Modern Vespa

We're traveling from the US to Palermo to join a hosted tour provided by a European-based company called The Vespa Tour. We ride about 70 miles/day Thru scenic Southern Italy. Does anyone have experiences with the tour operator or tips on what to see and avoid? Many thanks - Steve

I believe one of the k members had been on one of their troops. I've been considering it so I will look forward to hearing about your adventures.

We will be doing Amalfi next month. Ride pics and experience to follow.

Thanks to you both. Have fun and ride safely. What a treat to explore Italy on a Vespa, eh!

I did a quick search to see if I could find info. I may not be getting the correct route, but it appears to go from Palermo to the west and around to Trapani, Castelveltrano, Ribera and then north to Palermo?

I've been to Sicilia twice. It is a wonderful place. My only quick thought is that it is a shame to miss Agrigento; spectacular Greek ruins there. Considered by many to be the best preserved Greek remains outside of Greece.

Still, I think you will have a great time. My time was more to the east, but north including Cefalu and the Aeolian islands. Cefalu is very pretty.

Palermo is the European City of Culture this year ( I think). Hope you have a wonderful time.

We did Sicily with a company called thevespatrip.com last year. It was fantastic. Look them up!

And, as it happens - we are flying to Naples today to do their Amalfi coast tour, starting tomorrow.

Recommended.

Oh wow!! We are doing that same trip in late August. Looking forward to some of your feedback.

I rented a gts 300 in tuscany. What a great way to see italy. Have fun!

Would you mind sharing what the costs were? Just curious for another trip. Thank you.

This was in 2014. It was in the range of $400 definitely not more than 500. Scooter rental place in san gimignano. City with towers near poggobinsi , certaldo and unlegno. Spelling might be a little off. Had the scoot for about 5 days. Took to Certaldo, volterra and siena. Perfect for italian roads and could park right next to the historic site entrances. We went two up on it. It worked but if I were to go longer something like a beverly 350 or burgman might have been better. Solo no problem. I also saw rental places in Rome including vintage scoots. The place I rented from also had p200 and vintage fiat 500s if thats your flavor.

Just returned from the Vespa Trip of Sicily. 6 days of adventuresome riding in the mountains and seaside. Passed thru many historical villages. Great food. While the tour literature doesn't qualify the trip thus, this trip is not for the novice or faint hearted. The roads were variable, some paved, some rutted, some rock strewn. Literally Hundreds of blind hairpin turns up and down mountain sides with oncoming traffic requiring skill and knowledge oof how to. Brake and accelerate in these conditions.

Some of our group had never been on a Vespa,before and nevertheless were riding two up. Three people were injured in first two days

Wow. Thanks for the feedback. Fortunately people on this site would be more experienced riders than someone that saw an ad someplace and said "Honey, let's do this"

Has anyone been on the Edelweiss Tuscany tour ?

I've ridden motorcycles safely for 30myears and Vespas for 8 years, in the US. I was unprepared for this journey

Do you stop off in bars/restaurants? Do the guides care if you drink alcohol etc or let you get on with it?

Please, please, please give us an update. Bonnie and me are flying out this Friday for the same trip with TheVespaTrip tour company. We are doing the full trip, then renting an Alfa Romeo for the second week and doing Sicily and other parts unknown.

It's Italy! Que sera, sera - enjoy life. To quote Mark Twain - "Everything in moderation, including moderation..."

I would probably limit my drinking to evening when not riding and stick to perhaps a glass of vino with lunch (for good measure and digestion).

To answer some of your questions....our guides were high energy, friendly, multi lingual, and very familiar with the routes. We were in the saddle from 9am-6pm each day with a stop for lunch, a stop to go to the beach, and once or twice a stop at a historical site. I think they were trying to strike a balance or organized activities for those who liked structure, with free lance opportunities to break off. I would have liked to see safety briefings reminders for newcomers techniques for braking and accelerating on ascending uphill turns. Picnic lunches were fun.

In terms of alcohol consumption, it's was 90Fs and the sun was intense. Our biggest challenge was finding and drinking enough water. I did not see anyone drinking alcohol until arrival at our hotels and in the evening at dinner.

Tim sounds like you may be headed for Tuscany with entirely different weather and riding conditions.

