A British expat who relocated to Spain has shared a surprising perk of her new home that continues to astonish her every time she takes a long car journey. Susie, who documents 'real life in Spain' on social media, highlights how Spanish motorway service stations are vastly superior to their UK counterparts.
Spanish Service Stations: A World Apart
In a video posted from behind the wheel, Susie declared that 'motorway stops in Spain are different,' and she is absolutely right. Unlike the dreary, grey buildings in the UK where a quick 20-minute stop for a Burger King and a toilet break is the norm, Spanish stops offer a completely different experience.
Susie wrote in her caption: 'I still can't decide what surprises me more... the fact this was a motorway service station... or the fact that people here seem perfectly happy having wine and a three-course lunch halfway through a drive.' She decided to stop for lunch and brought her followers along to witness the contrast firsthand.
What Makes Them Different?
'Motorway stops in Spain still surprise me. It's like walking into a regular bar. There's beer on tap and jamon legs hanging on the wall,' Susie said, describing the typical European eatery atmosphere. 'There's even a proper restaurant where you sit down with a tablecloth, have several courses, and fresh bread. There's even water on the table.'
She added: 'What surprises me most is that this isn't even considered unusual here. It's just a normal stop on a long drive. Meanwhile, in the UK, most service stations feel basically identical. The same chains, the same shops, the same food.'
Susie noted that in the UK, she would never normally stop for more than 20 minutes, but in Spain, she stayed for around an hour and a half. The relaxed attitude towards dining allows drivers to savour their meal at a leisurely pace rather than feeling compelled to rush back behind the wheel.
Social Media Reactions
Other expats and travellers shared their own experiences in the comments. One user wrote: 'We used to drive to a specific stop by the highway to get stew because it was really nice hahaha, sad they've been disappearing where I'm from.' Another said: 'Love these, they're all over Europe! But the ones in Spain and Italy are the best. My favourite was a pizza bar just as you enter Italy through the Fréjus tunnel.'
A third commented: 'When friends come to visit me in my house in Spain, I take them to the local truck stop. The food is epic and my friends always leave flabbergasted by how good it is.' While a fourth added: 'The best part about travelling from one city to another by car in Spain is stopping by in a "venta" (roadside restaurant). The food is usually delicious and huge amounts.'
Another user noted that the choice of stop depends on the trip duration: 'If travelling just for the weekend... something quick to get to the destination as soon as possible. If it is a week... longer... just choose the best stop with the best traditional food and enjoy vacations since the first moment!!!'
