There are more colleges and universities in and around Philadelphia than in any other city in the country, so students will find a warm reception from area vendors and sights. A valid student ID will get you discounts on cultural sites, accommodations, car rentals, and more. When in Philadelphia, pick up a copy of student papers such as the Daily Pennsylvanian (www.dailypennsylvanian.com) at the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania, 34th and Walnut streets (tel. 215/898-5000; www.upenn.edu); The Temple News (www.temple-news.com) at Temple University, North Broad Street (tel. 215/204-7000; www.temple.edu); or The Triangle (www.thetriangle.org) at Drexel University, 32nd and Chestnut streets (tel. 215/895-2000; www.drexel.edu).
A valid student ID often qualifies students for discounts on airfare, accommodations, entry to museums, cultural events, movies, and more. If you're planning to travel outside the U.S., you'd be wise to arm yourself with an International Student Identity Card (ISIC), which offers substantial savings on rail passes, plane tickets, and entrance fees. It also provides you with basic health and life insurance and a 24-hour help line. The card is available from STA Travel (tel. 800/781-4040 in North America; www.sta.com or www.statravel.com), the biggest student travel agency in the world. If you're no longer a student but are still under 26, you can get an International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) from the same people, which entitles you to some discounts (but not on museum admissions). Travel CUTS (tel. 800/667-2887 or 416/614-2887; www.travelcuts.com) offers similar services for both Canadians and U.S. residents. Irish students may prefer to turn to USIT (tel. 01/602-1600; www.usitnow.ie), an Ireland-based specialist in student, youth, and independent travel.
