Guest Author - Leyla Garofalo

When you love traveling, chances are that you can’t afford to go everywhere you’d like to without some serious bargain hunting. Luckily, there are ways to score some discounts here and there. This article is about the ISIC, the IYTC and the ITIC cards. If you’re young and/or a teacher, having one of these travel discount cards will let you swipe and save during your next vacation.

The three cards were invented by the International Student Travel Confederation, established in 1949. This is an organization that concerns itself with the well–being of traveling students and young adults. Its goals are basically to encourage young people to travel so that they gain an understanding of the rest of the world, while going about it in a safe way. ISTC hopes to achieve this by making traveling easier with its discount cards.

The ISIC card is for students. This means that you either have to be a full time high school student or a full time university student. You also must be at least 12 years of age. The International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) is for people under 26 years old. The International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) is for teachers and professors. There are no age limitations associated with the ITIC.

The three cards offer pretty much the same benefits, which include discounts on lodging, museums, flights and other transportation, entertainment and bars. You’ll also have access to some really nice support features like a 24–hour emergency help line, travel insurance and a system called ISIConnect. ISIConnect lets you set up a voicemail box. This way you can be reached by your family and friends regardless of your whereabouts. Benefits vary from country to country, so always check the ISIC website to make sure you’re getting the discounts you expect when traveling to a particular location.

The price of a card depends on the country in which you buy it. For instance, in the USA the ISIC card costs $22, while in Europe you’ll pay around 10 euros. The cards are generally good for one year, but the rules change periodically, and validity periods may vary from card to card, so be sure to read the fine print.

If you like to travel and you are eligible for one of these cards, consider picking one up before your next trip. Go to the ISTC’s website, www.isic.org, where you can find details on the full range of benefits available with each card, as well as application and purchasing information.