Features of hitchhiking in Russia. Public transport or hitchhiking. The right place to start your journey

Hitchhiking - the use of passing vehicles by tourists to travel part of the way. The driver voluntarily takes a fellow traveler with him and usually does not receive money for this. A hitchhiker is not considered a stowaway on a bus or a refugee who secretly entered the holds of a merchant ship. Hitchhiking happens automobile, railway, water and air.

Drivers sometimes take people out of pity or a desire to help, but more often they are bored on the road, they want to chat and get interesting information. Hitchhiking is a partnership based on the principle of free exchange. The traveler gets the opportunity to quickly and free of charge overcome the distance, the driver - an interesting interlocutor.

Why hitchhike

Saving

There is no better way to save money on travel. But a lot depends on the accompanying factors: the intensity and nature of traffic, the country or region, the level of wealth and crime, luck.

Hitchhiking is more often traveled by students who are not ready to pay big money for long-distance travel.

Communication

Hitchhiking is ideal for those who find it easy to start a conversation with a stranger.

The biggest hassle when driving in footsteps is the need to talk to countless people, as if to convince them that they were not mistaken in picking you up, and even how to entertain them, and all this turns into a huge stress if you only go all the way and don’t intend to spend the night in hotels.

Impression

Hitchhiking brings vivid memories. The traveler steps out of his comfort zone and overcomes himself to have an extraordinary experience.

Sport

Some travelers compete with each other in terms of travel distance, speed of overcoming a segment of the path and the number of cities and countries visited with the help of hitchhiking.

There are several large hitchhiking clubs in Russia that organize competitions, lectures and meetings. There are also annual gatherings of hitchhikers - "Elbes", named so by analogy with the meeting of allied forces on the Elbe River at the end of World War II. The most famous "elba" is held twice a year near the village of Izhitsa in the Valdai region Novgorod region. From Moscow and St. Petersburg, it is convenient to get there by hitchhiking along the M10 highway.

What to take on the road

Backpack

For travel, you will need a large and comfortable backpack with additional straps for the waist. The right travel backpack distributes the load evenly over the body and has external mat holders.

The straps should not press or rub, the backpack should be easy to remove and not restrict movement. It is advisable to purchase a cover for the backpack. For documents, important things and money, get a separate body bag.

Cloth

You will need a clean set of outerwear, three sets of underwear and socks, a raincoat, comfortable sneakers and light sneakers just in case. By appearance the hitchhiker should be clear that he is a clean and socialized person.

Pathetic appearance sometimes saves the situation, but only in case objective reasons e.g. during a cold rain. Outerwear should have reflective elements. If you plan to hitchhike in the cold season, you need to take warm boots, woolen socks and a set of thermal underwear with you.

Personal care products

Your cosmetic bag should contain toothpaste and brush, soap, toilet paper, towel and insect repellent. Do not take bottles of shampoo and shower gel. You can find them in a hotel, campsite or hostel.

first aid kit

Analgin, aspirin, remedy for indigestion, antiseptic (miramistin or chlorhexidine), hydrogen peroxide, antihistamine, cotton wool, plaster, bandage - necessary minimum. And don't forget your travel insurance.

Food and utensils

In order not to increase the weight of the backpack, it is better to take with you dehydrated nutritious foods that can quickly satisfy your hunger. These are dried fruits, nuts, nutritional bars, chocolate.

If it is supposed, you can put salt, buckwheat and a can of canned food in your backpack. The main principle is simple: you should always have foods for one meal, which are updated as you use them. Pack them in a cauldron along with a spoon and a mug. It is advisable to take a torch with a canister with you, especially when traveling around Europe.

Technique

Find a tariff for inexpensive Internet access. Download applications for finding tickets and accommodation, weather forecast, translator and maps. Don't forget your charger and external battery.

You can take a tablet or a small lightweight laptop with you if you blog or work. If the camera on your phone is not enough for you, look for a universal lens. You will also need a flashlight.

Other

For drivers and other people who want to help or chat, provide small souvenirs from your country. Grab a notepad and pen, and use a piece of cardboard along the way to write down where you're going. For overnight stays outside, take a simple and light tent, sleeping bag and mat.

How to hitchhike the right way

Before the trip, outline the main cities that will meet on your way. You will probably deviate from the route or get out of time, but this should not take you by surprise.

Catch a ride outside the city on one of the main routes. It is much more difficult to start a journey in a city, at an interchange or country roads.

In the first case, you will probably be picked up by a bomber or a taxi driver, in the second and third - summer residents who are not going to go far or go the other way.

