10 Essential Tips: The Hitchhiker's Guide

"Sane is boring." ― R.A. Salvatore

Hitchhiking to Amsterdam was crazy. It wasn't my first time hitchhiking, but it was my first time doing it over such a long distance and doing it with other people. It might also have been the wildest thing I've done this year... Or indeed, ever.

Hitching for 56 hours teaches you lots of valuable skills about hitchhiking and trying to get a ride from others; these are 10 of the best tips I learned.

#1 Dress properly.

This seems like common sense, but I cannot stress enough how important it is to be dressed right. The last thing you want to do is to be stuck in clothes that aren't warm enough when you're by the side of the A1 at 2AM in the morning in a drizzle and wind. (Yes, that actually happened.)

You'll want gloves, waterproof jackets, a good hat, and most importantly good walking boots. Wear something you know you'll be comfortable in even after hours of wearing, and dress in layers because you never know what the weather will be.

Reindeer and dinosaur Primark onesies aren't the smartest attire to go hitchhiking in.

#2 Get a signboard.

This is really useful because people know where you're headed before they decide to stop and pick you up, making it more likely that they'll pay attention to you if you happen to be by the side of an expressway. Having a signboard also shows that you're serious about hitchhiking and that you've put effort into it, which makes you seem more trustworthy. I recommend an erasable whiteboard, which lets you rewrite your destination point depending on where your next major stop is.

#3 Smile!

Everyone wants to be around happy people, and in hitchhiking someone is doing you a favour by picking you up. The least you can do to reciprocate is to show that you're thankful for the ride. People are always friendlier when they smile, and this helps you win the trust of the next person who's going to give you a ride. Hitchhiking is tough work, and you'll need to keep your spirits up anyway.

#4 Ask proactively.

People these days aren't as sympathetic toward hitchhikers because it's not as common as it was 20 years ago, but if you ask nicely you'll still probably be able to get a lift if they're going your way. The key here, though, is for you to ask - if you wait for people to notice you, you might be stuck in one spot for ages.

People will likely think of you as a curiosity rather than volunteering to pick you up themselves. You know how when shows ask for volunteers, people never do, but always have to wait for the performers to pick people from the crowd? Same thing. Which brings me to my next point...

#5 Ask to be dropped off at service stations, not the side of expressways.

Apart from the fact that standing on the side of expressways aren't the safest thing in the world, being near service stations lets you catch people where they're forced to acknowledge you, as they're filling up the tank of their car or taking a quick break. (Refer to #4 on why you need people to acknowledge you.) Service stations are also much safer - at least when nightfall comes, you'll be in a place where there's light, and there are washroom facilities available if you need them.

If you find yourself in the middle of a city, make your way to the edge of it before you try hitching - it's extremely difficult to get a long-haul hitch in a city centre, where most people are only travelling for short distances. Your best chances at getting a hitch will be truck drivers, who will often be glad for the company over a long-distance drive.

#6 Know when it's time to take a break.

Hitchhiking is tiring, especially if you've been at it non-stop for hours and you don't seem to be going anywhere. There's a fine line between being determined and being stubborn, and you have to know where that line is. You aren't likely to get a hitch anywhere in the middle of the night, for example. If you've been at it for 15 hours straight, maybe it's time to take a nap, or take time to figure out what your next step should be.

Don't be discouraged if no one seems to be going your way. On several occasions I asked people if they were going southward, had them answer "No sorry I'm headed north," and then two minutes later see them turn onto the lane going south of the A1. In other words, many of them lie just to get out of it. People do get scared of hitchhikers, and although it's frustrating to have them say no to you, accept that that's just the way it is. Another hitch will come along at some point - patience is a virtue.

#7 Balance speed and safety.

You're more likely to get a hitch if you go in smaller groups, but at the same time remember that there's safety in numbers. Male groups of hitchhikers may find it difficult to get a hitch because drivers may be wary; female groups tend to find a bit more sympathy, but you'll want to make sure that everyone is capable of defending themselves if you get into tricky or dangerous situations. Remember that it's okay to decline rides that seem dodgy - even if you're desperate to be going somewhere, never accept a ride that seems dangerous.

#8 Travel light.

Don't lug around massive suitcases - a backpack that contains only your essentials is all you will want to carry. It's also difficult when you're in someone else's car; you never know how much you'll need to squeeze your luggage. Your luggage will be with you 24 hours a day for the duration of your hitch, so you want something that isn't going to weigh you down or give you sore shoulders by the end of it all.

#9 Be prepared.

Take along little things with big purposes - Swiss Army Knives, umbrellas, maps. Swiss Army Knives are all-purpose handy little tools that come in useful in a myriad of situations, and you will be thankful that you brought your umbrella if it begins pouring. Maps are absolutely essential; they tell you what routes you should be taking and where you are. Torches and high-visibility vests are useful in case you find yourself on a dark road.

There is nothing worse than being stuck in the middle of nowhere and not knowing where you are. Trust me on this. My tip: prepare for hitchhiking as you would prepare for camping.

#10 Speaking the local language helps.

When I was in France, I was speaking almost exclusively in French because nearly no-one spoke any English. Speaking French allowed me to break down the barriers between the locals and myself, letting me take and follow directions from the locals. Being able to communicate in the local lingua meant help was more readily given because they stopped seeing me as a foreign threat, which took away the element of being a stranger.

If you can't speak the local language, at least have some phrases that you can use to express yourself with.

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Remember, hitching is all about trust. People would often tell me that over the years, horror stories of hitchers turning into murderers started emerging, which made people become a lot more wary of hitchhikers. If you can gain a person's trust, half the battle is won in making your way to your next destination.

And if anything, always remember that the answer to any question is always 42. ;)