebook and receive airfare credits for any price difference between the two flights.
Alternatively, certain upper level tickets offer a full refund.
Some very low-cost airlines eased changes and cancellation fee policies in 2024, making it easier to cancel and rebook.
When you book using airline points or miles, policies usually give you points or miles back.
Rest room booking
Due to congestion, many airport lounges offer the possibility to reserve a check-in area (and some even require it).
For example, the booking system is now live at Capital One Landing at DC’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The restaurant-style concept recently opened in November 2024.
If you plan to visit an airport lounge during your trip, double check ahead of time to see if it has a reservation system and if you can reserve a spot. Some lounges have a waiting list, but you can’t reserve a spot until you get to the airport.
Such is the case with The Club MDW at Chicago’s Midway International Airport (MDW). It has a timed entry system that you can join in real time just by scanning the QR code at the door.
National park reservations
Most US national parks require timed entry reservations on certain days throughout the year during peak travel days. Some of these national parks include Mount Rainier, Yosemite, Glacier, Arches and Rocky Mountain.
Several parks require permits to access certain areas such as campgrounds. This is the case in Zion, Arches, Shenandoah, Acadia, Haleakala and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Before visiting, double-check the entry requirements for each national park.
Booking places to visit
In addition to overtourism taxes, cities have begun requiring timed entry requirements at some tourist attractions during peak holiday periods.
As Rome prepares for the Jubilee, the city will require visitors to book timed entry to the Trevi Fountain in 2025. This may include time slots and capacity limits for the well and surrounding measures.
Booking a parking space at the airport
If you’re parking at the airport this holiday season, remember that you can reserve in advance at many airport parking lots, including LGA, SFO and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
Although a parking reservation is not required, it ensures a worry-free spot and can save you money.
In some areas, these savings can be as high as 50%, although that amount varies by airport.
Bottom line
From navigating airport baggage to making advance reservations, as much planning as possible will reduce stress during your trip.
However, remember that you can only control so much when it comes to travel, so try to enjoy the process along the way.
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