Hitch-hiking: Tips and Tricks - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**TheJake** · 09-26-2007, 06:51 PM

If you haven't tried hitch-hiking, I encourage you to give a go. Here are a few things I've learned over the years. Please add your own or ask any questions!

Keep an open mind. Getting into a stranger’s vehicle is always an adventure and one best experienced with a wide range of acceptance. Avoid politics and religion at all costs! Else you might find yourself pulled over to the side of a forgotten dirt road in the Colorado Rockies being anointed with oil and having your eternal soul prayed for by a traveling big-tent revivalist. After a long half-hour of his and his wife’s tears, prayers, singing and dancing, I did get to my stop but I learned to be mindful of the driver’s ideas before spouting my own.
Always check the sobriety of the driver. I cannot stress this enough. It is one thing to accidentally get into a car with a couple of mafia guys and another thing entirely to get in with a drunk driver. Your fun hitching experience just became a white-knuckled "oh god! oh god! I don't wanna die! oh god! oh god!" experience. In retrospect, the anointing was probably a good precursor to the drunken Mini Cooper ride of death. It made roller coasters feel like the tilt-a-whirl.
Showers are clutch. As a hitcher I feel it's just common courtesy to not smell or look like the ditch you were sleeping in while waiting for a ride. Put on some decent looking clothes and a smile. You'll get farther, faster.
Direct tactics almost always work. Like walking up to someone in the rental car facility. It lets them know you are a normal person just looking for a lift and sets them more at ease. It'll get you places faster than standing next to the airport exit ramp, and if by some chance you forget your favorite book on the seat, you can trace the car through the rental agency.
Avoid telling them your final destination. Always ask where they are headed instead of the other way around. I made the mistake of informing the Mini Cooper guy of my final stop, so there was no saying "Oh hey look, there's my stop!" You can always get out early that way if you aren't happy with the lack of legroom in the back seat. That, and your buddy’s "Dude, why did I let you talk me into this" look. Which leads me to...
Start with a buddy. If you are a first time hitcher, grab a friend. It'll make you more confident and relaxed, a much easier way to enjoy the ride.
The most important rule: Be a hoopy frood and always know where your towel is.

This thread dedicated to the memory of the late great Adams Douglas Adams.

DrGonzo · 09-27-2007, 08:17 AM

hell yea jake! awesome advice on hitching. i was planning on hitching across country until i got a offered an almost free ride. i think more people should look into it. i did a little bit of it down in costa rica and you can totally meet some incredible (and frightening) people. but all in all, hitching is an exciting time.

**lauren313** · 09-27-2007, 08:31 AM

Nice one Jake, I think it was a wise idea to keep these tips separate from your story.

**c0urt** · 09-27-2007, 11:28 AM

actually the smile thing i think is one of the best piece of advice.

signs suck i learned. i always got rides faster just sticking my thumb out than taking the time to make a sign.

**freespiritz** · 09-27-2007, 12:39 PM

I've been told to pack a dress for those days...

I've only hitched two rides in my life (in Nicaragua), but I would totally do it in the US if I had someone to go with - I'm still not convinced that hitching as a solo female is the best thing to do. Anyone want to hit the road with me?

**juliagulia** · 09-27-2007, 03:45 PM

Hwei, you willing to wait a few years? Haha..

This is the type of thing I would LOVE to do if I weren't a solo female. The world is just a bit scary sometimes.

**freespiritz** · 09-27-2007, 04:52 PM

Sure, I've gots time. Let me know when you want to go, Julia!

I just remembered that I did hitch a ride in Costa Rica too - walking up to people in parking lots does work and you can definitely pick your target better than thumbing by the side of the road!

**TheJake** · 09-27-2007, 06:19 PM

that's what im sayin!

**Esterina** · 09-27-2007, 06:37 PM

I've hitchiked in a few times in Romania and once in Hungary, always in the countryside, and I've never had any problems. Men were friendly and respectful. No allusion of any sort...

I wouldn't have tried it in cities though.

**Elizabeth** · 09-27-2007, 07:19 PM

great tips jake

I've read all the tips but I'm dead afraid to do it in the US. I've got this vision of me standing in my spot and then I live in such a small town someone who knows me sees me and calls up my whole family and they come drag me back into town. Really dumb ha.

On my next european trip I plan on totally hitching it unless in the country train prices are totally negligible ie Ukraine, so I gotta suck it up and just do it. there are so many female hitchers on digihitch, if they can do it, why I can't I?

**TheJake** · 09-27-2007, 07:35 PM

yeah that's a great resource for hitchiking. I was a frequent poster there for awhile but it's just not the same as tpunk!

**Sijuki** · 09-29-2007, 09:59 PM

I don't remember ever hitchhiking. Although for some reason I vaguely remember getting rides from strangers. I wouldn't be against it, just never seemed to have needed it.

Also, I have only ever picked up one hitchhiker. She walked up to me in a parking lot asking for a ride to a spot that turned out to not even be her final destination. I didn't want to at first cause quite frankly it was out of my way, but I felt sorry for the girl and figured noone else in the area would give her a ride either, so I did. I'm such a sap. We had nice conversation and hung out. All I can remember is the whole time thinking she was a prostitute or something. Mainly because of the area she was going to. Who knows.

**worldwidemike** · 10-03-2007, 06:26 PM

I don't think I tried hitching here in the U.S., but I've done it a number of times overseas. I think folks are more open to picking up riders overseas, where their media is less hyperventilating about the potential dangers...

worldwidemike