7 ways to book early this year

The holidays are behind us and many people are planning trips for 2025.
Here are seven ways to book early and save this year.
Lyft partners with DoorDash
Lyft and DoorDash users who link their accounts can enjoy several benefits year-round, including:
- 5% discount on on-demand rides
- Enjoy 10% discount when booking up to 4 airport trips, up to 4 trips per month
- Free priority airport pick-up and upgrade twice a month
- New members get a free three-month trial of DashPass
Lyft often offers time-sensitive travel promotions throughout the year, so be sure to check your Lyft account for these promotions.
To participate, link your DoorDash and Lyft accounts here.
UberX sharing and shuttle service
Uber has launched two money-saving options for travelers heading to the airport. It has re-introduced the option to book UberX Share at 10 airports, as follows:
- 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 Schiphol Airport (AMS)
- Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Passengers booking UberX Share can save up to 25% on regular UberX fares, even if they are not matched with a co-passenger.
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For travelers traveling to and from New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), consider booking an Uber Shuttle. Users can reserve a shuttle to the airport for a one-way fee of $18, with seating for up to four people. Users can reserve Uber Shuttle for 3 different routes to and from LGA up to 7 days in advance and 5 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Departs every 30 minutes from 5am to 10:45pm every week
If the price drops please rebook
To get the best airfares, book air tickets and hotels at least one or two months in advance for domestic trips and three or four months in advance for international trips.
In addition to using points and miles to book travel, consider monitoring your bookings to see if prices drop. If so, depending on your booking type, you can cancel and rebook at a new price. Please be sure to read the terms and conditions of your booking to confirm this is an option. For example, many basic economy fares are non-refundable.
Although all airlines offer a 24-hour free cancellation window, you are still subject to each airline’s different policies 24 hours after booking.
Typically, full-price economy tickets or higher are the most flexible, and 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 change fees. Generally, you can rebook and receive airline flight points to cover the price difference between the two flights.
Additionally, certain higher level tickets offer full refunds.
Some ultra-low-cost carriers have relaxed change and cancellation fee policies in 2024, making it easier to cancel and rebook.
If you booked using airline points or miles, the policy will usually refund your points or miles.
Lounge booking
Due to overcrowding, many airport lounges offer the option to reserve a spot (some even require it).
For example, the reservation system is now live at the Capital One Landing Zone at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Washington, DC. The restaurant-style lounge concept just opened in November 2024.
If you plan to visit an airport lounge during your travels, double check beforehand whether the lounge has a reservation system and whether seats can be reserved. Some lounges have waiting lists, but you can’t reserve a seat until you arrive at the airport.
Such is the case at The Club MDW at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). It has a timed entry system, with instant entry available only by scanning a QR code at the door.
National Park Reservations
Many U.S. national parks require timed-admission reservations on specific days during peak tourist times throughout the year. Some of these national parks include Mount Rainier, Yosemite, Glacier, Arches, and the Rockies.
Some parks require a permit to enter certain areas such as campgrounds. This is true of Mount Zion, Mount Arches, Mount Shenandoah, Mount Acadia, Mount Haleakala, and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Before visiting, carefully check each national park’s entry requirements.
Tourist Attractions Reservation
In addition to imposing excessive tourism taxes, cities have also begun to impose time-limited entry requirements for certain tourist attractions during peak seasons.
As Rome prepares for the Jubilee, the city will ask visitors to book timed admission to the Trevi Fountain for 2025.
Airport parking reservation
If you’re parking at an airport this holiday season, remember that you can reserve parking in advance at many airports, including LGA, SFO and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
While parking is not required to be reserved, they guarantee a spot so you don’t have to worry and save you money.
In some places, savings can be as high as 50%, but exact figures vary by airport.
bottom line
From navigating airport logistics to booking ahead, having as much planning as possible can take some of the stress out of your entire trip.
That said, remember you can only control so much when traveling, so try to enjoy the process along the way.
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