How to make sure the video of your big trip isn't a big bore? Mike Haney reveals four foolproof steps for creating travel flicks even the neighbors will love. (Step five: Start popping the corn)

STEP ONE: BUY

Flip Ultra HD/ $200
Among the smallest and least expensive high-def camcorders, the Flip Ultra is the tech toy you never have to leave at home. Controls are minimal: record, zoom, play. But it holds two hours of 720p high-definition video that is closer in quality to a full-size camcorder than a cell phone—just avoid low-light situations, where footage turns grainy. The built-in USB port means easy uploads and no cables to forget; when plugged in, it also juices up the included rechargeable AA batteries. It comes with Mac- and Windows-compatible software stored in the camera's memory as well as basic editing for adding titles and music—a good thing considering the lousy audio you'll get from the built-in mic.

Panasonic HDC-HS300/ $1,400
This camcorder is a perfect full-featured shooter for the budding videographer. The controls are intuitive, the image-stabilization feature produces professional-looking footage, and the auto face-detection and subject-tracking help prevent common rookie mistakes such as letting the main subject go out of focus. (For a more arty depth-of-field look, there's a manual-focus ring on the lens.) The built-in hard drive stores 15 hours of full high-definition footage (add an SD card for double that) and 10.6-megapixel stills that you can snap while recording. As with most consumer camcorders, the big drawback is low-quality audio. Consider investing in the Røde Video Mic ($150): It clips onto most full-size cameras (not Flips) and is an easy way to keep background noise to a minimum while capturing crystal-clear sound.

STEP TWO: SHOOT

Michael Rosenblum, a television producer who also runs the Travel Channel Academy—which offers four-day film courses in New York, Washington, D.C., and Santa Barbara—reveals his golden rules for great travel videos.

1. Never move the camera. "Nothing screams home movie like a wandering camera," Rosenblum says. Instead, treat the camcorder as if it were a still camera with a ten-second exposure, and let the movement happen in the frame. Put together shots that mimic the way your eye naturally takes in a scene. If you're watching an artisan make glass, say, start with a shot of his hands, where the action is. Then go to his face, and then to a wide shot of the scene, and finally over his shoulder. "Those four shots are your story," he says.

2. Get close. "Make at least half your footage close-ups," he says. But don't use the zoom on non-pro cameras—it'll collapse the depth of field. Instead, put your camera as near to the subject as you can.

3. Shoot people. Skip the same old panning shot of the Eiffel Tower. Your video should tell a story, and that means you need characters. Capture them doing something, not just waving at the camera—even if it's as simple as boarding a streetcar. "The best video is shot surreptitiously. Work around the characters," Rosenblum says.