www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I would like some recommendations for some reputable Cuban cigar dealers near the President Hotel. I would like to buy a box for comsumption and smuggle back into the US. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

From what I here they are not cheap in CR. Do not buy any on the street they are fakes.
Check out the duty free shop at the airport. Bill at the Sportsmen also sells them.
I am I newbie also. I will be making my first trip in 17 days. All the info you need can be found here. Good luck

Zona Blue has a great selection. Stop in for a drink and a 40.00 session. See Eddie the Joe Pesci looking guy from NY he runs the place and can help you out picking one that suits your taste (I'm talking about the cigar here not the tica)

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There's a cigar shop close by the presidente that sells cubans, go out the front, turn left and go up the hill and it's on your right.

They sell all kinds of cigars there from all around . They have both real and fake cubans on sale but the fakes are clearly marked and sold at a low price. In addition theres a poster there explaining what to look for when you want to buy the real stuff.

Hi, I have a few comments

It is very hard to tell what is fake and what is not. Here are a few things I do:

Do the typical, look, smell, feel (make sure it is not dry) test. If it smells looks, and is not dry, it will probably be a good smoke.

Now at this point, i negociate the heck out of it. If I have reasons to believe that they are fake, or if I do not trust the reputation of the seller, I am ready to walk away if i do not get the "nockoff price"

Feel free to let them open a new box for you. If they refuse, walk away. Do the smell, feel, look tatst. IN addition, with a new box, there are other things that will enhance your chances of getting the "real" stuff. Cuba has stringent QA when i comes to habanos. The cigards are typically sorted from lighter wrapper left to right. In addition, all the cigars are wraped in the same direction, clockwise, or counterclockwise. The labels look perfect, etc. But the number one thing, is that when you open that box, the whole room will permeate with the aroma of high quality cuban tabacco.

The only way to know that you are getting the real thing is by buying from a reputable source. Eddie, at ZB, is the only place I trust to get these. Near the presidente (out of the DR, lobby bar, make a left, quick right, one left, store on the left). There is a cigar store, really expensive and not all the "cuban" cigars there passed my smell, feel, look test.

I hope this helps.

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On speaking about what a chica said.... "All I can do is repeat what I was told."

Dont get caught bringing em back that couldnt be fun.

SD

Getting caught is not all that bad. They confiscate the merchandise, off course, threaten you with all kind of fines and then let you go. Seems simple enough. NOT

They enter your info in the computer system and then every time you enter the country they shake you down. Search you, your luggage and just hassle you unmercifully.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Don Benigno cigars are Cuban tobacco cigars made in Costa Rica.The factory is near the American Embassy in Pavas,about a 20 minute ride from the gultch.Check his web site: donbenigno.com.

Not so IRISH DRIFTER. I was captured the first time thru with i guess fakes from outside the front door of the DelRay. Buddies of mine as well. We signed a paper that we wouldn't do it again and they had us help destroy the cigars. My second trip the head security guy in Dallas cussed andscreamed at me that i was a smuggler. You can read my earlier post from the past somewhere here. The same buddies have brought more back each time since and never were even looked at.

It turns out that i am on the watch list. This being due to thefact that Federal Marshalls contacted me several times while trying to find an xemployee so that they could find her boyfriend.(they found out that they didn't have their ducks in a row when they tried to hassle me). Ihave since read that if you are ever investigated by Federal Marshalls then your name goes on the watch list. In actuality the Homeland Security goomers have no idea as to why you are on the list. When your name get's on the list EXPECT THE FULL TREATMENT. In Jan of this year we went thru Houston instead of Dallas. It took 4 of them to move me to the frisking room(me in a wheelchair and cane). Three stood in front of the door and one did the frisk job(nut feel) and they even looked in my mouth on both sides. I missed my flight as well.

PS: Being in a wheelchair automatically gets you searched as well.

Sorry to disagree with you Versatile but I have known to many customs agents who tell me this is the case. The fact that you and your buddy did not get on the watch list is one of those anomalies that happen occasionally. The point is bring back Cuban cigars, get caught, your risk rises exponentially of being placed on the watch list.

Seems to me the risk far outweighs the reward but everyone has to make their own decision on that.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I agree with you that it is NOT WORTH IT!

Cubans in CR are triple the price in other countries where there is a Cuban goverment owned store. A Monti No. 2 is over $30.00 when it should cost $12.00. I bring my own. There is a store I stubbled on to near the univercity. It's a renovated house that only has real cubans. Very expensive. Also, down from the Presidente Hotel to the left on the second floor adjancent to an Internet Store there is a Cigar Shop that sells cuban's. They also sell CR cigars w/ cuban seed. I would by them instead. I have never been stopped in Miami even when I listed I bought CR Cigars.

I'm not a frequent cigar smoker, but when in Costa Rica, I enjoy a good smoke every day.

The little cigar shop just north of the Presidente does sell the genuine article. If you ask them, they will produce an official Cuban government issued certificate of authenticity (this is available only if you buy a full box, however).

As far as both price and importing cigars to the U.S., I really love the Don Begnigno cigars. They're beautifully made, smoke well, are much less expensive than the Cubanos and are always very fresh. another local brand is Jibaro, a fine and inexpensive smoke.

I made the mistake of buying a cigar on the street. Dry, lousy, rotten, awful, disgusting... even drunk as I was, it was horrible. Each time thereafter that I heard "Cigar, buddy?" I'd make the Sign of the Cross and make a face like I was ready to puke. They left me alone after awhile...


As far as "importing" Cuban cigars is concerned: Since the price in C.R. is triple what you'd pay elsewhere, and since we now live under Zee New Verld Order, better not do it. Smoke 'em in C.R., take Eddie's recommendations at ZB (the man knows his cigars), enjoy... and like the ticas, leave the experience behind to enjoy again upon your return.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

The Don Benigno cigars say made in Costa Rica on the box,so no problem bringing them back to the states.Also the prices on the web site are higher than if you visit the factory in person.I bought a box of 25 coronas for $90.Pay cash and you'll get a 10% discount.

Can you give directions to the factory? I will be staying at the Courtyard Marriott on Highway 27. Is there a store in SJ?