A common gesture of a hitchhiker is an outstretched hand folded into a fist with a thumbs up. But remember that in Thailand, Greece, Afghanistan and Iran this gesture. Alternative option- a piece of cardboard with the desired destination written on it. At the exit from the city, especially if a bypass road is built around it, the carton works worse than in the middle of a busy highway.

It will not be possible to catch a ride on motorways, since it is forbidden to walk and stop outside the places of rest. In some countries, there are fines for hitchhiking on the autobahns. The police can take the hitchhiker to the nearest campsite or any place where you can walk. Ask the drivers or truckers in the parking lot to give you a ride. In extreme cases, you can ask the traffic police to help in finding fellow travelers.

Wait out bad weather indoors or at least under a visor. If the forecast is unfavorable, try not to leave for a sparsely populated area.

If you have a trip through other countries, do not forget to pull up and try to remember the key phrases on local language: learn phonetics, download a phrase book or make your own, in which you enter requests for directions, point to a store, hotel or hospital, and other useful phrases.

What are the dangers

There is a lot of conflicting information about the degree of danger of hitchhiking, most often based on subjective experience. Online sources often provide a link to a survey of 77 Russian-speaking hitchhikers, a third of whom complained about accidents while traveling. There are several types of accidents that a hitchhiker may encounter.

car accident

Anyone can get into an accident. A hitchhiker, getting into an unfamiliar car, can immediately determine if the driver is drunk, as well as evaluate the driving style. If aggressive driving is intimidating, ask to get off at the nearest gas station, near a campsite or village.

It is dangerous to be near the roadway at night. In this case, it is better to refuse further movement or use reflective bracelets and stripes or a special vest.

Crime

You can become the object of sexual harassment or robbery. In the minds of some people, single girls on the track seem accessible. This stereotype is stronger in conservative countries. Riding in opposite-sex couples virtually eliminates the possibility of a sexual offense and greatly reduces the risk of becoming a victim of violence.

The traveler is not required to get into the car. If the driver has aroused suspicion, you should lie that you made a mistake and are heading in the opposite direction.

When getting into the car, defiantly contact relatives or friends and tell them which car (make, number) and where you are going.

If the driver turned out to be dishonest, warn that if your health or life is in danger, you will unscrew the steering wheel or jump out of the car. If the car has stopped, run out onto the road, drawing the attention of drivers, but do not throw yourself under the cars. You can carry a gas cartridge or a stun gun with you if it is allowed in the country of destination.

No traffic or wanting a ride

Every hitchhiker encounters difficulties that do not threaten freedom, health or life. As a rule, the more intense the traffic, the less willing to give a ride to the traveler. On sparsely populated roads, drivers are more willing to take fellow travelers, realizing that they can stand in one place for several hours.

I started from Rome, a big and great city, and from this difficult for hitchhiking. There are a lot of roads and interchanges, there is absolutely no place on the track for an ordinary hitchhiker. Drivers honk and yell from their cars as I walk down a narrow lane along a busy highway with a huge backpack and a guitar. The end of April was hot, so the sweat poured in a stream, my feet sweated. I walked for six hours. As a result, I sat down right by the road out of hopelessness, crumpled my smelly and worn to calloused feet and thought what to do next. There was no way out how to go forward in search of a better place for a stop.

Nikolai Zakharov, traveler and video blogger

Overwork, injury or illness

You can't drive around the clock. A few days on the road is a serious test, especially for a beginner. Therefore, periodically there should be days with passive rest, depending on your travel style, tasks and sports interest.

In case of injury or illness, travel insurance will help. Hitchhiking from insurers is not included in the category of increased danger that affects the cost of insurance.

Briefly about the main

• A clean and tidy appearance will help you catch a ride faster.
• The backpack should be roomy and comfortable. Keep documents and money in a separate body bag.
• In the first aid kit, put aspirin, analgin, plaster, antiseptic, anti-diarrhea and allergies.
• Start your journey from the main road just outside the city. Avoid country roads and large interchanges.
• Consider what you will do in the event of an accident, a threat to your freedom and health, sexual harassment, and illness. Don't get into a car with a driver you don't like.

I find the skill of hitchhiking quite useful.

First, by hitchhiking, you learn to quickly assess the situation and make decisions. Indeed, when you get into (and ideally even before you get into) a car with a driver, you need to quickly assess what kind of person is in front of you, what are his vital interests, etc. Literally everything has to be noticed: rings on the fingers, pendants on the mirror, stickers in the cabin, facial expressions, and so on.

