Euro<26

If you are a Young Scot cardholder then you automatically are a EURO<26 card holder. If you want to see for yourself then you can check on your card by looking for the Hercules symbol. You know, the logo with a funny looking man holding a ring of little stars!

The EURO<26 youth card offers great discounts for young people across Europe, but it is so much more than just a card. It is the key for young Europeans to get information, enjoy their mobility, to experience other cultures and to get involved. Through a range of services and discounts, the EURO<26 card encourages young people under 26 to make informed life choices, explore their world, and play their part as a citizen of Europe.

The EURO<26 card is the only card for all young people under 26, regardless of whether you are a student, working, are unemployed, a parent or a trainee. And they are affordable - reflecting the economy of each country, they start at 3 euros - with additional services like helplines, magazines, and youth information services included in the price.

In total, 56 EURO<26 organisations are issuing cards in 42 countries, and they are all members of the European Youth Card Association (EYCA).

EYCA promotes and develops the EURO<26 ideal, supporting member organisations and promoting pan-European activities.

EYCA encourages all youth cards to give young people improved access to transport, accommodation, leisure activities, culture, sports - indeed, any benefits and services which encourage their development, their mobility, and improve the quality of their lives.

Each EYCA member arranges discounts, advantages, services and information in their own country for their young cardholders. The EURO<26 logo ensures that these discounts are automatically accessible to all cardholders throughout Europe. All you've got to do is look out for the Hercules symbol in shop windows, and then present your card as you purchase your goodies. It's as easy as that.

There are currently about 200,000 discounts on offer. Check this:

• Culture - theatres, cinemas, concerts, museums, events
• Transport - buses, trains, ferries, air travel
• Travel - accommodation, holidays, travel, language courses
• Services - insurance, helplines
• Shops - CDs, books and a variety of goods

All of these, combined with youth information means that the EURO<26 card is opening doors for young people across the continent.

For a full list of all those lovely discounts check out the EURO<26 website at www.euro26.org, naturally. So what are you waiting for!

How to get a EURO<26 Card if you live outside Scotland

Young Scot is part of the wider European Youth Card Association (EYCA), which is a family of youth card organisations active in 42 European countries.

Each country issues their own youth card within its own borders - ie, Carne Joven issues cards in Spain only, and in Slovakia the card issuing organisation is Karta mladeze.

All EURO<26 cards can be used in every EYCA member country - ie a young Polish person can get cheap bus travel in Scotland, whilst a Young Scot member gets the same deals in Portugal as a member of Cartao Jovem.

If you live outside Scotland, either in another European country or even completely outside Europe, you can go to the EYCA website to find out more about the EURO<26 cards and how you can get one.