Bella Vita Travels: Get to know us
At Bella Vita Travels, we don’t just create vacations; we craft bespoke, luxury travel experiences that are designed around your unique preferences and desires. But what makes a Bella Vita holiday truly exceptional? It’s the passionate team behind every itinerary, working tirelessly to turn your dream holiday into reality.
This month, we’d like to introduce you (or, reintroduce you) to the talented individuals who make it all possible.
Here are some questions and answers to help you get to know the people who are behind the unforgettable journeys you embark on with us.
Kate Little-Paradiso
Bella Vita Sales & Luxury Travel Specialist, CTA
Kate is a certified sommelier with a master’s degree in Italian Gastronomic Culture & Traditions. She is also an authorized tour guide/coordinator and travel research whiz. Kate acts as a sales rep for Bella Vita, director of client relations, marketing guru, travel host, and tour guide for the beautiful Italian Riviera.
Where are you from?
I was born on Galveston Island, Texas. My childhood was spent between the Gulf Coast and Austin, Texas. When I was 18, I moved to London. Then, at 20, I unintentionally moved to Italy, where I have been ever since. For the past 36 years I’ve lived in Liguria, Italy – 18 years in Monterosso al Mare in the Cinque Terre. Then, I moved to the countryside between Levanto and Monterosso in 2007. We are fortunate to have a lot of land around the house where we have a large vegetable garden, many fruit trees, and a hen house with 7 noisy chickens.
What is your favorite hotel – or, hotels?
My travel is primarily for work and research. Hence, I try to mix up the hotels as to experience as many as possible. Ones that I would return to in a heartbeat? The One&Only Montenegro, The Peninsula Istanbul, Relais Christine in Paris, The Balmoral in Edinburgh. Oh! The Maçakisi in Bodrum, Turkey and the St. Regis in Venice.
Where are you dying to go?
Recently the idea of an African safari has piqued my interest. I’d love to experience a safari combined with a seaside holiday on the African coast.
What’s the most memorable trip you have been on?
I could say that my first trip across the Atlantic in 1987 was my most memorable trip, because it never ended. Each trip has its magic and meaning. Also, my first trip to Morocco was an unforgettable experience. In the 2 weeks that I was there traveling, the memory that stands out most clearly is the one night that I spent in the Sahara Desert. I had never been in the desert, and being a water person, was not enthused about traveling so far for such a brief time. However, once I got there, I could barely sleep because I wanted to take in all of the beauty surrounding me. The silence, the sunset, the sunrise. It is so rare in these times to have the luxury of silence.
What is your best or “secret” travel tip for Bella Vita Travels clients?
I never travel without a Kindle, a dual voltage USB hub, a packable backpack and a few scarves. Last year I discovered international E-Sim cards for cell phones. They are a wonderful way to save money on data usage when traveling abroad and you can set them up easily online before you depart for your trip.
What’s your favorite book?
Reading has always been a very important part of my life and I have favorite books for different periods. In trying to figure this out, I went to my bookshelf to see which book had been loved the most. Without a doubt, it is The Essentials of Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan. I always say that that book made my (Italian) husband fall in love with me. As his culinary tastes are extremely traditional, that proves the ‘italianità’ of the recipes. Along with the excellent recipes, the personal comments and cultural insights make the book much more than just a ‘cookbook’.
What’s your favorite thing to cook?
Cooking is my meditation and my break from the computer screen. I love to follow recipes and I love to make people happy with what I cook or bake. If I have to cook for myself, when my very Italian son and husband are not around, I like to try to challenge myself with Asian recipes (when I can find the ingredients!). The kitchen is my happy place.
Luigi Guerrera
Bella Vita Italy Operations, Vendor Relations & Travel Specialist
Luigi is of Sicilian & Ligurian descent, as well as a native of the Liguria region. He manages the Italian side of the business from suppliers to banking and gets through the Italian red tape as only an Italian can! – as well as any further business development of the company.
Where are you from?
I grew up in the countryside, in a small village not far from the Cinque Terre. Now I live in Lerici, which is a very charming sea side village on the Gulf of Poets.
What is your favorite hotel (hotels)?
One of my favorite hotels is the De Russie in Rome. Other hotels that I particularly love are Villa Igea in Palermo and Le Yaca in Saint Tropez.
Where you are dying to go?
Japan is a destination I have been dreaming about for some time now.
What’s the best or most memorable trip you’ve ever been on?
From the moment that I started driving, I loved it. I really love to drive, and my favorite trips are probably the ones where I have to drive to get to. Driving gives you the opportunity to stop in places that otherwise you would never see. Hence, you always discover something new. One memorable trip was the one I took with my family going to Normandy and the Loire Valley. On this road trip we visited so many places we wouldn’t have seen using public transport, going from destination to destination as we pleased.
What is your best or “secret” travel tip?
Planning. It’s not really a secret, but it is what we excel at. Bella Vita is all about planning! I think that if you manage to plan and organize well before traveling, it really helps to enjoy your trip and be able to relax.
What is your favorite book?
Probably The Aztec by Gary Jennings.
What is your favorite thing to cook?
Unfortunately I am not a cook, but when I so, I enjoy to cooking pasta or meat and fish on the barbecue.
Marci Sampiero, Bella Vita travel coordinator
Where did you grow up? where do you live now?
I grew up in a small town in south Texas called Uvalde, where I graduated from high school before my family moved to Liberty Hill in the Austin area. Here, I attended Baylor University in Waco. Now, I live in Lerici.
What is your favorite hotel?
Hotel Gardena Grodnerhof, in Ortisei . A beautiful place to go to in both the winter and summer
where you are dying to go (destination)?
I would love to go on a Safari with my son
What’s the best or most memorable trip you’ve ever been on?
Going to the North Cape and Iceland
What is your best or “secret” travel tip for Bella Vita clients?
When traveling if there is some activity you want to try then do it , or see a food that looks good then eat it! Don’t go home feeling you missed out on something.
Bella Vita, all about us
Be sure to check back next week on our blog, where we’ll continue to share stories from the team at Bella Vita and give you a closer look at the passionate people dedicated to creating your perfect holiday experiences.
