Dominican Republic and Cuba

[Edamski]

Afternoon gents,


going on holiday in September and the Dominican Republic and Cuba are two very real possibilities. I've read a few posts on here about where to go and what not in Cuba (Havana at least) but not found anything about where to buy from or not to in the DR.

Anyone with any advice in either will be greatly appreciated

[PeeJay]

I'm going to the DR in November and my research appears to suggest that all the premium brands are made for export only and can only be bought on the factory tours at US prices
Everything else whether in a shop, hotel or on the beach will be a locally produced fake.
Don't touch anything with a Cuban label!

That said they grow tobacco big time and some of the fakes could be smokeable, watch what the locals are smoking and maybe try one.

[PeeJay]

In Cuba you only buy from a legitimate shop and get a receipt else Customs will confiscate them on the way out.

[Edamski]

So all in all in the DR not too many local gems or shops to trall through?

[PeeJay]

So all in all in the DR not too many local gems or shops to trall through?

It would appear not but Aaron said he was offered cannabis on the beach too!

[PeeJay]

I would think that a lot of locals grow their own tobacco and are skilled rollers so it would be worth trying one or two. If you bring any back though freeze them before they go into your humidor. I'm doing two factory tours and you've only got to look at the US websites to see how cheap the prices will be by our standards.

[monkey66]

The key thing for DR is not to buy any so called 'cuban' cigars. Theses will be 99.99% fake. DR is one of the major producers of counterfeit Cubans.

[L-Ski]

Yeah, as I found out! That said the fakes are a nice smoke, just don't pay what they are asking. The markets are a massive rip off for both rum and cigars. If you buy, haggle with the beach vendors, they seem the best bet.

[Edamski]

Haggle even for fakes as they're still decent?

Despite the warning that fakes are more than just not what's advertised haha. Suppose it's all a gamble ain't it

[L-Ski]

Definitely, it was the hotel who sold fakes to me! I'd buy off the beach vendors and cut one up and see whats inside. I'd rather bin ?30 of cheap fakes than spend ?65 on the same fakes kept in a fancy cabinet. All the places that you can go to buy cigars will be selling fakes, those that aren't are in places I wouldn't go without an armed guard. I also ended up with 2 packets of Marlboro that were more than a little bit suspect. I'd just like to add that this was a 5 star Dreams hotel as well, so not the sort of thing you expect.

[PeeJay]

Did you do any of the factory tours?

[tommy]

Surely factory tours sell the goods right?

[PeeJay]

That's what I'm trying to verify

[tommy]

That would be flippin outrageous if the factories that make the real deal sold the fakes.

[L-Ski]

No, no factory tours - in all honesty I forgot all about them (D'oh! When I wrote my post I was firmly gripping my pen of rage after having a massive row with Royal Mail) so yes you could get them there. But shops-wise and the markets don't bother with. If the hotel you go to has a visiting market check the prices VERY carefully, the gift shop was cheaper for rum than the stalls.