All posts by lainey.melnick@gmail.com

Living Large in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is known for its overabundance of everything, and when you have the money to spend, there simply are no limits to what can be enjoyed. Private helicopter tours of the Strip or the Grand Canyon are just the beginning of the adventures that await upscale travelers. Arrive by private jet and limo for the ultimate start to your adventure.

There are behind-the-scene tours that offer a glimpse of some of the Las Vegas magic. Certified divers can dive with more than 30 sharks at the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Aquarium. Certified divers can also get a unique perspective from below the water and watch a live performance of the show Le Rêve at the Wynn Hotel, while diving in the 1.1 million gallon aqua theater.

True car enthusiasts will want to take in the opportunity to drive vehicles such as a non-street legal Ferrari F430 GT race car at Dream Racing, a NASCAR race car at Richard Petty, or rent a high-end or exotic car for the duration of your stay. For those who like their adrenaline rush in the sky, you can get a fighter pilot experience at Sky Combat Ace.

Over-the-top packages at Las Vegas’ hottest nightclubs put new meaning to the idea of a big night out on the town. The Fire in the Sky fireworks packages at the Cromwell Hotel’s Drai nightclub begins at $20,000 and goes up from there based on the duration of the rooftop fireworks show and the bottles chosen. You can even control the Fountains of Bellagio with a $250,000 package at Hyde.

The signature Ono cocktail at XS in Wynn Las Vegas will cost guests $10,000, but don’t worry it’s a cocktail for two. Ordering the cocktail is an experience, complete with a procession of 20 servers and sparklers and tableside assembly. Champagne and a rare cognac are the main ingredients of the cocktail served in custom-designed stemware. Guests also receive trinkets to keep as mementos of the extravagant night including custom-designed cufflinks and a gold, pearl and diamond necklace.


Reserve your dream vacation by contacting Lainey Melnick, the owner of the Westlake-area branch of Dream Vacations, 855-GR8-TRIP, www.855GR8TRIP.com, lmelnick@dreamvacations.com. Certified Luxury Specialist of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Lainey has been a part of the Westlake community and an Eanes ISD parent for more than 20 years. She is the recipient of the 2018 Travel Influencer Award, 2017 Club Med Top Producer, and 2017 OPAL Award for Women, and serves on the Austin Women Invest to Elect Executive Committee plus the Westlake Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian and Marketing Committees.

Epic Sea Change

The cruise industry has just gotten a tornado of fresh air to change things up. Sir Richard Branson has brought us a new, fresh look at cruising for the curious and those in search of the authentic who seek out big-city vibes and small-town experiences. If you crave the best and latest and living well is a priority, then Virgin Voyages is made for you.

Virgin provides curated Adult-by-Design experiences. Yes, adults-only with no exceptions. Their first ship, The Scarlet Lady, offers rebellious luxe cabins and suites, unforgettable parties and mouthwatering food. The cabins have a modern, yacht-inspired aesthetic and the ship features more than 20 eateries, and none of them buffets, with food and basic beverages all included in the price. The entertainment blurs the line between audience and performer with transformational multi-form venues to take you from dance parties to traditional stage performances.

You will enjoy the private Bimini Beach Club on each voyage whether to the Dominican Republic, Mexico or Cuba. All the voyages are five days and the cabins are priced per cabin for solo cruisers (whom they refer to as sailors), up to four sailors in uniquely designed spaces.

Reserve your dream vacation by contacting Lainey Melnick, the owner of the Westlake-area branch of Dream Vacations, 855-GR8-TRIP, www.855GR8TRIP.com, lmelnick@dreamvacations.com. Lainey has been a part of the Westlake community and an Eanes ISD parent for more than 20 years. She is the recipient of the 2018 Travel Influencer Award, 2017 Club Med Top Producer, and 2017 OPAL Award for Women, and serves on the Westlake Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian Committee.

Wedding Wanderlust

The average wedding costs $36,000 to host 127 guests, according to Wedding Wire. Many couples are deciding that downsizing the wedding list and adding in an exotic location can cost less and provide for more enjoyment and memories. Many resorts and cruise lines offer cost-effective wedding packages to entice couples in love with add-ons like pre-wedding site visits and honeymoons.

At the luxury all-inclusive Sandals (for adults-only) and Beaches (for family) Resorts located in Jamaica, the Bahamas, St. Lucia, Grenada, Barbados, Turks and Caicos and Antigua, a basic wedding package is free with a paid stay of three nights or longer. With the Beautiful Beginnings package, you get flowers, a wedding table for eight, and a white wedding cake. Plus, you can customize your wedding from there, adding special touches based on your preferred flowers, wedding colors and personal style. Free wedding packages also include everything from document preparation to an on- site wedding coordinator, music, a registry website and more. You not only get your perfect wedding but these resorts feature unlimited gourmet dining, unique bars serving premium spirits and wines, land and water sports, including complimentary green fees at their golf resorts and PADI certified scuba dining at most resorts. A room at these incredible resorts start at $171 per person per night.

Since only 36 percent of Americans have passports, these exotic destination weddings may be too limiting for some. To get your wedding in paradise and please more people, cruise weddings are a great option. You don’t need to have a passport when you leave and return to a U.S. port, and you can get married on the ship or at port. The top three cruise lines for a premium vacation plus wedding package are Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Disney Cruise Line for their Fairy Tale Weddings. Princess offers wedding packages ranging from $3000 to $5000, and you have your choice of using the onboard chapel or being married at port, beachside, at a garden, or even on a glacier. They can even webcast your ceremony so your friends and family can watch from home. Celebrity Cruises also offers an interactive website and options including a welcome reception, tea service, cigar and whiskey party and a trash-the- dress photo shoot. Disney packages add in magical features plus offers weddings on their private island, Castaway Cay, starting at $4000.

Reserve your dream vacation by contacting Lainey Melnick, the owner of the Westlake-area branch of Dream Vacations, 855-GR8-TRIP, www.855GR8TRIP.com, lmelnick@dreamvacations.com. Lainey has been a part of the Westlake community and an Eanes ISD parent for more than 20 years. She is the recipient of the 2018 Travel Influencer Award, 2017 Club Med Top Producer, and 2017 OPAL Award for Women, and serves on the Westlake Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian Committee.

VIP Travel

There are a lot of reward programs out there and lots of promotions and offers for elite travelers. While it may be hard for you to sort through it all, that’s where your travel agent comes in handy. We can save you time, money and make sure that you are pampered, because we know the best offers and the ways to get you extra perks like priority check-in, late check-out, butler service, guaranteed reservations, upgraded services and credits.

As an independent agency partner of American Express, my agency has access to the travel benefits exclusively for Platinum and Centurion Members. Many cruise lines, fine hotels and resorts and tour companies offer credits, upgrades, champagne and other perks when booking through us. These extras for the elite client give you that edge to be treated with the highest level of service you expect on your vacation.


For those who aren’t American Express members, many luxury suppliers offer their own special contracted perks for clients booking through their preferred travel agent channels. These exclusive programs for travel agent clients include Belmond Bellini Club, Dorchester Diamond Program, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Jumeirah Passport to Luxury, Langham Hotel Couture, Mandarin Fan Club, Peninsula PenClub, Ritz-Carlton Stars, Relais & Chateaux Preferred Partner Program, Rocco Forte Knights, Rosewood Elite, Sofitel Travel Experience Program, and Starwood Luxury Privileges. These programs are not available for clients wishing to book direct with the hotels, only when you use one of their travel agent partners.

Reserve your dream vacation by contacting Lainey Melnick, the owner of the Westlake-area branch of Dream Vacations, 855-GR8-TRIP, www.855GR8TRIP.com, lmelnick@dreamvacations.com. Lainey has been a part of the Westlake community and an Eanes ISD parent for more than 20 years. She is the 2018 recipient of the Travel Influencer Award, 2017 recipient of the OPAL Award for Women for outstanding performance and leadership, 2017 Club Med Top Producer, and Westlake Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian Committee Chair.

