Holidaymakers not wanting theft, traffic accidents, food poisoning or lost belongings to spoil their trip had better steer clear of Thailand, according to a new survey, writes Laura Goulden. Travel insurers Norwich Union analysed over 60,000 claims and found Thailand to be the destination with the most overall risks for British travellers.

Other countries to fare unfavourably in the findings were the Czech republic, which came out top for incidents of pick-pocketing, South Africa, top for violent robberies, and Mexico, which is the place to go for over-exposure to the sun, it seems.

So does this mean you should call off that trip to Bangkok? Official advice from The Foreign Office warns those travelling to Thailand of the "high threat from terrorism" in parts, as well as crimes such as passport and credit card theft, drink-drugging and sexual offences, among other dangers. But Ingrid Marson, author of The Rules of Backpacking, suggests that it's possible to strike a balance between adventure and safety when travelling abroad. Her advice for backpackers is to "go into situations with your eyes open, but also trust that people usually mean well".

Not convinced? Well there's always a pint of Guinness to be enjoyed in Ireland, which came out as the safest travel destination in the survey. And failing that, you could always stay at home.