Let's face it, many of us are looking for champagne holidays on lager money. And I was seeking a destination with culture and beauty as well as outdoor adventure and facilities comparable to Center Parcs.I wanted Tuscany for me (and husband Ed) and water slides for Tallulah, 11, and Matilda, nine.So when I discovered one of Eurocamp’s cheapest destinations was Hu Norcenni Girasole, a campsite/holiday park deep in Chianti country, 30 minutes from Florence in the Tuscan hills, I could hardly believe my luck.With prices from £289 in a tent or £380 in a Classic holiday home for seven nights in May half-term – while a four-night break at Center Parcs was from £1,499 for a family of four – it was looking promising.Arriving into Florence Airport we collected a hire car and drove to Hu Norcenni Girasole.As someone who associates family holiday parks with wristbands, queueing and mediocre buffets, I arrived with some trepidation. But as soon as we tasted the handmade pizzas, we knew it was going to be more than all right – the food was fantastic.The next morning we awoke in our two-bedroom Premium holiday home, sleeping up to six, to the sound of birdsong. Outside, cypress trees punctuated the sun-bathed landscape and beyond were rolling green hills. Charlotte Reather and her family headed to the Tuscan hills to try out the Italian Center Parcs, Hu Norcenni Girasole A 30-minute drive from Florence, a week's stay at Hu Norcenni Girasole works out cheaper than a week at Center Parcs back in the UK - making it a no-brainer for Charlotte and familyThe accommodation was decent, with a deck, a covered alfresco dining area, a gas barbecue and a small kitchen. Our first mission was to hit the Co-op in Figline Valdarno to stock up.But this was not like any UK Co-op, featuring locally made buffalo mozzarella, the juiciest tomatoes and the delicious focaccia.Hunting and gathering out of the way, we were free to play. All of us. Middle-age was suspended as we bombed down water-slides with the children, who declared this ‘the best holiday ever’.Center Parcs has first-rate swimming facilities, but here there were eight pools and six waterslides and we enjoyed drifting between the lagoon complex and a larger lap pool. Under cloudless skies the thought of retreating indoors to a tropical dome back in Britain felt distinctly unappealing.So would the activities measure up to a British Center Parcs? The answer was yes, absolutely. Both girls were too old for the kids’ club.Instead, Tallulah joined morning football sessions while her sister perused the mocktail menu from a sun lounger.There was tennis, volleyball, mini golf, a gym and spa, as well as ‘bolt-on’ activities such as treetop zip wires, horse-riding, e-bike tours, cookery classes and wine tastings. We explored Greve in Chianti and the medieval town of San Giovanni Valdarno. Charlotte's daughters, Tallulah and Matilda, were thrilled by the swimming options on siteAnd one non-negotiable trip was, of course, Florence. Taking the train from Figline Valdarno, the easiest way to go, we marched the children around Renaissance masterpieces, and explored the Boboli Gardens and the historic centre, where the Duomo, Santa Croce and Michelangelo’s David all made the cut.The highlight, however, was lunch at Mercato Centrale where wild boar ragu and truffle ravioli at The Pasta by Famiglia Michelis were devoured by all.On another day, the girls happily roamed the site and we took a shuttle to La Palagina, a nearby vineyard/farm operated by the campsite’s owners where we experienced a complimentary beekeeping and honey-tasting experience.One final discovery was dinner at Tenuta Il Palagio, the estate owned by Sting. Unaware of its famous proprietor when booking, we had been lured by the prospect of its breathtaking setting and live music, which it more than delivered on.Yes, there is great convenience to a UK Center Parcs holiday: No flights, no airport queues, no hire cars. But Italy comes out cheaper – even with transport. Plus you get sunshine, culture, remarkable food, incredible scenery and friendly locals.Center Parcs v Eurocamp’s Hu Norcenni Girasole? Tuscany’s the clear winner. WINE COUNTRY VS WHINFELL FOREST... A week in a Comfort holiday home, sleeping four, at Hu Norcenni Girasole in July/August 2027 (eurocamp.co.uk): From £864.Heathrow-Florence return flights for four: £584 (BA via booking.com). Week’s car rental (Locauto via booking.com): From £333. Total: £1,781. Seven nights in a woodland lodge sleeping four at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest site in Cumbria next summer (centerparcs.co.uk): From £1,928.TOTAL TUSCAN SAVING: £147