Secondly, once you start hitchhiking, you learn to get along with a complete stranger. mutual language , bring the driver to topics of interest to you or promote him to talk about himself. Of course, sometimes the driver is not going to talk to you at all - then the hitchhiker just relaxes and enjoys the music or the road.

Besides, you learn to overcome fear and shyness. Take to the track for the first time and give a thumbs up - often difficult task. When a person just starts hitchhiking, all sorts of stupid thoughts come into his head“How will people look at me? Will they take me?" When the car stops, you learn to get in touch with a new person. Sometimes the drivers themselves will open the door for you, shouting "get in, otherwise I'll fall asleep." These are often seasoned truckers, for whom a hitchhiker is a particularly welcome guest. In general, you will understand that hitchhiking is not as dangerous and scary as it may seem to those who have never traveled like this.

On the track you will meet a lot interesting people. You can meet psychologists, professional hunters, hockey players, inventors and businessmen. Of course, not every caught car will have a fascinating companion waiting for you, but sometimes they meet and such trips are remembered for a lifetime

By learning how to hitchhike, you will feel free from buses and trains. You can travel even from Moscow to Khabarovsk by hitchhiking, or even further. But of course it is better to start with shorter distances.

By following certain rules, and remembering to use your head, you can hitchhike quite safely, discovering new cities and roads.

So my rules for hitchhiking are:

Dress properly if you are a girl - everything should be closed, not tight and non-erotic. Hitchhiking is not a fashion show, but a means of transportation. Dress brightly. The ideal option is the presence of reflectors (even during the day). Camouflage and leather jackets might be cool in the yard, but not on the track. Here you should not be confused with local resident(although if you are a tourist in camouflage, then it will do).

Ideal to hitchhike as a pair of boy and girl. They take it easier, they take it for a couple, they don’t stick to the girl.

It is advisable to store things in a backpack, and not in bags or bags. A backpack is another thing that hints that you are a traveler, and not a resident of the surrounding village. Put a flashlight in your backpack, an umbrella if it threatens to rain, wet wipes. Don't forget to take your documents with you.

If you want to start hitchhiking - the firstRoute choose kilometers in 150-300. And leave in the morning. So with severe bad luck, you will arrive at least in the evening (and if everything is fine, then in 2-4 hours).

Choose a place for hitchhiking where it will be easy for the driver to notice you. Either these are areas where cars have not yet had time to pick up speed (after a traffic police post, for example) or where they naturally reduce it (before turns).

When the car stops - remember, you don't have to get into it just because she stopped. Moreover, if the car stopped by itself, when you didn’t even stop it, it’s better to play it safe and not sit down. Your safety is in your hands. The autostopper chooses the cars he drives.

For the same reason, it’s not worth stopping everything in a row (holding your hand up, along the flow of cars), but catching your favorite car with your eyes and raising your hand to her (in advance of course).

One of best options phrases to say when you open the car door: "Hello, hitchhiking to the side ...... will you take it?". From this phrase, it immediately becomes clear to the driver that A) you are hitchhiking. B) it will suit you if you are simply thrown in the direction of the desired city, and it is not necessary for him to take you straight to the place you need, it will suit you that he will give you a lift while he is with you along the way (usually they say “I only go to the village of Gadyukino / before turning to Uryupinsk "-" excellent! At the turn ...., drop off "). C) This is already a rule from psychology. When the hitchhiker says “won’t you drop me in the direction of Khabarovsk?”, it’s much easier to automatically say “I won’t drop you” than if you offer affirmatively “take it”.

If you can’t catch anything for half an hour, it happens. This is within the normal range. But perhaps it is worth changing position or washing. As a rule, hitchhiking is available to everyone, but there are little things that make drivers drive past you.

In conversations with the driver, there is an opinion that three topics should not be touched on: politics, religion and sex. Any hitchhiking rule is not a rule, but a recommendation. In any case, on the first two topics, you should not enter into a tough confrontation, but it is better to simply translate the topic. On the third - if you are traveling with a girl - it makes sense to change the topic immediately.

Do not suffer bullshit on the track. If you catch a car, then catch it. Remember that while you are walking through the fields, jumping on a haystack near the highway, you will not only lose your “presentation”, but also miss a bunch of good drivers. Also, do not throw a coin "as a sacrifice to the road." This is nonsense and those who waste money drive no better than those who never do it. This superstition is just a demonstration of their non-systematic nature.

