The 2010 Sponsor Tour to Mexico will be a compact experience, with a full experience in Mexico City. The world's third largest urban area (by some estimates) fills a highland basin 7,300 feet above sea level. The city impresses many visitors as a wonderfully weird and welcoming world, and is captivating with a year-round spring-like climate, bubbling street life, and abundant cultural offerings.

Although picturesque, the city's poverty is also very real, and during this tour you will see poverty in a different way … through the eyes of a child. You will also witness the hope that Compassion and the local church are giving these children each day.

During this tour you will see firsthand Compassion's ministry in Mexico and God's work in the lives of the children. Have you ever considered all the people involved in your sponsored child's life? It's really quite amazing to meet these dedicated individuals.  

Does your sponsorship really make a difference? Are you looking for another way to serve those less fortunate? By participating in this tour you will find an organized way to serve the communities of Mexico and learn the importance of your partnership with Compassion.

The highlight of this tour will be the day you spend with your sponsored child(ren). The children will travel from around the country to a central location in Mexico City, and you will have the entire day to get to know each other better. Each child will have an individual translator.

During this short time in Mexico, we will visit different child development centers like the one your child attends. Sponsored children's families will open their homes to us so that we can better understand the living circumstances in the developing world and have the opportunity to serve their family with daily chores and activities. You will have opportunities to play with the children at the centers, visit with Compassion's Mexico staff, and get a taste of Mexico's tourist activities.

This is a unique opportunity to pull away from your daily routine for a weekend to meet your sponsored child and experience Compassions ministry, hands-on!

Tour Schedule Details:

Registration: Our trips fill up quickly on a first-come basis, so it is important to register by Dec. 9, 2009. Once we have received your registration along with a deposit of $180, we will confirm your place on the tour and you may then purchase your domestic air ticket. The final payment of $1,620 is due no later than March 21, 2010.

Please click on the Register Now button below to complete the registration form online. If you'd rather register by mail, click on the link to the printable Registration Form above right, below the photo.

Price: The cost of this tour is $1,800 per person for double occupancy.

Included in our tour price are round-trip airfare between Dallas International Airport and Mexico City, Mexico, lodging, all meals, travel within Mexico, tips, your child's travel, guides and translators during the tour, admission fees, departure tax and administrative costs.

Costs not included in the tour price are transportation to and from Dallas International Airport, passport and incidentals such as snacks, additional beverages, laundry, phone calls, film and other personal items. You may want to bring extra spending money for shopping at the local markets.

Safety and Preparation: This tour will be moderate in difficulty because of impoverished conditions. Also, there will be some walking, rides on bumpy roads, and long days. We will have a light work element in this tour.

Compassion constantly monitors the safety of our destination countries and will make any adjustments necessary to protect our tour participants, sponsored children and in-country staff. We believe it is important to provide safe, comfortable accommodations, traditional meals and reliable transportation so that your focus can be on what God is teaching you and the impact of the experience rather than concern for your personal safety and well-being.

Please read the Tour Conditions and General Information document before finalizing your decision.

BACKGROUND CHECK: 
In order to ensure the safety of our children and determine eligibility to travel with Compassion, we now require all travelers (over the age of 18) to complete a criminal background check. Please visit https://www.ministryopportunities.org/USCITours to complete your online background check at the time of registration. If you are unable to complete this online, please contact us and we will send you a paper form for you to fill out and return. Compassion uses a third-party vendor, Protect My Ministry (www.protectmyministry.com) to process background checks. The results of your background check are confidential and all personal information is encrypted and secure. 

RESERVATIONS should be made well in advance and require a nonrefundable deposit of $180 per person. Final payment of $1,620 is due no later than March 21, 2010.  

AIR TRANSPORTATION and FUEL SURCHARGES: 
Air transportation as included in the tour is based on economy-class transportation and is subject to all rules and regulations governing these fares. Fuel surcharges are added on a per-ticket basis at time of confirmation. In the event these surcharges are increasingly higher than budget estimates, we may require additional funds to cover these surcharges. We will communicate any pricing changes immediately. 

In the event that you need to cancel your trip, please refer to our cancellation policy below:

All deposits are nonrefundable.

Fifty percent of the tour cost will be required for cancellations 59-31 days prior to the Sponsor Tour.

One hundred percent of the tour cost will be required for cancellations 30-0 days prior to the Sponsor Tour.

Only written cancellations accepted.         

IMPORTANT NOTICE: COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL reserves the right to adjust or alter any travel program when necessary or desirable for the protection, safety or improvement of said travel program, or when local conditions do not permit operation as published. COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL reserves the right to accept or deny participants application at its sole discretion.
RESPONSIBILITY: COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL makes arrangements with airlines, hotels and other independent parties to provide you with the travel services you purchase. These parties are independent suppliers over whom we have no direct control. In the absence of negligence on our part, we are not responsible for any claims, losses, damages, costs or expenses arising out of injury, accident or death; damage, loss or delay of baggage or other property; or delay, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment, upset, disappointment, distress or frustration, whether physical or mental, resulting from (1) the act or omission of any party other than COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL or its employees; (2) mechanical breakdown, government actions, weather or other factors beyond our control; (3) failure to obtain documents, passports, visas and health certificates valid through the date of reentry, when required, in which case a cancellation charge will be assessed; (4) failure to follow instructions including but not limited to check-in and checkout times and baggage handling; (5) cancellation or change for any reason in the travel services offered; and (6) medical or health problems or physical disabilities. COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL reserves the right to cancel or alter the travel services at its discretion, except as otherwise noted herein. In the event of change, COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL will try to substitute comparable services; in the event of complete cancellation by COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL, we shall refund all monies paid to us. COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL will not be responsible for any other cost incurred by participants.