Life is Better Traveling

Melanie Rodriguez

World Specialist

I'm a firm believer in what I like to call "core memory" trips. Core memory trips are the experiences that become a part of you. They are the stories that you tell grandkids or strangers in the grocery store. I practice what I preach: the overwhelming sight of Machu Picchu emerging from the clouds, the salty breeze sailing through Phang Nga Bay, the freshness of Mont St Michel's oysters, and the unforgettable Pok Chuc from a quaint restaurant near Chichen Itza are moments etched in my memory.

My truest travel passion lies in crafting these custom itineraries for not only my family but also for my clients. I want every client to have these same high value experiences that I expect for myself. But while I specialize in luxury, multi-generational travel and hold certifications as an Autism Travel Planner, ASTA Verified Travel Advisor, and Certified Cruise Counselor, I am committed to perpetual learning. I am a traveler, a mom, and a wife, and an artist.

My life’s journey has been one of continuous learning and skill expansion. From advertising and customer service to event planning, my diverse background has uniquely positioned me on both sides of the travel world. Before stepping into the role of a full-time travel advisor, I worked for a major US airline, gaining first-hand knowledge of the airline industry from a unique perspective and allowing just one more touch point for the client experience.

My family and I embark on several journeys each year. We make it a point to explore Central America annually, alongside adventures in the Caribbean and South America. Paris in September and Spain in March are non-negotiable traditions. We can’t forget theme parks. I travel regularly to Walt Disney World, Disneyland and that all important stop at Disneyland Paris for my birthday. Recent years have seen us wandering through Mexico, Peru, Singapore, Thailand, Hawaii, Germany, Greece, and Turkey, Maldives, Italy and more… creating memories etched in my DNA. I bring all of myself into planning your vacations and look forward to the next adventure.

Melanie Rodriguez Disney Travel Planning

Melanie will be a great fit in planning your next vacation if you are looking for more customized vacation planning to ensure you have the most memorable vacation. Simply fill out the form below and Melanie will get back with you soon!

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“You have been a pleasure to work with and we are so impressed with your knowledge, thoroughness, and pleasant professionalism. It gives us much peace of mind that all the details have been taken care of.”

Vacation Planning

Thousands of clients have enjoyed customized vacation planning with a Life is Better Traveling travel agent. Each of our agents specializes in a destination or niche to ensure you receive first-hand and in-depth knowledge. Our unique system of travel planning helps each of our clients maximize their time while in destination, and get the most value of their vacation experiences.

top selling travel agency for european vacations

Benefits of Planning with a Life is Better Traveling agent

Personalized travel planning is the NEW way to vacation.

Customization Benefit

We plan a vacation that you want to take, not one that is pre-set for you. See the sites that you want to see and on your time. Customization is the way to see it all!

Travel Preferences Benefit

Travel Preferences are what you prefer when you travel. Whether you want breakfast included each day or concierge class, we provide you with exactly what you are looking for, each and every time you book with us.

Comprehensive Arrangements Benefit

We plan everything for you from airfare, accommodations, transfers to travel insurance. We provide you beautiful travel documents that contain your complete itinerary.

Direct Contact Benefit

We are always just one phone call away. You will immediately get a real person whether you have questions before your vacation or during. We promise you will be satisfied with our “one phone call” guarantee.

awards Highlight

Four Time Magellan Award Winner

Magellan awards represent the BEST in the travel industry. Judged by peers in the industry, Life is Better Traveling repeatedly wins this prestigious award as our peers see the amazing work we are doing.

A combined 238 5-Star Reviews

Our clients have spoken with their reviews. Our Life is Better Traveling agents are great at what they do!

5-Star Google Reviews

    
 
 
        
   Karen Newnam 
 April 14, 2024.
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Won’t plan another vacation without Holly. So many years of missing using a travel agent, and we were lucky to find Holly.
She found us a fabulous boutique hotel in the best location in London, arranged our transfers and also helped plan our adventures.
She shared great advice and all the prep emails leading up to vacation made sure we were ready for anything!
We will use her again.
  
 
       
   Cyndi Grand 
 April 14, 2024.
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Life Is Better Traveling was GREAT to work with! Mary Yohannan, our agent, could not have made planning more easy! We asked her to plan our trip to London, and she only had about 3 weeks to do it in. We had a tentative itinerary in 3 days!!! The tours we went on were wonderful and the tour guides she arranged for us were so nice and very knowledgeable. Our hotel was in the perfect location too! Having an on-line itinerary in addition to a handheld itinerary was also beneficial. Mary made everything so easy! If you are in need of a travel agent, look no further!!!
  
 
       
   Marianne Schafer 
 April 9, 2024.
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 4/4/2024 - Our family had such an amazing cruise on the Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas with the help of Andrea. She was very available, ensured that we had everything in place before departure, and genuinely excited about our itinerary. Thank you again Andrea for planning another family vacation full of memories!

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1/28/2024 - Andrea Erbrecht, our travel agent for our recent Mother Daughter trip to Universal Studios, was simply spectacular. From the moment I reached out to her to plan our Christmas gift surprise, she attentively listened to our proposed itinerary for the Rock the Universe weekend and swiftly took charge of all the planning. With her firsthand knowledge of the weekend events and everything Universal (especially the Wizarding World of Harry Potter), she ensured every detail was meticulously taken care of.

Upon our request for recommendations, Andrea suggested the perfect Italian restaurant, Vivo, in Universal’s City Walk, and even made reservations for us. Prior to our departure, she met with us locally, providing invaluable insights about the trip, including concert schedules and park maps, which got us even more excited. We also sought her advice on casual dining options, and she recommended a few places.

As our departure date approached, Andrea thoughtfully printed all the necessary documents, including hotel and Universal express pass details, ensuring a seamless experience for us. Throughout our trip, she remained incredibly accommodating, assuring us that we could reach out to her at any time.

Post-trip, Andrea eagerly awaited our feedback, demonstrating her genuine interest in our experience. Her friendship, enthusiasm, and professionalism have already led us to book our next trip with her.

Andrea truly made our Mother Daughter adventure to Universal an unforgettable and magical experience.
  
 
       
   Tiffany Duda 
 March 11, 2024.
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. So easy to work with!! Highly recommend 🙂
  
 
       
   Thomas Sabol 
 February 29, 2024.
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. From start to finish Andrea planned and assisted our family on our recent trip to Universal Studios. We highly recommend her for your travel adventures.
  
 
       
   Beth Opat White 
 February 18, 2024.
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Helpful and took away the stress of planning our trip ourselves!
  
 
       
   Barbara M 
 January 30, 2024.
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My husband and I have exclusively used Mary Y. since we discovered her when she helped our daughter plan a cruise and trip for our granddaughter.  Even though we lived across the country, we still rely on Mary's expertise and wide scope of knowledge in planning and execute a fulfilling experience.   She is a pro. She has arranged private tour guides at some destinations that increased our ability to get to "know the area".   If we just tell her where and what we are thinking about, she will research the options and present them to us in a clearly understandable way and let us decide.  She knows are interests and travel choices and will send us a "any interest" when she sees a great deal.   She is right there when we have questions...just a phone call or an email.  It is the small things that she does that make the trip for us.  All our documents organized in a spiral bound packet.   Her follow-up and follow-through are impeccable.     She has made our retirement life better through traveling and exploring the world.
  
 
  
  
 
 
   Google rating score: 4.9 of 5, based on 117 reviews