Changes

A list of recommendations can be found in the [[maps|maps article]]. You want to know where you are going. It also helps if [[petrol station hitchhiking|petrol stations]] 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. A lot of times, you'll be okay without owning a map, though, if you use your chances well to have a look at one - petrol and service stations and lifts - and keep in mind all you need to know.

It'''Map Tipss recommended you have a map that is at least 1:1,000,000 ratio. 1:750,000 is usually good enough. A map with a scale of 1: Positive'''250.000 will still allow you to recognize enough details to walk somewhere if you get lost. Remember that petrol stations often have maps for sale, including very local ones. If you need to find out the geography of the local area, simply walk into the shop, pick up a local map, study it, get the information you need, then put it back and walk out. Many service stations also have large maps on walls or notice boards.

* The ''Shell Euroatlas'' is good for [[Europe]], however, it's difficult to find.* The ''Falk Länderkarte'' series (in German, but can be understood by everyone) is brilliant for individual European countries, with a useful, clever and compact fold-out page system. It is easy to find but only inside of [[Germany]] and neighbouring countries. The ''Falk Reiseatlas Europa 1 : 800 000 / 1: 4 500 000'' (ISBN 978-3-8279-0434-8) covers the whole Europe for a low price and includes the petrol stations.* The maps by ''Marco Polo'' are excellent for Europe. The 1:800,000 ratio version is the best (the name of this map changes in different countries). It is printed in [[Germany]] but is available across the continent. Pay attention, the 1:2.000.000 version (ISBN 978-3-8297-3704-3) has no petrol/service stations marked!<br />There is an italian version of this map edit by Studio F.M.B Bologna and the 1:2.000.000 version has the same problem (ISBN 978-88-7775-232-1).* In Scandinavia (especially Finland) - the ''Esso'' country maps are great, but unfortunately ''these are no longer available'' in [[Finland]] as Esso has fled the country.* For the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Ireland]] AA maps are good but can get a bit too large.* In Germany, you can get a booklet for free at the rasthof restaurants which provide a map of all the country's rasthof and the information about every one of them.* The [http://www.anwb.nl/azf/zoek.html?azfid=contact Dutch ANWB]) has quite good European country maps for free (for its members, just ask in the shop some people at the cashpoint if they can take it for you), they also include the motorways to the country from and to the Netherlands.* The Berlitz Europe atlas includes petrol stations and has a ratio of 1:800 000, though many important cities are in the crease of the book and are difficult to read (e.g., Paris, Berlin, etc.).* France: "Grands Itinéraires" by Michelin. 1:1,000,000, but featuring all the ''autoroutes'', service areas and [[Péage]]s plus lots of other roads. You should be able to buy it in most service areas for about EUR 5.50 (July 2009)* Another good map is the 1:1.250.000 Atlante Stradale Europa edited by Istituto Geografico De Agostini (ISBN 88-511-0968-0). It has petrol/service stations marked and it's really small and handy! just a little bit bigger than a lonely planet guide. It's sold in italian book shops but can be found on amazon as well.* For the digitally inclined, Google maps now offers the ability to create and save your own routes and landmarks, and to share them. Consider making your hitch-hiking route public with comments about it's hitch-ability. It's recommended you have a map that is at least 1:1,000,000 ratio. 1:750,000 is usually good enough. Remember that petrol stations often have maps for sale, including very local ones. If you need to find out the geography of the local area, simply walk into the shop, pick up a local map, study it, get the information you need, then put it back and walk out. Many service stations also have large maps on walls or notice boards. '''Map Tips: Negative''' * ''Michelin'' Individual Country maps are not the best to use, they do not list the Services Area and lots of useful information are absent, the scale ratio is often not good enough.