When it comes to admission discounts in Washington, students rule. The one caveat: You must have a valid ID, although your current school ID should be good enough. For benefits that extend beyond reduced admission to D.C. attractions, you may want to consider obtaining an International Student Identity Card (ISIC), from the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) (www.istc.org). ISTC was formed in 1949 to make travel around the world more affordable for students. Check out its website for comprehensive travel services information and details on how to get the ISIC, which qualifies students for substantial savings on rail passes, plane tickets, entrance fees, and more. It also provides students with basic health and life insurance and a 24-hour help line. The card is valid for a maximum of 18 months. You can apply for the card online or in person at STA Travel (tel. 800/781-4040 in North America; www.statravel.com), the biggest student travel agency in the world. In Washington, STA has two offices: in Georgetown, at 3301 M St. NW (tel. 202/337-6464), and on the George Washington University campus, in the Marvin Center, at 800 21st St. NW (tel. 202/994-7800). 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.
Travel CUTS (tel. 800/592-2887; www.travelcuts.com) offers similar services for both Canadians and U.S. residents. Irish students may prefer to turn to USIT (tel. 01/602-1904; www.usit.ie), an Ireland-based specialist in student, youth, and independent travel.
