We strongly request that you to fly in and out of the SANTIAGO STI (NOT Santo Domingo) Airport on the arriving and departing Saturdays of your trip, between 8:00 A.M. and 10:00 P.M. Ground transportation is included in your program donation for flights scheduled to arrive and depart Saturday between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. We request that you arrive and depart between these hours to avoid night time ground transportation in the Dominican Republic. If you arrive or depart outside of these hours, there will be an additional ground transportation cost:
Please contact us if you have any questions about the ground transportation costs or the additional program donation if arriving or departing at any time other than between 8:00 A.M. and 10:00 P.M. on Saturday from the Santiago airport.
Arriving a day or more early (Friday or earlier)The minimum program donation will be increased by $50/person/day, up to three additional days. For more than 3 additional days, the program donation for an additional week applies. There will be added ground transportation costs (see below). This additional cost is applied even if the total stay is the normal 7 nights. Please contact us if you have a unique situation.Departing a day or more late (Sunday or later)The minimum program donation will be increased by $50/person/day, up to three additional days. For more than 3 additional days, the program donation for an additional week applies. There will be added ground transportation costs (see below). This additional cost is applied even if the total stay is the normal 7 nights. Please contact us if you have a unique situation.Transportation FeesGround transportation is included in the program donation for those volunteers arriving and departing the Dominican Republic on the Saturdays of their trip between the hours of 8am and 10pm to the Santiago (STI) airport. For those who are unable to meet those requirements, we will still arrange reliable transportation for you, but there will be additional ground transportation fees. From and to the Santiago airport, a taxi will be $150 (one way) for groups up to 5 volunteers; and a bus for larger teams will be $300/bus (one way). From and to the Puerto Plata airport, the taxi fee is $150 and $300 for a bus (each way, during daytime hours).From and to the Santo Domingo airport, the taxi fee is $300 and $600 for a bus (each way, during daytime hours). All additional transportation fees are due 30 days prior to your trip. and can be donated on your personal or team webpage. As volunteer expenses, they are tax deductible for U.S. tax payers.
Teams and Team Leaders (receivers of the group scholarship)
Ground Transportation is provided for your team when it arrives and departs on the same flight, in and out of Santiago, between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m on the Saturdays of your trip. If any members of your team choose not to arrive or travel with the group, they may be responsible for their own ground transportation costs.
Note that we do not provide a continuous shuttle on Saturdays between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Transportation to and from the airport for any flights scheduled to arrive and depart between those hours is provided as part of your program donation; flights arriving and departing before and after those hours will have the additional ground transportation fees outlined above.
Arranging Flights/Sending Outreach360 Your Flight Information
All ticketing arrangements and funding are made directly between you and the airlines. Funds can not come to Outreach360, and then be sent back to you for ticket purchases.
You will need to submit your flight information to Outreach360 30 days prior to the trip to ensure a timely pick-up and drop off at the Santiago airport.
Your airline ticket is tax deductible (for U.S. tax payers) if the primary purpose of your trip is charitable work. Your ticket is your receipt; you will not receive a tax receipt from Outreach360 for your ticket.
Please do not purchase your ticket until you are confident you will have the minimum program donation in our office on the funds due date (30 days prior to your trip).
Flight Suggestions
American Airlines is the major airline into Santiago. Continental Airlines and Delta Airlines and Jet Blue also fly to Santiago, as do a number of charter airlines.
Puerto Plata/Santo Domingo Airports:
Individuals
If you choose to fly into the Puerto Plata or Santo Domingo aiport, we can arrange transportation between the airport and our facilities. The taxi cost from and to Puerto Plata is $200 each way; it is $300 each way to and from Santo Domingo.Groups of 10 or more
If you choose to fly into Puerto Plata or Santo Domingo, we can arrange for a bus to pick you up and take you back. It will take 5-6 hours from the airport to the orphanage from Santo Domingo and 3-4 hours from Puerto Plata, compared to 2-3 hours from Santiago to the our facilities. The additional cost of the bus from Santo Domingo is $600 each way, and $300 from Puerto Plata. A bus can serve about 15-18 people with full luggage from the airport to our facilities, and perhaps 20-22 people from our facilities back to the airport with less luggage.
Passports/Visas
You will need a valid passport to enter the Dominican Republic. An additional visa is not required for volunteers with a U.S. or Canadian passport. We suggest making two copies of your passport; put one copy in your suitcase separate from your original, and leave one copy at home with a friend or family member. If somehow you were to lose your identification in-country, having access to a copy would help the process greatly. If you are under 18 and not traveling with your parents, please complete the Temporary Guardianship Form and give it to the temporary legal guardian traveling with you.
For those who are not residents of the US, please review the following tourist card information sheet: http://files.outreach360.org/touristcardrequirements.pdf
Arriving at the Airport
Please wear your Outreach360 tee-shirt to the airport. It will help you identify other volunteers, and help them to identify you. Most of you will be traveling with other volunteers, at least from Miami or JFK. If not, just follow the directions below. You won't have any problems.
When you land in the Dominican Republic, exit the plane. Follow the crowd to the immigration desk. You’ll need to purchase a tourist card for $10 in U.S. funds. Do not stand in one of the long lines until you have purchased your tourist card, or you’ll just have to go buy your card and then stand in line again.
You will then pick up your luggage, go through customs (they might inspect your luggage), and then go outside. Do not wait for a big group to congregate before going through customs; just grab your luggage and head out. We will be waiting outside with the bus ready to go to your volunteer location. Note: Please bring only suitcases, not boxes. Customs will often let you through without inspecting your suitcases, boxes are always inspected. If your luggage does not arrive, please make sure to report it to the airline inside the terminal, and get a claim slip from them.
When you exit the airport terminal, we'll be waiting for you with Outreach360 tee-shirts on. Baggage handlers will be asking to help you with your luggage. They can be quite assertive. We suggest, unless you really need help, to refuse their assistance unless you are willing to pay a tip of $1-2 per bag. We'll collect in a group until all the volunteers are there. Please bring a water bottle with you, both for the trip and for your use at the volunteer site. Also, bring enough snacks to sustain you during your airline trip and bus trip to the orphanage. Please tell your family not to expect a call home until 24 hours after your arrival. You will be able to exchange money after you arrive to your volunteer site.
If flights are full and the airlines offer you a travel voucher to take a later flight (even the next day) and you are willing to donate your voucher to Outreach360, you are encouraged to accept the voucher. Call us, and let us know the new flight you will be arriving into the D.R. We will meet you at the airport on your new flight. Do not accept a flight into any airport other than the Santiago airport. Your travel vouchers are valuable, especially if a group of you gets bumped. Those funds can mean a great deal to the program. If you are not willing to donate your voucher, please do not accept the voucher.
Missed Flights
If you miss a flight and are not on the flight you are supposed to be on in getting to the Dominican Republic, please communicate by calling our number in Arizona: (602) 375-2900 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (602) 375-2900 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. Please leave a message, let us know your status, and when you will be arriving into the Dominican Republic (date/airport/flight #/arrival time). We will plan to be at the airport when you arrive. Remember, please call our number in Arizona and leave a message if your travel does not happen as planned.
Lost Luggage
If the airline loses your luggage, you will need to report it by the luggage area. The airline attendants will speak English. The address (for all locations) is:
Outreach360
Calle Sanchez #68
Esquina Colon
Monte Cristi
Phone 829-342-6379
Remember to get a claim slip from the airline.
Outreach360 | 6611 W. Robert E Lee Street, Glendale, AZ 85308 | phone: 602.375.2900 | fax: 602.926.1439