“Whidbey Islanders have intrepid souls.”

According to Janet Ploof, a travel agent and co-owner of Island Travel in Langley, this philosophy is keeping local travel agencies afloat during what is admittedly a frightening and inconvenient time to travel. But even though airport security is a chore and war and disease make the Middle East and Asia practically off limits to American tourists, Whidbey Islanders seem to still be traveling.

“Whidbey Island is a hardy crowd,” Ploof said. “They go where and when they want.”

Despite the ongoing war in Iraq and the looming threat of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, South Whidbey travel agents say it’s business as usual.

Joanne Presher of Freeland Travel Service said this week that Whidbey travelers are still heading overseas. Though she saw a huge decline in business after the 9/11 attacks, current world events don’t seem to be denting travel enthusiasm on the island. Her most popular overseas destination is Europe, she said, particularly Great Britain.

Travel agents at both Freeland Travel Service and Island Travel say none of their customers has canceled a trip due to concern over the war in Iraq.

The issue of SARS, on the other hand, has modified some travel plans. Jane Grebil, co-owner of Island Travel, said she recently had one customer book an overseas flight through Seattle rather than Vancouver, B.C., to avoid coming in contact with the SARS virus. British Columbia officials have documented several cases of the disease in the province.

Ploof said she had only one phone call inquiring whether Vancouver was safe for travel. She told the caller that travel to the city is safe.

Ultimately, said the agents at the two travel services, people travel within their own comfort levels. At the moment, the Middle East is exceeding those levels for most people. As a result, an Israel travel package offered by Freeland Travel Service is on hold indefinitely.

“I wouldn’t travel to the Middle East,” said agent Presher. “You don’t send family vacations there.”

Presher said customers should research the areas they are interested in traveling before making reservations.

Local travel agents are also becoming sources of information on the moods in other nations. Ploof said Island Travel typically follows up on customers’ trips. She said she and her agents like to find out how the trip went, how foreigners acted towards Americans, and about their experiences in general.

Heidi Bohn, an agent at Island Travel who is a frequent traveler, recently took a trip to Asia. She said the people she met were much nicer to Americans than she anticipated. She said she didn’t feel negative attitudes would deter her customers from vacationing abroad.

“Foreigners like Americans, but they don’t like American politics,” she said. “People went out of their way. They are eager to talk to Americans.”

Many travelers, according to Presher, follow current events before booking a trip.

“It’s kind of like people are holding their breath and waiting to see,” she said.

Wars and viruses aren’t the only worries for Whidbey Island travelers; maneuvering through SeaTac and other airports is stressful enough.

“I just tell them ‘take a book and be prepared for delays,’ ” Presher said.

According to Ploof, some of her customers are booking cruises out of Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., to avoid the hassle of negotiating through an airport.

Island Travel’s Bohn said she’s noticed customers are also changing the way they vacation.

“People are reshifting their ideas,” said Bohn.

Bohn and Ploof said travelers are more apt to take it easy on vacation rather than trying to pack in a culture-rich experience. Ploof said she has seen many customers who use vacation time as a learning experience for themselves or their kids. Now they are more likely to book a cruise and relax.

Ploof said many vacation options have softened in favor of customers. In the past, travelers would typically lose most of the money they put down on a trip when they canceled. Now, travelers can book a cruise by putting some money down as a payment to reserve a space. That way, Ploof said, vacationers can change their plans if necessary.