Hi Guys
I was wondering what travel discount cards are out there and which ones are worth getting. Such as becoming a member of YHA etc.
What cards did you use or wish you had got before going?
Thanks
Reply to this I think in many cases you can buy these cards when you need them, rather than necessarily getting them in advance (e.g. I bought a YHA card in Australia when I first stayed in a YHA hostel, then a couple of years later bought another one in Argentina). Since they're probably valid for a year, there's no point buying them until you're going to use them. If you're planning on using the booking site Hostelworld a lot, then you can buy something on there (gold membership, I think it's called) which means you don't have to pay the booking fee - again, not worth buying it until you're going to use it. Plus there may be hostel sites that don't have a booking fee anyway - haven't booked a hostel for a while ...
However there definitely are things you would need to get in advance because they're not available in the country itself, e.g. cheap(er) bullet train passes for Japan, internal discount flights that must be bought in conjunction with an international ticket, etc. I think these kinds of offers are generally to encourage visitors to a country, and hence tend to be for bigger ticket items.
Reply to this You can also get a life membership on the YHA card. I did that over 10 years ago, so it's worked out quite cheap.
Reply to this As John mentioned, Hostelworld is good and signing up for the Gold Card which costs $10US.. Valid for a year like the YHA card and the more the use the cheaper it will be. Also is you are a student make sure to take you student card. Always try and use for museums etc.
Reply to this Students might be better to get one of the International Student cards - you need to apply for them before you leave, with proof of enrolment at university etc.
Haven't used one myself.
Reply to this Not that I would condone such a thing, but you can pick up pretty much any "official" ID from places in and around, say, Khao San Rd, if you forget to do it at home. (I didn't just say that.)
Reply to this Lol I was thinking of 'mentioning' the same thing John.
Reply to this You can get fake international student cards online in the UK. They are about £30. Do you think it is worth having an international student card?
Reply to this If you ARE an international student and have the card, then you can get discounts for all sorts of things. If you AREN'T an international student but have the card then you can also get the discounts but may be racked with guilt and shame to the extent that you won't enjoy your travels plus you will have incurred a karmic debt :-)
Reply to this Fake ID = Karmic debt
Tourist prices = Karmic debt
Fake ID used on tourist price = 2 wrongs making a right - cancels out karmic debt
what do you think?
😊
Reply to this You can get them online but also, I believe they are available to buy in China and Thailand. If you get one, let me know how it works out for you. I am still unsure. If I was going to SEA first, I would wait and get it there but I am not. You are though, aren't you?
Reply to this Yes Russia, China and SE Asia;-)Ok I will try and report back;-)
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