Most the best option- on the first trips, go with an experienced stopper. It will be safer with him, and you will learn many of his own rules for hitchhiking.

And remember that hitchhiking is not a trip for nothing, it's not a freebie, but a mutually beneficial cooperation between a hitchhiker and a driver.

Now you, in in general terms know why and how to hitchhike. And, if you decide to hitchhike for the first time, I hope my rules will help you.

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Hello again, dear travelers! In the last article, we learned .

Fasten your seat belts?

Today we will rush along steep road from the village of theory to the metropolis of practice. Therefore, tune in to a positive wave and catch passing tips on how to hitchhike correctly, what things to take on the road, how to find a good travel companion, and what is the fundamental difference between KAMAZ and an asphalt paver.

If you really want to hitchhike but don't know how, there are two ways.

First- start extensive theoretical training. Explore websites dedicated to independent travel in general and hitchhiking in particular, to include stray stoppers and listen to their advice, go to the local hitchhiker club, watch relevant films.

This is all, of course, interesting and informative, and even experienced travelers can get good sources valuable information. The most helpful information- this, of course, is new acquaintances - your possible friends, hosts, guests and fellow travelers.

Perhaps a meeting with them will be so fateful that you will suddenly change not only the route, but also your life.

Second way- go out on the track and raise your hand. No preparation. But with hope and courage. The method works just as well as the first.

The first way is good when you lack confidence, information, or good company. The second method is suitable for people who make decisions with lightning speed. Or those who find themselves in a hopeless situation.

For example, my sister and I got into a truck for the first time when we went from Vladimir to Nizhny Novgorod the last train left. The trucker was so sweet and caring that we fell in love at first sight. At the hitchhiking.

Hiking backpack - we collect things for hitchhiking

So, thoughts are collected and put in order, determination seethes above the 100-degree mark - it remains to collect a backpack. How to choose a faithful companion of your travels and what things to fill it with? It all depends on several factors:

1. from the season;
2. from the distance of travel;
3. on the climate of the destination;
4. from travel conditions (for example, where overnight stays are supposed);
5. on your personal preferences (way of spending leisure time, etc.)

The size of the backpack depends, rather, on the purpose and distance of your trip. Personally, I have always had enough of the usual school (I do not travel with a tent and a sleeping bag, I sleep in trucks or hostels).

Experienced travelers, constantly traveling around the world, prefer heavier backpacks with a volume of 25-35 liters, with many pockets and a belt at the waist. Some people are ready to carry all 40. At the same time, according to them, a long and narrow backpack is more convenient than a short and wide backpack.

As for the season, everything goes without saying. Well, don't forget to take long way spare warm socks and a pair of shoes. By the way, this applies not only to winter.

If you're traveling a short distance and plan to reach your destination during daylight hours, pack your backpack depending on the purpose of your visit. A camera, a fishing rod or a package for Aunt Masha.

A long journey involves a change in weather, overnight stays and a sea of ​​new experiences. Therefore, for safety, it will not be superfluous to take a flashlight, clothes with reflective stripes (by the way, I have already been fined for not wearing it), mosquito repellent (and in winter - from frostbite), medicines, if you use them, and a minimal first aid kit (at least a bandage, iodine, analgin and a remedy for poisoning).

For hygiene - a toothbrush, change of underwear and wet wipes, and if your path involves spending the night in nature, then soap.

For comfort - a warm jacket, a raincoat, a hat (a knitted hat can come in handy even in summer, because in the mountains or on the highway the wind sometimes literally knocks you down), a sleeping bag and a tourist rug (I, however, have not used these things for 10 years of hitchhiking, but they can come in handy at any time).

We are sure that you will endure the night in nature - feel free to pack the tent. Someone considers it an indispensable hitchhiking attribute, without which you should not go. Personally, I think that in the event of an unforeseen overnight stay in nature, a rug and a sleeping bag can replace the tent, so I don’t weigh down my backpack. By the way, after conducting a survey on the topic of things needed on a trip, I got the following results:

• first aid kit and;
• knife, money and a lantern;
• bottle of water;
• brains and documents;
• mat, sleeping bag, tent, change of shoes and clothes;
• gas-burner.

The latter was suggested by a friend who has more than 60,000 km of all-weather hitchhiking under his belt. The burner really did come in handy for him.

Briefly about documents. When planning a trip to Russia, take your passport and also take a copy of it (by the way, oncoming traffic cops may ask about your documents and detain you if they are not available).

