Dominican Republic Travel Tips - 2008

VACCINATIONS
The question of vaccinations is one between you and your doctor. If you are current on your ordinary vaccinations, you probably are fine.

INSURANCE
Check with your insurer whether you are covered when needing medical attention outside the USA. If not, some companies sell policies to cover this risk.

See http://www.state.gov for US State Department travel advisories and tips concerning the Dominican Republic.

SPENDING MONEY
It is not necessary, but you can convert some of your money to Dominican pesos for shopping. Currently one American dollar equals about 33 Dominican pesos. Some vendors will happily receive your payment in dollars, so bring a number of singles and fives rather than large bills. You can obtain Dominican pesos by presenting US cash at a bank or from Dominican ATM machines.

SUGGESTED PACKING
See http://www.tsa.gov for prohibited items and other travel regulations.

See your ticket for airline regulations. You are likely allowed two suitcases weighing up to 50 pounds each plus two small carry on items. Your school can bless our host school by packing one suitcase or duffel bag with personal items and the other with things that you wish to donate to Puerto Plata Christian School and/or to the Dominican poor. These donations are optional and are often found used, at garage sales, or on clearance sales.

Your PERSONAL luggage/carry-on should include:

• Passport and two photocopies of your passport packed separately
• Modest, casual clothing for tropical temperatures
• Think GOLF style for presentations before churches and Christian schools
  • collared shirts
  • long pants (i.e. khakis)
• Possibly the smallest box of your favorite cold breakfast cereal and snacks
• Travel Bible, journal, and pen
• Sun block and sun glasses
• One piece bathing suit and shorts
• Bike helmet
• Jeans
• Hat
• Poncho
• Mosquito repellent
• Prescription medications in carry on
• Your concise medical history (allergies, blood type, etc.)
• Camera or video recorder, underwater (optional)
• Casual shoes, sneakers, and possibly flip-flops
• One light sweatshirt or windbreaker
• Shower towel / beach towel (preferably ones you could leave behind)
• Only if you already own these items below, pack them (Do not go buy them):
  • water ski vest
  • snorkeling equipment
  • Spanish-English dictionary

Your MINISTRY luggage might include:

• balloons
• puppets
• bubble blowers
• crayons / coloring books
• children's water color paints / color pencils
• construction paper
• cloth diapers /diaper pins
• used baseball equipment, cleats, uniforms
• used children books with very simple English
• used children's clothing for tropical temperatures
• toothbrushes / hand soap
• small soaps and shampoos collected from hotel stays
• used Sunday school visuals (flannelgraph / pictures)
• used toys (Frisbee, jump rope, Etch-a-sketch, dolls, etc.)

Again, we are not asking you to go shopping for this stuff. Some of this stuff is likely aging in your garage and closets.

Updated 2/21/08