Merging on the motorway often feels liberating, if you disregard the occasional traffic jam. Likewise, taking a break on service plaza is a sure sign you are on your way to a holiday. It is a key stage in the journey, a lifesaving tactic when the "Are we there yet?" chorus reaches its climax ("each moment brings us closer" is the right answer, by the way). People usually spend 20 to 45 minutes there, depending on the to-do list: bathroom break, oil change, hot coffee, power nap... It also provides a change of scenery, a taste of things to come, with local and seasonal indicators that make you want to stop again further down the road.
Going to the railway station to get on a train can be quite relaxing, as long as you make it with time to spare: travelers spend between 3 and 45 minutes there! Before you leave town, you can walk around and have a break that's quick and constructive now that these places look more and more like modern shopping malls (see Gare Saint-Lazare or Gare du Nord in Paris). Often located in and connected to the heart of the city, these stress-free areas are perfect for a stroll, a bite or a splurge.
Getting to the airport before a long vacation is the first step towards escaping the daily routine. Once your boarding card is printed, your luggage dropped off and your passport checked, a long wait begins: 1h30 on average. You don't want to miss your flight and ruin everything! No matter the time of day, you always feel like eating something or looking at the shops, a good way to stretch your legs. Now that airports have turned into luxury shopping malls, travelers have high expectations: they want new services and innovative offers. All they require is a little push...