To travel around the world, be sure to take a passport (if you are not planning a trip to a country where it is needed, you can take it just in case: no one knows which way you will return back). To avoid unnecessary questions, print out the hotel reservation (if you do not plan to stay in hotels, cancel the reservation after printing). And, of course, do not forget your phone, camera and charging device to them. And travel SIM cards, if you use them.

I would add an ordinary ballpoint pen to the list of necessary things. Moreover, my simple phone does not have an organizer.

You can also think over your leisure time and heartily stock up on books (or their electronic counterparts), chess (if they are not in your phone) and a fishing rod. Just think, can your patient backpack and hardy back stand it all?

A fellow traveler is your combat comrade

A trusted friend can help you with things you don't know how to do (set up a tent, cook canned vermicelli soup, navigate the forest, entertain your driver, or speak Mumbo Jumbo). If you are a girl, then the two of you will be safer. Finding fellow travelers is not an easy task, especially if you want your companion to share all the hardships of travel with you, and not multiply them. So let's take a look around!

It’s good if among your friends or acquaintances there is a person (or a company, but hitchhiking is better in a couple) who shares your views on hitchhiking. Ideally, if a friend does not experience a panic fear of the unknown and strangers. Otherwise, you will have to drag the would-be dreamer mentally, and even physically. Therefore, if a friend suddenly turned up, test him for strength at short distances.

If among your acquaintances no one dreams of distant horizons seen from the window of a random car, you will have to find a fellow traveler on the Internet. Tips for finding fellow travelers are given on various sites dedicated to hitchhiking.

For example, it sounds convincing in the VKontakte group Free Travel Academy. There are also links to groups where you can "book" a friend on the road.

I myself was looking for this page And in this, however, instead of a fellow traveler from Batumi to Trabzon, there was a host in Tbilisi, but that's not bad either! You can also search for fellow travelers on Vinsky Forum.

When choosing a faithful companion, try to get to know each other better: chat on social networks, find out your preferences for the method of transportation (for example, my fellow traveler, with whom we almost landed on a feast with the slaughter of a kid from a drunken horseman, tries not to travel at night, and I, on the contrary, I love you very much), cash flow (food or lodging - sooner or later you may face such a choice), comfort level (hostel, tent or hotel), etc. It will not be superfluous to inquire about personal preferences.

How to hitchhike a car?

Of course, it's better if you're not alone. But this is how it works. And here you stand on the side of the road and catch the car. It is important where to fish, how to fish and why to fish.

Location

So where? If you are in the center big city, then someone will probably stop you, but offer you a ride around the city (and not the fact that it's free). But those who, like you, head towards the sea or mountains, will pass by. Therefore, you will have to get to the exit and wait for your driver there. By the way, you can also get there by bus. And it's even better.

When deciding on a location, think not only about your comfort, but also about the convenience of the driver. Of course, in the heat it is more pleasant to stand under a sprawling tree, but if it is spread out near a bridge or a steep climb, do not expect to be stopped.

Miracles, of course, happen (tested on own skin), but it's wiser to expect your dream car installed or just convenient location: At stops, near road pockets or on a wide shoulder, after crossing or turning.

Maybe even at the traffic police post. Traffic cops, as a rule, do not favor our brother, but upon request they can stop a comfortable truck (ideally) in the desired direction. By the way, all the truckers that the traffic police introduced me to turned out to be wonderful people and cheerful interlocutors. One even threw money on the road. Truly, the world is not without good people!

Good people, wow!

Now about how to “catch” these very kind people and inspire them with the idea of ​​giving you a ride for free.

The classic gesture of Russian hitchhikers is a hand raised 90 degrees. In America, on this hand, the thumb also sticks out as a sign that you are a really cool fellow traveler. We believe this without a finger. But you should not send an SOS signal: even those who have no seats in the car will stop you, and they are unlikely to be grateful to you for an incorrectly stated request.

Raise your hand - smile towards a favorable trip. Attract joy and good luck.

You can orient the driver with a sign indicating the place where you are going. It works, but, alas, not always. Once a truck driver confessed to me: “It was only because of the sign that he picked you up. And at first he didn’t take it for that. That's why the pen is always with me. And the cartons are on the way.

Sometimes, however, the plate, especially if it contains the region code instead of the name of the city, misleads people. It turns out that not all drivers know these very codes and do not realize that the numbers on your piece of paper are the city, not the age.

The driver must inspire confidence and sympathy in you - this is a guarantee have a good trip. If it’s hard for you to make an impression in a second while the driver opens the windows and doors of his “swallow” in front of you, talk with him longer (not half an hour, of course) - no one will punish you for this.

