Cuban Cigar Information, Cuban,Cigar,Pricing,Prices, Cuba, 2014

Cayo Coco/Cayo Guillermo

LCDH locations: Hotel Blau Colonial Cayo Coco >> Hotel Melia Cayo Guillermo

Other recommended: Melia Cayo Coco >> Iberostar Daiquiri >> Sol Club Cayo Guillermo

Cayo Largo

LCDH locations: In the Village "Pueblito" I can personally recommend this shop as the "best" place to purchase cigars

Other recommended: All the resorts have a selection of cigars but the selection is slim at best. Likewise, the airport has a very limited selection.

Cayo Santa Maria/Cayo Ensenachos

LCDH locations: Pueblo Estrella

Other recommended: Melia Cayo Santa Maria >> Melia Las Dunas >> Royal Hideaway Ensenachos, Special Note: If you are taking the Santa Clara tour, they will stop at a cigar shop. You can also take a bus in for 1 cuc each way

Havana

LCDH locations: 5ta Avenida y Calle 16. Miramar >> Melia Habana. Avenida 3ra e/ 76 y 80. Miramar >> Hotel Melia Cohiba, 1ra y 3ra, Vedado >> Fabrica Partagas / Calle Industria No.520. Habana Vieja >> Hotel Nacional / Calle 21 y O. Vedado >> Hotel Palco / Calle 11 y 146, Cubanacan >> Club Habana / 5ta Ave. y 188 a 192 >> Hostal Conde Villanueva / Calle Mercaderes Esq Amargura >> Hotel Habana Libre, Calle L e/ 23 y 25, Vedado, Ciudad Habana

Holguin

LCDH locations: Hotel Villa Turey Guardalavaca

Other recommended: Hotel Playa Pesquero >> Sol_Rio_de_Luna_y_Mares Special Note: In Guardalavaca there are 2 stores, one near the craft market, the other a short walk to Los Flamboyanes mall

Varadero

LCDH locations: Calle 63 y 1ra Avenida, Varadero, Matanzas >> Galeria Comercial las Américas >> Calle 1era y 39, Varadero, Matanzas

Do keep in mind that cigars are available at most airports, but selection and quality are questioned by many aficionados. As posted on a few travel forums, the thoughts are as follows:

"Airports are generally the worst place to buy legal cigars in Cuba for a number of reasons...

1.) Storage conditions are usually horrible. No humidors + air conditioning wrecks havoc on a cigar.

2.) Selection is generally very poor and prices are usually no better - in fact they can even be worse - than buying from a real Habanos SA approved retailer like a LCDH (La Casa Del Habanos) store.

3.) Airport staff are bored and uncaring, no knowledge or professionalism whatsoever regarding the product.4.) Since you're on your way out of the country it's by far the most common place to be slipped fakes. How are you going to complain?"

Blackmarket, Beach, Street Cigars: Gernerally considered to be 99% fake cigars This is a definite "Buyer beware" area. Cigar bands and box seals can be smuggled out of factories and boxes can be reused very easily. If a legitamate box of say "Montecristo #4" cost $107cuc and you are being offered a box for say $30cuc, a red flag should go up in your mind. If you're lucky you will be sold "seconds" from a factory. There has been stories of; cigars made of banana leaves, chopped tobacco instead of rolled leaves for filler and cigars filled with cigar beatles. Often, in a box of 25 cigar the majority may be a tight draw or plugged. Meaning it is hard to draw air/smoke through it or not at all and the cigar is garbage. This can also be the case with a "factory second" hence the reason it could be a second. While it is not always the case it does happen. Do also keep in mind that the Cuban Customs will confiscate any cigars that do not have the proper paperwork, hologram, box seals, etc. If you are searched at Customs and you have purchased blackmarket cigars, you better be prepared to loose them without any money back. Do not mix this up with peso cigars which can be cheap and a relative decent smoke.

Peso Cigars: These cigars are generally what the Cuban people are smoking. These are not pretty and some can be a little rough on the palate, but some can be a decent smoke. Generally these are are hard to find and available in hidden away stores. They are typically around $1-2cuc for a "package" of 25. If you go hunting for these, you will need to talk to locals, many of which will tell you they are not legal for you to buy. This is true and again if you are caught at customs with them, they will be taken away. But, in my honest opinion and that of some fellow travelers, worth the risk for $1-2cuc. The known brands are; Villaamil, Reloba, Bauza, and El Credito.