Travelling without stress is one of the New Year’s Resolutions we have set for 2025. Travelling can be exciting, eye-opening and restorative, but let’s admit it: getting to your destination is not always easy. Even the most enthusiastic nomads may be tempted to stay home after paying for expensive airfares, navigating crowded terminals, and keeping track of travel documents such as passports and Real IDs.
With a little planning, you can ensure a smoother trip in 2025. You can make your travels more affordable, maximize your valuable points and miles and reduce security and customs waiting times by completing some simple tasks before the new year. We’ve listed six things you can do to prepare for a stress-free travel experience.
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Check your passport expiration date.
Do you dream of a trip abroad in 2025? You’ll need to take a look at your passport. It’s wise to renew your passport if the expiration date falls within the next 12 months. You should renew your passport well in advance of the expiration date. Many countries require that your passport be valid for six months beyond your arrival.
The passport processing time is now back to the relatively short timeframes of pre-pandemic, which was four to six weeks (not including mail time). Renewals and first-time passport applications should be planned carefully. You’ll have plenty of time to plan your trip in 2025 if you submit your application before the end of December. According to the State Department’s “slow season,” the best time to renew or apply for a passport is between October and December. This is a three-month window with the least number of applications.
You can save time by renewing your passport online. Many travellers are eligible for this new digital process. However, first-time applicants still need to submit their application via mail. If you forgot to renew your passport over the holidays, there is still an option to pay $60 for expedited processing. This will reduce the turnaround time from two to three months.
Reevaluate your point and mile strategy.
Rachel Lipson is the founder of Brooklyn Family Travelers, which helps families to book vacations using points and mileage. You can assess your spending habits by asking yourself some questions. Have you been spending all your money on the same airline card or hotel card and are now finding it difficult to maximize your points? You may have a credit card that gives you cash back but are now ready to switch over to points.
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Lipson says that answering these three questions will help you clarify your travel priorities and make stress-free travel more achievable. For some travellers, the next step is to open a new credit card, while others may decide to transfer their spending from an old card.
Major changes were also made to airline loyalty programs in 2024, making it more difficult and expensive to achieve the coveted elite status. It’s crucial to decide whether you want to pursue or maintain elite status before 2025. Lipson warns that while status can be fun and lead to upgrades and perks for clients, it’s not always worth the effort.
Lipson says that some travel brands offer high-elite status simply by having a certain credit card. This means there is more competition to get the best upgrades. Lipson says that putting more money on a credit card with transferable points gives you more options when choosing a hotel or a flight. These cards include the Amex Platinum, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and many others. Flexible points allow you to select the best-priced trip without having to stick with one brand.
Application for Global Entry (or renewal)
If you plan to travel frequently abroad after 2025, you might want to consider it. A five-year Global Entry membership costs $100 (which most travel credit cards will cover), and it could save you hours in airport lines.
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You can also complete the required interview after returning from a trip abroad at an eligible enrollment-on-arrival kiosk in an airport. Washington Dulles Airport also has one enrollment in the departure office. Take advantage of this if you are departing on a flight overseas from that hub. There are other enrollment centres in the US where you can have an interview, but it is sometimes difficult to schedule one.
If you are already a member, check your membership expiration date. Renewals can be started up to one year before the expiration date. Renewal early is worth it: travellers who renew their membership before its expiration can continue to use Global Entry benefits up to 24 months after that date.
Create a routine to save for large trips.
According to data gathered by the banking app Chime, in 2024, the average cost for a one-week US vacation would be $1,991 per person, rising to $3982 for a couple.
These numbers may seem daunting, but with the right plan and timing, you can reach these benchmarks by 2025. Ted Rossman is a senior analyst at Bankrate and says that the key to saving money early is to put small amounts of money into a separate account to be used as a travel fund. Rossman suggests naming your travel account something fun like “Paris 2020”–it’ll help you stay motivated, and you won’t be as likely to raid it for other purchases.
If you can save regularly, even small amounts of money — like $40 per week — will add up. Rossman says that it’s easier to put money away in small amounts rather than all at once. He notes that $38 per week can add up to $2,000 over a year. Automate your contributions to the savings account. This will help you stay on track. Rossman advises that automating transfers will help you stay on track with your savings goal.
Set up price alerts for your dream destinations.
Many of us have already started to fantasize about our dream destinations for 2025. Consider using an airfare tracker to keep tabs on flight prices if you’ve got a list of dream destinations. These tools, available on sites such as Hopper, Kayak, Google Flights, Skyscanner and Going, send push notifications or email alerts when the price of a particular flight route drops. Sign up for price alerts on most sites by entering your dates, destination, and departure airport. Many sites let travellers set up multiple alerts for different routes. This allows you to input several trips you are interested in booking.
Timing is important when setting up alerts to find the best fares. Katy Nastro is a spokesperson for Going. She says that airlines release their fares 12 months in advance. However, the prices are usually high at first to attract early bookers who will pay more. Tickets are generally at their lowest price for the majority of destinations. If you want to go on a trip in the summer, Nastro recommends monitoring prices 4-10 months before your departure. Nastor says that she was able, using this method, to find a fare for a recent trip from New York to Athens at just $672 roundtrip.
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Skyscanner has an additional Savings Generator that will identify the best time for you to book your flight based on travel details. According to the search engine, it is best to book flights for May trips from Chicago to London 26 weeks in advance. This information can be used to determine when you should set up price alerts on all of your dream vacations.
You should have a Real ID.
Next year, new federal identification rules for air travellers, called REAL ID, will come into force. Real ID is due to expire on May 7, 2025. At that time, any passenger over 18 years old who is flying on a US flight (even if it’s domestic) must have an ID compliant with Real ID. This means that passengers must present a real ID license or other compliant ID at the TSA checkpoint. This includes passports, passport cards, Global Entry cards, and some other ID types. Real ID licenses are available in all 50 US states and territories. They require a few additional steps but can be obtained. If you see one of the following symbols in the upper corner, then your license is compliant: a black or gold star, a circle with a black or gold star around it, or an image of a bear with a star on top.
