š I Hitchhiked Across 20 Countries Without Dying ā Hereās What Really Happened
āļø 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 ā from sleepy Slovakian villages to chaotic Thai highways ā because why not? Lifeās 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. Hereās 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 ā this post contains affiliate links. That means if you click and book through them, I might earn a lilā commission at no extra cost to you. You know I only recommend things I love, use, and flirt with on the regular.
āļø 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 ā from sleepy Slovakian villages to chaotic Thai highways ā because why not? Lifeās 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.
Hereās exactly what went down, what I learned, and how you can channel your inner hitchhiking goddess without becoming a cautionary Netflix documentary.
š 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 strangerās car in a foreign country.
Bonus? Itās the ultimate lesson in trust, instincts, and split-second decision-making. And if youāre smart about it ā itās safer than most Tinder dates.
āļø Pro tip: For those moments when a rideās sketchy, having a local SIM like Airalo is a must. Instant data, no roaming drama.
š What Actually Happens When You Hitchhike
1ļøā£ 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.
2ļøā£ Youāll Get the Wildest, Unfiltered Stories
Forget travel blogs ā hitchhiking conversations are raw. Iāve 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.
3ļøā£ Youāll Master the Art of Reading People
You get about 10 seconds to decide if someoneās safe. Trust your gut, sugar. The vibeās always right.
Non-negotiable: Have VisitorsCoverage travel insurance in case things get spicy.
4ļøā£ Itās Actually Not That Dangerous (If Youāre 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 youāre 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 didnāt name it. Yes, it tried to eat my scarf.
š Babeās Hitchhiking Glow-Up Essentials
Donāt even leave your house without these:
š± Airalo for instant, borderless data
šØ Hotellook for safe last-minute stays
š« WayAway for flexible travel deals
š Magic Weighted Blanket to cure your travel insomnia in hostel bunk beds
āļø Aviasales for emergency flight getaways
š ļø VisitorsCoverage because babe, your health matters
š Wanna Learn to Travel Solo Like a Rebel?
I drop flirty travel tips, wild stories, and secret discounts that donāt make it to the blog. Join the Glow-Up List now, babe.
š [Sign Up Here]
š» 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 ā stupidly easy, ridiculously affordable.
š [Start Your Travel Blog Today]
⨠Final Word: Donāt Let Fear Steal Your Adventures
Sure, hitchhiking isnāt for everyone. But neither is playing it safe. This worldās full of stories you only get by sticking out your thumb on a highway somewhere in Bulgaria.
Be bold. Be smart. Be the story.
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