In this edition of the LMG Book Club I have selected a small list of books that tell stories of travellers who have made mistakes along the way, telling the honest but funny side of travel. So we, the reader, can see how not to travel the world.

How Not to Travel the World by Lauren Juliff

I had no life experience, zero common sense and had never eaten rice. I suffered from debilitating anxiety, was battling an eating disorder and had just had my heart broken. I hoped by leaving to travel the world I would be able to heal myself.

Instead, Lauren’s travels were full of bad luck and near-death experiences. Over the space of a year, she was scammed and assaulted; lost teeth and swallowed a cockroach. She fell into leech-infested rice paddies, was caught up in a tsunami, had the brakes of her motorbike fail and experienced a very unhappy ending during a massage in Thailand. It was just as she was about to give up on travel when she stumbled across a handsome New Zealander with a love of challenges…

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Miss-Adventures: A Tale of Ignoring Life Advice While Backpacking Around South America by Amy Baker

‘Watch out for men with too much wooden jewellery, Amy. I know what you’re like… you’ll let them sucker you in with their yoga chat but essentially, they’re unwashed… and you don’t want to put your face anywhere near an unwashed penis, let me tell you.’ – Carol, receptionist.

Having announced her plans to quit her job and backpack around South America, humourist and gonzo journalist Amy Baker found herself on the receiving end of a whole bunch of over-the-top and seemingly unnecessary advice. Amy shrugged it all off of course… that is, until she ran into trouble.

After falling into a crevasse, swimming in crocodile-infested waters, dodging cocaine con artists and encountering handsome soothsayers, Amy soon starts to wonder if her Mum, boss and Carol from reception really were onto something. Weighing up their advice against that of known ‘Clever People’ like Tina Fey, Salvador Dalí and Mother Teresa, Amy finally establishes once and for all who it might actually pay to listen to.

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Don’t Go There by Adam Fletcher

After Spiegel bestselling-author Adam Fletcher is accidentally tear-gassed in street protests in Istanbul, he goes on a journey to some of the strangest places in the world, taking his eccentric German girlfriend, Annett, along with him. Their quest to better understand themselves (and everyone else) threatens their world view, sanity, and relationship.

Whether freezing in a blizzard in China, ruining a mass dance in North Korea, experiencing the corruption of Soviet-breakaway Transnistria, pondering the apocalypse in Chernobyl, getting stopped by police boats on the way to the newest country in the world (libertarian utopia Liberland), or meeting the devil incarnate on a night bus in Moldova, Adam keeps his sense of humour and his fascination for the weird things people do to each other when they think no one is looking, in the places few of us ever go.

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End to End: John O’Groats, Broken Spokes and a Dog called Gretna by Alistair McGuinness

It’s hard to fall asleep at the Edinburgh Festival, especially when the headline act is on stage. Nick did have an excuse though. After nine days and hundreds of miles, he was exhausted from cycling. So were his two friends, Alan and Alistair. Their challenge was nothing new. Thousands of people cycle across Britain each year. Alistair only decided on joining the ride, two months earlier. He didn’t own a bike, but luckily his brother was working out of town and had one in his garage. It was old and heavy, with wide wheels. Luckily it was free, with low mileage.

With little planning, limited training and no idea about the benefits of Lycra, they set off from Land’s End towards the remote enclave of John O’Groats, in northeast Scotland. Along the way they found a secret short cut, went in search of the remaining Beatles and met many amazing characters. They also experienced the hottest day of summer, survived two storms and endured a memorable night in a Youth Hostel. For one of the cyclists, the journey would change their life.

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Roam Alone: Inspiring Tales by Reluctant Solo Travellers

A unique title from Bradt, showcasing a brand new collection of remarkable travellers’ tales with a different slant, following on the heels of To Oldly Go!, one of the UK’s best-selling travel titles of 2015.

All the contributors were initially reluctant solo travellers, apprehensive about taking the plunge to go it alone after years of travel with a partner or friend. Some have embarked on the trip of a lifetime, walking or cycling alone through potentially hostile countries, but finding only kindness and hospitality – with a few hairy adventures thrown in. One story is by Bradt founder Hilary Bradt, who confronted her fears and set out to fulfil a childhood dream to ride a horse through Ireland shortly after her marriage broke up. Others are widows and widowers in their later years who were anxious about joining an organised trip on their own or who wanted to make a difference in the world by volunteering their experience and knowledge. Many ages, many personalities, one goal: to travel, and one stumbling block: anxiety.

Part literature, part guide, with tips for successful solo travel. Reassuring, entertaining and inspiring.

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Have you read anything that inspired you to visit a particular place, or rekindled lost memories of a previous trip?

Let me know in the comments.