Stuff / Equipement
- We recommend you take a comfortable backpack, not too heavy. You will have to walk from time to time, for example to reach a suitable hitchhiking spot, or to go from where the driver will drop you to the city centre.
- Keep an eye on your water supply, think about reloading your canisters/bottles every time that you can. Nothing is worse than waiting in the sun with a dry mouth.
- Suncream and hats are always useful. Don’t forget it will be the height of summer when you hit the road. Make sure to not get burnt.
- A foldable raincoat can be useful it case it starts raining.
- A map (paper map/GPS on your phone) of Europe is always useful. It will allow you to know if drivers are travelling in the same direction. If they aren’t, you will also be better able to adapt your itinerary. If you are using the map on your phone, keep an eye on the battery level.
- A fluorescent yellow jacket. This is the best item of clothing in terms of security.
- Don’t forget to bring your phone/camera to record your challenges.
Hitchhiking is something you want to be ready for, especially if it’s a long ride!
Here are some tips to prepare yourselves for the road:
Before leaving
Here are some recommendations on how to improve your chance of getting a ride !
Smile and look welcoming! Drivers usually take hitchhikers to distract themselves during their journey, they will be more keen to help if you seem nice.
Make sure you take some material to make cards to advertise your destination. Drivers are more likely to collect hitchhikers who are clearly going to same place as them.
Use your sense of humour on your cards! A driver that is laughing is an helpful driver.
Sometimes, hitchhiking requires patience, think about taking books or games to distract yourselves. Take turns along the road to allow one to rest while the other is trying to catch a driver’s eye.
Stay cheerful! It is in the most difficult moments that we should stick together.
Hitch-hike in strategical locations, for example near a petrol or service station on a major highway.
Always keep an eye on your own security! Do not hitch-hike on the hard shoulder as cars will find it to dangerous to stop there and you would put yourselves in danger. Try to find a place where cars can stop safely. Do not stand after a bend as drivers require some time to see you and decide whether to take you or not.
Active hitchhiking: this consists of talking to drivers directly when they are stopped, at the petrol station or at a rest area for example. Do not hesitate to talk about the Road of Challenges and to reassure them. Active hitch-hiking can sometimes be very efficient !
Once the car has stopped...
Before hopping in, agree with the driver where he will drop you.
If you have a bad feeling, do not hesitate not to hop in and make an excuse, for example claiming that you made a mistake with the destination.
Once you are in the car...
Be nice and pleasant! Talk to the driver, this is probably the reason why he took you in. Before getting in, decide who will sit next to the driver, it will usually be that person who will talk most, whilst the other one might rest. Alternate to allow all of you to have a rest from time to time.
If once you are in the car you have a bad feeling about the driver, his way of driving or his car, do not hesitate to ask him to drop you in the next safe place.
Before reaching your destination, ask the driver to drop you in a safe place (not the hard shoulder for example). Be strategic, if you think you will keep on hitch-hiking the same day, try to get dropped in a gas-station/resting area where you can continue hitch-hiking. If you have travelled enough for the day, ask to be dropped in the city centre to avoid walking a long distance to the city centre.
When it is time to say goodbye, do not forget to thank the driver.
Never forget that there is always a risk, (this is not said to discourage you from hitch-hiking, but to remind you to do it responsibly).
Hopefully, the majority of people taking hitch-hikers are very nice. Some will even make a big detour to help you, especially for charity!
You can find more information and hitchhiking tips on Wikitravel.
Visas and passeport
During your trip, you will mainly cross internal European borders (Schengen). Serbia is not a member of the European Union but it is still possible to enter with a European chip ID.
For Non-EU and Schengen citizens, you will have to bring your passport. Citizens of all European states (including outside the EU) can stay for 90 days in Serbia without a visa. If you are from outside Europe, you should check what the criteria is: https://www.passportindex.org
Insurance
Watch out : The entire journey is your own responsibility. The organisation is not responsible. In the event of accident and we do not provide any repatriation. If you have medical insurance, you might already be covered everywhere within the EU and maybe even in Serbia, ask your insurance broker.
If you are not, we strongly advise you purchase cover that extends to Serbia. We can recommend some providers if you would like.
If you have any further questions, contact us with the form below.
How to become an Hitchhike Master ?
