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 Dominican Island Heat - 23-28 Feb. 2005
Enjoy four or five nights in the exotic locale of the Dominican Republic for the first annual Dominican Island Heat Circuit Party. Celebrate Dominican Independence Day and Carnival with some of the most beatiful people of colour in the world. Hot days...warm nights...and great entertainment. Dominican Heat is a full-service travel business started by Anthony Montgomery of New York City. This venture was started to increase gay tourism to the Dominican Republic. It started out small with tours from the US to Santo Domingo, which quickly grew to the opening of the Casa de Monaga guesthouse in Santo Domingo. More recently he opened The "A" club, located in the Colonial Zone section of Santo Domingo. Known for their attention to detail, Monaga makes sure all of their guests enjoy the beauty of the Dominican Republic.
For more information and to reserve a place, visit http://www.dominicanislandheat.com (Remember to mention UK Black Out)
Accommodation
Casa de Monaga in Santo Domingo.
The Gay Owned/Mixed-Gay/Lesbian/Straight Friendly. The hotel is located within walking distance of the Colonial Zone. All rooms have private baths, air-conditioning, cable TV and with 24-hour security. Accepts all major credit cards.
Room rates from £22 or 32Eur (US$40) per night. ** More hotels on the Monaga web site ** Antiguo Hotel Europa
It is a romantic Hotel republican colonial style Located in the same Heart of the Colonial City, in the old street Meriño Archbishop, to single 200 mts of the Prioritized Cathedral of Santo Domingo of America and of the famous Street Count Peatonal, and to 250 mts of the Palace of Colon and to very little minutes of the great commercial centers of the modern part of Santo Domingo.
The Old Europe Hotel beautifully has decorated rooms. The selection of lodging includes/understands 58 rooms of first, the great majority with balconies.
All the rooms has Private bath, Conditioned air, Safe-deposit boxes, Cable TV, Phones Internet Ready.
Caribe Colonial Hotel
The Caribe Colonial is a boutique hotel (54 rooms) that is centrally located in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo.
The hotel is gay-friendly with a professional, bilingual staff. The Caribe Colonial is an oasis in the big city that offers all the amenities you would expect from a first-class hotel. This is the hotel that Monaga uses for its guests. Nightlife
 The 'A' Club
58 Arzobispo Nouel
Colonial Zone, Santo Domingo
Dominican Republic
Tel.: (809) 221-5461
MONAGA has taken the space that was formerly the Red Zone and turned it into, The 'A' Club. The club is open every Friday and Saturday nights from 11pm until 4am. If you are visiting Santo Domingo send them your email and your entry is free. If there is no cover that night, they will buy you a drink. Send your email to
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Aire
313 Mercedes
Colonial Zone, Santo Domingo
Dominican Republic
Tel.: (809) 689-4163
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Aire is a large cavernous club located in a renovated mansion in the Colonial Zone. The club features a large open-air courtyard and stunning design. It would rival any club in New York, London or Paris. Aire opened as a club for the elite of Santo Domingo, but has now turned predominantly gay, with the beautiful people of Santo Domingo frequenting the club. The music is now much better and it is really the only place to go in Santo Domingo if you want a large gay club. Best on Friday and Saturday, other days are hit and miss. Aire is a must for any gay visitor to Santo Domingo.
The other venues are:
Parios Bar ( great drinks, videos and a welcoming atmosphere)
Jay-Dee's (strippers, drag, wet t-shirt contests)
Bar Phoenix (rent-boys and tourists) Beaches
Boca Chica
Boca Chica beach is the closest beach to Santo Domingo. Located 30 minutes outside of the city, it is the beach where most city dwellers head to on the weekend. There is no specific "gay" nightlife in Boca Chica, though you won't have a problem with meeting people. Not the best beach in the DR, but certainly one of the most popular.
Bavaro and Punta Cana
On the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic lies Punta Cana. Punta Cana is the most popular destination on the island due to the many resorts, marinas and golf courses that have been built to go after an international clientele. In Punta Cana, the tourists are from all over the world and the beaches are very nice. Again, this area is very touristy and family oriented. Not much nightlife, except for the hotels. A nice place to go for a relaxing resort stay.
