Most business tra-velers and many tourists rely on travel agents who use printed and computer-based sources to advise them, book trips and issue tickets. Agents must have good interview, mathematics, and sales skills. They question clients about their needs and plan a trip that best meets those needs. In vacation travel sales, they must often balance client dreams with a real budget. Agents may have to master many kinds of information, such as international geography; spe-cialty areas like ecotourism; visa regulations; and inoculation rules. Agencies need experienced help but may take applicants who offer college or vocational courses, or high school graduates who have traveled widely. An agency uses at least one air-line computer system. Some send new hires away for intense training; others teach it on-the-job. Personal computer and Internet know-how help. Entry-level salaries are low but rise with a few years’ experience. After six months on the job, most agencies allow their employees to take educa-tional “familiarization trips,” or even pay for one or more each year. These low-cost working trips enable agents to experience hotels, restau-rants, and sightseeing first-hand. For someone who loves travel, the opportunities to see the world as a travel agent are fantastic!