Trip Name: Bold Hope - DO - 01/20/25-01/23/25

Application

• Upon registering for a trip you will be prompted to pay the $100 trip reservation fee. The next step is to complete the application for each person traveling. Please note that the application(s) may be sent without passport information or background clearances; we understand that those documents may take time to obtain. We will follow up on any missing items in the coming months. 
• After the application there are also several other forms that will need to be submitted. 
• Can I fill out one application for my whole family?
  • Yes, you can fill out a family application on our website, but there is some information that we will need for each trip participant.

Payment Due Dates

• $100 trip reservation fee is due upon signing up for a trip.
• 1st half of payment due: 100 days before trip
• Final payment due*: 45 days before trip

Paying for my Trip

• The first step is to reserve your spot on the team.
  • Trip Reservation
• The next step is to pay your trip deposit .
  • Pay Trip Deposit
• The remainder of your trip cost can be paid at the Trip Contributions tab. You can pay the balance yourself or you can invite others to be a part of your mission trip through fundraising.
• Checkout this document for step-by-step suggestions and details on how to fundraise. Bold Hope Complete Fundraising
• If you would like others to donate, provide them your designated trip link and they can give towards your trip.  Please ask them to gift the processing & transaction fee so that you receive 100% of their donation toward your trip. Please also ask them to simultaneously send you an email to let you know they have donated. This will help you keep track of your donors so you know whom to thank!
  • Designated Trip Link*: Contribute to My Trip
    • Be sure to submit all trip payments (fundraising or paying yourself) through your trip link
• All contributions/payments received in excess of trip fees will be used in support of the organization and cannot be refunded or used to reimburse expenses for the group/individual. For groups, if checks are written to Bold Hope, any extra funds will be applied towards projects, the greatest need, ongoing program costs, or administrative expenses. We do not pool funds between participants. If checks are written to the church or organization and excess funds are raised, they can choose how to use the surplus.
• Bold Hope cannot accept any donations made through Facebook. Please note that any donations made towards Bold Hope on Facebook will not be applied to your mission trip. 

Trip Discounts

• We offer trip discounts for monthly donors
• $30 / month = $450 off trip cost
• $50 / month = $750 off trip cost

Transportation

• You will need to get yourself to and from the airport in the United States. Bold Hope will take care of all in-country transportation once you land.

International Cellular / WiFi

• Facetime, Facebook Messenger, and Whatsapp are great free services to help you communicate with loved ones during free time at the hotel.
• Wi-Fi may be spotty (Set up the apps with your family/friends before you  leave home).
• We suggest talking to your cell phone provider to find out your international coverage options as well.

Food

• Breakfast: at the hotel prior to starting your day
• Lunch & dinner: at the hotel or at a ministry site depending on the schedule for the day
• You can expect local cuisine and there may be some American food mixed in. If you are a picky eater, have extensive allergies or are worried about food for any reason please bring supplemental snacks to ensure you are not hungry.

Passport / VISA Requirements

• Your passport must be valid at least 6 months past the dates of your trip.

• Whether you are applying for the first time, or applying for a renewal, please apply immediately. The process can take 12 weeks or more and all fees are the responsibility of the trip participant.
• Visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html for more information.
• When you have your passport, please provide us with a copy.
  • Passport Upload (see below)

• Belize: A visa IS NOT required for your trip to Belize.
• DR: A visa IS NOT required for your trip to The Dominican Republic. HOWEVER, you must fill out this form prior to your travel: https://eticket.migracion.gob.do

Vaccine requirements

• All international travelers should research the area they are visiting. Plan to call or visit your primary care physician or a travel medicine specialist at least 4-8 weeks prior to your departure.
• We recommend starting your research with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After gathering information, you can then make decisions that are best for you or your family members.

Travel / Trip Insurance

• ACCIDENTAL DEATH & DISMEMBERMENT BENEFITS
  • Principal Sum: $100,000
  • Covered Losses: See Benefit
• EMERGENCY MEDICAL EVACUATION REPATRIATION BENEFIT
  • Maximum Benefit: Actual Costs
  • Deductible: $0
• EMERGENCY REUNION BENEFIT
  • Maximum Benefit: $10,000
• FAMILY REUNION BENEFIT
  • Maximum Benefit: $10,000
• LOST BAGGAGE BENEFIT
  • Maximum Benefit: $2,500
  • Deductible: $100
• HOME COUNTRY BENEFIT
  • Maximum Benefit: $5,000
  • Deductible: $0
• OUT OF COUNTRY MEDICAL EXPENSE BENEFITS
  • Maximum Benefit: $10,000
  • Deductible: $0
  • Deductible must be incurred within: 1 year
  • Maximum Benefit Period: 1 year from the date of the Covered Accident or Sickness
  • Maximum for Pre-existing Conditions: N/A
  • Maximum for Dental Treatment (injury only): N/A
  • Maximum for Emergency Medical Treatment of Pregnancy: N/A
  • Maximum for treatment in an Emergency Room: $10,000
• PERSONAL PROPERTY AND FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT REIMBURSEMENT BENEFIT
  • Personal Property Maximum Benefit: $2,500
  • Financial Instrument Maximum Benefit: $2,500
  • Deductible per Occurrence: $100
  • Maximum Benefit for Any One or Set of Articles: $750
  • Maximum Benefit for Cash: $500
• POLITICAL EVACUATION WITH NATURAL DISASTER BENEFIT
  • Maximum Benefit: $100,000
• REPATRIATION OF REMAINS BENEFIT
  • Maximum Benefit: Actual Costs
  • Deductible: $0
• RETURN MINOR CHILD(REN) BENEFIT
  • Maximum Benefit: $10,000

