Happy Vespa Tuscany

I wouldn't rent them. The problem isn't so much whether you could figure out how to drive one. The problems are the following: 1. Traffic signs that don't look like ours. 2. Very narrow shoulders on lots of roads. 3. Doors that open out unexpectedly onto the very narrow streets. 4. Learning where you can and cannot park.
5. Italian drivers who are crazy in their own Italian way. Throw in having to figure out the Italian medical system on the chance you get injured, and I'd rather have a rental car or just spend time on foot exploring the town I'm staying in. Happy (and safe) travels.

So you're looking only for input that would support your desire to rent Vespas? :-)

Ha ha!! Yes! I think the lack of responses may speak volumes... Michael, you're a veteran here, any advice??

4 of you on 4 Vespas tooling down the roads just like in the movies. Very romantic. A little unrealistic, but romantic. I used to ride m.bikes, I wouldn't do it. One thing you not yet mentioned is how a group of 4 novices will communicate during the ride. Its not as easy as it seems, and if anybody is having difficulty controlling their machine the most dangerous times are at stopping and starting. Trying to get 4 motorini stopped gracefully together and then going again all safely will be, how you say, a challenge. By the way, who is navigating? How? Not by draping a map over the handlebars, I hope. You're not thinking pillion are you? popping balloons is not much fun. sorry.

Ha ha again!! Thank you Michael and Nigel- not only for your great humor- but for spelling out the specifics of why this may not be a good idea. Our friends who were encouraging live in London , and for a while in Florence. They probably traveled on ONE vespa- and had much greater familiarity with euro streets etc. I guess we should not try to compete with our other transportation memory... riding the mules DOWNHILL on Santorini!! Thank you gentlemen!

Hi Leslie! I've rented Vespas in Italy for years, and have done so in many different regions of Italy: Tuscany, Lazio, Umbria, Calabria, etc. In fact, I've d a website specifically to show people what it's like to ride a Vespa in Italy. My website includes video that has been filmed from the back of a Vespa, so you'll get a good idea of what it's really like. I call my website "The Vespa Diaries" and you can find it here: http://italy.culturaltravel.net/ I suggest you start by viewing my Vespa ride on the southern coast of Tuscany (Porto Santo Stefano). Then watch "Vespa 101." One word of advice. Vespas are designed for short-distance travel. They are AWESOME for traveling around towns and villages. Long distances (>30 km) on a Vespa are not as much fun. I'd be glad to answer your questions. - Warren

Thank you so much Warren- I will check this out- I'm sure our journey would be under 30- just bopping around the village or so. Thanks!!