Many of our group, in my opinion, should have been disqualified before arrival. Among us we had people riding two up, who had never ridden before, some of whom could not touch the ground, terrified. Some were so frightened they would not ride faster than 30kmh holding back the group. Others fell on day 1 and two.

It's a big adventure and challenge, rewarding for those with experience and cautious good judgement.

Deffo not for me then

Great intel! Thank you for that. We will be doing southern Italy, Amalfi coast to be specific, next week. I think our road conditions should be substantially better than the ones you encountered. We have been riding for almost 10 years, and have had experience or not so friendly road surfaces. I am feeling somewhat confident, but not cocky. It is always safer to ride defensively, from the get go.

Have a wonderful trip. And share your impressions please with us all when you return, if you like

While we were in a Fiat not a on a scooter road conditions in Amalfi were good other than an insane amount of traffic. We were there in early May and were not expecting as much traffic as we encountered. Even the scooters were stuck behind busses having to do 3 point turns on some of the curves along the ocean road. While the scenery was fantastic I'm in no hurry to go back unless it is before mid April or after September. Having said that I'm sure your guides will know other routes that will be fantastic. We drover over the mountains from Pompeii and that mountain road was great as well as uncrowded.

Static to remember before you raise your next drink before riding. 80% of motorcycle accidents involve alcohol.
So just not drinking gets you in the 20% range. I won't even have one drink and ride.

I like the comraderie, good faith advice and support here

How does this thread not have any pictures in it??

I have promised to post at the end-of-month when we go.

A friend of mine does culinary tours in the region - on Vespas.

Amalfi was great. One day's less riding than Sicily last year. The group size this year was between 9 and 13 scooters. Borderline too many. We had a few novices, which did remarkably well. No injuries or damage to anyone.

We (me and the wife 2 up) rode at the back of the group constantly, which I prefer.

The biggest problem / issue is the Italian car and van drivers. They see a scooter as something that must be overtaken at any cost. Defensive riding, and sometimes assertive also is needed. In the towns, the car drivers are worse. Ive ridden often in central London, and that just does not compare to the traffic in the Italian towns and cities.

Naples was absolute chaos, and not the best part - but once out on the open roads, things become fantastic.

The guides are enthusiastic and very good at what they do. Yo have the option of GPS and do your own thing, or ride with the group, which is what we chose.

If you choose to be with the group, you all stop and lunch together. Also, there is a recommenced restaurant in the evening, which we again chose.

All the hotels are of a good, very clean standard.

We will be booking the Tuscany trip next year.

Of the two trips done, if I had to do one again, it would be Sicily. Although both trips were truly fantastic.

I personally took my own helmet, as i struggle for an XXL when renting, but the provided helmets were fine.

A smaller group (6or 7) makes for easier riding, although we coped fine.

There was no alcohol drunk in our group at lunch time, out of choice, - as you need to be on high alert for a lot of the time.

You stop in some wonderful places, and meet fabulous new friends.

It's really emotional at the end, after making strong bonds with a lot of the trippers.

We had a lot of Belgian and Dutch, but language was never a barrier, and everyone had a great time.

Look at Facebook, Instagram and twitter for #tvt19 and thevespatrippers for more pictures and posts.

sorted !

Hygiene controls in restaurants and other public food shops in Italy are very strict and frequent, there are severe fines that include closure. The Italian himself tends to report problems to the authorities, we are not joking about this ... unfortunately there are always some exceptions. Always check that prices are visible before consuming and / or buying.
It is mandatory that there are; if you think you are being cheated call the GdF (Guardia di Finanza) n ° 117 or the Carabinieri n ° 112.
A nice excursion, up to which place did they take you after Amalfi ..?
In my opinion, going all the way whith Appia all the way to Rome would be a wonderful experience even if traveling along the provincial road 303 from Pozzuoli to Gaeta would be an expert for those who are not used to Italian traffic. But it would take a long, long time ... sin; this part of Italy between the upper half of the Campania region and lower Lazio region is very interesting and semi-unknown to mass tourism.
Roads for the scooter really fantastic and different stories to listen to in the evenings before falling asleep ... an epic unknown to most people and an era and places where reality and legend were mixed. Italy is like that, a mixture of true and fantastic stories .... there is so much to see and so little time available ...

Thank you Tim!!
Looks like a fantastic trip, its definitely on the list now... Looking forward to other's experiences as well.

Pictures from Sicily...thought you all might enjoy