sandi_travelnut

On the Fine Living channel I saw a program about a small tour group called "Italy by Vespa" which (obviously) takes you around Tuscany on Vespa. It looked fun and I went on the website to get further details...pricey though. Anyone have first-hand experience with this tour? I never thought I'd want to actually take a tour group but that sounds interesting and a fun way to see the countryside.

willit

Only slightly related, but the book "Vroom with a view" by Peter Moore covers a trip by Vespa from Milan to Naples.

It makes very entertaining reading, and by the end of the book I wanted nothing more than to ride around Italy on a scooter.

ira

Hi sandi,

I take it that you are an experienced moto driver, correct?

Intrepid1

Ira is obviously implying that you need to be a "serious" rider (there ARE people who wouldn't consider a Vespa in ANY form to be a "serious" motorcycle..."scooter" more like it) but that doesn't mean there can't be serious safety issues.

Whether or not you need to be "serious" (whatever that really means) is open to interpretation.

Given all the issues my advice would be to go for it if that's really what you want to do. I assume the luggage goes by separate conveyance.

ira

>Ira is obviously implying that you need to be a "serious" rider (there ARE people who wouldn't consider a Vespa in ANY form to be a "serious" motorcycle..."<

No, intrepid, I meant that Italy is no place to learn to ride a moto of any sort - even on a guided tour.

sandi_travelnut

Sorry, been busy and didn't even check back on the comments. No, I am not an experienced rider BUT the tour I saw on the Fine Living show was very short rides on side roads in Tuscany and into very small towns. I would, however, make sure that I was extremely comfortable before I were to venture off and do such a thing. It just seems like such an Italian thing to do.

sandi_travelnut

Thanks Stan..but you're not allowed to advertise here.

SuzieC

Thanks Stan.. I, for one lone voice, am glad you broke "rules".
This may be something my "folks" would enjoy.

tpatricco

Since OP was asking specifically about that company, I don't really think it's a problem that Stan provided specific information direct from the source.

Board poice...sometimes you are just so fatiguing.

sandi_travelnut

This was MY post, am I am not board police. To get the info he provided just look at my post "Fine Living", "Italy by Vespa" and just do a search. My question was about first-hand experience.

kswl

My husband and I rode these fun motorscooters a few weeks ago in Canada. They were incredible fun and VERY easy to drive. However, once the rain started falling in earnest we were miserable, so I would find out if they have a rain cancellation policy.

ira

>.. once the rain started falling in earnest we were miserable..<

Many years ago, my roommate rode his Vespa from Baltimor to College Park in a sleet storm.

He was smart enough to wear his raincoat backwards, but even so, there were icicles hanging from his hair when he arrived.

We put him in a warm shower for an hour.

bellastar

Thanks for your information Stan..
Actually I don't think this breaks the forum rules because someone enquired about first hand experience, and Stan offered leads for that information.
Of course I had to check the site, since I'm now on the verge of making a Vespa part of my family, and think it would be huge fun, if a bit on the pricey side!

I agree with sandi_travelnut- this is one of the few (less than 3) times I've been interested by a tour in a group.

kswl

Ira, how funny---and how miserable for that poor man!

Jean

Sounds fun, but ... ouch! $4,500 per person (double occupancy) for barely a week.

bellastar

not to mention the single supplement of $900 plus!
For the price, I could almost buy a Vespa in Italy at the Piaggio factory, ride it, and bring it home with me!

VespaMama

Sandi, I just returned from taking the Italy by Vespa 5 day tour for $2,900 this past June. I was so thrilled with the expierence we decided to upgrade on the 2nd day to the full 7 days and glad we did! This trip was simply the best, we have never been taken so well care of and at every turn they exceeded our expectations. Each night we got back to our room we found a poem on our pillow, detailed agenda for the next day, a gift that related to the day we just expierenced simply amazing. Our guide Maurizio is a Phd in Italian history as is two other guids on the tour.

This was a trip of a lifetime. As a matter of fact we just re booked for this fall Sept. season for our family reuinion of 14 persons to see the fall colors. We were going to spain but decided this would fit our family much better. Each day exceeded the prior. This for us was a trip of a lifetime and we would have paid twice the fee and still would have felt it was a great value!

By the way thay just announced the are expanding to offer Italy by Ferrari tours and I am planning to do this for my brothers 50th birthday next year. This company underpromises and over delivers, these guys have it together. Our tour host were Maurizio and Stan also known as Chianti Man, ask fo them and they are with you from the time you are picked up until the time your are droped off. Their job is to get you from point to point, fill in the gaps to the amazing destinations where you are met by experts of that destination. All in all we met with 21 superb host as we generaly had one or two stops in the morning and one in the afternoon. By the way, I think they offer tours from the $2,900 we initaly paid to about $4,700. Important to note they do charge a 18% gratutity but it is well worth it as each day we have 2-3 local experts in addition to our 2 guides during our seven days, we were glad to tip even more!

SusanP

How convenient that VespaMama just happened upon this board just in time to see this thread. That sounds like something right out of a brochure.

VespaMama

Susan, get a life, I try just as you (as validated by reading your postings , my other postings below)to give good informtion and I rely on peoples postings here as I consider travel to other areas. Yes, I happened to this site last year and I was excited about doing a vespa tour and did further research and did the trip and it was simply amazing and wanted to follow up and post. Now I know why Italy by Vespa was ranked by Fortune Magazine as one of the top things to do



other recent posting http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34809466

icithecat

Vespamama is too funny.

The post is actually a year late to offer advice. It also suggests that you gladly tip more than the obligatory 18% gratuity.