Air Travel

Question:

hitchhiking i use to hitch hike all over the states i would carry a huge sign that said please i usually had no problems getting rides and i never once felt threatened or in harms way i would not be overestimating if i guessed i hitched 50,000 miles perhaps i have very good traveling karma questions: what are your experiences hh overseas, Europe, scand, east Europe what are the safest countries? what are the least safe? in the states it was often illegal but i did it anyway how bout over there? thanks again email encouraged

Response:

> hitchhiking [...] > questions: what are your experiences hh overseas, Europe, scand, east Europe > what are the safest countries? > what are the least safe? > in the states its often illegal but i did it anyway > how bout over there? > thanks again

As a kid growing up in Portugal we hitchhiked everywhere. To go to school, to go to the beach, to go to a friends house, you name it. It was a perfectly normal thing to do ’cause teenagers don’t have cars or a driving license and public transportation outside the cities was less than good. I was in my teens and that was 10-15 years ago. I wouldn’t know how things are nowdays.      - Manuel.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > hitchhiking > i use to hitch hike all over the states > i would carry a huge sign that said please > i usually had no problems getting rides > and i never once felt threatened or in harms way > i would not be overestimating if i guessed i hitched 50,000 miles > perhaps i have very good traveling karma > questions: what are your experiences hh overseas, Europe, scand, east Europe > what are the safest countries? > what are the least safe? > in the states it was often illegal but i did it anyway > how bout over there? > thanks again > email encouraged

Jah, I recommend rec.travel.europe for such questions. rec.travel.air is generally (LOL) used for air travel discussion.

Response:

In most of Europe, you flag down a ride, not by sticking out your thumb (as in the US), but by waving your forearm up and down with your hand open.

Response:

> > what are the safest countries? > what are the least safe? > I think the scandinavian countries are the safest, and the worst are eastern > european.

I did quite a bit of hitchhiking around Romania and had no problems. The locals do this too. You get picked up by someone , and pay them a small amount for the journey. It is a good way if there is one or two of you trying to get around in the rural areas. From a safety point of view, hitching always entails a small risk, and I don’t think that would vary hugely across Europe, although I would avoid it in the Balkans. I have never seen any evidence that eastern europe is any more dangerous than the west. Does anyone know for sure? — DFM

Response:

>questions: what are your experiences hh overseas, Europe, scand, east Europe >what are the safest countries? >what are the least safe? >in the states it was often illegal but i did it anyway >how bout over there?

More than safe or not, I can tell you that: England, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands are quite quick, France is medium, and Spain and Italy quite slow to be taken. Regards, Aitor http://w3.to/travellers

Response:

Jahfree3 schrieb: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> hitchhiking > i use to hitch hike all over the states > i would carry a huge sign that said please > i usually had no problems getting rides > and i never once felt threatened or in harms way > i would not be overestimating if i guessed i hitched 50,000 miles > perhaps i have very good traveling karma > questions: what are your experiences hh overseas, Europe, scand, east Europe > what are the safest countries? > what are the least safe? > in the states it was often illegal but i did it anyway > how bout over there? > thanks again > email encouraged

Hitchhiking in Germany is allowed, but people regard it as risky – both for drivers and for the hitchhikers. Your chances of getting a ride at night are not good. Bear in mind that cars are not allowed to stop on autobahns except in emergency. If you try and hitch a ride on the autobahn directly, the first car that stops will be a police car. You can hitch from autobahn rest stations. It’s advisable to have a placard with the city code of where you’re headed, so if your destination is Berlin, put a big ‘B’ on it. Also, stand somewhere the drivers have a chance of stopping- that means, don’t stand right at the end of the exit lane. Better is to stand near the exit of the parking area.  Having written that, I must admit I haven’t picked up any hitchhikers for some time. Shame on me.. Good luck! Tom One other thing- there are ridesharing centres in major cities- look for http://www.mitfahrzentrale.de/, or google similar links.

Response:

hitchhiking i use to hitch hike all over the states i would carry a huge sign that said please i usually had no problems getting rides and i never once felt threatened or in harms way i would not be overestimating if i guessed i hitched 50,000 miles perhaps i have very good traveling karma questions: what are your experiences hh overseas, Europe, scand, east Europe what are the safest countries? what are the least safe? in the states it was often illegal but i did it anyway how bout over there? thanks again email encouraged

Response:

> what are the safest countries? > what are the least safe?

I think the scandinavian countries are the safest, and the worst are eastern european. > in the states it was often illegal but i did it anyway > how bout over there?

It’s legal in denmark where I live, about other countries I don’t know. — Mvh / Regards -=< Christian >=- What capital has 164 letters in its name? See my web page to find out. http://www.cmnielsen.dk     ICQ: 25308942 " If something’s hard to do, then it’s not worth doing. Homer J. Simpson"

Response:

>i use to hitch hike all over the states

I used to hitch-hike all over Europe (see >i would carry a huge sign that said please

I would carry a friendly smile and an umbrella, as many European car owners don’t like to get their car seats wet even when it’s raining. >i usually had no problems getting rides >and i never once felt threatened or in harms way

ACK. >i would not be overestimating if i guessed i hitched 50,000 miles

I’d like to throw in about 62.000 mls. >perhaps i have very good traveling karma

I never thought about something like that.  I think it is enough to like people instead of being afraid of them. >questions: what are your experiences hh overseas, Europe, scand, east Europe >what are the safest countries? >what are the least safe?