Customs

• For most countries, you will receive immigration entry documents and customs declaration documents during your flight. Fill out both in blue or black ink. You will be asked for the following:
• Lodging address: **will be emailed to you 30 days prior to travel.
• Reason for travel: Recreation

Schedule

• This schedule is a rough outline of what you will be doing during your week of service. A more complete schedule will be discussed during team meetings or in an email closer to your trip’s departure.
• Here are a couple example schedules from past trips:
  • Belize: Belize Sample Schedule
  • DR: DR Sample Schedule

Ministry Prep

• Jump ropes
• Nail polish
• UNO or other simple, wordless card games
• Beach balls
• Sports balls
• Frisbees
• Bubbles
• Crayons/coloring books

Climate / Packing list:

• As you are packing for a generally hot climate, we recommend bringing extras of everything; you may have to change a few times each day. Generally bring 1-2 church outfits, 3-4 sets of work clothes, and 6-8 other sets of ministry clothes.

• Tight/clingy or see-through tops or bottoms, low-cut shirts, bikinis, or short shorts.

• Hat or baseball cap, socks, undergarments, lightweight sleepwear, sunglasses, or rain gear.

Cancelation policy

Physical Donations

• Bringing donated items is an added blessing to our ministry partners. Please email rachel@boldhope.org for a list of suggested items. Keep in mind that we ask you to refrain from handing out donations directly; please give them to our missionaries or ministry partners who will distribute them as needed in the context of the relationships they've built over time.
• Unfortunately, Bold Hope does not have a convenient and cost effective way of shipping donated items to the various countries in which we serve. If you would like to bring donations, you will need to pack them in a suitcase and bring them with you at your own expense.

Training

• Please take the time to read through your training booklet (either physical or PDF version) where you will find more information about serving with Bold Hope, fundraising, heart prep and more.
• If you are a part of a team, please be sure to prioritize attending all team meetings.
• Missions book recommendations:
  • When Helping Hurts
  • Reciprocal Missions
  • Let the Nations be Glad
  • Across the Street and Around the World
• Missions podcast recommendations:
  • The Missions Podcast
  • Global Missions Podcast
  • Maverick, a Pioneers Podcast
  • The 1040 Podcast

Money / Currency

• The American dollar is widely accepted - Locals often do not have change and they will not accept torn or crinkled money, so we suggest bringing new, small bills. Most things are included in your trip but if you would like to purchase souvenirs, participate in extra fun day activities or eat a meal at the fun day location, or purchase food at the airports or any extra drinks at the hotel we recommend bringing some spending money. Additionally, any required COVID tests are taken at the expense of the trip participant. We recommend between $100-$200 for these expenses. Credit cards are also widely accepted but depending on the card can have excessive international fees - please check with your credit card company prior to travel.
  • FOR HAITI: Haiti charges a $10 tourism fee upon arrival. You need to pay that fee in exact cash.
• We suggest that each trip participant bring $20 to contribute towards a tip for hotel staff, translators, etc. This is a recommendation, not a requirement. Bold Hope will collect all tips at the end of the week and distribute them appropriately.

CHECKLIST - PDF TO PRINT

Flights

• Bold Hope will provide flight information to your group leader 90 days prior to your trip. We book in groups so we cannot allow trip participants to choose their seats and we cannot add known traveler numbers or airline frequent flyer accounts. 30 days prior to the flight we submit names and you will be able to add these numbers on your own using your record locator. If you do not have a seat leading up to the flight, you will be assigned one at no cost upon arrival at the airport - there is no need to purchase a seat (unless you prefer to) if Bold Hope purchased your tickets.

• You are responsible for booking your own airfare. (If you are a part of a group, please check with your group leader about flight plans prior to booking). We recommend using Google Flights or contacting a local travel agent. Please use the following guidelines when booking, and send your itinerary to becca@boldhope.org once finalized.
  • The dates of your trip include travel days on either end -  please be sure to book your flights to arrive and depart on the start and end date of your mission trip.

• Dependent on trip - Trip coordinator will provide which airport in an email! 

• 3:00pm

• 11:00am

• More Airport/Flight/Travel Details :Airport/Travel - Individual

Accommodations

•  Hotel Caserma is located approximately 1 hour 15 minutes from the airport.
  • Your hotel will have A/C and Wi-Fi access. 

• Bold Hope typically puts 4 people in each hotel room. We do offer single, double or triple occupancy options for the below upgrade fees:
• Single room = $300
• Double = $150/person
• Triple = $100/person
• When requesting a room upgrade, it is best to know who you want to room with. Everyone in the room must request and pay for the room upgrade for the request to be honored. 

Language

• The official language of The Dominican Republic is Spanish. A lot of the communities where we serve also speak Haitian Creole. 
• Translators will be present.

Cultural Sensitivity

• Be careful with facial expression and bodily movements - gestures are context sensitive and do not always translate well between countries.
• Although punctuality is considered a good thing, guests are not expected to arrive on time for social occasions. Arriving between 15 and 30 minutes later than the stipulated time is considered on time.
• Often, several generations live in the same house. Show deference to the family elders.
• Racial and economic issues determine social stratification in the Dominican Republic.
  • The upper class are descended from the European settlers and have lighter skin than the lower class who are darker skinned and descended from African slaves or Haitians
•  In Christian circles in the Dominican Republic, drinking is frowned upon. As a way to honor their culture please refrain from drinking. 

• dresses/skirts that fall below the knee and cover shoulders and backs
• pants
• any type of footwear
• discrete jewelry
• natural-looking makeup

• short dresses/skirts
• tight clothing
• excessive jewelry 
• shorts

• pants
• short-sleeves
• any type of footwear

• shorts
• sleeveless shirts
• hats
• any type of earrings/piercings