Comments on: 10 Essential Tips to Improve Your Hitchhiking Game

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 09 May 2016 09:20:31 +0000

Hey Christopher,
Do you have a link for the ‘Practical Free Travel’ guide booklet?
My friend and I are going over to Europe and we’re planning to do a lot of hitchhiking, only thing is we’re new to the game. Would really be useful to have a booklet to carry around with me.
Thanks

By: Frugalfootsteps

Frugalfootsteps — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 09:42:44 +0000

Hey,
Thank you for the useful and interesting advice!
Has anybody got any experience of hitching with a dog in tow? My boyfriend and I are planning a very long and very slow trip by foot and possibly some hitching.

By: Darren

Darren — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 16:31:38 +0000

I’m not sure I would even think about hitchhiking – I think a new post titled, how to spot the person wanting to give you a lift isn’t a murderer :)

By: Barry Beaumont

Barry Beaumont — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 07:58:51 +0000

My two cents worth for increasing your chances of getting a ride would be…if you are walking along a road and come across an abandoned vehicle (car, truck, farm tractor, etc.) parked along side the roadway, don’t hesitate to park your bag just beyond the vehicle and start hitching at this point. My plan is a little misleading, but I hope to create the image as a stranded motorist playing for driver’s sympathy. This has worked out good for me, but I’m always upfront to the driver before I get in. (Use your discretion.)

By: S

Tue, 08 Jul 2014 20:09:28 +0000

From Canada also. I have hitched quite a lot around the western provinces of Canada and I have always found you will know if that is appropriate or not. Not saying it is not a good idea ..but you typically will find that your gut will be overwhelmingly in tune with the persons energy and you will just know..not really needing to resort to that..if you feel like you should do that..then don’t get in.

By: S

Tue, 08 Jul 2014 20:01:44 +0000

I am at the hopeful start of a trip here from B.C. Canada…be interesting to chat with you.

By: ahmed kakaev

ahmed kakaev — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 23:09:32 +0000

A sign that says ‘anywhere’ isn’t a good idea, it will make the drivers question you and also think everyone else could stop for you. A more specific sign is better, get personnal with the driver.

By: Jacqueline

Jacqueline — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 08:56:20 +0000

Haha! I know that moment when you see or talk to the guy that waited for a ride for hours in the same place you got picked up in less than ten minutes!
I hitchhiked all over Europe, a bit in South America and for three months only taking a bus twice in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan and always found hitchhiking to be faster than waiting for a bus. Love it!
Anyway love the advice I just started a blog and also had some hitchhiking tips and advice. Check it out: http://www.broketravelers.blogspot.com

By: Annie@GreenGlobalTravel

Annie@GreenGlobalTravel — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 08:47:14 +0000

Would a sign with “Anywhere” be a good thing or do you think they’ll just drive right by that? Seems like a fun adventure to me ;-)

By: Rajam

Rajam — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 06:43:37 +0000

Great tips- especially the last one about not being special…or maybe you are special, just like everyone else. The fact the driver stopped to give a lift is a huge gift and anyone who asks for more than that from their ride is ruining their “road karma”.

I’ve got many years hitchhiking under my belt, mostly in the U.S., Mexico and Venezuela. In the states, hitchhiking went well, just make sure the ride is taking you through the other side of the city and not dropping you off in the middle. That was probably one of the best things I figured out after a couple times walking for sometimes hours on dangerous roadways to get out of a city.

The only time I’ve ever had to resort to looking pitiful was when I was hitching with two other guys along 1-10 to CA. When we got to Barstow, we had been there for 3 days. Sleeping by the side of the road, getting up to hitch, sleeping by the side of the road, well.. you get the picture. We didn’t have enough water containers to trust walking out into the desert. At our wits end on the 3rd day, we all were standing on our knees with our hands in a prayer sign held up to the sky. Finally, a fellow pulled over and we jumped into the back of his pickup.

Carrying a light load is also helpful, who wants to be bogged down with a heavy pack?

I loved hitchhiking and as a woman, I never really had too much problems. I was very aware of my surroundings at all times and stayed away from bars or drinking.

Great seeing articles like this out there are reading that there are still people enjoying hitchhiking. There’s nothing like it in the world.