As practice shows, there are places where hitchhiking is difficult. It doesn't have to be a city or a whole region - it can be just a kilometer stretch of road. If, after standing there for half an hour, you did not stop anyone, you can safely move on. At the same time, try to move along the highway in compliance with safety rules: at a distance of at least a meter from the lane and preferably towards the traffic.

What to say, what to say?

Find out the route and feel the mood of your interlocutor. Trust your intuition. If for some reason you do not like the driver or inspire anxiety, it is better to refuse the trip.

What to say to the driver in order to establish contact and communicate the intention to take you to the right place for free?

First, say hello. Secondly, name your route (except when you are driving from Moscow to Ulaanbaatar, and a tractor stops you near the village of Gadyukino). It is better not to say the cherished “without money”, but it is possible and necessary to make it clear that you are a budget traveler. For example, like this:

- Good afternoon! I'm going to China, can you give me a ride to Astana? (or: give me a lift wherever you can).

Young people can use expressions that shorten the distance:

- Father (brother), can you give me a lift to Kazan?

As a rule, newly-made relatives do not refuse.

Some drivers, especially in cars, especially with a wife in the next seat, can still clarify about the cost. In such cases, one should not mislead a person. If you were refused, do not be sad - your driver is driving behind.

But it happens that a modest amount paid for transportation significantly changes your situation. It's no secret that there are places where no one "pecks". Pay the driver now or wait for his more generous colleague - it's up to you. You will get to China anyway - it's only a matter of time.

Cars

And briefly about cars. It is logical to assume that it is better (and more comfortable) to cover long distances on trucks with cozy sleeping bags. However, some stoppers prefer cars, who drive closer but faster and, unlike truckers, are more likely to pick up male travelers. Here, to each his own.

Once, not far from Tbilisi, I caught a passenger car to Saratov, but I had to get out of it, because the driver did not sleep the previous night and did not plan to sleep the next, and safety on the road is above all.

If you are stopped by a grain truck, a milk truck or a mail van, get ready that it will stop at different points all the way and will not take you far. The same applies to minibuses, which can also be negotiated for free, and tractors, coupled with asphalt pavers.

Do not forget to look at the region code, although there may be discrepancies here: the driver lives in Moscow, the numbers are Rostov, he puts you in Georgia and goes to Novosibirsk.

Midnight outside the window is impenetrable - where to spend the night?

During the conversation, time flew by unnoticed, the driver drove to right place and you find yourself face to face with the night. And silence. And the dead with braids... But let's not talk about sad things.

To avoid this, let's figure out where you can spend the night during hitchhiking adventures.

I would answer this question briefly - everywhere.

But first things first.

Let's divide the overnight stay into civilized and wild. To civilized I would include hotels, hostels, registrations and stops at kind people who accidentally came to hand.

Everything else falls under the definition of a wild overnight stay: a tent in a field, airports, train stations, roadside cafes and other places that are for lack of a better one.

Hostels and hotels

So, hotels and hostels. You can book them in advance, or you can check in suddenly. In any case, if you are going to unfamiliar city It is better to check the availability of such institutions in advance. By the way, if the booking indicates the lack of free places in the hotel you like, you should know that this is not always the case. It's just that hotels do not include all available rooms in booking. I'm ready to vouch for this.

Who himself asked for a lodging for the night, will soon understand another

If spending the night for money is in no way part of your plans, try to find a place to stay with the help of couchsurfing. There, most often, travelers like you are registered, so there is a chance to find a warm place. As the saying goes, "he who asked for an overnight stay will soon understand the other."

You can use the website directly couchsurfing.com, or you can use VKontakte groups: COUCHsurfing and Travel And Couchsurfing, fellow travelers, travelers.

Some groups have lists of entries, for example, HERE, but the search is not very convenient, because the offers are not sorted by regions and cities. It is more convenient to search for an entry in a group WUA, because here, from this point of view, everything is thought out.

random luck

It also happens that accidentally met people, having learned about your status as a budget traveler, invite you to visit them. They called me repeatedly, but I never had to spend the night: either I understood that today it was more expedient to move further along the path, or, as a girl, I was a little scared to stay. But, if these factors do not bother you, why not?

Give me the dawn at the green tent

If you are advancing with your tent, the absence of hospitable hosts should not confuse you. Choose your accommodations carefully. Experienced travelers prefer to spend the night away from settlements, in a hidden place (for example, in a forest).

