Four Inane Questions with Dolce Vita Travel’s Kim Giuliani
Photo Courtesy of Kim Giuliani
Kim Giuliani spent years crunching tax numbers and doing audits before deciding to leave corporate America behind in 2020. “While I generally enjoyed my work, I eventually realized the corporate world wasn’t providing the sense of fulfillment I wanted,” she says. “During the next few months, I took time to reflect on what I wanted to do next.”
And then a funny thing happened—Her part-time hobby became a full-time passion project. “When I worked in the corporate world, planning personal trips became my way to unwind in my free time after work,” she tells us.
An impromptu conversation about the travel industry with her mother-in-law was the spark she needed to take a leap of faith. “I began researching the industry and ultimately decided to launch my own travel company, Dolce Vita Travel, in the spring of 2021,” she adds. “We specialize in custom travel experiences to Europe and Morocco.”
But how did she pick the name? “It stems from the phrase ‘la dolce vita’—meaning, the sweet life,” says Giuliani. “This captures the type of experience I want to create for my clients—one that allows them to slow down, savor the moment, and enjoy life to the fullest.”
We had to impatiently hang around for weeks for the travel monger to return to the States to zing her with our moronic questionnaire. Needless to say, it was worth the wait. Bless.
Photo Courtesy of Kim Giuliani
The Pitch: Be honest—What well-known travel destination is the most difficult to get to on Earth? And why are you still going?
Kim Giuliani: Zanzibar Island, off the coast of Tanzania. There are definitely more remote places on Earth, but coming from Kansas City, it’s a journey—usually three or four flights, plus a speedboat or helicopter ride if you’re heading to a private island. After the excitement of an African safari, spending a few days unwinding somewhere like Bawe Island, in an overwater villa overlooking the Indian Ocean, feels like the perfect way to slow down and soak it all in.
You can only eat one ice cream flavor for the rest of your life. What are ya choosin’?
Da Bomb from Sylas & Maddy’s is hands down my favorite, loaded with cookie dough, Oreos, and chocolate flakes. I discovered this homemade ice cream shop in downtown Lawrence during my college years at KU.
Oh, and fun fact: Da Bomb was their very first flavor creation. If you haven’t tried it, you’re seriously missing out! As a close second, Crema della Bretagna from Ciacco Lab in Milan is a delicious blend of salted buttercream and bourbon vanilla.
Photo Courtesy of AME Photography KC
If you were sparkling water, what sparkling water flavor would you be?
I’ll go with Pomegranate Green Tea. The pomegranate brings a bright, slightly tart kick. It’s refreshing and exotic, inviting adventure and curiosity, which reflects my passion for exploring the world around me. The green tea adds a calming balance, representing my introspective side and mindfulness.
What song can you sing (in your car … alone) better than the group/singer who performed it?
Let’s be real, I’m not out-singing any professionals, but “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC takes me back to my early 2000s high school days, driving around with the windows down and the radio blaring.
My version of teenage rebellion was sneaking across the street from the mall with my best friend to buy page protectors at Office Max for our boy band binders full of magazine clippings. My parents found ‘em years later and had a good laugh!
Bonus 5th Question: What is the worst daily chore/task in the world?
Cleaning the bathroom has to be the worst. Between the showers, sinks, toilets, mirrors, and floors, there’s no quick win. I once worked as a leasing agent for college apartments, which included turning over the units between students. And let’s just say, I’ve seen some things that would make anyone cringe.
It’s definitely not a task I look forward to! Lucky for me, my husband usually takes care of this one, and I will never stop appreciating that.
