After falling in love with campsite life in the South of France, we knew we had to do it again. That first campsite holiday at La Sirène in the South of France completely changed how we travelled as a family.Read that story here 👉 ROUSILON – LA SIRÈNE: PART 1
This time we set our sights on somewhere I’d only ever dreamed of — Tuscany. This was our first proper family camping holiday in Tuscany, staying in a beautiful campsite near San Vincenzo.
We booked Park Albatros, tucked away on Tuscany’s west coast and from the moment we arrived, I knew this place was going to be a story.
The beautiful piece of land that sits in central Italy, right on the country’s west coast. If you’ve ever heard of it, you’ll know that Florence is its capital, surrounded by historic cities like Pisa (which I quickly learnt is pronounced like pizza… in a posh accent 😂) and Siena. It’s all rolling hills, vineyards, and soft, golden light that just oozes romance.
Now, you might be thinking.. family holiday? Tuscany? Isn’t that more of a couple vibe?
Well, sure. But let me tell you, it offered so much for our family of four: culture, food, beaches, scenery, and gelato galore. What else do you need?
🚗 The Drive That Nearly Finished Me (Hiring a Car in Italy)
So, 2019 — just before the dreaded COVID hit, we arrived in Italy and hit Park Albatros in San Vincenzo. And let me tell you, getting there was an adventure all on its own.
This was the first time we ever rented a car abroad. I don’t even drive, yet somehow I became chief navigator out of sheer fear 😂. We hired it from Europcar (yep, that’s the one), and from the moment my husband had to switch to the other side of the road, my heart was in my throat.
Roundabouts? Don’t even talk to me about roundabouts.
There were… moments. Let’s just say we might’ve gone the wrong way a few times, and every time we survived one, it felt like a small miracle. By the time we reached the campsite, my nerves were gone, my husband was sweating buckets, and we were both convinced we’d earned a medal.
And then… sitting right there on the veranda table of our mobile home was a bottle of red wine. 🍷
I swear to you, that first sip tasted like survival and gratitude in equal measure.
🌲 An Enchanted Forest Come to Life
Park Albatros felt like something straight out of a dream. If you closed your eyes, you could almost see Tinkerbell twinkling through the trees. Magical beyond belief.
Tucked away in the middle of a pine forest on Italy’s west coast, the whole site had this calm, almost storybook feel. The smell of pine in the air, the shade from the trees, that mix of sunshine and stillness you only get in places like that. The setting alone was more beautiful than La Sirène in the South of France. It was like stepping into a film.
But the caravan itself? Not so much.
We booked through Al Fresco again and went for another mid-range option.. only it felt a bit more… budget. We even nicknamed it “the shoebox” because, well… it was tiny 😂.
What it lacked in space, it made up for in charm. And that veranda? Easily one of the best we’ve ever had. Big, slightly elevated, half-covered so it gave us shelter when we needed it. Quite frankly, it became our living room.
We barely spent time indoors. It was just where we slept and showered. The real living happened outside on that veranda, where we ate, drank, played games, listened to music, and spent the kind of quality time you dream about but never seem to have at home.
Every night, me and my husband sat on the veranda under the stars, glass of wine in hand, the hum of the forest around us. Those moments. They were absolutely golden.
So yep… the accommodation on the inside wasn’t great, but the big pluses of everything else far outweighed that.
🌧️ The Rain Story
One of my favourite memories from that trip wasn’t the sunshine, but the rain.
A few days in, the car broke down (of course it did). So we decided to stay put for a while. No exploring, just campsite life. One afternoon, we popped to the supermarket to grab some pasta (naturally), and as we stepped out… the heavens opened.
I mean properly opened. Torrential rain, dark clouds, trees swaying. We were in shorts and swimwear, the kids laughing their heads off.
At some point, me and my husband just looked at each other and said, “This isn’t stopping, is it?”
So we ran.
Five minutes through the forest, soaked through, pasta clutched in one hand, sandals slipping, the kids squealing like it was the best waterpark ever.
By the time we got back, drenched and out of breath, we were laughing so hard it hurt.
That run through the rain? One of my favourite memories of all time.
🍝 Everyday Magic on a Family Campsite in Tuscany
In between the madness, there was peace.
Lazy mornings at the breakfast bar. Italian coffee so good me and my husband still talk about it now. The kids spent hours in the pools, and when they got bored, we’d play cards on the veranda, eat bread and pasta, and argue over who was cheating 😂.
One of the restaurants cooked everything over an open fire. Smoky, simple, and so, so good. The Italians really know how to cook.
The park itself wasn’t as big or as jam-packed as La Sirène, but that was kind of the charm. With five pools, football pitches (of course, it’s Italy), table tennis, a golf course, cycle hire, three bars, a few shops, and two restaurants, there was more than enough to keep us happy.
My boy played football for hours on end. My daughter rented a bike. One of those cute ones with the basket in the front and cycled around the park all day.
Then there was the tree-top adventure — the rope walk, Go Ape-style. None of us were brave enough to do it other than my son 😭. Honestly, while he was up there, I was stressed lol, but I tried to remain calm while my heart dropped out of my chest lol. That’s my boy, always putting me through my paces.
And then… the foam party. 😂
We weren’t even planning to go. We’d just wandered out for a quiet drink, and suddenly the whole place turned into a full-blown rave. Music pumping, lights flashing, foam flying everywhere.
Within minutes we were soaked.. hair, clothes, everything. The kids were screaming with laughter, my husband was covered head to toe, and me? Right in the middle of it, dancing like I was 18 again.
Pure carnage. Pure joy. One of the best nights of the trip.
My personal fave? The little night market. Trinkets, jewellery, local crafts. Me and my girl could’ve spent hours wandering, touching everything we didn’t need but wanted anyway 😂.
🌍 Why Tuscany Works for a Family Campsite Holiday
Easy access to beaches along the west coast
Historic cities like Pisa and Siena within driving distance
Relaxed campsite living with space for kids to roam
Food that keeps everyone happy — even the fussy ones
It’s one of those places that quietly works without needing to shout about it.
✨ The Feeling You Can’t Buy
It might’ve rained. The car might’ve died. There were moments of pure chaos.
But none of it took away from what Park Albatros gave us.
Peace. Laughter. Connection.
Those movie-moment days where everything feels golden and you don’t even realise it until later.
It was quieter than La Sirène, less flashy maybe, but in its own way, it was perfect. And every time I think of Tuscany now, I can still see the light through those trees, still hear the crickets, still feel that calm.
We’ll be back. I know it.
💬 This was Part 4 of my Eurocamp Series — Tuscany, Italy: The Campsite Holiday That Stole Our Hearts.
A collection of honest, real-life stories about affordable family travel across Europe, without the gloss or the sugarcoating.
You can start from the beginning here 👉 EUROCAMP DIARIES
Next up? Part 5 — our adventures beyond the campsite.
If you’re considering a family campsite holiday in Italy and want honest, real-life insight. The kind that doesn’t sugarcoat it.. you’ll find more like this over on Suitcases and Stories.
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