| 1) Dress appropriately. When on the road waiting | | | | 5) Be interesting and polite. When someone stops |
| for the next ride you can expect that weather | | | | to pick you up, never turn a ride down. Particularly |
| conditions may change drastically. Choose your | | | | at big city exits most people tend to travel very |
| wardrobe wisely, so you would be prepared for | | | | short distances to their homes. So unless you feel |
| bad weather, your clothes must be comfortable | | | | really unsafe about the car or the driver accept |
| and practical. | | | | the ride. When in car, remember to keep up with |
| 2) Pack light. You really don't have to haul all of | | | | the conversation. Don't fall asleep - that really |
| your belongings with you. A medium sized | | | | annoys the drivers. Don't be afraid of the |
| backpack will be enough for all the things you | | | | language barrier, if the trip is long you will learn to |
| might need on your trip. | | | | get past it. Most drivers hate it when the person |
| 3) Be clean. You will have far better chances of | | | | they picked up just sits there and says nothing. |
| hitching a ride when you look clean and nice, | | | | 6) Don't travel in large groups. In my opinion the |
| because nobody wants a dirty unknown person in | | | | best way to hitchhike is alone. A single hitchhiker |
| the car. Remember that the people who will stop | | | | has far more better chances to get a ride than |
| mostly make the decision on how you look. | | | | three. For two guys it will be harder to hitch a |
| Another important thing is to keep also your | | | | ride than any other combination, so if you really |
| backpack clean, don't put it on the ground. Also | | | | don't want to travel alone and you are a guy, |
| personal hygiene is a must, even if you have | | | | consider choosing a girl as your companion. |
| spent the night in your tent in forest. | | | | 7) Plan your trip. This really does not need any |
| 4) Hitchhike at places where the drivers can see | | | | explanation:) |
| you and it is safe for them to stop to pick you | | | | 8) Hitchhike during the day. Your best bet is to |
| up. Actually in most countries there are laws | | | | start in the early morning when there are more |
| against hitchhiking on the highways. A good place | | | | cars on the roads. During late evenings and nights |
| for hitchhiking would be where the speeds are | | | | it is not only almost impossible to hitch a ride, but |
| slow; drivers can see you early and stop for you | | | | also it is dangerous to hitchhike in the dusk or |
| safely without breaking the road rules. Avoid | | | | dark. |
| hitchhiking on roads with high speeds and lot's of | | | | 9) Don't be afraid of the smaller country roads. |
| traffic (it is not only hard to hitch a ride, it is also | | | | Remember the further you go from big cities, the |
| might be dangerous for you and the drivers that | | | | easier it is to catch a ride. |
| might stop), at bus stops and city entrances and | | | | 10) Stay in touch with your relatives or friends. |
| cities. Gas stations and truck stops are great | | | | Call them everyday and let them know where |
| places to hitch a ride. Trucks are the best - they | | | | you are and where are you going that day. |
| travel long distances and truck drivers can tell you | | | | These were the ten basic hitchhiking tips. I'm sure |
| a lot of useful things where to stop, eat and | | | | you will learn a lot more on the way, because |
| hitchhike. | | | | every hitchhiking trip is unique. |