Health related issues for volunteer travelers

Taking the kids on a volunteer vacation is a lot more work than parking yourself on a tropical beach for a week while staffers keep your kids busy. But if you're the kind of parent that actually likes spending time with the kids and enjoys learning alongside them, a volunteer vacation is the perfect choice.

Costa Rica Volunteer VacationsScott Pralinsky agrees. His volunteer tour company matches clients with volunteer opportunities in Costa Rica. We've been chatting with him all week about the challenges of including kids in this type of holiday. If you missed them, you can read about them now:

GG: If I'm considering volunteer travel with my kids, what do I need to be aware of in terms of health issues?

SC: I am thankful to say that out of the several hundred volunteers we have received here in our program we have never had more than a couple of scrapes and bruises, or traveler{s diarrhea. However the US State Department and the Centers for Disease Control keep current information on their websites (that we maintain links to form our website) with information about recommended precautions and shots one should consider before traveling to any country.

This information should always be carefully considered before traveling. Then each individual should decide for themselves how to proceed. We also always recommend to anyone considering visiting us that they speak with some past volunteers to get an idea of what it is really like in Costa Rica and what it is like working with us. I think this is the best way to put any major issues to rest.

Safety is our number one concern. We spend a lot of time addressing this in our orientation and we do our best to inform people about the proper do's and don'ts while they are here.

GG: What's the benefit of traveling with a volunteer broker company (as opposed to doing the research yourself and booking everything on your own)?

SC: It really depends on the country and what kind of experience you are looking for. In our case here in Costa Rica, we have spent years building relationships with organizations and communities and know from experience where help is needed and how to give help without inadvertently inflicting harm on a community (we hope).

We provide all our volunteers need in one package from the time they arrive, such as transportation, insurance, training, 24-hour support, language classes, volunteer coordinators to assist them with their projects, as well as culturally-sensitive and sustainable tours. All of this is especially helpful if you don't speak the native language.

Want to know more about volunteer travel with Scott's company? Visit Tropical Adventures online and see if Costa Rica's a good fit for your family.