10 hitchhiking tips

I was once stuck in Wawa, which I later found out was the worst hitchhiking spot in Canada, and my aggressive dancing probably didn't help (I was so bored).

There is some debate about this. I've had times when I didn't use a sign and the driver told me I should use one. But using a sign can also make you miss out on some drivers who will think "Oh, I'm not going that far". Some people are unfamiliar with hitchhiking and may not think of the fact that you'll be happy just going from Manchester to Stoke-on-Trent even if your final destination is London (or Istanbul). To avoid this problem, you could use different signs along the way (although you might still miss some people unless you always get another sign for every next little town). In the UK, it's sometimes recommended to put the name of the road on your sign (such as M1).

If you're on an extremely long hitchhiking trip with a faraway final destination, such as if you're starting in Luxemburg and going all the way to Beijing, using a sign that says 'Beijing' would be a good way to attract attention.

A sign is also a way to look more fun. Instead of the name of your destination, you could write something like "Free Cookies" or "Not a psychopath."

You'll be missing out on a lot of cars that are driving past, but people will be more likely to trust you with a first interaction.

"Hi! Sorry to bother you, I'm trying to get a ride to Amsterdam, but anywhere on the way is fine too. Any chance you could help?"

However, doing this could make you miss out on some people. It's hard to say hi to everyone when it's crowded, and some people don't even enter the gas station. If you're hitchhiking with someone, you could split up: One of you approaches people, and the other one stands by the exit with their thumb up.

This sometimes works too. Just have a little chat with someone while waiting in line, maybe crack a joke, and at some point in the conversation, mention that you're hitchhiking. You might not even need to ask for a ride, they might just offer one to you.

Ask people for rides, and ask people for any sort of help. Do you need a piece of cardboard to make a sign? Ask an employee at the gas station. Need directions? Need to know where you can pitch a tent? Just ask! You could even strike up a conversation with someone somewhere and ask if they can let you crash on their couch. There is a French TV show about this called "J'irai dormir chez vous", in which this guy travels somewhere, strikes up conversations and asks people if he can crash at their places.

Example: If you're hitchhiking from Paris to Amsterdam and you find a ride to Brussels, ask the driver to drop you off at a gas station before they leave the highway. Otherwise, you'll waste a lot of time trying to get out of the city.

When cars are going too fast, the drivers might not have the time to make a decision.

Stand somewhere so that cars can easily get off the road.

Don't hitchhike on the highway; it's illegal in a lot of places anyway (obviously you can ask for rides at highway gas stations, just don't stand by the highway).

If you're not feeling it, you can always decline the ride. If you feel that the person might be dangerous once you've already hopped in their car, tell them you need to use the toilet and, once you're out of the car (don't forget your stuff), tell them you've changed your mind. I've never done this, but I'm guessing that's what I would do in that situation.

As mentioned before, don't stand by the highway. Don't cross the highway on foot if you find yourself on the wrong side.

To be extra safe, share your live location with someone. Carry a powerbank to make sure your phone is always charged.

Think of any other precautions you could take. Hitchhiking is probably safer than traveling by bicycle, but there are always risks. There are a few countries or regions where it probably wouldn't be advisable to hitchhike if you're a woman traveling by herself. As a man, you're also not immune to perverts.

Not in exchange for a ride, just as a token of gratitude once they drop you off. I've never done this, but it would be nice.