TRAVEL INFORMATION

FLIGHTS

To ensure the safety of our volunteers, BLUE Missions makes arrangements for participants’ international air travel from the time they leave Miami, FL until the time they return at the end of their Service Trip. Volunteers do have the option of booking their own flights if they are planning on extending their time in the Dominican Republic. However, they must be on the group flight into the country. Please contact us to coordinate if you would like to book your own flight.  

Participants traveling with BLUE Missions from outside Miami must make arrangements to arrive in Miami in time for the designated international group flight. If you are an out of town participant and interested in booking your own flights, please email us, trips@bluemissions.org, for more information and to apply a discount to your trip cost on your application (only applies to university and all ages trips). Our flights are booked through American Airlines and are non-refundable tickets. 

All payments made to BLUE Missions are non-refundable and non-transferable. Due to new and updated policies for American Airlines, BLUE Missions can not guarantee that we will be able to issue a travel credit with AA for any participant who cancels once flights have been purchased.

FLIGHT LEADERS

By keeping volunteers on the same international flights, we are able to provide a Flight Leader who accompanies the group from check-in at Miami International Airport to the moment they are received by our team in the Dominican Republic.  

Flight Leaders are only provided on High School Trips. University groups are checked in at Miami International Airport by a member of the BLUE Team and escorted to the airport security checkpoint. Groups traveling on these unescorted flights are always met by a staff member upon arriving at their destination location after clearing customs. When returning home, students are always checked-in for their flight at the point of origin by a BLUE Team member.

COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS

We understand how eager parents are to receive notice of their child's safe arrival. Once the group flight lands at their final destination, an email is sent out to all emergency contacts listed on the participant's application. A few hours later, another email is sent out to notify parents of arrival in the rural community where volunteers will stay for the remainder of their trip. Parents will be instructed on how to download the BLUE Missions App to receive daily updates and pictures during the trip.

The majority of the communities we work in have little cell reception. We encourage volunteers to use the trip as an opportunity to disconnect. Our volunteers are not encouraged to have cell phones, if it is seen it may be taken away. This rule is in place to protect all of our volunteers and keep their belongings safe.  

Parents will be given the phone numbers to our staff and leaders to call, only if there is an emergency back home. No news is good news, if you haven’t heard from your children they are most-likely having a great experience. We can’t guarantee that your children will call home while they are on the trip.

PASSPORT / VISA

You do not need a visa to enter the Dominican Republic. Each participant should make sure that hey have a passport that is valid up to 6 months after the departure date. Every participant will be required to submit a copy of their passport by April 2024.

ELECTRONIC CUSTOMS FORM

In order to travel to the Dominican Republic, everyone must fill out an Electronic Customs Form to show at the airport upon arrival and exit. Our guide to filling out this form can be found here.

VACCINATIONS

We recommend you ask your pediatrician or doctor if you need any specific vaccinations or boosters. You can also check online with the CDC guidelines for the Dominican Republic. If you have further questions, you may contact our partner, Dr. Kunjana Mavunda at International Travel Clinic.