Meet
Meet the Life is Better Traveling Team
Mary Yohannan, CTA // Owner and European Vacation Planning Specialist
Favorite city in the world...Budapest, Hungary
Mary has been in the travel industry for many years and believes that a customized travel experience is the best way to travel. She built her business on her own personal travel experiences, including having traveled to over 20 countries on 4 continents.
Mary started Life is Better Traveling as a travel agency built on authenticity, love, and integrity. Mary likes to get to know her client’s travel preferences so when they travel they the travel experience that will create memories of a lifetime. Mary’s customizes vacations for Europe, Disney, Universal Studios Orlando, the Florida Keys, the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, United States, and the French Polynesia.
Mary is a Certified Travel Associate (CTA) with the Travel Institutes and believe in staying up to date in her industry with continuing education and travel. She also has several other training’s with Disney, Universal Studios Florida, CIE tours, AmaWaterways, Royal Caribbean, and many more.
Mary is also a contributor to the Pittsburgh Moms Blog(SM). She loves to write articles about her travels and giving advice on how to travel with kids! CLICK HERE..to see some of her articles.
#1 RATED Travel Agent in the Pittsburgh area on Travel Leaders.
See what Mary's Clients say about her….CLICK HERE
Kathie Murray // Disney, Disney Cruise, Caribbean, and Mexico Vacation Planning Specialist
Favorite Place in the World...Disney or Cancun
Kathie is a true Disney fanatic and she is passionate about all things Disney. Kathie has visited Walt Disney world so many times, she has lost count. She has even become a Disney Vacation Club Member and Annual Pass Holder so that she can experience the magic even more often. During her numerous visits, she has stayed at a variety of Disney resorts, including value, moderate and deluxe. Her favorite so far has been Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge but Pop Century Resort is a close runner-up.
Kathie is self-proclaimed “foodie” and is knowledgeable about the various dining options at Disney. She has a degree in Culinary Arts and works full time as a pastry arts instructor and she definitely knows where to find the best meals and treats while visiting Disney. Whether you’re looking for sushi followed by fireworks at California Grille or dining with princesses at Cinderella’s Royal Table, Kathie can help guide you in determining what Disney Dining Plan is best for you or what reservations you need to score.
While Kathie loves to visit Walt Disney World, she also loves to relax on the beach while sipping a margarita. She has traveled to Cancun and Mexico’s Rivera Maya numerous times with her husband and family and has stayed at a variety of all-inclusive resorts including Riu Palace Resorts, Secrets Resorts, El Dorado Resorts, Now Resorts and Ocean Coral and Turquesa. She loves the ability to grab an early flight from the East coast to Cancun and have lunch on the beach before noon. Her firsthand knowledge of the various resorts, dining, activities and excursions in this area make her a top-notch agent to work with.
Looking to plan an upcoming vacation and feeling overwhelmed with all the choices or you don’t know where to even begin? Let Kathie Murray help take the guess work out of it while saving you time, money and stress.
Don’t delay in contacting Kathie to get your VACATION QUOTE TODAY! Fill out the form below and you will be hearing from Kathie!
As a graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge, Kathie is recognized as an individual who has attained a special knowledge of Disney Destinations (not an agent, affiliate or employee of Disney).
Sonja Hester // European and Caribbean Vacation Planning Specialist
Favorite Place in the World...Blue Grotto in Italy
Sonja has a true passion for traveling which she has turned into a career helping clients customize their vacation experience and help make memories that last a lifetime.
Sonja is Italian through and through. She has family members who live in Italy, so any chance she get to go over to visit them in Salerno. Sonja speaks some Italian, but her strength come in knowing how to get her client’s around this beautiful country with ease.
Sonja is also a certified as a Hawaii travel specialist! If you are thinking of taking that family vacation to Hawaii, she is the person to help you plan an amazing adventure.
Sonja is always loves a challenge and the opportunity to help you travel from Italy to Hawaii and everywhere between.
There are so many ways to live a life. Let Sonja help you see them all!
Specialist Certifications: Hawaiian Destination Specialist
Melissa Snyder // Disney Destination Vacation Planning
Favorite Place in the World...Walt Disney World
Melissa is 100% certain that she has pixie-dust running through her VEINS!
