Vespa Tours in Tuscany

Is it only a day trip? Do you plan to spend any time in Florence itself? Even by high speed train, Florence is 1 1/2 - 2 hours from Rome. I don't see how you'd have any time to do anything.

You've got to go a good 45 minutes to an hour from downtown Florence to get to the Tuscan countryside. If your goal is to just get to Tuscany to do a Vespa tour, I suggest you begin somewhere else, like Siena or San Gimignano. See here for an example: http://www.bellinibruno.com/rental-sangimignano/rental-scooter/rental-scooter.htm

My wife and I spent a week driving through the Tuscan countryside. I'm also an experienced motorcycle rider. I wouldn't recommend that you do this if you have no experience. Tootling through some of the smaller towns and on some back roads might be OK, but most of the roads are busy with local traffic, including trucks. I wouldn't be comfortable on a Vespa on those roads.

If all you have is a day, I suggest you rethink your plan to visit Tuscany. Explore some convenient day trips from Rome to get out in the countryside.

I'm with DougMac on this: trying to do it would leave you no time for Florence itself.

Personally, I'd say that Italy is no place for a first-timer to take on a Vespa, and most of the tour companies state that as well. Just an example from one of them?

"To participate on our scooter tour prior experience is advantageous and highly recommended. Please be aware that we are not a scooter learning driving school. We reserve the right to deny any participant taking part or continuing the scooter tour if we feel the participant is unable to operate the scooter safely. Our decision is final. No refunds are offered."

While usually up for a good adventure, I personally wouldn't do it without prior experience as one bad spill could be an expensive - not to mention painful - end to an expensive trip. If dead-set on going forward with the idea, I'd make very sure that you have good medical trip insurance and that it would cover you for a scooter mishap.

Having been a scooter owner since the Lambretta of my mid-60's college days to my current Vespa, I believe you would be courting with disaster if renting a scooter in Italy is the first time you'll drive one. In most states, you need to prove your proficiency and get a cycle license to drive them. Though cute, there are some dangerous aspects to driving them. It's easy to hit a wet or greasy spot in the road and loose control. Some Italian roads are noted to be very dangerous, even fatal, for scooters. Even though I am experienced, I won't take the risk of driving one in Tuscany.

I agree with Phillip and Kathy. I have ridden bikes and scooters for over 60 years so I am very use to being the slowest thing on the road. (Current Vespa is a 49cc with top speed of about 35 mph.) I would consider riding in the country side in Italy but never in the cities. The thing you don't know, nor do I, is the local driving customs - who yields to who and when, positioning on the road, hand signals, etc. Also read somewhere that you do need a license with a motorcycle endorsement for anything over 120cc - that is a fair amount of power and especially speed. There are Vespa tours where you ride second. If you are very experience cyclists (bicycles), you might be OK in the country side but I would discourage it.

Thanks all! I appreciate the advice, from what you are saying and others I think we will skip the Vespas this time around. The tours I was looking at stated clearly that you need no prior experience, but I'll take advice from people who have more experience than I, rather than from the tour company who is trying to sell us something ;)

There is no experience and there is no experience. As I said, if you are an accomplished cyclists then you might be OK depending on where they are going. If sticking to side streets and not great distances and the type of Vespa being used. I have seen three wheel Vespas that would obviously be a little easier to handle - balance is not that great an issue with three wheels. But I think you made the correct decision.

I did the Fun In Tuscany Vespa tour in October. I ride a bike but have never ridden a Vespa. They drive you out from Florence to a little winery in Tuscany. They tutor you on riding the Vespa in their parking lot and then off you go on the back roads of Tuscany to San Gimignano. After a tour and a gelato stop it is back on the Vespa to the winery for lunch and a wine tasting. There were several in our group with no prior experience and a fun time was had by all. Good luck.

http://www.funintuscany.com/funintuscany-vespatour.php

The way the Italians drive, no way would I do this.