We absolutely love campsite holidays; in our opinion, they are the best type of holiday for families with young kids. We embark on a number of campsite holidays every year. The freedom they offer kids to explore independently, meet new friends, and engage in activities and entertainment is second to none.
In recent years, we’ve grown especially fond of Italian campsites. The food quality is unmatched, and the scenery is always breathtaking. In May of this year, we had the pleasure of staying at Union Lido, renowned for being one of the top campsites in Europe, and rightly so. It is absolutely incredible, home to over 20 restaurants and bars, direct beach access, two water parks, two spas, a giant inflatable world, a small theme park, and much more.
So, when it came to choosing our next Italian campsite, we knew it was always going to be tough to top what we had experienced at Union Lido. After much searching and deliberation, we finally decided on HU Norcenni Girasole Club. This time around, we wanted a campsite in Tuscany, as a week later we would be picking up a brand new motorhome on a one-way rental to Edinburgh—but that’s a story for another day.
Traveling to HU Norcenni Girasole Club without a Car
We had read lots of reviews online that claimed HU Norcenni Girasole Club would only be suitable if you had a rental car. However, we had no intentions of renting a car because we wanted to relax at the campsite for the week, so we accepted the challenge of getting there car free. Spoiler alert: It was way easier than what we were led to believe online—not only is it doable without a car, but it is also very straightforward.
We flew into Pisa Airport and booked an Airbnb in the city centre for one night. We felt like it would be a sin to get that close to the home of the Leaning Tower without doing a small bit of exploring. The next morning, after breakfast, we strolled to the train station and embarked on our car-free journey to HU Norcenni Girasole Club.
Our journey was simple:
– Step 1: Train from Pisa to Florence
– Step 2: Train from Florence to Figline Valdarno
– Step 3: Shuttle bus from Figline Valdarno directly to the door of reception at HU Norcenni Girasole Club.
Arrival at the Campsite
Upon arrival, we were absolutely blown away by HU Norcenni Girasole Club. It exceeded all of our expectations. Located in the Tuscan Hills, the views are absolutely incredible. The campsite is steeply terraced with some fairly high pitches, offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Reasons We Love HU Norcenni Girasole Club
- Water Fun: The campsite boasts two amazing water parks with waterslides and a lazy river, ensuring a splashing good time for everyone. All pools have a rubber material on the bottom and sides, making them soft and safe.
- Entertainment and Activities: The campsite offers a wide range of activities, including: – A games room with arcade games, air hockey, and snooker – A treetop experience with Tibetan bridges, obstacles, and suspended ropes – A net experience where you can jump, climb, and play with giant balloons in the middle of nature – An outdoor gym and sports tournaments for both adults and kids – Minigolf and sports fields – An underground disco (11 PM – 2 AM) – Wine tasting – Kids Clubs with activities like MasterChef workshops, sports days, and parties – Day and night entertainment
- Accommodation: We stayed in a premium three-bedroom holiday home with Eurocamp. The premium range has an open and airy feel with modern styling, perfect for sociable family living. The living area has double doors leading to a private decking space, the perfect spot for lazy days and BBQ feasts.
- Dining: A selection of restaurants and counter service dining options are available, as well as gelato. The market night at the campsite was a highlight, and the kids loved their henna tattoos.
Highlights of Our Stay
One of the many highlights of our stay was the foam party. It was an incredible night and a core memory unlocked for the kids. The animation team was second to none in our opinion, going above and beyond to ensure that all kids were having the time of their lives.
Most of our days were spent between the two water parks. We made great use of the free train that operates from the upper to the lower section of the park. We also engaged in lots of fun sports tournaments and may have made an appearance on stage at a few points throughout the week to collect medals for said tournaments. For us, this holiday was all about relaxing and connecting with the kids, spending quality time together as a family.
If you want to have a more active holiday, that is definitely possible from this campsite too. There are lots of experiences both at the campsite and in the local area that you can book during your stay.
Some of these include:
– Group e-bike tours
– Beach volleyball and beach tennis courts
– Cooking classes
– Walking tours of Tuscany
– Shuttle to Florence, Siena, and San Gimignano
– Rome and the ‘Grande Bellezza’
– Vallombrosa trekking
– Vespa tour
– Visit Chianti with all the five senses
– Walk under the stars
– Dinner in the vineyard
– Discover the world of bees
– Exploring the farm
– Basket making course
Important note: We were there in July, and not one of us got a single mosquito bite!
We loved the market night at the campsite. The kids both got henna tattoos, which they were crazy about. Ellie and I loved our mommy-daughter morning doing the hydro bike classes, while Oscar loved his two hours every morning in the soccer school. There’s so much going on at any given time that your hardest decision will be which activity you choose.
Another core memory unlocked for the kids was the Colour Run, again made so much fun by the fantastic animation team.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a week of unforgettable family fun, then a stay at HU Norcenni Girasole Club with Eurocamp should be high on your list. From breathtaking views and non-stop activities to relaxing by the pool, each day was a different adventure. Whether you’re after family fun, outdoor thrills, or some chill time, a Eurocamp holiday really does have it all.
Flipflops and Floaties 
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