Hi, it’s a pleasure to meet you!
My name is Deborah, and I’m your Travel Designer from Your Custom Journey. I’m based in Venice, the city where I was born and the first—though certainly not the last—place I fell in love with. As a child, I wandered through Venice’s narrow streets, or calli, imagining the hidden stories behind every stone and around each corner. That sense of wonder has stayed with me, and over the years, I’ve found that every city has its own unique magic to offer. This discovery sparked my passion for travel.
For me, travel is all about discovery. Italy, my home country, is filled with unforgettable cultural and natural wonders, and I like to think of myself as an explorer of its endless beauty.
I studied tourism at the University of Verona (the city where Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is set), where I earned a degree in Foreign Languages and Tourism. With a deep knowledge of Italy’s most fabulous destinations, I love nothing more than sharing my insights with travellers and seeing their eyes light up with awe. I hope to inspire the same love for Italy that I hold in my heart.
When I’m not traveling, I indulge in my other passion—reading. It’s another kind of journey, after all!
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"One of the most fulfilling experiences was my trip to Jordan: in a couple of weeks I had the chance to wander in one of the most magical archaeological sites in the world, let myself float on the water of the Dead Sea, trek in the nature, look at the shooting stars in a mars like desert, swimming between turtles and colourful fishes."
Deborah's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice
Luxury itineraries
Recent trip reviews for Deborah
Deborah was AMAZING!
Italy
|
Jul 2 - Jul 15, 2024
Daniel M.
Houston, TX
| Reviewed on Aug 05, 2024
Deborah was AMAZING! She understood exactly what we wanted out of our 2 weeks in Italy and worked with us until it was perfect! Even adding an excursion while we were there. Highly recommend!
Local specialist: Deborah Boarolo
Deborah Boarolo
Local specialist in Venice
| Replied on Aug 12, 2024
Daniel, grazie mille!
I'm so happy you've had a wonderful time in my country, it was a pleasure crafting this family trip with you, and I hope you, Sarah and your kids have come back home with some unforgettable memories of Italy. Looking forward to welcoming you in the next adventure, a presto!
Our travel specialist Deborah was absolutely AMAZING!!!
Italy
|
Jun 9 - Jun 22, 2024
Vaishali M.
Newark, NJ
| Reviewed on Jul 07, 2024
Our travel specialist Deborah was absolutely AMAZING!!!
I would rate her a 20 on a scale of 1 to 10.
She was very responsive, listened to all our requests and made our trip absolutely memorable.
She was quick to make last minute changes we needed to make due to the weather.
Every detail was carefully planned and executed.
Could not have asked for a better travel specialist.
Thank you, Deborah!!!
Read more
Our travel specialist Deborah was absolutely AMAZING!!!
I would rate her a 20 on a scale of 1 to 10.
She was very responsive, listened to all our requests and made our trip absolutely memorable.
She was quick to make last minute changes we needed to make due to the weather.
Every detail was carefully planned and executed.
Could not have asked for a better travel specialist.
Thank you, Deborah!!!
Hotel Review
Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromees
Stresa
Absolutely beautiful hotel.
Will go back!!!
Activity Reviews
Private tour of Milan Duomo and La Scala Theatre
Milan
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private tour of lake Maggiore
Italy
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Boat Tour of Lake Como with guide
Italy
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Deborah Boarolo
Deborah Boarolo
Local specialist in Venice
| Replied on Nov 10, 2024
Grazie mille for your lovely words, Vaishali!!
It has been a pleasure for me to help you make this trip possible and taking part in making it so seamless and memorable for you.
I hope to see you in Italy again, I'd love to welcome you back!
Visited the Amalfi Coast and Sicily in Octobe...
Italy
|
Oct 14 - Oct 29, 2023
Ian P.
Canada
| Reviewed on Nov 15, 2023
Visited the Amalfi Coast and Sicily in October. Deborah was a delight to work with, very quick to understand what we were looking for on our trip and super responsive to many changes along the way, even last minute ones. Hotels selected were all excellent, tours well organized and transfers always on time. We especially loved Lara's enthusiastic tour of Palermo. She clearly was proud of her Sicilian home! Small touches added in celebration of an anniversary while there made it very...
