Discover what it’s really like to arrive at Centre Parcs Longford Forest, Ireland. From check-in tips to autism-friendly travel advice, here’s how to make your family’s first day smooth, calm, and fun.
We arrived at Centre Parcs Longford Forest around 5:15 p.m., a little later than planned, and straight away we realised we’d definitely pay for early check-in next time. Having those extra few hours to settle in before bedtime makes a huge difference, especially for families travelling with a child with additional needs. If you’re planning your first Centre Parcs Ireland break, I’d recommend arriving closer to 12 noon if possible. That gives you time to enjoy the Subtropical Swimming Paradise pool, grab some food there, and then head to your lodge for the 2 p.m. check-in.
It’s a much calmer start to your family holiday, and it helps everyone unwind and adjust to the new environment — something that’s particularly helpful for autism-friendly family travel.
🏡 Arriving at Our Lodge at Centre Parcs Ireland
When we arrived at our lodge in Centre Parcs Longford Forest, we unpacked the car and then brought it back to the car park, as vehicles aren’t allowed in the village during your stay. This system actually keeps the whole resort much safer and calmer for children — no traffic or noise, just peaceful forest paths and bikes passing by.
Emily found it difficult to leave her blanket behind in the lodge, so we came up with a quick Plan B. We let her take the blanket in a spare backpack, and she was happy to leave it in the car, thinking we were going back there later. (We actually took it with us and showed her at Lodge) This small adjustment worked perfectly for her and helped make that first evening transition smoother.
For other autism families visiting Centre Parcs Ireland, having a familiar item or comfort object on hand can really help with new environments and change.
🍕 First Evening & Dinner in the Lodge
After settling in, we went for a walk around the Village Centre to get our bearings. We tried to have food at the Sports Café, but it was a bit too much change for Emily at once — new place, lots of people, new smells — so we headed back to the lodge. Luckily, we had planned ahead and brought frozen pizza for dinner, which was perfect for the first night. If you’re visiting Centre Parcs Longford Forest with kids, especially those who prefer routine, I highly recommend bringing a familiar dinner for your arrival night. It makes things easier for everyone.
🔌 Tech & Entertainment Setup
Back at the lodge, we set up Emily’s PS4 on the TV, but we discovered Sky Go console only works at your home address. Thankfully, we’d brought my laptop, and we were able to connect it to the bedroom TV via HDMI to stream shows. We also connected a Firestick to the living room TV.
A helpful tip: the bedroom TVs can be lifted slightly to access the HDMI ports. One of ours even had a spare HDMI cable already connected — but it’s always best to bring your own HDMI cable just in case.
🛏️ Lodge Safety Features at Centre Parcs Ireland
One of the first things we noticed — and really appreciated — about our lodge at Centre Parcs Longford Forest was how safe and secure it felt. For families like ours, travelling with a child with autism or additional needs, safety and peace of mind make all the difference.
The front door locks securely from the outside and can be opened from inside, but it also has a chain lock fitted high up. Emily actually did try to open the door at one point, and although she’s very strong, she couldn’t get it open. The chain made a loud noise as soon as she pushed at it, which gave us enough time to react straight away. Of course, I would always recommend keeping a close watch on children, but this safety setup would definitely buy parents valuable time even if the chain ever did break — and the one in our lodge seemed very strong and well-fitted.
All of the windows have restrictors installed, which is such an important feature for peace of mind. The back sliding door requires two steps to unlock and also includes a child safety lock, which we thought was brilliant. These thoughtful touches make the Centre Parcs lodges feel genuinely family-friendly and autism-aware, helping parents relax without constant worry.
🏡 Why Safety Features Matter
Knowing that the doors and windows were secure allowed us to relax properly for the first time in months. Families visiting Centre Parcs Ireland with autistic children or young kids will understand how valuable that sense of security is. It meant we could focus on enjoying the holiday instead of constantly worrying about potential hazards.
🏡 Choosing the Right Lodge at Centre Parcs Ireland
We stayed in a three-bedroom Executive Lodge at Centre Parcs Longford Forest, and honestly, it was worth every cent. For families, especially those travelling with a child with autism or sensory needs, having a bit of extra space makes all the difference.
