Hi, I'm Katie DeShano

I’m a mom to four, lover of all things Europe, and a travel planner who’s all about perfecting the details. 

My Story

For all my enneagram obsessives out there, I’m a mix between a 7 & 8. That means I crave spontaneity … but I also like to be in control. Yes, I know that sounds like a total contradiction—but combining my two “split personalities” has given me my best travel experiences!

I’ve found that having a plan actually expands your possibilities. And maybe it’s the mom in me, but having a plan allows me to relax into my vacation—rather than having my brain whirring at every moment trying to get ahead of what we’re going to do next.

Case in point: I planned a whirlwind cycling trip around Lake Constance, which took my family through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Instead of just hitting the big (and way-too-crowded) tourist spots, we cycled through tiny lakeside towns and lesser-known cities where we got a real feel for an authentic way of life. Doing the research and mapping out a plan ahead of time gave my family the freedom to steer away from the beaten path—and what a rich reward we found.

Plan for freedom

I call this “structured freedom”—and it’s exactly the approach I take to planning my clients’ travels. Because winging your vacation is just a recipe for missing out on the really special experiences that require a little digging.

So let me “dig” for you. My job as your expert travel advisor is to craft a detailed vacation plan that’s tailored to what interests you most, that works for your family, and that sets a pace that’s exhilarating without being exhausting.

My team and I work directly with our vetted travel partners to bring it all to life (before founding TFT, I worked in contract negotiations for 15+ years—so you can also trust that I’m eking out all the value I can in these partner relationships).

If you’re ready for more freedom, and less overwhelm, on your next escape, I invite you to trust it all to Thirsty for Travel Designs.