 Bayahibe
Bayahibe is a rustic fishing village located 2 1/2 hours east Santo Domingo. Beautiful crystal clear water on a quiet, secluded beach. One of the best beaches in the DR. Bayahibe is home to several nice all-inlcusive resorts. Why not get a day pass to the Coral Canoa Resort and Spa. Enjoy spa treatments, private beach, health club, tennis and your food and local beverages are included.
Saona Island
A 30-minute speedboat ride from Bayahibe is a private uninhabited island. Saona Island is renowned for it coral reef, snorkeling and private, beautiful white-sand beaches. There are all-day excursions from Santo Domingo. You go by bus to Altos de Chavon, a 15th century medieval village located on a cliff overlooking a tropical river, then boat over and spend the day on Saona Island. If you want to experience one of the most pristine beaches in the world, check out Saona Island.
Essential Dominican Republic Info.
Time: Local time is GMT -4.
Electricity: Electrical current is 110 volts AC, 60 Hz. American-style two-pin plugs are standard.
Money: The currency is the Dominican Republic peso (P), divided into 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of peso 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. The peso is often represented by a Dollar sign on price tags. The peso cannot be exchanged outside of the Dominican Republic. Major currencies can be converted into pesos at Central Bank approved bureaux; only 30% of the pesos bought can be re-converted and this only if the original receipts are produced, so it is best not to buy more pesos than you are likely to need for your visit. Major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques can be cashed in most banks. Banking hours are Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm; some banks also open on Saturday. 1,000 Pesos is equivalent to around £14.
Language: Spanish is the official language, but English is spoken in the main tourist centres.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: UK nationals require a passport valid for six months, and a tourist card for stays of up to 15 days.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a valid passport. A tourist card is issued on arrival for stays of up to 15 days.
Entry requirements for Americans: US nationals require a passport valid for at least six months, or other proof of ID, such as an original birth certificate accompanied by photo ID (e.g. drivers licence). A tourist card is issued for visits of up to 15 days.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadians require a passport valid for at least six months, or other proof of ID, such as an original birth certificate accompanied by a photo ID (e.g. drivers licence). A tourist card is issued for visits of up to 15 days.
Entry requirements for Australians: Australians require a passport valid for at least six months and a tourist card for visits of up to 15 days.
Entry requirements for South Africans: South African nationals require a passport valid for at least six months, and a visa. Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealanders require a valid passport and a visa for entry to the Dominican Republic.
Passport/Visa Note: Tourist cards can be issued on arrival for US$10. A return or onward ticket is required by all visitors. Health: No vaccination certificates are required but precautions are recommended against Hepatitis A, typhoid and polio for those who plan to spend time outside the main tourist resorts. There is a malaria risk throughout the year in the area bordering on Haiti, but there is no risk in the tourist resorts. Between May and September there is a risk of dengue fever, which is contracted from mosquitoes that bite during the day. It is advisable to use mosquito repellents. Travellers should be aware of the high prevalence of the HIV/AIDS virus in the Dominican Republic. Water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated in undeveloped areas; bottled water is available. Some species of fish, including tropical reef fish, may be poisonous to eat even when well cooked. Medical facilities are very limited outside of Santo Domingo, and staff are unlikely to understand English. Health insurance, including provision for medical evacuation, is recommended. Tipping: Hotels and restaurants include a 10% service charge as well as 12% tax, but additional tips can be given for good service. Taxi drivers do not expect tips.
Safety: Due to the recent unrest in neighbouring Haiti and the ongoing unpredictability of the security situation, it is inadvisable to travel across the border to Haiti. There is a low terrorism risk and incidences of violent crime are infrequent. The only blight on the landscape is the crime rate: robbery, muggings and petty theft are common so guard your belongings with care.
Communications: The international access code for the Dominican Republic is +1, in common with the US, Canada and most of the Caribbean, followed by 809. The outgoing code is 011 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 01144 for the United Kingdom); the outgoing code is not required for calling North America. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most major international operators. A bilingual operator can be reached by dialing 0. Direct international calls can be made from numerous telecommunications centres located in all towns and cities. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.
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