>>2609311Tips:
Always, and I really mean always, look presentable and clean. You want to give off the young backpacker vibe. You don't want to look like a dodgy dude. No one wants to pick up a smelly guy.
Writing a sign is a good idea. I never wrote anything further than one hundred fifty km's, usually sticking to something that is less than one hundred km away. This also makes you look less like a random bum
Put your backpack in front of you to reinforce the fact that you're a backpacker.
Think like a driver: will you pick someone up if it is hard or dangerous to stop? Hitchhike somewhere where there is an obvious place to stop and where it wouldn't be a risk to the driver.
Make sure you can be seen for a bit before a car is near you. What I mean is that you want a driver to take a good look at you. The more time they have to think the less likely it is they will change their mind. If they only got a very short time to think, they might not pick you up.
A spot where cars have to decelerate is a good spot for the same reason, also it makes it safer for cars to park up.
Like mentioned before the bigger the city the harder it is.
When leaving a town or whatever settlement, it is best to hitchhike at the exit and not the entrance. Simply put, most people are going in at the entrance whereas at the exit you will get traffic going out.
If it gets hard to get picked up write signs that are closer than your original goal.
Don't lose your spirits if you get a dry spell.
Be nice to people and do your best to be courteous.
If you get a really bad feeling say no.
Never hitchhike after it gets dark, the only time I did I got picked up by a sober driver and a guy who was already drunk. It gets dodgier and also you look more sketchy. If it is too late in the afternoon take it easy, do some sightseeing and put up your shit to sleep. If you're in a rush to be somewhere, take a bus or ask someone for help with public transit.
