Traveling around the world is a dream for many people. There are a ton of different things to see, and many people miss out on much of it. That is why people choose to travel the world, to see it all! However, most people feel that they simply cannot afford to travel the world, but that may not be the case. Today we are going to talk about a concept that is not for everyone: hitching around the world. It may sound like a crazy idea, but it has been done before! People have writen books and blogs about how they were able to hitchhike their way around this planet we call home. So let’s take a little time and talk about some things you should know before giving this a try.
Is Hitching Dangerous?
Yes…or at least it can be. Let’s face it, not everyone in the world has good intentions. That is why your mother told you never to take rides from strangers. That being said, not everyone in the world is evil. In fact, one man who did hitchhike around the world did so to prove that the world is full of more “good” people than “evil.” Either way, you need to use extreme caution when hitching a ride.
Things to Consider
Before you go hitchhiking your way around the world, you need to consider a few things. The most important of which is: What is your goal? Do you simply want to make it around the world (traveling either east or west until you have made it back to your starting point), or do you want to visit every populated continent? Also, what are your time constraints? Hitching around the world takes a lot of time. There will be days on end where you may not be able to find a ride. If you can only take a year to travel the world, you may want to consider hitching some and paying for travel the rest of the way (like across oceans).
Money, Don’t Leave Home Without It!
The point of hitching around the world is to save money. The goal is not to pay for travel or at least pay as little as possible. However, trying to get a free meal is different! You are still going to need money for food, lodging, clothing (I mean you could be gone for years after all…), grooming, and all of the other things that you would typically need to do during the course of a year. That being said, I would not suggest hitching with a big wad of cash. With technology today, you can still keep your money safely in the bank and access it from anywhere in the world, whenever you need it.
Hitching Tips
In order to successfully hitchhike your way around the world, you need to have some basic knowledge of hitchhiking:
Buy a map
Buy a map for every area you visit. If you are going to be walking, biking, or asking for a ride, you need to know where you are heading to.
Be prepared to walk…a lot!
It is nice to think that you can find a ride and get to wherever you need to go. However, not everyone is going to stop for you, and there will be times when you will have to walk for a while (maybe even days). Thus, do not think of it as a hitching adventure…think of it more as a walking adventure…with a small chance you may find a ride.
Learn the language
Learn the language of the area you are in. Don’t be that “guy.” You know the one I am talking about. The one that travels to different areas of the world and expects everyone to know “his” language. You are asking people for rides. You are asking them to go out of their way. The very least you can do is ask them in their own language. I mean, you don’t have to carry on a conversation, but some basic words are a good start!
Bring a backpack…
You should always bring a backpack of some kind. In it, you are going to need things like food and water. When you get hungry or thirsty, you may be on some road with no transportation. You are going to need things to eat and drink, so its best to carry some with you. Oh, and a little FYI: gas stations are a bit expensive to restock, so try your best to resupply at local supermarkets.
We could go on for hours talking about all of the tips you need to know when traveling the world. However, the best thing to remember is use common knowledge! What kind of hitchhiking tips do you have to share?
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