In her latest post, Death by Dingo, STA Explorer George tackles the tricky subject of all the warnings you get given when you set off on a trip. As she prepares for her own tour of Australia, she’s been told:

Be careful.. Keep safe.. Watch your back.. Stick together.. Don’t talk to strangers.. Don’t jump in cars.. Listen to saftey instructions.. Don’t get stupid.. Don’t drink too much.. Don’t get silly.. Don’t play the fool.. Lock up your valuables.. Wear sun cream.. Blaaaa Blaaaa BLAH - Are we really that dumb?

As she admits, these exhortations usually have the very best intentions, and it’s great to be prepared, but sometimes they just feel like a case of hard-man one-upmanship (my relative was eaten by a dingo, my dingo was eaten by a relative).

George admits she went a bit crazy buying supplies in the STA Travel shop to cover every eventuality but ‘despite all the hidden dangers and even the obvious ones, nothing will stop Hip1 and I from loving every second of our time in Australia’.

What are the worst travel scare stories you’ve been told? Has a piece of advice from a friend or travel agent saved your skin? Or do you find it all just so much scaremongering?