Your dedicated italy Travel advisor & Insider Italy guide

Hi, I’m Vanya, your go-to Italy travel advisor and insider guide! If you’ve found your way to our website, chances are we already share something special: a lasting bond with Italy’s essence. I’m a travel planning expert and long-time hospitality veteran, and for me, the Bel Paese has been a love affair since 2010. Back then, I worked for an international hotel chain opening a new location in Milan. I was transferred here for what was supposed to be just a month, but I never took that plane back. Instead, I made Italy’s capital of fashion and design my permanent home.

I’ve never looked back. 

For many years, I had a simple idea for Design Your Italy, but I did not have the courage to leave my comfort zone. That changed in 2018 when I gave birth to my daughter. I wanted a better balance between my private and working life. In 2019, I finally founded this company, driven by an eagerness to translate ideas into remarkable, tailor-made Italy trips. 

My expertise has since been recognised on a global scale. I have shared my insights as a contributing expert for Forbes, where I analysed the resilience of Italian tourism and have appeared as a guest on RTL 102.5. This is Italy’s leading radio station, with over 9 million listeners.

I also bring my Italy insider knowledge to my YouTube channel, where I pull back the curtain on planning intentional Italy trips.

I believe that any holiday is a personal experience where emotions and imagination work in perfect synergy.

 Over the past fifteen years, I have cultivated an exceptional network of industry professionals across the peninsula. This is not just a list of contacts, it is a circle of trusted friends and partners. My black book includes the General Managers of Italy’s most iconic luxury hotels, as well as expert private guides, curators of authentic “secret” experiences, and incredibly reliable private drivers. These relationships are my greatest asset as an Italy travel advisor. They allow me to open the velvet rope for my clients, granting access to experiences that most travellers do not even know exist.

Whether it’s securing VIP tickets for a rugby or football match, arranging a private, after-hours viewing of The Last Supper, or organising an intimate cooking class with a local Nonna on the island of Salina, I specialise in making the “impossible” happen. As a professional Italy travel planning expert, I ensure you skip the crowds and experience the most iconic moments of Italy in total exclusivity.

I am also a mum to two wonderful kids, Martina and Edoardo, and our furry family member, Evey. Beyond my work travels, I love exploring every corner of Italy with my family. This personal experience allows me to act as a specialised Italy travel advisor for families. I take pride in finding activities that suit everyone. Even our dog Evey has joined us on the ski slopes of Trentino and explored Orvieto underground! 

Even after living in Italy for over a decade, I still find myself a starry-eyed wanderer, full of wonder at each new destination I visit.

I know that feeling when you want to experience Italy in a more authentic and personal way. That is exactly why I started Design Your Italy. My love for travel drives me to dig deeper to truly understand what you are dreaming of. I use my expertise and organisational skills to create an experience as unique as you are. As an independent, fee-based Italy travel advisor, my goal is to create a unique Italian experience that goes beyond the itinerary. It is about weaving together moments and places that feel as unforgettable as they are personal.

See how I transform the way you experience Italy with my bespoke Italy trip planning services