There seems to be some confusion these days about the purpose of online travel videos. Some people are disappointed by their content, while some die hard travelers avoid them like the plague. These misconceptions can be easily avoided by realizing the true goal of travel videos and using them responsibly, like a precision screwdriver, or the Constitution.
Travel videos are NOT… going to spoil the trip for you. These videos show you highlights of a location, of course, but one video could not possibly show you everything there is to see and do in one country, or even in one city. Think of how many things there are to do in your own city, and how many of those things you have actually done, then imagine how many more things there are to discover in someplace you have never been. Do it. Imagine it now. See? Quite a few things, eh?
Travel videos ARE… helpful in generating ideas of what to do. As stated above, you are only given a taste of the experience in a travel video. The only way to fully experience the locale in question is to visit there, and video travel guides hope to entice you to do exactly that.
Travel videos are NOT… vacations in and of themselves. They are videos. Videos are different from vacations. Anyone who claims that you can “see the world without leaving your couch” is not only doing you a disservice, but the travel video industry as well. If all you want to do is see exotic locations without having to go there, then you will probably be bored if there is nothing going on, so you will want to see people doing things. But if they only do boring tourist things, you will probably hope they do something exciting. And we just call those “movies”.
Travel videos ARE… invaluable tools to plan the perfect vacation. Whether to learn more about possible destinations or to weigh the pros and cons of one destination over another, a well made travel video will make the best case for both locations so you and your family can make your decision. And the best part? If one place is not all you hoped it would be, you can try the other place at a later date.
Oh, and for all you students out there, travel videos are NOT… good sources of information for geography reports. Your teachers will see right through that ploy if, instead of population and GDP, your paper recommends the best hotels and restaurants. Nice try, though.
