When I clear immigration ;;)

When I see the palm trees (or the sunflowers or the Eiffel Tower or the ocean or the skyline or the mountains) from the plane.

hi all,

I take my first relaxed breath when I pick up my luggage on the other end. I take my fully relaxed first breath when I check into my hotel and the room is okay!

All the rest is gravy!

I can breathe at 5pm on the last day of work before a long awaited for holiday to anywhere. Any part of the holiday is pure joy and all part of the 'great escape'.

I don't think this is the one you are looking for...

I don't breathe until the plane lands (bit of a nervous flier). After that, I'm set to go. By the time I'm gazing over the Vézère Valley, though, I'm in a dangerous state of torpor.

My trip starts once I get to the departure airport... buying a magazine, having a snack or a cocktail.

Why ignore the thrilling boredom of the flight, landing and arrival, going thru immigration, finding your suitcase actually arrived with you, figuring out transportation to your hotel, finding your room is ready for you???

That said, the first thing I do after check in (even before sitting on the bed and sighing) is run out to the nearest corner store for a bottle of wine. So, for me, that breath is taken with a glass (most likely the one from the bathroom) of wine in my hand!!

when oh when will i learn to read dates on the original post. sheez.

Nothing wrong with posting to old threads - I do it all the time ;)

Actually, I breathe when I put the car in gear and pull away from the house: the <i>planning</i> is over - the rest is <i>execution</i> (which has a different feel).

I'm in the group of &quot;when I arrive at my hotel/apartment and shut the door.&quot; :) The &quot;trip&quot; is over and I can start enjoying the vacation and then I look forward to every moment of every day thereafter.

Business and shopping only trips are a whole other matter, however. ;) Then I breathe as soon as my last suitcase is wheeled in the door back on the island. Pour me that glass of vino! :D

..After I get to the gate to take a flight, boarding pass in hand, ready to go, just waiting to be called to board....

When I get on the plane - to me that is when my vacation starts. And incidentally, the hour before we leave I don't think I breath AT ALL - I hate it. Waiting for the cab, double checking tickets, making sure we have passports, credit card, maps, itineraries etc. That part is the worst.

Flying from the West coast I don't breathe until I am on my connection to Europe. Then I know I am not getting bumped, missed a connection, etc. and I am on my way!!

I call it &quot;smelling vacation.&quot; It used to be sometime in the week before leaving, I would be next to useless at work, because I could &quot;smell vacation.&quot; But the older I get, the more in advance I can smell it, and I simply go on autopilot. But in answer to your question, I start to breathe when I leave the house for the airport, locking the door to the house. I feel that's the time no one or nothing can stop me. It's time to go.

When I walk out of and lock my front door with (hopefully) airline tickets, passport, and necessary items like credit cards, cash etc. From that moment on I am in a vacation mood.

I think we have 2 issues here: vacation and breathing.

My vacation starts at 5 pm Friday or any day before vacation when I leave work.

The sigh of relief - when I open the first hotel's door and step inside.

Once I get through customs.

My vacation starts the minute the bags are checked and I'm through security. I love browsing the junk stores and bookstores in the airport. I love the plane ride -- and I never sleep because I seldom get such an extended quiet reading time.

But my very favourit is checking into the hotel, seeing our room and ESPECIALLY checking out the bathroom gifties.

When I'm in the seat of the plane and it starts to take off.

The plane...not the seat.