TRAVEL ADVISORS

I’m Kim Graffin, the travel-obsessed planner behind Journeys by Graffin with Kate’s World Travel, and I help busy, mostly 40+ travelers design relaxed, memory-filled trips across Europe, at sea, and across the U.S.

I have been married to my husband, Bob, for 29 years, and we have two adult daughters—Kelly, who now lives in California with her husband, Steven, and Stephanie, a recent DeSales University graduate growing her photography business. Now that we’re empty nesters, I have more time and flexibility to focus on my passions: traveling, researching, and thoughtfully planning trips that feel personal and stress-free for my clients. 

Since 1992, I’ve worked as an accountant and have owned my own firm since 1999, so I naturally bring an eye for detail, budgets, and timelines to every itinerary I design. Over the past few years, I’ve intentionally scaled my accounting business down to just myself and a small number of clients so I can pour my energy into travel advising—giving you the benefit of my organization skills, financial mindset, and real-world travel experience without feeling rushed or “cookie-cutter.”

My love for travel started young, with a first Disney trip in 1979 and summers at my grandparents’ cabin, where I learned how meaningful it is to create traditions and memories in special places. That early Disney and Universal Studios love continued with multiple family trips as my daughters grew up, plus two-week annual escapes to Hilton Head Island—my long-time happy place and the standard I use when I’m evaluating relaxation, walkability, and overall “feel” for the destinations I recommend.

Over the years, travel has taken me from U.S. favorites to farther-flung adventures: cruising on the Norwegian Dawn from New York to the Bahamas, exploring California’s coast from a Santa Monica home base, and visiting Hawaii’s Oahu and the Big Island for a conference filled with touring and snorkeling. More recently, I’ve added Ireland, Greece, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, and the Dominican Republic to my passport, with upcoming “research trips” to Turkey, London, Paris, Switzerland, and Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome, and Tuscany), plus a small-yacht Croatia sailing and a luxury travel symposium. Each trip gives me firsthand insight into hotels, transfers, excursions, pacing, and the little surprises you only catch by being there yourself—so you benefit from both the wins and the “I’d do that differently next time” lessons.

I’ve also fallen in love with Virgin Voyages—for many reasons, but especially because it’s adults only, has no constant overhead announcements, and offers a relaxed, elevated vibe that’s perfect for couples and friend groups. Bob and I will celebrate our 30th anniversary on a Virgin sailing from Barcelona to Rome during a total eclipse, which feels like the most epic “anniversary meets research” trip I could imagine. Experiences like this help me guide you toward the right cruise line, itinerary, and cabin that match your style, rather than just what’s on sale.

Between 2022 and 2023, I traveled regularly to Colorado to visit my daughter and quickly fell for its beautiful scenery, great food, fun activities, and dry, sunny weather. The variety of landscapes there often feels like a sampler of different countries—without leaving the U.S.—which has given me plenty of ideas for clients who want a “big trip” feel without a passport.

At heart, I’m a planner who genuinely enjoys the research and logistics: organizing events, mapping out U.S. road trips, and crafting European itineraries that balance must-see sights with downtime and authentic local experiences. Traveling and planning trips are my favorite way to escape daily life, immerse myself in local customs and cuisine, and then turn that knowledge into practical, customized advice for you.

I like to say I’ve become happily addicted to travel—but it’s an addiction with a purpose. Every journey I take is fieldwork so your next vacation feels easier, smoother, and more special, with fewer surprises and more “I’m so glad we did it this way” moments.