🚘 I Hitchhiked Across 20 Countries Without Dying — Here’s What Really Happened

āœˆļø Who the Hell Hitchhikes Anymore? This Babe Does. Picture this: me, a backpack, a Sharpie-scrawled cardboard sign, and a possibly terrible idea. I decided to hitchhike my way across 20 countries — from sleepy Slovakian villages to chaotic Thai highways — because why not? Life’s short, and my rent was due anyway. What happened? No kidnappings. No horror stories. Just ridiculous adventures, weird snacks, unforgettable people, and a glow-up in confidence no self-help book could give you. Here’s exactly what went down, what I learned, and how you can channel your inner hitchhiking goddess without becoming a cautionary Netflix documentary.

Melissa Ridge

6/23/20253 min read

Disclosure: Heads up, gorgeous — this post contains affiliate links. That means if you click and book through them, I might earn a lil’ commission at no extra cost to you. You know I only recommend things I love, use, and flirt with on the regular.

āœˆļø Who the Hell Hitchhikes Anymore? This Babe Does.

Picture this: me, a backpack, a Sharpie-scrawled cardboard sign, and a possibly terrible idea. I decided to hitchhike my way across 20 countries — from sleepy Slovakian villages to chaotic Thai highways — because why not? Life’s short, and my rent was due anyway.

What happened? No kidnappings. No horror stories. Just ridiculous adventures, weird snacks, unforgettable people, and a glow-up in confidence no self-help book could give you.

Here’s exactly what went down, what I learned, and how you can channel your inner hitchhiking goddess without becoming a cautionary Netflix documentary.






šŸ“Œ Why Did I Even Do This?

Because plane tickets are expensive, babe. And because nothing makes you feel like a fearless legend faster than hopping into a stranger’s car in a foreign country.

Bonus? It’s the ultimate lesson in trust, instincts, and split-second decision-making. And if you’re smart about it — it’s safer than most Tinder dates.

āœˆļø Pro tip: For those moments when a ride’s sketchy, having a local SIM like Airalo is a must. Instant data, no roaming drama.

🚘 What Actually Happens When You Hitchhike

1ļøāƒ£ People Are Way Kinder Than You Expect

I shared rides with a priest in Albania, a reggae singer in Spain, and a mom taking her kids to soccer practice in Romania. Most people are curious, helpful, and slightly amused by a solo hitchhiking chick.

Travel tip: Use Radical Storage when you need to stash your bags and roam town before your next ride.







2ļøāƒ£ You’ll Get the Wildest, Unfiltered Stories

Forget travel blogs — hitchhiking conversations are raw. I’ve heard life stories about arranged marriages, jailbreaks, alien sightings, and how to make moonshine from figs.

Insider move: Book random, off-the-map events through TicketNetwork in between rides for wild local experiences.

3ļøāƒ£ You’ll Master the Art of Reading People

You get about 10 seconds to decide if someone’s safe. Trust your gut, sugar. The vibe’s always right.

Non-negotiable: Have VisitorsCoverage travel insurance in case things get spicy.

4ļøāƒ£ It’s Actually Not That Dangerous (If You’re Smart)

Most dangers of hitchhiking come from poor prep and bad calls. Daylight hours, safe spots to hitch from, and having escape plans matter.

Ride safer with:

  • KiwiTaxi if you’re stranded

  • GetTransfer for cheap, last-minute options

  • Compensair for those inevitable delayed flights when you bail on hitchhiking

✨ The Weirdest Stuff That Happened

  • Rode in the back of a hearse in Bosnia (no dead bodies, just vibes)

  • Got adopted for two days by a Turkish grandmother who fed me dangerous amounts of baklava

  • Shared a car with a goat in rural Morocco. No, I didn’t name it. Yes, it tried to eat my scarf.

šŸ‘œ Babe’s Hitchhiking Glow-Up Essentials

Don’t even leave your house without these:

šŸ’Œ Wanna Learn to Travel Solo Like a Rebel?

I drop flirty travel tips, wild stories, and secret discounts that don’t make it to the blog. Join the Glow-Up List now, babe.

šŸ‘‰ [Sign Up Here]







šŸ’» Build a Blog, Spill Your Stories, Make That Cash

Obsessed with this kind of chaos? Start your own travel blog, share your mad adventures, and turn clicks into cash. No boring coding required. I built mine using Hostinger Website Builder — stupidly easy, ridiculously affordable.

šŸ‘‰ [Start Your Travel Blog Today]

✨ Final Word: Don’t Let Fear Steal Your Adventures

Sure, hitchhiking isn’t for everyone. But neither is playing it safe. This world’s full of stories you only get by sticking out your thumb on a highway somewhere in Bulgaria.

Be bold. Be smart. Be the story.