Read more
Visited the Amalfi Coast and Sicily in October. Deborah was a delight to work with, very quick to understand what we were looking for on our trip and super responsive to many changes along the way, even last minute ones. Hotels selected were all excellent, tours well organized and transfers always on time. We especially loved Lara's enthusiastic tour of Palermo. She clearly was proud of her Sicilian home! Small touches added in celebration of an anniversary while there made it very special.
Perhaps we could have organized some things at a lower cost, however the overall package (which we could not have duplicated without detailed prior knowledge of the regions) and stress free travel made it all worthwhile. Highly recommended.
Ian & Wendy
Local specialist: Deborah Boarolo
Deborah Boarolo
Local specialist in Venice
| Replied on Nov 16, 2023
Ciao Ian and ciao Wendy,
thank you so much for your words, they mean a lot to me, and most of all I am glad we could make your anniversary even more special!
It has been a pleasure to assist you and I am happy to hear that you had a great stress-free trip.
Hope to welcome you to Italy again, a presto!
Deborah with Kimkim-- amazing job!
Italy
|
Sep 16 - Sep 25, 2023
Lisa C.
Purcellville, VA
| Reviewed on Sep 27, 2023
We were fortunate to have Deborah as our trip planner to northern Italy. She was beyond amazing in every way. She was always prompt when answering my (numerous!) questions and had great recommendations on tours, etc. She constantly stayed in contact with me during the trip to be sure that things were going smoothly. Our local tour guide, Enrico, went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. He was informative and so helpful at every step, making sure all of our drivers were on...
Read more
We were fortunate to have Deborah as our trip planner to northern Italy. She was beyond amazing in every way. She was always prompt when answering my (numerous!) questions and had great recommendations on tours, etc. She constantly stayed in contact with me during the trip to be sure that things were going smoothly. Our local tour guide, Enrico, went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. He was informative and so helpful at every step, making sure all of our drivers were on time and that we were happy with everything. He was really incredible and I can't say enough good words about him. I knew that if I had a question or concern, I would get an immediate answer from him or Deborah-- they were that on top of things-- even on a weekend night!
I would highly recommend anyone who is thinking of traveling to use Deborah. This is my 2nd time using Kimkim and I will definitely use them again in the future. They are top notch all the way around. I would give them 10 stars if I could!
Activity Reviews
Prosecco wine tour with 2 wine tasting sessions and lunch included
Italy
Both of the cantina's were lovely. The 1st stop was at Fasol Menin and they provided an incredible spread to have along with our Prosecco tasting. The lunch that Deborah set up for us was at Trattoria Alla Cima and was a beautiful and scenic restaurant and the lunch was delicious.
Food
We really enjoyed the tasting at Fasol Menin-- the food along with the Prosecco was perfect.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Giorgio was a wonderful driver!
This was a very fun and informative tour. we learned so much about truffles that we did not know. The owner clearly loved what he does. This was an enjoyable afternoon.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Murano & Burano Excursion
Venice
We toured Murano and Burano for a 1/2 day. It was the perfect amount of time. Very interesting and scenic islands and well worth the visit.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We visited Tenute Asinari dei Marchesi di Gresy and Azienda Agricola Marrone. Lunch was at Osteria Disguido and was really delicious! The wineries were excellent and the tours informative.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Boat Tour of Lake Como with guide
Italy
This was a 6 hour private tour of the Lake Como region. Our guide, Nathalie, was informative and they took us to several areas of the lake, pointing out important landmarks and villas along the way.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Deborah Boarolo
Deborah Boarolo
Local specialist in Venice
| Replied on Sep 29, 2023
Ciao Lisa,
thank you so much for this amazing review!
It has been a pleasure for me helping you to plan something special for you and your family and I am so happy everything went as per your dreams. I look forward to showing you other parts of my country, you are most welcome anytime!
Deborah took care of every detail
Italy
|
Jul 19 - Jul 28, 2023
Lori C.
Fair Lawn, NJ
| Reviewed on Aug 02, 2023
Deborah planned a perfect trip for my sister and I to visit Italy together. We requested a more laid-back itinerary without visits to the usual sights because we had been there previously, and Deborah did an excellent job of planning alternative options like wine tastings, tours by boat, and opportunities to enjoy each place we visited. We visited Lake Como with a private tour of several locations on the lake, as well as Florence where we took a variety of day trips into surrounding Tuscany...
Read more
Deborah planned a perfect trip for my sister and I to visit Italy together. We requested a more laid-back itinerary without visits to the usual sights because we had been there previously, and Deborah did an excellent job of planning alternative options like wine tastings, tours by boat, and opportunities to enjoy each place we visited. We visited Lake Como with a private tour of several locations on the lake, as well as Florence where we took a variety of day trips into surrounding Tuscany (including Siena, and San Gimignano, and Cince Terre). We also planned to attend a concert in Milan, and Deborah was able to incorporate our plans into her itinerary as well. Something really helpful was that she established "chaperones" in each city that met us at the airport, train station, or at our hotels to receive us when traveling from another city and help make sure we were settled. Deborah was thoughtful, friendly, and efficient with our trip plan, and even went so far as to book us a new tour when one of ours was canceled at the last minute while we were en route to Italy. We received a message when we arrived at the airport that she had booked us a new tour so that we didn't even have to worry about it which was amazing. We felt she took great care in making sure we were pleased with our trip before, during, and after. Thank you Deborah for a memorable trip!
Local specialist: Deborah Boarolo
Deborah Boarolo
Local specialist in Venice
| Replied on Aug 22, 2023
Ciao girls,
thank you so much for taking the time to write these kind words, I really appreciate them :) !
I am so happy you had a memorable time here, and if you plan to come to another concert or just want to discover some other parts of Italy, it will be my pleasure to help you with the next trip!
Hope to see you back in Italy again!
Deborah really listened to what we wanted and...
Italy
|
Jun 19 - Jun 27, 2023
Kristin C.
Houston, TX
| Reviewed on Jun 28, 2023
Deborah really listened to what we wanted and planned a wonderful trip. We stayed in Rome for 3 nights and Sorrento for 5 nights. All of the drivers that we had were WONDERFUL! One of the best activities we did was a cooking class in Sorrento with Chef Martina. It was one of the best things we have ever done! We also had a great time in Ravello at a wine tasting and vineyard tour. Hotel Corallo in Sorrento (Sant'Angello) was a perfect location away from the crowds, but close to...
Read more
Deborah really listened to what we wanted and planned a wonderful trip. We stayed in Rome for 3 nights and Sorrento for 5 nights. All of the drivers that we had were WONDERFUL! One of the best activities we did was a cooking class in Sorrento with Chef Martina. It was one of the best things we have ever done! We also had a great time in Ravello at a wine tasting and vineyard tour. Hotel Corallo in Sorrento (Sant'Angello) was a perfect location away from the crowds, but close to everything with beautiful views. I tried several travel agents before deciding to use Deborah, and none of them really listened to what I wanted. Deborah was a great listener, patient, and communicative!
Hotel Reviews
Hotel Della Conciliazione
Rome
Our stay at Hotel Della Conciliazione in Rome was fantastic. The location was close to everything, and the hotel was clean with a friendly staff. The hotel seemed to be located in a neighborhood with a lot of locals, which added to the authentic feel of our stay.
Our stay at Hotel Corallo on the Amalfi Coast was also fantastic. The hotel had a beautiful view of the water and the staff was very friendly and accommodating. Despite initially getting a room off the lobby without a balcony or terrace, we found our stay to be excellent. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting the Amalfi Coast.
Activity Reviews
Evening Aperitivo Tour
Rome
Valeria was our guide through the foods and neighborhoods in Rome. We were exhausted from our travels, but she was fabulous. Valeria was knowledgeable, kind, warm, and fun! We had a great experience trying food that the locals ate. She also helped us get oriented to where we were in Rome so that we knew the area on the first day.
Quality of Experience
Really felt like a local
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Small group tour of Vatican City , Sistine Chapel & saint Peter's Basilica
Rome
We had Sylvia as our tour guide. She was an art history major so she had a true passion for what she was showing us, but she made it easy for all of us to understand. Highly recommend Sylvia.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Cooking Class in Amalfi Coast
Italy
Best thing we did on our whole trip! Chef Martina is amazing. You go directly to her home and actually cook in her kitchen. The views from her home are amazing! She has such a passion for what she is doing. There are not words to describe this wonderful experience.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Visit of the Amalfi Coast villages with wine tasting and lunch at Tenuta di San Francesco
Italy
Our driver was Tony. Tony was warm, friendly, and knowledgeable. He was so much fun! He made the drive around the Amalfi coast so much fun. The wine tasting was great. The family who runs the vineyard were so kind and humble. The food and wine were great. It says it is a light lunch. We were STUFFED!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tony is fabulous!
