By René Biberstein
So you want to travel? Travelling, and finding a place to stay when you get there can be very expensive &emdash;especially if (like most people) you don't carry around wads of cash. Many students would like travel, but can't afford it because they don't have a full time job. The solution? Whether your destination is the nearest big city, another part of the country, or the other side of the globe, the ISIC card is just about the only way to go. Not too many people have heard about it, especially high school students, but savings are huge.
There are lots of reasons for wanting to travel, or see another place. You may have friends or relatives living far away from them, in other parts of the country and outside of it. You might want to visit them, but find out that the cost of the train, bus or plane trip is too much for them. Or you might want to travel to work at a summer job, or to go to school somewhere else. If you're a young Canadian living in a rural area or small town, a job or starting university and college can mean a big trip. Or you just might want to go for a vacation and get away from it all for a while.
ISIC saves you money at travel agencies, transportation (like trains, buses, planes and car and bike rentals), hotels and hostels, and many tourist sites. It also give you a free hotline to phone for information or help if you get stranded anywhere. The card costs $16 (Canadian) and can be picked up at any VIA rail station or office, Travel Cuts locations and most colleges and universities in Canada. It lasts 16 months and you have to be over the age of 12 and in school or university to use it. Some benefits include 40% off all economy class VIA rail trips, 10% off Greyhound bus service and student rates on all trips booked with Travel Cuts.
For a more detailed rundown, visit the International Student Travel Commission (they control the ISIC) at www.istc.org
You can also check out the Canadian ISIC page at www.isic-canada.com or e-mail them at mail@isic-canada.com.
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Copyright © 1998
TG Magazine /The Students Commission
Le Magazine TG/La Commission des étudiants