Hitchhiking is by far the cheapest way to travel across countries, all over the world. Basically, hitchhiking is the custom of procuring a ride by standing next to a road, extending a thumb, and hoping someone that isn’t an axe-murderer stops and picks you up. Surprisingly, hitchhiking is actually overly exaggerated as being risky. There are risks, but it’s not absolutely and completely deadly as most seem to believe. In Europe, Asia, and many other parts of the world hitchhiking is much more common than it is in the United States. Hitchhikers can become very frustrated though, regardless of where they travel, as more and more drivers refuse to stop, because hitchhiking has become less popular and more frowned upon than it was in the past. Most of the people who pick up hitchhikers are friendly; few are unsafe, but it’s important to remember that there are unsafe drivers. However, there are some basic safety precautions that you can take when hitchhiking, to both ensure a safer ride, and a more efficient one.

Before you start hitchhiking, it’s a good idea to know the language of the region, at least a little bit. English is actually spoken in quite a few places, however, knowing the language of the country you’re traveling to helps with some important communication issues; such as where you’re going, and what you’re not willing to do for the ride. Also have a map of the area; know where you’re going. Also, carry plenty of food and drink with you; gas stations may be a tad too expensive. Also, hitchhiking is sometimes illegal along certain stretches of road, so make sure you’re aware of any signs that prohibit hitchhiking. Also, wear brighter colours; black and dark colours might not win you much credibility in the eyes of drivers. Be sure to bring a parka, or raincoat, and a jacket, in case of unexpected rain, or cold winds. If you have one, some more seasoned hitchhikers recommend bringing along a folding bike as back-up transportation.

Location is very important to getting a ride; you want to be in a safe position, where drivers can see you early enough to have time to think it over, and then pull off and stop. Don’t try getting a ride off of busy highways, where drivers can’t stop, or are travelling at high speeds. Also, catching a ride in a downtown city should be avoided as well; most drivers are going short distances, and inner city areas can be dangerous, as criminals tend to single out foreigners as prey. Instead, take a bus to the edge of town, and hitchhike from there. Catching a ride at night isn’t particularly easy, because wariness of drivers is much higher. Instead, if you remembered to pack a small tent and sleeping bag, set up camp somewhere a safe distance from the road, preferably a public camping ground, where you won’t be fined for trespassing. There are also websites where you can find ride connections, which some find to be much safer; you can request the person’s ID card number, and give it to someone at home, for safety reasons, then ask to see the ID when meeting your ride. If the driver is genuine, they’ll understand the precaution.