Our lodge had two double bedrooms and one twin room. Emily had one of the doubles, we had the other, and we used the twin room for all our extra bits — luggage, clothes horse, washing basket, medicines, and everything else that helps keep things organised. It was lovely having a dedicated “storage room” so the living area stayed calm and uncluttered, which really helps when routine and space matter. It also gave Emily choices of which bedroom would work better for her. She started out in the Twin and Quickly moved to the Second Double.
🌲 Forest vs Woodland Lodges — What’s the Difference?
We had a three-bedroom Forest Lodge, and after some research, we realised the main differences between the Forest and Woodland Lodges are small but noticeable:
- Forest Lodges include two doubles and one twin, while Woodland Lodges have one double and two twins.
- Forest Lodges have TVs in every bedroom and a bath with jets, which is great for winding down after a busy day in the pool or activities.
- Both are beautifully designed, but the Forest Lodge felt that little bit more comfortable and better suited for our family.
If you’re visiting Centre Parcs Ireland with a larger family or a child who benefits from routine, extra privacy, or their own space, the three-bedroom Executive or Forest Lodge options are absolutely worth the upgrade.
🧳 What to Bring to Centre Parcs Ireland: Handy Tips We Learned
Even though we’d packed well, there were a few things we only discovered after arriving at Centre Parcs Longford Forest that would’ve been good to know in advance. These little details make a big difference, especially for families with children who like routine or who have sensory needs.
One thing we learned quickly is that each lodge has its own shared wheelie bins nearby. You’re expected to empty your lodge bins yourself, so definitely bring extra bin bags — we did this, and it made life much easier. The recycling setup is great: there are separate bins for general waste, food waste, recycling, and glass bottles, which keeps things simple.
There’s also a reverse vending machine near the Village Centre for returning cans and bottles. We decided to bring ours home instead, but it’s good to know it’s there if you want to recycle while you’re on-site.
🏠 Extra Items We Were Glad We Brought
Some of the things we brought from home turned out to be absolute lifesavers:
- 🛍️ Plastic bags for sorting and carrying bits to the bins
- 🧴 Washing-up liquid, sponges, and dishwasher tablets
- 👕 Clothes washing liquid and a clothes horse (handy because we didn’t bring enough trousers for Emily, they had a lovely holiday still sitting in the dryer ready back home )
- 🧺 beach towels or microfibre towels for the pool — they dry quickly and save renting extra
- 🧃 Food from home and a quick stop at Tesco Mullingar on the way there for fresh items
It’s always better to have a few home comforts, especially for kids who prefer familiar food or textures. It helps make the first day feel normal and reduces stress for everyone.
🌙 First Night at Centre Parcs Ireland
When we arrived at our lodge in Centre Parcs Longford Forest, we were greeted by a lovely surprise — a “Happy Birthday” message for Emily from the staff. It was such a thoughtful touch and immediately made us feel welcome. The attention to detail really stood out and showed how friendly and accommodating the Centre Parcs Ireland team is.
That first evening was all about settling in. Despite our best efforts to keep the routine calm, sleep didn’t come easily for Emily. It was around 1:30 a.m. before she finally drifted off, which honestly wasn’t unexpected — new surroundings, excitement, and the change of routine all play a part. Still, she slept soundly through the night once settled, and we all managed a much-needed lie-in until 9 a.m. the next morning.
For families visiting Centre Parcs with children with autism or sensory sensitivities, my advice would be to plan for a gentle first night. Keep things simple: familiar pyjamas, favourite bedtime items, maybe even a short video or music playlist from home. It helps create a sense of normality in a brand-new environment.
🌲 Our First Impressions of Centre Parcs Longford Forest
Overall, our first day and night at Centre Parcs Ireland left a really positive impression. The lodge safety features, the peaceful setting, and the friendly staff made us feel relaxed from the start. It was clear that this is a place where families with additional needs can have a proper holiday — one where everyone feels included and safe.
We learned a lot in just one evening — from what to pack and how to plan arrival times, to which small details really make a difference. The next part of our series will dive into activities, dining options, and sensory-friendly tips for enjoying everything Centre Parcs has to offer.
We hope our first-hand experience at Centre Parcs Ireland helps make your own trip a little easier and more enjoyable.
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You can also visit www.autismhelp.ie for more posts in our Centre Parcs Ireland blog series coming soon!