Various official and quasi-official youth/student ID cards soon pay for themselves in savings. Full-time students are eligible for the International Student ID Card (ISIC), which entitles the bearer to special air, rail and ferry fares and discounts at museums, theatres and other attractions. For Americans there's also a health benefit, providing up to $3000 in emergency medical coverage and $100 a day for 60 days in the hospital, plus a 24-hour hotline to call in the event of a medical, legal or financial emergency. The card costs $22 for Americans; CAN$16 for Canadians; A$16.50 for Australians; NZ$21 for New Zealanders; and ? in the UK.
You only have to be 26 or younger to qualify for the International Youth Travel Card , which costs US$22/? and carries the same benefits. Teachers qualify for the International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) , offering similar discounts and costing ?, US$22, CAN$16, A$16.50 and NZ$21. All these cards are available in the US from Council Travel, STA, Travel CUTS and, in Canada, Hostelling International; in Australia and New Zealand from STA or Campus Travel; and in the UK from CTS Travel ( www.ctstravel.co.uk ).

Several other travel organizations and accommodation groups also sell their own cards, good for various discounts. A university photo ID might open some doors, but is not as easily recognizable as the ISIC cards, although the latter are often not accepted as valid proof of age

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