Southeast Asia has become a very hot destination for budget-minded (I didn't say poor) students. Places like southern Thailand are attracting a young, spring-break crowd. Commonly, young backpackers hit the shores in SE Asia and travel for extended periods of time. From bases like Bangkok's Khao San road, budget travelers have roamed the rugged highways and byways, paving the way for high-end tourism. More rural areas are relegated to only this hearty horde and rural roads still beckon with the promise of friendships (often through shared strife) and broadening experiences.

Any discounts to be found in Southeast Asia come from hard bargaining or tolerance for the most basic accommodations, but it's not a bad idea to have an International Student Identity Card (ISIC), which offers substantial savings on plane tickets and some entrance fees. It also provides you with basic health and life insurance and a 24-hour help line. The card is available for $22 from STA Travel (tel. 800/781-4040 in North America; www.statravel.com), the biggest student travel agency in the world. If you're no longer a student but are still under 26, you can get a International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) for the same price from the same people, which entitles you to some discounts (but not on museum admissions). (Note: In 2002, STA Travel bought competitors Council Travel and USIT Campus after they went bankrupt. It's still operating some offices under the Council name, but they are owned by STA.) Travel CUTS (tel. 800/667-2887 or 416/614-2887; www.travelcuts.com) offers similar services for both Canadians and U.S. residents. Irish students may prefer to turn to USIT (tel. 01/602-1600; www.usitnow.ie), an Ireland-based specialist in student, youth, and independent travel.