I'm a high school teacher in Toronto, and discovered on my first solo trip to Paris last year that "membership has its priveliges"! Many of the museums I visited offered free admission upon presentation of a teacher ID card (even from Canada). Happily, this included Musee D'Orsay and the Louvre. (seeing the Louvre daily, in small doses, was beyond dreamy!)<BR><BR>I'll be spending 25 days in Venice, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast this August, and was wondering if any of you who are teachers have been able to access museums in these areas for free with your teacher card. (Given the length of my stay and the budget I'm on, freeing up even some museum costs would be a godsend!!)<BR><BR>tania

Is the free admission for any day/time of the week? I teach Kinder in California and will be going to Paris soon. Do you just get in line and show your ID? Thanks for the info.

What a great idea! Don't know about Italy but please post when you find out. Good luck.

A teacher who would have gotten one of my 5th grade spelling words wrong! Please write 50 times:<BR> PRIVILEGE<BR>(One of the most misspelled words in the English language right up there with ACCOMMODATION!)

See! I knew that Ontario College of Teachers card was going to come in handy! LOL!<BR><BR>I tried it at the Picasso Museum in Antibes and it was a no-go...

How thoroughly humiliating to have spelled "privilege" sideways. And the sheer irony here is that I teach high school English. (hey, I'm off duty.)For the record, though, I've never spelled accccomoddation wrong <BR><BR>In answer to the question about days and times in Paris, yes--any day, any time. Just flash your card and make nice. The Louvre and D'Orsay are definite yes's, and there were a handful of other places that also let me in for free. (It was about 50-50 based on the places I visited.) Often, I would show the card and ask the people at the desk if admission was free for teachers, and it was evident to me that they weren't sure. They'd hesitate, and on two occasions would have go get their supervisors. I'd ask the supervisor (in French), put on my best Sunday smile, and they'd say, "OK, go ahead". My sense was, with the smaller museums, that it's not really cut and dry, and that maybe it's a matter of the vibe you send off (thus, the importance of being earnest).<BR><BR>To the person who commented on the Ontario College of Teachers card finally coming in handy...how right you are. Prior to my French museum discovery, it was totally useless. That said, can I use it in Italy??? ANYONE???? <BR><BR>tania

It didn't help me at all in Italy. They said I had to be a teacher in the EU.

I actually bought one of those international teacher ID cards (like the student ID card) a couple of years ago thinking that it would help me out. I never used it once. But, I also never asked. I never saw an admission sign that indicated a special rate for teachers so I assumed that I wouldn't get reduced admission.

I have successfully used the International Teacher ID card I bought through STA and Council Travel. However, each museum or site makes their own decision whether to honor it or not. All you have to do is ask...which I always do, whether in North America or Europe. Admission was waived at the Chagall Museum in Nice, but a traveling companion was denied; she had her own ID, not the official card. Other places, admission was free or reduced, or not even accepted.

Andrea,<BR><BR>I checked the council travel site that has the database of discounts available for teachers. When I chose "Canada", unfortunately, there were no discounts available....none!! I thought maybe there was a glitch at the site, so I keyed in USA. A gazillion discounts came up. So it's not going to be an option for me then, as a Canadian. It looks like I'm going to have to do the "hit and miss" thing with my Ontario College of Teachers card, and hope for the best.<BR><BR>;-(<BR>tania

topping

How do you get one of these cards? I've been a teacher for 25 years and other than my pay stub, I have nothing which proves it...

Have yourself a wonderful trip !

Oldteacher, see<BR>http://www.counciltravel.com/idcards/default.asp