Searching for the Reel Truth About Travel Videos

To take an armchair journey these days, a VCR and TV set can be as useful a pair of guides as a good travel book.

Welcome to the era of the travel video.

Entertaining as well as informative, travel videos can fuel the dreams of armchair travelers, teach students a geography lesson, give wanderers a vivid reminder of a just-completed trip, and provide those about to leave with a colorful preview of their destination.

Most videos are post card-lovely travelogues. Trip planners can view them usefully in conjunction with--though not as a substitute for--information available in newspaper travel sections, guidebooks or travel magazines.

Some even provide tips on, among other things, transportation, customs regulations, weather and currency, usually at the end of the video or in an accompanying booklet.

None include prices. Some offer clues by rating hotels, for instance, as deluxe or modest, and a few video producers, to offset production costs, have begun incorporating filmed commercials from selected hotels, restaurants, shops or transportation companies at the end of the tape, which means you’re paying for commercials.

Some companies, such as Fodor’s Video Guides, Rand McNally’s Video Trips and Van Arsdale’s Video Travel Guides, provide travel information such as a limited selection of accommodations and restaurant suggestions that are not paid commercials.

Then, too, there is that category of videos put out by cruise lines, tour companies, airlines, resorts and tourist bureaus promoting their own product. These are the ones you usually see at travel agencies or travel shows.

Travel videos are usually about half an hour to an hour, are well-narrated (often by entertainment personalities), feature live and/or taped music and are updated every two to five years.

Very few are available at video stores, where they usually are filed under a “special interest” or “documentary” category. They are often filed by title rather than by subject matter, meaning “Beaches of Hawaii” might sit next to “Beagles Are Beautiful.”

You may find a broader selection for loan, rental or purchase at some travel agencies, larger public libraries, bookstores or travel specialty shops.

The last few years have brought some major travel-oriented companies into the production and distribution of travel videos, including National Geographic, Rand McNally, Fodor and Reader’s Digest, as well as top-notch independent film makers.

Quality has improved as demand has grown, and so has the number of reliable distribution outlets.

Growth also has meant a broader range of travel-related subjects--with focus on different countries’ wilderness areas, sports, language, music and the like.

One of the companies moving aggressively into the market is International Video Network (IVN), producers and distributors of more than 50 videos “of special interest to the armchair traveler,” including a National Parks collection co-produced with Reader’s Digest.

“We try to offer knowledge as well as some off-the-beaten track experiences, in addition to providing a pleasant travelogue journey, “ IVN spokesman Michael Pritt said.

With video stores offering only a limited supply, the best way to get a large selection is to order from a catalogue. Addresses are usually on the video jacket. IVN’s videos should be available through many Waldenbooks stores.

Prices for videos vary, but most are $29.95, plus postage and handling. Many companies accept credit cards.

One company that specializes exclusively in travel videos is The House of Tyrol/International Video Collection, P.O. Box 909, Gateway Plaza, Cleveland, Ga. 30528, toll-free (800) 241-5404. Several hundred listed in the catalogue are in stock.

“Others by the same producers are available on request,” according to Bernd Nagy, president of Tyrol. Also, next-day mail service is available.

Another catalogue source is Videotakes, 187 Parker Ave., Route 71, Manasquan, N.J. 08736, (800) 526-7002. Its Video Gift Book ($4.95) catalogues all types of special-interest films, including more than 300 travel videos.

Some videos are available through more than one catalogue or outlet.

Although Tyrol and Videotakes list many of the videos produced, you can deal directly with several producers for a free catalogue that lists all of their tapes and gives directions on how to order.

Here are some producers and distributors, the areas their tapes cover and the use for which they are best suited:

American Express Video Service, 475 Oberlin Ave. South, CN 2113, Lakewood, N.J. 08701, (800) 842-4747. Worldwide destinations. Members receive a $10 gift certificate with every $100 purchase.

Armchair Safaris: EcoVentures Ltd., 801 Devon Place, Alexandria, Va. 22314, (800) 862-8900. Quality films dealing with African wildlife and environmental topics. Spectacular scenery, including film clips from early 1900s safaris. No tips or travel information.

Chronicle Videocassettes, 399 Hermosa Court, Lafayette, Calif. 94549, (415) 284-7994. Worldwide subjects including a nostalgic trip on the Orient Express. No tips or travel information. Best for armchair travelers.

Fodor’s Video Guides (TravelWorld Video Inc.), Random House Inc., Order Entry Department, 400 Hahn Road, Westminster, Md. 21157, (800) 733-3000. Three videos: Mexico, Great Britain and Hawaii. Hungary, Bangkok and Singapore available soon. Good for trip planners. Includes travelogue, tips and hotel recommendations. Handy booklet included.

Holiday Video Library (Finley-Holiday Film Corp.), 12607 E. Philadelphia St., P.O. Box 619, Whittier 90601, (213) 945-3325. More than 70 videos of U.S. attractions. Available by mail and at sites. No tips. Of special interest to those wanting to reminisce, some help to planners.

International Video Network (Video Visits), 2242 Camino Ramon, San Ramon, Calif. 94583, (415) 866-1121. United States and world areas. Best suited for armchair travelers. Good quality, well-narrated. No travel tips. Also, series on U.S. national parks co-produced with Reader’s Digest.

Media Resources International, Department C-89, P.O. Box 2816, Honolulu 96803, (800) 367-8047, Ext. 112. Selection of more than 35 tapes on Hawaiian music, scenery, history. Fifteen minutes to two hours long. Mostly for reminiscing. No travel tips.

National Geographic Society, Innovision, P.O. Box 576, Itasca, Ill. 60143-0576, (800) 523-5503. Quality worldwide travel and nature studies. No tips. Society members obtain 10% discount through the magazine’s video club. Club address: 17th and M Streets N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. Or call (800) 638-4077.

Rand McNally Video Trips, (Best Films & Video Corp), P.O. Box 1179, Gillette, Wyo. 82716, (800) 248-7477. Good quality, mostly on Western Hemisphere. Helpful for travel planning. Portion devoted to handy tips and unsponsored hotel, restaurant and sightseeing recommendations.

Traveloguer Collection, 3301 W. Hampden Ave., Suite N, Englewood, Colo. 80110, (800) 521-5104. Filmed and narrated by some of the top travel film makers originally for theater presentation. Some editing to fit cassette length. Strictly travelogues; no commercial plugs or tips. Mostly Europe. Reference booklet included.

Travelview International, 5630 Beverly Hill, Houston, Tex. 77057, (800) 325-3108. United States and world areas. Film tour, with tips and reference guide to hotels, shops and attractions, partially sponsored by Berlitz. Helpful to travel planners.

Van Arsdale’s Video Travel Guides, P.O. Box 3175, South Naples, Fla. 33940, (800) 262-8181. Best for travel planners. Good, candid narration pointing out attractions and drawbacks. Visual tours of hotels and restaurants neither solicited nor paid for. Caribbean, Bermuda and Western ski areas. Hawaii scheduled for this fall. Tour book available with Caribbean and Bermuda videos at additional charge.

VPI/AC, 381 Park Ave. South, New York 10016, (212) 685-5522. Quality art, cultural and scenic tours. Mostly Italy. No commercials or tips.

World Video Travel Guides, 536 West 29th St., New York 10001, (212) 563-1680. Good travelogues of nine major European cities. No tips or commercial promotion.