Peter Greenberg: International Student Identification Cards

By: Peter Greenberg | Source: AARP.org | 2009-08-05

Q: Peter, I'm taking my 15-year-old grandson to London in July. Should I get an international student identification card for him? If so, what is the process for obtaining one?
–Diane
Salem, N.H.
 
A: As long as your grandson is over 12 years old and is a full-time student, he qualifies for the International Student Identity Card. The card would entitle him to discounts on theater, transportation, and hundreds of other attractions and services in London (and elsewhere in the world). Some examples include London walking tours, the London Zoo and Aquarium, the Tower of London, the Gatwick Express, the Royal Ballet, the Globe Theatre, the Imperial War Museum, and St. Paul's Cathedral.
 
To order a card, have your grandson go to the International Student Identity Card Web site at http://www.myisic.com. Click on the "Buy Your Card!" tab and follow the instructions. The card costs $22, with shipping costs ranging from $3 for standard shipping to $25 for overnight shipping.
 
Since the card is valid for any student over the age of 12, even a senior citizen would be eligible for one if he or she were a full-time student. This is highly unlikely, but remember that seniors (they’re called "pensioners" in the U.K.) are also eligible for discounts in hundreds of places in London. Just show your driver's license (or other ID) whenever you buy a movie ticket, train ticket, or pay for admission to a museum, and ask if the outlet offers a pensioner discount.