Small group tour of Colosseum with Arena access, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum
Rome
The Colosseum tour was also great. Our guide was fantastic and the small group size made the experience enjoyable. The historical sites were breathtaking and our guide made them come alive with interesting facts and stories.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Deborah Boarolo
Deborah Boarolo
Local specialist in Venice
| Replied on Jun 30, 2023
Ciao Kristin,
thank you so much for your kind words! It was a pleasure planning your trip with you, my aim is to have my travellers experience their dream vacation and I am so happy you came home with such good memories of my country!
If in the future you'd like to come again to Italy again, don't hesitate to contact me, I'll be glad to plan another amazing trip with you!
Fantastic short vacation in Naples and the Amalfi Coast
Italy
|
Apr 27 - May 2, 2023
DAVID K.
San Ramon, CA
| Reviewed on May 07, 2023
Our trip was a relatively short visit to the Amalfi Coast for our son and daughter-in-law's wedding. We had specific constraints on arrival and departure dates and events we needed to attend. We also had some free time we wanted to occupy with special tours and experiences, and we needed transport between the various appointments. Deborah Boarolo was exceedingly helpful in guiding us to prepare a trip plan that provided everything we were looking for. When we arrived in Naples, we were met...
Read more
Our trip was a relatively short visit to the Amalfi Coast for our son and daughter-in-law's wedding. We had specific constraints on arrival and departure dates and events we needed to attend. We also had some free time we wanted to occupy with special tours and experiences, and we needed transport between the various appointments. Deborah Boarolo was exceedingly helpful in guiding us to prepare a trip plan that provided everything we were looking for. When we arrived in Naples, we were met with our local concierge, Debora (Debz) Rimonti and our first driver to get comfortably transferred from the airport to our first hotel. During our stay, Debz was very helpful whenever we had questions or needed to make minor changes to the timing of our plans. Our first full day in Naples included a walking tour of the city with local guide Sonia (unfortunately I don't recall her last name), which was an excellent way to learn some of the history of this vibrant city. Each of our local drivers were extremely punctual, professional, and also provided interesting information of the area. Overall, we had an excellent experience in Naples and the Amalfi Coast, and we credit the Kim Kim team with making that happen.
Hotel Reviews
Santa Chiara Boutique Hotel Naples
Naples
We loved staying at the Santa Chiara Boutique Hotel in Naples. The hotel was located in the heart of the old city, with narrow, cobblestone streets and old buildings. The staff was super friendly and attentive, and the room was comfortable and enjoyable. This hotel had a feeling like it was run by a small family, which made it feel intimate and personal.
Our stay at Hotel Corallo on the Amalfi Coast was a bit of a mixed experience. While the staff was attentive and the hotel was more polished and formal, our room was quite small and the towels looked old and thin. The breakfast selection was large and enjoyable, but we're not sure if we would return to this hotel in the future.
Authenticity & Character
More polished and formal hotel
Activity Reviews
Street Food Tour in Naples
Italy
We loved our street food tour in Naples with our local guide, Sonia. She did a great job taking us down various streets and explaining the history of the area. We found this activity to be really engaging and enjoyable.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Group pizza making class
Italy
Our group pizza making class was entertaining and informative. We learned about the best ingredients and techniques for making pizza, and even made our own dough. The dinner afterward was delicious and the company was great
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Visit of the Amalfi Coast villages with wine tasting and lunch at Tenuta di San Francesco
Italy
Our visit to the Amalfi Coast villages and wine tasting at Tenuta di San Francesco was excellent. It was fun to climb up into the mountains and visit the old winery. The lunch prepared by the family was delicious, and the tour of the vineyard and winery afterward was a great experience.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Lemon Grove- Mozzarella Farm in Sorrento area
Italy
Our food tour in Sorrento was a highlight of our trip. We visited a lemon grove, cheese making farm, and enjoyed an oil tasting and limoncello tasting. The only downside was an unexpected encounter with a cat at the cheese-making portion of the tour, which caused some allergy issues.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Deborah Boarolo
Deborah Boarolo
Local specialist in Venice
| Replied on May 12, 2023
Ciao David,
thank you so much for taking the time to write a review! It was a pleasure planning your short break to Italy with you, and I am so happy you had a good time here and brought home such good memories of this special event. We are looking forward to welcoming you back to Italy again!