As I did never experience any harms, it’s hard to differ.  My personal experience is that you usually personally feel better in a country where you can understand the language. >in the states it was often illegal but i did it anyway >how bout over there?

Different countries – different rules (just some): – In France and the Netherlands hitch-hiking is illegal on roads not   equipped with footpaths. – In parts of Austria, you have to be at least 16 years old. – In Poland, hichhiking is only legal between May 1 and September 30   and if you are holding a hith-hiker’s card that includes an accident   insurance. – An accident insurance is also recommendet for Italy, Portugal,   Slowakia, Slowenia und the Czech Republic. Have fun! Jens

Response:

In most of Europe, you flag down a ride, not by sticking out your thumb (as in the US), but by waving your forearm up and down with your hand open.

Response:

> > what are the safest countries? > what are the least safe? > I think the scandinavian countries are the safest, and the worst are eastern > european.

I did quite a bit of hitchhiking around Romania and had no problems. The locals do this too. You get picked up by someone , and pay them a small amount for the journey. It is a good way if there is one or two of you trying to get around in the rural areas. From a safety point of view, hitching always entails a small risk, and I don’t think that would vary hugely across Europe, although I would avoid it in the Balkans. I have never seen any evidence that eastern europe is any more dangerous than the west. Does anyone know for sure? — DFM

Response:

>questions: what are your experiences hh overseas, Europe, scand, east Europe >what are the safest countries? >what are the least safe? >in the states it was often illegal but i did it anyway >how bout over there?

More than safe or not, I can tell you that: England, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands are quite quick, France is medium, and Spain and Italy quite slow to be taken. Regards, Aitor http://w3.to/travellers

Response:

Jahfree3 schrieb: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> hitchhiking > i use to hitch hike all over the states > i would carry a huge sign that said please > i usually had no problems getting rides > and i never once felt threatened or in harms way > i would not be overestimating if i guessed i hitched 50,000 miles > perhaps i have very good traveling karma > questions: what are your experiences hh overseas, Europe, scand, east Europe > what are the safest countries? > what are the least safe? > in the states it was often illegal but i did it anyway > how bout over there? > thanks again > email encouraged

Hitchhiking in Germany is allowed, but people regard it as risky – both for drivers and for the hitchhikers. Your chances of getting a ride at night are not good. Bear in mind that cars are not allowed to stop on autobahns except in emergency. If you try and hitch a ride on the autobahn directly, the first car that stops will be a police car. You can hitch from autobahn rest stations. It’s advisable to have a placard with the city code of where you’re headed, so if your destination is Berlin, put a big ‘B’ on it. Also, stand somewhere the drivers have a chance of stopping- that means, don’t stand right at the end of the exit lane. Better is to stand near the exit of the parking area.  Having written that, I must admit I haven’t picked up any hitchhikers for some time. Shame on me.. Good luck! Tom One other thing- there are ridesharing centres in major cities- look for http://www.mitfahrzentrale.de/, or google similar links.

Response:

hitchhiking i use to hitch hike all over the states i would carry a huge sign that said please i usually had no problems getting rides and i never once felt threatened or in harms way i would not be overestimating if i guessed i hitched 50,000 miles perhaps i have very good traveling karma questions: what are your experiences hh overseas, Europe, scand, east Europe what are the safest countries? what are the least safe? in the states it was often illegal but i did it anyway how bout over there? thanks again email encouraged

Response:

> what are the safest countries? > what are the least safe?

I think the scandinavian countries are the safest, and the worst are eastern european. > in the states it was often illegal but i did it anyway > how bout over there?

It’s legal in denmark where I live, about other countries I don’t know. — Mvh / Regards -=< Christian >=- What capital has 164 letters in its name? See my web page to find out. http://www.cmnielsen.dk     ICQ: 25308942 " If something’s hard to do, then it’s not worth doing. Homer J. Simpson"

Response:

>i use to hitch hike all over the states

I used to hitch-hike all over Europe (see >i would carry a huge sign that said please

I would carry a friendly smile and an umbrella, as many European car owners don’t like to get their car seats wet even when it’s raining. >i usually had no problems getting rides >and i never once felt threatened or in harms way

ACK. >i would not be overestimating if i guessed i hitched 50,000 miles

I’d like to throw in about 62.000 mls. >perhaps i have very good traveling karma

I never thought about something like that.  I think it is enough to like people instead of being afraid of them. >questions: what are your experiences hh overseas, Europe, scand, east Europe >what are the safest countries? >what are the least safe?

As I did never experience any harms, it’s hard to differ.  My personal experience is that you usually personally feel better in a country where you can understand the language. >in the states it was often illegal but i did it anyway >how bout over there?

Different countries – different rules (just some): – In France and the Netherlands hitch-hiking is illegal on roads not   equipped with footpaths. – In parts of Austria, you have to be at least 16 years old. – In Poland, hichhiking is only legal between May 1 and September 30   and if you are holding a hith-hiker’s card that includes an accident   insurance. – An accident insurance is also recommendet for Italy, Portugal,   Slowakia, Slowenia und the Czech Republic. Have fun! Jens

Response: