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== [[Maps|Carry a good map]] ==
You want to know were you are going. It also helps if [[gas petrol station]]s are marked, and you don't need city maps. Try and find a map that you don't have to open out to one large sheet of paper every time you want to use it; you will be using it often. Book-style maps are best.
'''Map Tips: Positive'''
If it's hot, choose a hitchhiking spot where you can get some shade, in case you have to wait for some hours.
If it's wet, drivers may feel sorry for you, and choose to help you out. No-one likes a soggy hitchhiker in their car, so keep an umbrella handy. Better: stay dry at a [[gas petrol station]].
Thunderstorms are a blessing. If, during a dry day, you notice that a thunderstorm is coming, don't worry. When the storm hits you, keep you and your possessions under an umbrella and keep signalling. Drivers will feel '''very''' sorry for you, and many will stop for you. While waiting on the roadside, [[User:tmoon|Tom]] was hit by three thunderstorms in 2006, all of which got him a ride in less than ten minutes. The best example was in [[Cologne]] - after waiting for two hours without a ride offer, a storm came and there were three offers in five minutes (took the third one, it was a short ride and at the next petrol station another ride came within two minutes).
Girls check out the safety guide tailored to your needs at http://girls.hitchbase.com
== In the car ==
Once you've actually managed to get in the car and start heading towards your destination, it's all a matter of being courteous. Remember, your driver didn't have to pick you up at all. Settle in, get comfortable, but of course, not too comfortable. Keep your shoes off the dashboard, don't pass any form of gas petrol (from either end), etc. In other words, don't do anything to offend your driver!
Your driver may have picked you up for many possible reasons. One of the main reasons is companionship on a long journey. That means you have to talk to the driver. Have a few things to talk about in mind before you get in (What's your name? Where are you headed? Oh yeah? What's there?). If the driver doesn't seem too interested in talking you can relax or read a book.
It is also a good idea to check out [http://couchsurfing.com CouchSurfing.com] (more active), [http://bewelcome.org BeWelcome.org] and [http://www.hospitalityclub.org Hospitality Club] (good for finding phone numbers in smaller places) for free accommodation. If there's a YMCA center in town, see if they have a room for the night. There are many hitchhikers and it is easy to find a couple of places to stay while on the road or even at your destination. A fresh shave and shower will also greatly increase the chances of getting picked up.
If you can't find anywhere to sleep there are still other ways out of the situation. If you are lucky enough to be at a 24 hour gas petrol station just keep drinking coffee and keep hitching through the night. (Joe: My advice would be not to. After about 11p.m., it's probably best just to accept that you've been lucky and are stuck at a petrol station where you can stay warm. If you take another lift, you might end up in the middle of nowhere at three in the morning.) At night don't bother trying to get lifts with a sign, just ask people at the gas petrol station when they go to pay. Keep in mind that it gets really quiet between 2:00 and 5:00 even at a busy autobahn service area. The other alternative is to find a truck (or a car) going a really really long way and crash out on the way. Make sure you trust the driver or do it with 2 hitchers taking turns to sleep. The downside to this is that you might wake up a long way from where you wanted to be but at least you didnt have to sleep in the gutter.
== Getting to the nearest city ==
== [[Highway]] hitchhike ==
If you need to travel over long destinations, taking the highway may help a lot, and in some place is almost unavoidable. Most highway entrances are bad spots, and many are dangerous. A good way to "hitchhike" on highway is to practice "station hopping": you only stops in gas petrol stations. Gas Petrol stations (or rest areas, often the same) are the best spot ever, because you can go directly talk to people (show them you are nice and smile) and the car is totally stopped. Enjoy.
Do realise that in most countries, hitchhiking directly on the highway is forbidden! In rare occasions however, you might be forced too. Keep in mind that it is very unsafe for drivers to stop on the highway, and that your own [[safety]] is also in danger. The [[police]] might force you to leave the area, but in some cases they just don't care.
