The Downfall of Motorway Services (5minutesaway.co.uk)

Member Name: wiggglypufff

Product:	5minutesaway.co.uk
Date:	29/06/01 (469 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Ideas for stop offs away from the confines of motorway services

Disadvantages: Needs more motorways included

This site is one that I’d advise keeping an eye on if you are a frequent traveler. It’s showing great potential as a resource to not only serve the customer, but at the very same time take away the foot hold that strategically placed (and as considered by many, over priced) motorway service restaurants have on the British motorway network.

The site, 5minutesaway.co.uk (also at .com), aims to give you information about services that are just 5 minutes (or 3 miles) away from a given junction on a motorway. Not just service stations, but all sorts of places for travelers to stop off.


The homepage
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The homepage is very simple, graphically basic and visually plain. But that is not a bad thing. If you are visiting a reference site, you want the pages to display the basics and load quickly, which this site does.

It displays a mock roundabout road sign but rather than the usual destinations, each branch off the roundabout denotes a reason why you may pull of the motorway.... tired, hungary, in need of petrol. Next to the sign are the symbols commonly seen of motorway service area boards, and the ‘Enter Site’ link.


Introduction
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Having entered the site, the introduction tells you the aim of the site, which as we have established, is to offer a guide to the facilities that are available within 5 minutes (or 3 miles) from a specified motorway junction.

You will find pubs, hotels, restaurants, garages/petrol stations, places of interest and things to do listed. Each with parking available, and away from busy town centre and city locations, so after motorway mayhem you should be able to achieve a somewhat peaceful and laid back break.


Choose a motorway
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On the left hand side of the page you will see ‘Choose a motorway’. Next to this, a drop down menu with the motorwa
ys currently listed, and below this, the motorways listed and the locations they run between. Select a motorway from either list and you’re then presented with the junctions on that motorway.

The junctions are listed and you will see some are highlighted, some aren’t. The highlighted ones denote junctions with facility listings. There are also some S symbols, these denoting motorway service stations between junctions. Click on the relevant junction or S to see what facilities are available.


Choose a facility
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A combination of the following facilities which are within 5 minutes (or 3 miles) of your chosen junction will be shown...

- Accommodation
- Activity
- Food / Pub
- Fuel
- Garage
- Hospital
- Services
- Shops

.... along with a basic map of the motorway junction.

Click the type of facility you are looking for and you will be presented with options available, and directions to get to them. Some of the establishments listed offer additional information such as opening hours and telephone numbers too.


Potential
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As you can see, the site is simple to use, and has potential. You are also probably aware of the use of the word ’potential’ throughout this review...... I will explain. The site currently has only 14 motorways listed. Chances are you will sometimes be travelling out of the covered areas. So what can you do?

If you know of facilities that aren’t listed, use the contact form and let them know. You can also make general comments about the site. Take a look, and if you think of any way it could be made better, make a suggestion .

This site is offering the consumer a choice away from the normal confines of motorway service areas that often appear to be the only place to take a break during motorway travel. Your input can only help to make it bett
er!

For those with WAP enabled phones, this site could prove a god send when travelling and finding yourself in need of a stop for whatever reason. For those without WAP, a few minutes spent at this site (researching your chosen route before setting off) will give you options that you previously may never have known existed.

Summary: