Helping Others on Resort Vacations
Many travelers go on resort vacations to destinations in the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico. It’s easy to give back to others while you are on these trips. We have found many schools, orphanages and other organizations in popular resort destinations such as:
- Cancun, Mexico
- Castries, St. Lucia
- Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas
- La Romana, Dominican Republic
- Mazatlán, Mexico
- Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Monteverde, Costa Rica
- Ocho Rios, Jamaica
- Nassau, Bahamas
- Negril, Jamaica
- Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
and many others. See the country links on the right-hand side of this page for more information. In addition, we’re sure there are hundreds of wonderful organizations that we haven’t found yet that could use your help.
You can use the destination directory provided here as a starting point for finding schools, orphanages and other organizations that you’d like to help. Other good sources of information include the concierge or tour desk at your resort and forums on sites such as TripAdvisor (www.tripadvisor.com) that are often staffed by local experts. Resort staff members are another good source of information on schools and local organizations that might need assistance and in-kind donations.
Resort concierges and tour desks can also help arrange for transportation when you’re doing community service visits. On a number of our trips, we’ve found it helpful to arrange for transportation in advance with local tour operators that actively cater to socially responsible tourism activities. You’ll find some of those listings in the destination directory.
It’s also helpful, whenever possible, to contact organizations in advance to arrange for your visit and to check on last-minute needs. Some orphanages request advance contact if you would like to spend time with the children and only certain hours are available based on the children’s school schedules. Other orphanages are much more flexible and encourage visitors to stay and play for as long as they like. It’s highly likely, however, that with a little research, you will be able to find a school, orphanage or other organization that will provide you with a highly rewarding experience, and your efforts to give back will definitely be greatly appreciated.
When you bring donation items with you on your resort vacation, you will have to pass through Customs and make a declaration. The Tips for Traveling Abroad section of the U.S. State Department website (www.travel.state.gov) is a good source of information on Customs laws and rules for Mexico and the nations in the Caribbean and Central America. Customs laws are different for each country. We have always brought receipts along with us and have declared the items as gifts and not for sale, noting the names of the organizations to which the items were to be given. Others suggest bringing along a formal typed declaration form. So far, we have never had a problem and have never had to pay customs duties.
In addition, many airlines provide extra baggage weight allowances for charitable donations. If you are interested, check with your airline to see if they need a letter from the organization to which you are donating in order to give you a luggage waiver. Most organizations will be happy to give you a letter if you let them know in advance.
Have a fantastic vacation and enjoy giving back to others as your travel! We’re sure that it will be one of the best days of your trip. You will receive a warm welcome and lots of smiles and hugs, and your efforts will certainly make a difference.
“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.”
-- Mother Teresa