When Slouf, 52, retires in nearly two years from his job as a machinist at Caterpillar, he plans to become a travel agent because he knows he won't let what happened to him happen to others.

Several years ago, Slouf and his wife had to drive to Florida to board a cruise ship on what should have been a relaxing vacation over the spring break period.

Their travel agent waited so long to get a good price on airfares, airline prices soared from $220 per ticket to $800 per ticket, forcing the Sloufs to make a rushed drive to Florida to reach their port.

"I got a little irritated by that. I thought I know I could do better," Slouf said.

Taking those sentiments a step further, Slouf actually did start to make a difference. Once he got home, he moonlighted by booking trips for others. He enjoyed the process so much, he decided to make it his income once he retires from Caterpillar in May 2004 and is able to draw a pension. He has been working toward that goal for a couple of years. "I've been doing it professionally for two years, building up a clientele," he said.

At the same time, Slouf took classes at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove to earn an associate in applied science degree. Once he finished that degree, he looked in the college catalog and noticed the courses available in Travel and Tourism and thought they would help his him reach his goal.

This spring, Slouf will graduate from Waubonsee with his second associate in applied science degree - a Travel and Tourism AAS degree.

"I feel when I have this degree, I will have a great knowledge of the book part of it and with the internship, I will have a good sense of the working part of it," Slouf said.

Students participate in a one, two, or three-hour internship at a travel agency as part of the requirement for the degree.

Jill Wold, associate dean for Social Science, Education and Instructional Support, at Waubonsee said the internship is a vital part of the degree. "I think it's so important for people to go out and get the experience," Wold said.

Slouf completed his internship at Travel With Ease in Oswego and, as an independent agent, is still associated with the travel agency.

In recent years, the travel industry has taken a hit by people who prefer to make their own travel plans using the Internet. But Slouf and Wold both say it's often important to use a travel agent, and travelers are beginning to realize that. "When people do this on their own, they lose a lot of great opportunities," Slouf said. Travelers might book a flight once in a while whereas travel professionals book flights on a regular basis and have more experience and expertise. Slouf said the professionals know what questions to ask and who to ask. He said travel agents also receive regular updates on airfares and other travel packages that are not available to the general public.

Wold said travel agents have an expanded role. "They can be advisors rather than just somebody who books your flight," Wold said. Sometimes travelers may have an idea of what they want, but not know exactly what is right for them, she said. "A travel agent is somebody who can help you find what fits you," she said.

For instance, Slouf said Disneyland has 17 different resorts. "Your experience can be totally different depending on which hotel you stay at," Slouf said. Travel professionals can help travelers choose which hotel would best suit their needs.

Time is another factor people need to consider when booking their own vacations. They need to ask themselves how much time they want to spend on it, Slouf said. "It takes less time to say, 'Hey, Rick, how about setting this up,'" he said.

And that's exactly what Slouf said he loves to do. Ever since he began the business, he knew it was the right fit for him. "I love it," he said. He said he likes using his ideas and the client's ideas to see what kind of plan they can come up with. "It's like shopping online," he said.

Those interested in taking their own travel plans a step further, as Slouf has, can also begin their studies online. Wold said the college offers a Travel and Tourism Certificate and an Automated Reservations Systems Certificate online which is a good way for a student to take the core classes in the "In addition to becoming travel agents, students with the Travel and Tourism degree can also look for employment in tourism offices, airlines and cruise lines, and resorts and convention centers."

Eventually, Wold said, she would like to see the program expanded to offer other online specialty degrees and certificates, which would focus, for example, on cruise travel or family travel.

As for Slouf, he's cruising into retirement and into his next career.

More information about the Travel and Tourism Associate in Applied Science Degree and the certificate programs offered at Waubonsee Community College is available by contacting the Counseling and Advising Center at (630) 466-7900, ext. 2361.