If the night caught near the village, you can leave at dawn, so as not to attract too much attention. Find a place that is protected from strong wind, so it will not only be warmer for you, but also better for your fire.

For reasons of hygiene, it is more convenient to camp near a water source. However, in the summer, a lot of mosquitoes live near water bodies, in tall grass and in bushes - consider this factor as well.

Railway stations and airports

Obvious advantages of such a haven:

• You will never oversleep the right departure time.
• As a rule, the institution has a cafe.
• Not as scary as on the side of the road (usually).

• You are unlikely to sleep at all, unless, of course, you have a dozen sleepless nights behind you.
• If you do fall asleep, you may be robbed. Hide all valuables in the inside pockets of your clothes.
• Railway stations and, moreover, airports are not available in all cities. Bus stations may close at night.

The soldier is sleeping - the truck is moving

Sleeping in a moving car is one of the most effective ways to reduce mileage and combine business with pleasure. Unless, of course, you are not afraid that the driver will fall asleep at the wheel. If you are afraid - be kind, stock up interesting stories several hours ahead. Sometimes the owner of the truck himself demands this, and he is right: you have to pay for the pleasure.

Get a good night's sleep in the next truck.

If the car stopped for the night, the driver will most likely find a warm place for you. But, if you are a girl, immediately mark the boundaries of what is permitted,.

Other interesting surprises

For 10 years of hitchhiking, I had to spend the night in trucks, and at the airport, and at the railway and bus stations, and even at a gas station. Of course, we didn’t sleep at the gas station, but danced all night to the music from the nearest cafe (I still remember the Rostov gas station to the songs of “Chi-Li”). We went to this cafe for a bite to eat, but found nothing but tea with expensive chocolate. Perhaps something has changed for the better since the distant 2007.

When creating this article, I asked friends, acquaintances and strangers, in which unusual place they spent the night. And I hasten to please you: the list of places that a person can choose as an overnight stay turned out to be extremely wide.

Experienced people spent the night in a mosque, on a bench in a public garden (this was in Istanbul, and not only in the Eagle and Tails program), in the shower and toilet of a store (Spain), in a cemetery (didn’t notice at night - cool, right?), in the middle of the horse path (and in the morning the horses came and woke up).

Even the porch of a shop can serve as a shelter: one respondent crouched under its steps. So seek and find!

Bon Voyage!

You must be washed, shaved and dressed cleanly. No traces of blood (this is not a joke, anything happens on the road) and sweat. The absence of a beard allows the driver to see your face better. It seems that drivers will be more happy to put into the car a person who looks like a student heading to a place of study than a person who looks like the lead singer of ZZ Top.

2. Take off your dark glasses!

Whether they are cheap or very expensive, it doesn't matter, you still need to take them off. The driver must see your eyes.

3. Maintain good neighborly relations

This advice is not for a long trip, but in case you need to get somewhere in the city. By maintaining good relations with the neighbors, you can sometimes ask them to drop you off at the right place.

4. One traveler - one bag!

Lighten your luggage as much as possible. Ideally, this should be one not too large backpack with the most necessary things. Of course, you can drag with you everything that “may be useful”, but it’s better if you can put the luggage on your lap in the car and you don’t have to strain the driver to open the trunk or clear the back seat of his things.

5. Get creative

What tricks do people go to to get hooked. Demonstration of female legs is already from the category of banal (and you need to be careful with this). Some are chasing cars or performing some acrobatic stunts. You know how you can stand out - use it.

6. Choose the right place

If you need to start your journey from big city, then take public transport or walk to the countryside (20-30 kilometers from the city). There you will already catch a car that follows on far distance. In addition, it is foolish to assume that the driver will stop and pick you up in the bustle of city traffic.

Learn the laws of hitchhiking in the city you are in. For example, it is illegal to hitchhike on highways in New Zealand.

7. Make a sign with the name of the destination

There is no way to say for sure whether it will help you or not. On the one hand, there is a chance to catch a car that goes straight to the destination, and on the other hand, those who go not so far will not stop.

If you are traveling in a foreign-speaking country and do not know the language, then on the plate you can write in the local language (a dictionary to help you): “I can speak (list the languages)”. Perhaps the driver will want to have a fellow traveler who can keep up the conversation, and not be limited to greetings and farewells.

8. Choose the right time of day

During peak hours (in the morning from 7 to 9, in the evening from 4 to 6) you will remain standing on the track, despite the fact that dozens of cars pass by you. A driver who would love to pick you up during the day won't want to do it in the morning when he's driving his child to school. Office workers in the evening only think about how to get home faster, they also do not need fellow travelers.

