www.CostaRicaTicas.com

are the hotel patios and outside area cigar friendly....any advice on where NOT to buy cubans...any info appreciated..my first visit

1. Maybe. Costa Rica has been smoke free indoors (except homes) since 2012.
2. The only legitimate place to buy Cuban cigars in San Jose is the Havan Humidor Room (inside the entrance to Zona II - left for cigars, straight ahead for chicas). And you can legally smoke in the shop so that is where I usually have a cigar.

To expand.

1. It is illegal to smoke within a given distance of the entrance to a building. That's why the smokers at SL are out on the street and not inside the wall. For example, the Sleep Inn (spit, vomit) has a nice little sitting area just about 10-15 feet to the left of the lobby door (plants, concrete table, benches). Perfect place for a cigar? No, their security makes you go stand on the sidewalk by the side of the casino (nasty place, no place to sit). Phuck be upon them.

A certain hotel has never hassled me when I enjoyed a puro in their entrance alcove - but I don't want to name them - don't want the antifun police to raid them.

The Castillo's penthouses have roof terraces. One of Zona II's suite's has a roof terrace.

2. Buying Cubans. All the "Cubans" sold outside the HDR are counterfeits. Period. Full Stop.

The only place to buy Cubans and be sure they are Cubans is a Casa de Habano. BUT! The Casa de Habano franchisee in San Jose decided he didn't want to bother with retail so he went through the drill to license two sellers - (1) the Havana Humidor Room* and (2) the Brit duty free at the airport (outbound).

The Brit duty free has a limited selection and does not understand humidification. Twice I have read the hydrometer in their case at 35%. I know there is an argument about 65% or 68% or 72%, but 35%? Those are toast.

The HHR does it right. Oh, yes, there's that over-priced richy rich Tico cigar club but that's bullshit.

*Rumor is that back in the day the HHR started with "brought in from Cuba" cigars, so they've always had the real deal.

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Any opinion or observation in the post above is purely presented for entertainment purposes and does not promote "sexual tourism" or "human trafficking". The laws of Costa Rica apply to all activities in Costa Rica. No warranty is expressed or implied. Void where prohibited by law. Your experience, observations or perspective may be different.

In exile in pu*sy prison

Awesome Cigars here. 15 min cab ride from the HDR but you can see the guys rolling the cigars there. Very interesting 1/2 day excursion for the cigar aficianado! Don Benigno was there when we went & we sat & had a couple of cigars & brandy with him before we bought! Great experience!!

http://www.benignocigars.com/

http://www.truecigars.com/search?q=Don+Benigno

Enjoy,
CostaReeker

Have you compared those (viola to viola) with the Trenza de Nicaragua cigars custom rolled for the HHR?

I'll have to.

The TdN "Max Von" edición limitada robustos in maduro wrappers are very nice.

They are puros - all the tobacco from the same area - fillers, binder, wrapper. Nicaraguan tobacco called in CR.

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Any opinion or observation in the post above is purely presented for entertainment purposes and does not promote "sexual tourism" or "human trafficking". The laws of Costa Rica apply to all activities in Costa Rica. No warranty is expressed or implied. Void where prohibited by law. Your experience, observations or perspective may be different.

In exile in pu*sy prison

CostaReeker

Currently at Zona II waiting for Yorleny for Pro Massage, and being a cigar smoker since the boom in the mid 90's, I thought I would buy some cigars. Well, the prices are un-phucking-believably high! Beyond gouging gringo prices. The Havana Humidor Room has jumped the Shark!!!! Jeeeezus!

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If you see me at the bottom, please bring me my running shoes!

For cubanos? Real cubanos are high (except for Guantanamos, the White Owl of Cuba). Plus Ticoland taxes the Phuck out of them.

Compared to non-Cuban cigars. Try a Trenza de Nicaragua. About $5-6 a stick.

That's why I got over cubanos. Period. Yes, a Romeo y Juliet Magnum 40 is a sweet smoke, but so is an Olivia Series V.

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Any opinion or observation in the post above is purely presented for entertainment purposes and does not promote "sexual tourism" or "human trafficking". The laws of Costa Rica apply to all activities in Costa Rica. No warranty is expressed or implied. Void where prohibited by law. Your experience, observations or perspective may be different.

In exile in pu*sy prison

They only had 1 size, presidente, in the Trenza. Too Grande por mi.....the other cigars are rough looking....I think the humidity has not been maintained properly and someone has been manhandling the sticks.... was once upon a time a great cigar store

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If you see me at the bottom, please bring me my running shoes!