Pricing:

Our most popular trip is the 9-day excursion, although we will provide you your desired trip length. See our sample itinerary. The base cost per person before lodging is $600 to $750 for a 9-day trip, $660 to $810 for an 11-day trip, and $720 to $860 for a 13-day trip. For trips less than 8 nights/9 days, approximately $30 is deducted for each day less. These base costs vary depending on the size of your team, your choice of lodging at fun destinations, any extra transportation needs, and sometimes with special requests.

Other length mission trips are available as well, with prices varying accordingly. Longer mission trips cost less per day, and 30 day trips can be as low as $1600 per person including lodging. Please contact us for a more precise estimate. Due to airline costs being high during Spring Break and seat availability being more scarce, trips scheduled during this time should be organized more in advance than trips planned for other times of the year. 

You receive:

• A fully organized custom-designed mission trip which includes work materials and tools, local skilled workers, lodging, mission work, fun excursions, all work-week meals, the airport exit tax, and all transportation in Costa Rica, with no hidden costs or registration fees

• More choices regarding service projects, mission work, fun excursions, restaurants, and lodging

• An English/Spanish speaking guide’s personal touch from trip registration to completion

• All group activity fees included in trip itinerary

• The knowledge that you’ve truly touched the lives of the world’s lower income

• What’s not included:  

  • International airfare

  • Insurance fees (75 cents per day per person-go to gbgm-umc.org/vim/insuform.htm to get the forms & mail insurance money directly to them)

  • Fun trip lunches and dinners unless otherwise arranged (breakfasts are usually included in trip itinerary)

  • Optional activities available through local tour agencies unless otherwise arranged (i.e. canopy zip lines, snorkeling, coffee tours, etc.)

  • Special room assignments unless otherwise arranged

  • Snacks and souvenirs

  Lodging:
  
  A wide variety of lodging is available, from moderate range hotels to inexpensive church centers and seminaries. This means that each participant will have a bed, shared or otherwise.  Hotel costs are figured at 2, 3, or 4 to a room as availability permits. Beds are shared if not otherwise arranged with group leader. Church centers cost approximately $10 per person and have bunk beds. The Hotel Villa Tournon (www.costarica-hotelvillatournon.com) has a special rate for us due to the work we do. Please contact us personally to receive their current team rate.

  Airfare:
  
  Depending upon your group size there are a number of options. If you have 6 persons or less it is possible to pick up great airfare from major providers through various online ticket or travel companies. Some of these online companies allow up to 8 or 10 ticket purchases at one time, but not many. If you don't have a problem splitting your group for air travel or trying to buy tickets back to back with the chance that you might not be able to get all from one carrier, this still may be an option for you. Also check out the Delta, American, Continental, TACA, and United Airlines group websites or telephone group sales for pricing. At times they are cheaper than anyone else, and usually much easier to work with regarding reservation changes. Finally, contact Wanda Gilstrap at funfinders@sbcglobal.net. She is a wonderful woman of faith and specializes in airfare for mission trips. Jaime Colmenares at jaime@costaricatravelstore.com and sbailey@highpointravel.com also have great rates. Be sure to explain to these last three that you're working with Charlie Strong at Strong Missions as they both are familiar with my work and continue to work hard for reasonable rates for my groups, sometimes beating all other offers.

  Payment schedule and Refund Policy:

  A $200 per person deposit is due within 1 month of registration. 100% of the trip cost is due 1 month prior to departure.  Most payments are made by bank transfer which is the quickest and safest manner of payment, although payments can also be made by check. In addition, payments can be made with credit card with prior direct communication with Strong Missions, through a non-profit mission organization assisting Strong Missions, HOPE (www.hopeunites.com). 

  Another major difference offered by Strong Missions is that we will refund any money not used for trip costs up to the date of your group’s departure.  We do not want to make money from your group’s or any participant’s misfortune, so any money not used for reservations, materials, food, etc., will be refunded to you.  This is our guarantee.

  Things to Bring 

   

  Specializing in Short Term Mission Trips to assist the children of Costa Rica