9. It often helps the traveler to look miserable.

A traveler can be lucky if he looks miserable: rain, an empty country road, and he, so miserable and alone in this unfair world, is standing in only a T-shirt and shorts at a time when it is almost 0º outside. Such a traveler will also be fed along the way.

10. You are not exceptional.

You should never think that you have a special exclusive right to travel. Of course, it is very unpleasant and tiring to stand in the rain or in the heat, watching car after car pass by you. Thoughts begin: “Well, why didn’t this car take me? After all, it was completely empty ... ”, a person loses hope, stops smiling at drivers and only lazily raises his finger up, and even then only in front of every fifth car. Remember that strangers do you the honor of putting you in their car, and say a stern no to dull thoughts.


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And now the promised story about the competition. Enthusiasts from

Square

I want to say right away that hitchhiking tips are designed to reduce your problems, you can hardly do without them. So, the main rules!

Clothing should not be provocative: no necklines and miniskirts. Store all such individuality in a backpack. Be sure to be neat and clean, the smells of garlic, fumes and nicotine can cause you to disembark long before the desired point. Fold things for travel as compactly as possible - with a huge trunk you are unlikely to be put in a car.

How to stop correctly?

Here the place and mood are important. First, stand where you can be seen so the car can stop. In Russia, you can stand almost anywhere where there is no prohibition of stopping and, at the same time, a controlling video camera. You will also be picked up on the motorway. And in Europe, be careful with autobahns: on the German autobahn, for example, it is forbidden to stand even a car, not to mention a pedestrian. Second, smile! Nobody needs a sad type in the cabin.

The sign of a hitchhiker is a hand extended towards the road with a thumb raised up. Signs work great - on a white sheet, write in large thick lines the name of the nearest point in the right direction. You need to move, and the probability of reaching the first more or less large locality much higher than the planned end of the route.

Get out on the road early in the morning to get into the traffic. For each location, the strongest flow occurs at its own time. As a rule, traffic intensifies on Mondays and Fridays. This rule should be used when planning a route.

stock up car maps and compass. Equip your phone with all sorts of guides and navigators. So it is easier to track the direction of your further movement and determine the terrain.

Sole of company

The hitchhiker is a social being, which means that he is talkative and cheerful. Don't sleep in the car! Well, or if you are traveling together, take turns sleeping with your fellow traveler. After all, it is harder for the driver than for you, so you must definitely keep up the conversation. Among the "eternal" topics: politics, road conditions, weather, cinema. If you don't know the language, read all the signs along the way as best you can. The driver will correct you, and the road will fly by fun.

Your mood is the main success factor. It sounds a little mystical, but it has been verified in practice by hitchhiking masters. Vote with the confidence that your car is about to stop. Catch the glances of cars passing by - by their reaction it will be clear that you can be seen. It happens that there is no desire to vote, but there is an urge to go to the toilet or have a snack. Satisfy your needs! Somehow, hitchhikers understand that you're not really interested in hitchhiking right now.

Is it worth it to stop the company?

It is better to hitchhike alone (if you are a man) - you will get where you want faster. It's safer to travel together. More fun with company? Then break into groups and call up on the way about the rendezvous point. Put yourself in the driver's seat, hardly anyone wants to take risks and immediately plant a group of unknown people. Yes, and free places in the car, as a rule, are limited.

We bypass the particularly mercantile

There are mercantile drivers waiting to pay for the trip. Immediately warn that you do not have money to pay the road. If you see what slows down scheduled bus or a taxi, do not wait for a stop - send them on with a wave of your hand.

How about in Europe?

In Russia, both private traders and truckers are equally willing to give you a lift. In Europe, truckers are unlikely to succeed. Trucks are insured, and if an accident occurs, and there was an outsider in the car, the insurance will not be paid. But the developed countries much more loyal to hitchhikers, they will give you a lift even if the family is sitting in the car.

What to take with you depends on the length of the route. If you intend to ride 500-600 km, then you don’t need anything other than clothing in case of rain. Coffee lovers can grab a thermos. For a longer journey, a sleeping bag, a travel mat and a tent will come in handy. Pack your backpack carefully so that its size does not look threatening (see point 1).

By the way, to travel around the republics North Caucasus and Abkhazia is not at all scary, the drivers are friendly and for the sake of a cheerful and sociable company they are ready to take you for free, and even treat them with pita bread! But do not forget about the elementary rules of hitchhiking.

We wish you a successful hitchhiking!