All of the above have given good advice. I studied abroad and teach a foreign language at the University. I was first asked by a friend to take a job as the translator with a group she put together. I traveled and helped make arrangments (hotels, airfare, meals, sightseeing) for that group for a number of years. I also put together and led tours for small groups at my University, and helped with arrangements and guiding for our local High School Bands on European trips. The pay is not good, but the work is usually enjoyable, and one does get to travel a lot. The days are extremely long, and sometimes one has to work out details while the group is enjoying a fine meal or a sightseeing day. Occasionally one gets a ?sorehead? who complains about everything.
Students who plan to travel often ask my advice. They don?t pay for that, but I do enjoy working with them.
I found that the pay is poor, but the satisfaction is usually great.

It seems that now that we have the Internet and more specifically, Fodors, most people don't turn to travel agents.
But corporations do.
Tracking down hotels rooms and the best fare on the Internet is time consuming for the average vacationer but it gives us something to do while we wait for the date on the calendar.
None of that comes into play when a large business wants to send their staff about. Of course, no one cares what the "In Restuarant" in Des Moines is but what the heck it probably pays better then dealing with John Q.
Since money isn't really an issue, have you considered being a tour guide in your home city or state? I don't know what it would pay but it might be fun.

Sorry about those question marks. They were meant to be double and single quotation marks. Boots

mcgeezer - thanks for the tour guide suggestion. I'll definately look into it.

Iregeo -
There is a good book you should read called "Inside Secrets to Finding a Career In Travel" by Karen Rubin.

It is not as hokey as it sounds. It is actually a very good book talking about the reality of the travel industry, and giving detailed information on job opportunities other than that of travel agent or tour guide.

I, like you, would love a job in the travel business, but I cannot afford the pay of a travel agent. The opened my eyes to the many, many other opportunities that would let me be a part of the industry.

It's also got lots of resources listed at the back - web sites and other for further information.

Good luck!

Iregeo, Pick a very very narrow niche.
You cannot be a generalist. Then, find the best web site for that niche and buy an ad--in my case it was at www.initaly.com--but that was 7 years ago. Most of my clients now are by word-of mouth or repeats. No one will find you unless you are visually prominent on a site that they will find on their own. I also feel that my handle was an asset--people tend to remember it. I did not have my own web page until about 3 years ago, and no one would find it without being directed there. Hope that helps.

wanderer and bobthenavigator, thank you both for the information and advice. I will check out the book you suggested. I am in the very early stages of my investigation. I'll share with you my final decision. Thanks again.

May be too late to be of use but I just wanted to point out that there are other ways to work in the travel industry than becoming a TA.

Large tour operators are business like any other and have HR departments, IT departments, Finance departments etc.

I worked for 4.5 years as an IT Trainer (a job I'd already been doing for IT Training companies for some years). Whilst the daily job wasn't all about travel it did give me an insight into the workings of the industry. I designed and delivered training for a number of bespoke software applications dealing in flight sales, customer compensation and other aspects of the business. I also did some training in our overseas offices. Even though the job didn't have me planning trips for people, it was great to work in an industry where loving travel and loving to talk about it was the norm not the exception.

Do you have any skills that would allow you to find a second career in the industry without giving up on your experience and strengths?