cybertraveler

Hi,
I posted on this a few days ago, but it never showed up...??
After reading tips from some posters, I called my alma mater & got a card for $22, with $8 additional for passport photo--seems like it will be money well spent, but I am not sure exactly what discounts, etc. I am eligible for. Could anyone tell me how to best use this in Paris, Florence & Venice?

...hoping for major educator's discount at Galleries Lafayette and on the Ponte Vecchio...

cybertraveler

trying one more time for those teachers out there...?

moldyhotelsaregross

I remember using my district issued card with some success to get into museums for free/reduced price in Paris. For the many museums, they wanted to know where my group of students were before they let me in for free!

julies

I'll be interested to see what responses you get. I bought one of these once and never used it becaue I couldn't find places that accepted it, so haven't purchased one for the last half dozen trips.

AnthonyGA

Many museums in Paris have reduced rates for teachers, generally only if they are with a group. Some will let them in for free with a group. Additionally, teachers may be allowed to give tours with commentary (that is, they are allowed to lecture their students out loud) in some museums if they can show that they are teachers (many places require special permission before a person is allowed to do this, since otherwise the walls would ring with zillions of different people talking out loud to groups).

moldyhotelsaregross

Oh, this seems obvious... but I'll ask it anyway.

Did the card come with any information? What did you see that prompted you to purchase the card?

ira

Hi Cy,

>...hoping for major educator's discount at Galleries Lafayette and on the Ponte Vecchio...<

I'm afraid that your hopes will not be realized.

OneWanderingJew

I had never heard of purchasing an international teacher card til your post CT.

I carry my district picture ID and try to use it to get discounts when I visit museums. Seems I had to pay the regular admission price the last few times I tried to use it. Not bringing a group and not being a local were the reasons they said I didn't qualify for the discount...OTOH, my AAA card did get me a break once or twice. You would think if a place gave a AAA discount, they would give teachers a break too, but...

If you find out more info, please post here.

OneWanderingJew

I should add my AAA card allowed me to get some small discounts in N. American cities and I think Australia. I don't remember it working in Europe or S America...

Christina

Some Paris museums have teacher's discounts under certain conditions, which should be posted on their website. I am not one, so didn't try, but officially the Louvre discount is only for certain kinds of teachers (and I think they have to be teaching in France) as well as with groups. I don't think there is any discount just for a teacher of any kind, in general, at the Louvre.

YOu won't get a discount at a dept. store for being a teacher, there is no connection between the two things.

rex

I have only the experience of one trip with a group of a dozen 11 year olds; I served as interpreter/adult chaperone, and I am not a &quot;credentialed teacher&quot; in any sense of the word, though there were always two <i>real</i> teachers with our group, both American and French. I believe that discounts were always applied to my admission fees in various places. I'd say that the group of kids constituted the only ID needed.

I'll be interested to hear if your expectations were unfounded, and your money wasted.

Seems pretty easy with any page layout software and a $2 lamination from Kinko's for anyone to produce a fairly authentic looking ID card that appears to be issued from the XYZ school system. Might yield as much benefit as the $30 you spent, if you're not going to have a group of kids with you.

Best wishes,

Rex

rex

Looking at your post one more time - - discounts on the Ponte Vecchio? Are you pulling our collective legs?

Seems about as likely as seeking a discount with a &quot;teacher ID&quot; on Rodeo Drive. The Ponte Vecchio is jam-packed with little independent stores selling gold and jewelry. They have about as much interest of attracting teachers, with or without a pack of kids - - as Tiffany's.

Elan

I have a teacher's ID card as a college professor and when I was in Paris in June was allowed in the Musee D'Orsay free. When in Venice, I was not given a discount at the Accademia gallery museum unless I was with a group that I was teaching. The card comes with lots of free benefits including health insurance, phone care privileges, free website space and email. I was given a discount at several museum shops. For $22, it paid for itself. Plus, you can also use it in the states.

rex

The post from Elan made me think I was being too skeptical/cynical - - so I looked into what I <i>think</i> you're talking about...

At www.istc.org - - or more specifically at http://www.istc.org/sisp/index.htm?f...fitsguide.html - - you can find a link to places you can go pick up, in person, the &quot;Benefits Guide&quot; for their &quot;ITIC&quot; (what? they can't PDF it on the internet? or mail you one? seems like they'd rather you buy it first, and read what you're &quot;getting&quot; after)...

Or you can access, country by country, a list of the places that offer any of the &quot;32,000 discounts&quot; provided by the card (entry to Musee d'Orsay, by the way, is not among them - - so do bring the ID card issued to you by your school system employer!)

In fact, click on France, since starbuck asked about Galeries Lafayette...

http://www.isic.org/sisp/index.htm?f...ountry.code=FR

...and you will see that while there may be &quot;32,000 discounts&quot; worldwide - - there is exactly ONE in France, according to this list.

It's free intrnet access at &quot;OTU Voyages - Wasteels Voyages Shops&quot; - - www.otu.fr (website not available in English) - - and although it says 30 locations throughout France, I couldn't find a listing of any of them.

If you sent $22 to your alma mater to buy this card, and if you qualify to itemize decutions on your Federal Tax Return, I think you might be able to claim this $22 as a charitable deduction.

cybertraveler

Thanks everyone,
I was feeling rather glum about my travel savvy, until I read Elan's post. Then I got to Rex's...so, maybe it was a charitable donation. Too bad the college would only accept cash payment (maybe that should have been a tipoff!)Since I'm not about to round up any kids, it may not prove useful, but I'll post after the trip to let you know!
Yes, Rex, I must admit I was not serious about the Ponte Vecchio, but just for fun, I might pull it out when buying jewelry from a store where I bought last time...I think they would remember the American sisters from 3 years ago, so who knows...?

ira

Hi cy,

&gt;I think they would remember the American sisters from 3 years ago,...&lt;

I'm intrigued. What did you gals do that they would remember you after 3 years?

cybertraveler

Ira,

We bought sister necklaces, then when I got home I wished I had bought the &quot;other&quot; one I had been looking at, so we faxed back and forth for a few weeks (she sent me photos of various ones she had in stock, until I found the one I had been looking at) Then she sent it to me here at home...

...and later I bought the matching bracelet...

This is not my usual shopping habit on vacation, but there's something about Florence that made both of us temporarily lose all judgement!

&lt;