This $11,000 Hotel Packages Comes With A Custom Vespa

Forbes

07-07-2025

How about a Vespa as a souvenir. The Resort at Pelican Hill
If you've ever dreamed of spending your summer zipping around on a Vespa, gelato in one hand (not literally, please) and sea breeze in your hair, The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, California, is here to make that fantasy come true—with an actual Vespa. That you get to keep.
Yes, this is real life. The five-star, five-diamond resort has just launched its Villa & Vespa Experience. This swoon-worthy summer package starts at $11,000 and includes your very own custom Pelican Hill-branded Vespa Primavera 150cc. It's like Italy by way of Orange County, but with fewer passport stamps and more coastal golf carts.
Available exclusively to guests staying in the resort's private villas (already a flex), this new package is all about channeling La Dolce Vita. Think: terracotta rooftops, ocean views, espresso at the Villa Clubhouse, and cruising around the resort's dreamy 504-acre grounds on your personal Vespa like it's your own private movie set.
And no, you don't just ride the Vespa around and hand over the keys at checkout. You own it. The Vespa—custom-branded, delivered by Vespa LA, and complete with two helmets—comes with you. You can ship it home as the ultimate souvenir or, if you've had your fill of Italian-style glamour (doubtful), opt into a special buy-back program. Either way, this isn't your average vacation freebie.
This entire package is part of the resort's summer-long Ciao Bella! programming, which fully commits to the theme with playful, sun-soaked experiences throughout the property. Over select holiday weekends (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day), guests can rent Ciao Bella cabanas by the Coliseum Pool—outfitted with branded totes, plush towels, and pitchers of the resort's signature Summer Spritz. It's peak poolside glam and the ideal reward after a Vespa-fueled joyride.
Of course, this being Pelican Hill, the extras don't stop there. Villa guests also enjoy daily breakfast at the exclusive Villa Clubhouse, access to pool butlers (because, obviously), and weekend perks like wood-fired pizza and sunset s'mores. There's also a curated partnership with Williams Sonoma to help customize your villa with everything from gourmet coffee setups to wine-night essentials. It's like living in a catalog but with a much better ocean view.
For those looking to mix a little culture into their stay, the resort's Salon Series brings guests and local tastemakers together for intimate evenings of art, music, culinary delights, and actual thought-provoking conversation. Yes, you can discuss 18th-century European salon culture and which Vespa color looks best in your driveway.
On the food-and-fun front, summer at Pelican Hill comes with its own Mediterranean twist. The new Pelican Picnic offers a leisurely lunch to-go—think seasonal sandwiches, vibrant salads, and house-made spreads—packed up in a branded cooler backpack you'll actually want to take home. A plush picnic blanket is included, too, so all you have to do is pick a sunny spot and settle in.
And in late June, the property hosted Summer Mercato, a one-day pop-up market that channeled the charm of a European street fair. But let's be honest: the Vespa steals the show. Because how often does a hotel send you home with a full-on Italian scooter?