Crystal Esprit British Virgin Islands Yacht Voyage December 2018

Join me aboard the amazing luxury yacht, Crystal Cruises Esprit, on a voyage through the French West Indies and British Virgin Islands sailing December 2018 and diving with DIVE BVI. So much fun, beauty and service. Great food and wine and amazing friends. See the pics here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/855GR8TRI….

— Be sure to watch my full YouTube videos and please let Lainey book your next land or sea vacation. Follow all my links and please subscribe: https://campsite.bio/855gr8trip

— Lainey Melnick & Associates – Dream Vacations —

Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas Inaugural Cruise – November 2018

Join me via video aboard the Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas. See the picture album here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/855GR8TRI….

— Be sure to watch my full YouTube videos and please let Lainey book your next land or sea vacation. Follow all my links and please subscribe: https://campsite.bio/855gr8trip

— Lainey Melnick & Associates – Dream Vacations

— Title Music: https://www.bensound.com. Easy Jam by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/) Source: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty- Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Norwegian Cruise Bliss – Dream Vacations 2018 Inspire Conference

Join me via video aboard the Norwegian Bliss for our 2018 Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc International Conference October 2018. See the photo album of my whole trip here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/855GR8TRI….

— Be sure to watch my full YouTube videos and please let Lainey book your next land or sea vacation. Follow all my links and please subscribe: https://campsite.bio/855gr8trip

— Lainey Melnick & Associates – Dream Vacations

— Title Music: https://www.bensound.com. Easy Jam by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/…) http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-… Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Dream Vacations Specialist Wins Prestigious Award

Austin, Texas resident named Travel Marketing Influencer by World Travel Holdings

Austin, Texas (November 5, 2018) – Dream Vacations Westlake-area Franchise Owner Lainey Melnick was recently named Travel Marketing Influencer by World Travel Holdings at the 2018 Dream Vacations National Conference aboard the Norwegian Cruise Lines Bliss.

Melnick attended the conference to get educated on the latest developments in the cruise and travel industry so she can better serve her clients. In addition to attending workshops and presentations by top industry suppliers, she led a workshop on Public Relations for her peers, and was included in a fashion show to announce the co- marketing partnership between Dream Vacations and travel fashion label, Beyond Proper by Boston Proper.

The Travel Marketing Influencer Award recognizes an inspiring travel agent who is leading the way, challenging convention and inspires the future of travel through marketing their business. It also recognizes their overall contribution to educating other travel agents. The recipient must demonstrate their influence online within the industry through social media, video, public forums, campaigns or media coverage.

“Giving back to my community, whether locally, online or through my travel agent network, is a cornerstone of my business philosophy,” said Lainey Melnick, Dream Vacations franchise owner of the Westlake-area location. “Recognition for my efforts is humbling validation.”

As part of World Travel Holdings, one of the nation’s top travel retail networks, Dream Vacations offers consumers the lowest possible pricing on cruise and land vacations through its relationships with every major cruise line and many tour operators.

For more information or to book a dream vacation with Dream Vacations – Lainey Melnick & Associates please call 855-GR8-TRIP or visit http://www.855GR8TRIP.com.

About Dream Vacations

Travel agents with the top-ranked home-based travel agency franchise Dream Vacations have the resources to plan and create seamless vacation experiences for their customers while offering the best value. A member of the International Franchise Association, Dream Vacations is part of World Travel Holdings and has received partner of the year, a top-ranking status, by all the major cruise lines as well as national recognition for its support of military veterans.