She has a genuine love and appreciation for Disney that has spanned a lifetime having traveled 22+ times, including 7 times in the last 8 years. She has stayed on property, at Budget, Moderate and Deluxe, resorts, and also off-property. She has traveled with multiple children, as young as 10 weeks old (I have tips for nursing moms!), and has traveled as a multi-generational family (including seniors), larger, extended family groups.
Melissa loves PLANNING and troubleshooting all-things Disney. Her clients say she is very knowledgeable and patient with the amount of questions they ask her. Whether you are thinking of taking a day trip, a 7-day getaway , or a split between Disney and Universal Orlando, Melissa would love to help make sure that your planning is stress-free. She wants to make sure that the BEST souvenirs you take home from your Disney Destination vacation are heavy doses of Disney magic AND many, MANY priceless memories!
Melissa is a graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge.
Heather Joyce // Disney and Disney and Royal Caribbean Cruise Vacation Planning Specialist
Favorite Place in the World....Florida Beaches
Heather is an absolute Disney enthusiast!! She has been to Disney so many times she has lost count. To her, every trip to Disney is a unique experience, and hold new and exciting memories. Heather truly believes that Disney is a place for all ages, as she has traveled with younger pirates and princesses to swash-buckling teenagers. Each time she was able to plan a magical vacation that was stress-free.
Heather has stayed in each category of resorts on property, and knows exactly where the best rooms are on several properties. She also has extensive knowledge of the various restaurants on Disney property as she and her family have dined in almost every restaurant. Heather also has a good understanding of which meal plan will work best for your family’s needs, and some helpful tips in understanding if a Park-Hopper ticket is the way to go.
Heather loves to share her tips, tricks, and hacks for traveling with children to Disney. She would love to help you plan your next Disney vacation so it can be a magical vacation that creates memories of a lifetime.
I can’t wait to talk Disney details with you!
As a graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge, Heather is recognized as an individual who has attained a special knowledge of Disney Destinations (not an agent, affiliate or employee of Disney).
Heather is a Certified Sandals/Beaches Specialist. She is able to perfectly plan that all-inclusive romantic couple getaway or family Caribbean getaway for you and your family. Make sure to ask Heather about why you NEED butler service on your next Sandals or Beaches vacation. The answer will surprise you.
Alicia Graves // Disney and Disney Cruise Vacation Planning Specialist
Favorite Place in the World....Disney
On Alicia’s list of favorite things to do, travel is right up at the top! Disney being the destination of choice. She has been visiting Disney since a young child and now takes her own family to Disney.
Alicia loves to share how each Disney trip is one to create new experiences and memories. As a planner at heart she would love to take that part off your plate to help plan your next trip. She has traveled to Disney with various age ranges and willing to help you figure out what plan would fit you for your next trip!
Alicia can’t wait to help you with all your Disney needs!
As a graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge, Alicia is recognized as an individual who has attained a special knowledge of Disney Destinations (not an agent, affiliate or employee of Disney).
Olita Spinks // USA and South America Vacation Planning Specialist
Favorite Place in the World....USA!
Olita has always had a passion for travel. It all started when she started taking day trips through the breathtaking Texas hill country with her two children and her love of travel escalated! She has been all over the United States taking in many of our nation’s most historic sites, experiencing the vast diverse and savory culinary scenes with some of the best wines, and trekking the most inspiring and magical scenic landscapes. She has had some epic and memorable adventures along the way!
Olita grew up surfing, skating and sunbathing in South Padre Island, Texas and spent her adult life two-stepping and experiencing the more unusual city life of Austin, Texas. Some of her hobbies include boxing, aerial silks, hiking, dancing and teaching/directing/ choreographing/watching musical theatre!
Homeschooling her children as allowed her to incorporate education, learning experiences, history and of course FUN into every trip. She likes to find unique experiences as well as classic must-sees into vacations.
Olita took Travel and Tourism classes at the college in Austin including a class called “Western Hemisphere Destinations.” Her love for all destinations in the Americas escalated because there is so many amazing places to discover especially South America. Olita has decided that she would pass on her love and fascination of the Americas on to everyone she can.