Methodist Guest House - Haiti

Charles and Patty Maddox

Impasse A. Thoby, Route de Freres Delmas 105

Petion-Ville,, Haiti W.I.

Phone 509-257-3012 Cellular Phone from the U.S. 011 509 401 3089

Mailing Address: Volunteers in Mission c/o Lynx Air P O Box 407139 Ft. Lauderdale Fl 33340

E-Mail: vimhaiti@gbgm-umc.org Home Page: http://gbgm-umc.org/missionvolunteers/haiti/

Airport Expenses and Information: Arriving PAP International Airport

• Before you arrive in Haiti and while on the Airplane, each person will need to complete the Haiti Customs Form and the Haiti International E/D Card (Visitor's Visa) using the following address.

Methodist Guest House, Impasse A Thoby # 3, Route de Freres, Delmas 105, Petion-Ville, Haiti, Phone # : 509-401-3089.

• Be prepared for change. Prior to departing the plane have your passport and visitor's visa in a safe and easily accessible place. You will descend the airplane steps and walk across the tarmac of the terminal to the Immigration Area. There you wait in one of many long lines in Haiti (behind the yellow line) to have your passport and visa stamped. Put your passport, visitor's visa and return tickets in a a secure place

• Next you will turn left and walk into the baggage claim area. The carts that you can rent for $1.00 US each are straight across the baggage claim area. Get your luggage. If you have any missing luggage, you will need to go to the appropriate airline desk, across the baggage claim area, to file a claim. Have your white customs form and luggage bar code stickers in your hands. If you are part of a group, gather together with the team leader at the front to move through the customs line (preferably as a team). You will give the customs agent yur white form. Airport employees will require your luggage bar code stickers to check them with the bar code tags on your luggage. Once you/your team is through these final check points, proceed to the outside of the terminal with your luggage/carts and look for your host. Hosts frequently wave signs to identify themselves. You will need to make a sharp left turn and move forward as directed by your host to be picked up.



• There will be many Haitian porters wanting to help you through this endeavor, both iniside and outside the terminal. If they do, be prepared to pay them. It is better to not let anyone handle youor luggage until you see your host. Most hosts select porters who then obtain assistance (if needed). You should pay only the "boss porter" after everyone is in the vehicle. The expected amount is generally about $1.00-$2.00 US per piece of luggage (moved by Haitian porters) depending on weight. It is recommended to arrange to have tip money in small denominations and separate from your other money. This will help to distribute the money to all who have helped.

• The first person to depart the terminal should be the person who has the luggage tickets on their airline ticket. That person will be asked for the luggage tickets.

• The team (and their luggage) will be expected to depart the Airport Terminal and make a sharp left turn. At this point either Carla or Ted, or one of our drivers (holding a Methodist Guest House sign) will great you.

Other Things to consider: Customs Issues

• Anything in boxes and tubs will likely be stopped and subject to the customs inspection. Luggage generally goes through fine. If you must declare items at customs, it is best to have an inventory list with values and identified by container, ex. 1 of 10 pieces of luggage. This should be on your church/mission letterhead designated for donation to the appropriate Haiti mission organization. If you bring medications, list all medications with their expiration dates which must be at least 6-9 months into the future. Ask for your host to be brought in to assist you. Be respectful in negotiating with customs people to determine customs duty Have $100-$200 disposable cash available. Customs duty is 10% of the value of items.

Departing Port-au-Prince International Airport

Preparing in advance is helpful.

• Remove all old airline luggage tags.
• Re-label "checked" luggage with new airline tags. If you are traveling in a group to the same destination all luggage is labeled with the leader's name, organization (i.e. home church) address, and phone number.
• If traveling in a group, the leader needs your passport, visitor's visa, airline tickets, exit fees- $30.00 US and 10 Gourde and the number of bags you are checking.
• Remember to pack according to the airlines size and weight restrictions.
• You will need to plan your time on your day of departure. The airlines require passengers to be at the airport for check in 2-3 hours prior to the scheduled departure time. In Haiti, where traffic jams, flat tires, and other hazards can delay you on the road you will need to build in sufficient travel time.

Once you get to the airport, again there will be many porters willing to help you. You/leader need to have passport, visa and airline ticket available for a possible security check at the door to the departure terminal. Once you are inside, proceed to the appropriate line. If you are a group, the leader proceeds to the airline concierge and notifies them that you have a group and how many are in the group. Then, follow their instructions. Group members take all the luggage to the side and stay with it until the leader calls for the luggage to be checked.

Once completely checked in, you/leader proceeds to your left to the PRECEPTION desk to pay the exit tax (sometimes they staple the receipt to your boarding pass and sometimes not). If you are part of a group, it is at this time that the leader will return your passport, visitor's visa, airline tickets and exit tax receipt. You are not ready to proceed through the GATE area.

Note: If you have sufficient time prior to your scheduled boarding you could go upstairs to the restaurant. You can do this by going through the hallway to the left of the PRECEPTION / GATE area and up the steps on the right. To return you will need to backtrack to the Gate area.

At the first desk through the GATE area, present your exit tax receipt (usually they tear it in half). Proceed to the immigration area where you will need to go through one of the doors to have your passport stamped and render your visitor's visa. Keep moving forward to the SECURITY / X-RAY checkpoint, then turn left for American Airlines waiting area or right for other airlines. There are restrooms in this area. If you like, you can go upstairs where there are gift shops and a snack bar. You need to present your passport one last time to airline personnel as you exit the terminal to go to the airplane.

- Bon Voyage -

Revised: 10 October 2000

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