Media Contact:

Lainey Melnick
512-799-0626
lmelnick@dreamvacations.com

Cold Weather Fun

When picking the right place for you and your family to travel in winter, it’s all about making the most of the winter conditions. Powdery plush white snow with warm brisk fireplaces, a lustrous ice-skating rink, a 56-seat movie theater or beautiful panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean will make your vacation an unforgettable experience. Here are three alluring destinations that gives travelers a special experience to make the most of vacationing in a winter wonderland.

At Mohonk Mountain House located in New Paltz, N.Y., you can choose from a variety of winter activities such as ice skating, cross country skiing, snowshoeing or snow tubing. When you need a break from the wintry conditions, you can relax in a plush robe and sit in front of a fireplace in the resort’s award-winning spa. During the holiday season, they have fun for the whole family with gingerbread house-making, a Santa photo booth and a craft workshop.

Winter is a tranquil time of year at Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa located in Montauk, N.Y.. Here you can take a dip and swim or participate in stand-up paddleboard yoga in their indoor ocean fed seawater pool with panoramic ocean views of the Atlantic Ocean. During the holidays the spa offers a seasonal Cranberry, Pomegranate and Pine Yuzu Body Treatment which is meant to prime the skin for the harsh winter weather.

The Whiteface Lodge Lake Placid, N.Y. has 86 nearby trails on Whiteface Mountain. The lodge offers a wide variety of amenities like fireplaces in-suite and warm homemade cookies at turndown. After a long day in the snow you can gaze at the stars under a wool blanket and sit by the fireplace enjoying hors d’oeuvres. If you’d prefer warmer activities, you can head down to the 56-seat movie theater or hit some pins in the two-lane bowling alley.

Reserve your dream vacation by contacting Lainey Melnick, the owner of the Westlake-area branch of Dream Vacations, 855-GR8-TRIP, www.855GR8TRIP.com, lmelnick@dreamvacations.com. Lainey has been a part of the Westlake community and an Eanes ISD parent for more than 20 years. She is the 2017 recipient of the OPAL Award for Women for outstanding performance and leadership, and leads the Westlake Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian Committee.

Royal Takes Genie Out of the Bottle

How do you bring a luxury experience to the largest ships at sea with ground-breaking family entertainment, five-star dining experiences and all-access VIP treatment? You do it in British Butler style.

Royal Caribbean enhances the cruising experience for the discerning passenger with more than just virtual reality trampoline, Ripcord by iFly skydiving experience, bumper cars, ice skating, laser tag, trapeze classes and the North Star Capsule. How? By providing them with the most luxurious suites at sea which are attended to by a personal Genie. The Royal Genie is a combination of insider, concierge and party planner. He coordinates behind-the-scenes to assure every experience is phenomenal, while looking for every opportunity to surprise and delight their guests.

This luxury travel experience is available only on the Royal Caribbean Quantum and Oasis class mega ships: Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas. Star, Sky and Sea suites qualify for Genie service, but the Royal Loft Suite which sleeps six

passengers in 1,599 spacious square feet will stun you with its 2-story wall of windows and breathtaking panoramic views. For an even more over-the-top experience for the whole family on Symphony of the Seas, there’s the 1,346 square foot Ultimate Family Suite which can sleep eight passengers. These suites also offer 2-stories of thrills including your own slide, air hockey, tennis table, a private cinema and a Lego wall, not to mention your own private whirlpool on the balcony. Your family will never forget this once-in-a-lifetime adventure at sea.

Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas sails out of Galveston if you’d like to save on air, but for the Oasis and Quantum class ships, for now, you’ll need to leave Texas to take advantage. These ships will sail to the Caribbean, Europe and Asia this year, with the Ovation heading to Alaska for the summer of 2019.

Reserve your dream vacation by contacting Lainey Melnick, the owner of the Westlake-area branch of Dream Vacations, 855-GR8-TRIP, www.855GR8TRIP.com, lmelnick@dreamvacations.com. Lainey has been a part of the Westlake community and an Eanes ISD parent for more than 20 years. She is the 2017 recipient of the OPAL Award for Women for outstanding performance and leadership, and leads the Westlake Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian Committee.