Hi all, Has anyone ever been on a Vespa tour in Rome? Any comments / experiences on them? My boyfriend and I are looking to book one in late Dec / early Jan because they look like a mountain of fun and a good way to see lots of sights in a few hours when we only have a couple of days there.
Thanks in advance!
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Ron, formerly of Rome, is this site's expert on riding vespas in Rome, since he did it daily until recently. And so you may want to browse his replies in this prior discussion: http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm?topic=16254
Posted by
OP
Australia
18 posts
Thanks Kent,
I should clarify now that there is no way we will be renting out bikes to ride on our own, what we want to do is a TOUR on a Vespa where someone else will be driving it for us.
Posted by
San Pedro, California
100 posts
I'm an expert on Vespas from the early 50's to around 1981 ....I think there may be something getting lost in translation here somehow...so if your question is about vintage 2 stroke Vespas I can help. I don't understand how you can tour the way you describe.
Posted by
OP
Australia
18 posts
Dutch I dont know about "vintage 2 stoke Vespas" but this is along the lines of what I mean (not necessarily this company, but it will give you the picture): http://www.nerone.cc/romemtm/nuovosito/vespa_tours.htm
Posted by
San Pedro, California
100 posts
I looked at the website...had no idea those tours were out there. That would be a lot more fun than a bus tour especially with a native doing the driving, better than a view from a ragtop automobile. Most new Vespas have automatic transmissions and it wouldn't take you long to learn how to operate one.....BUT...you still would have to contend with Roma traffic and I'd leave that cup of tea to the locals. Looks like cold fun, go for it.
Posted by
OP
Australia
18 posts
Oh no doubt it will be freezing (and we're Aussies...we just don't get cold weather like that here!) but it does look like an awful lot of fun and a great way to see as much of Rome as possible in a very short amount of time. Just hoping they actually run them in Winter, have sent some emails around fingers crossed.
Has anyone ever done one themselves or know of someone who has?
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
"No doubt it will be freezing." Ohhh, probably not quite freezing. The average day time air temp in Rome in January is about 50F, if the weather gods smile upon you. On a vespa it will feel cooler because of the windchill, but if you dress for it, you'll probably live to tell the tale.
Posted by
OP
Australia
18 posts
Well it will be very cold! I'm pretty sure I'm well prepared though, got all the warm ski gear and thermals ready to go! Also wasn't as easy to find the gear as I thought but we are Aussies after all I guess.
Just heard back from a Vespa Tour company, they do still run these tours in the holiday period so we are all good to go! If anyone else is wondering, they do hotel pickups and drop-offs, provide all the safety gear and cover you with the necessary insurance (which we are already covered for by our own policy anyway). So it looks like its a go! For future reference and interests sake I'll be sure to post up my experiences when we return :)