Varadero Airport Offerings?

[Guest Robo]

A mule mate is heading down to Varadero next week and has kindly offered to pick me up some smokes. I always get my mules mates to shop at the airport; I think it makes it a lot easier for them and more likely for the smokes to be real IMO.

Does anyone know if the Varadero airport is currently in stock of any of the following??

1. Trinidad Reyes
   
2. Partagas 898
   
3. Montecristo Especiale #1
   

Thanks!

Rob

[IcedCanuck]

I make it a point to stay away from the Cigars at the airport. When I was there the vendors had all their cigar boxes out of the humidors and sitting in the open all day. No way could the quality of them be any good.

[bigfunkyg]

^{Storage conditions at the airport are horrible. Bad humidity control and absolutely no temperature control when it gets very hot in there is a bad combination. I couldn't resist an 07 box of Punch Churchills when I was there last year and got home and half the box was ruined by tobacco beetles. Its just as easy to take a cab into Varadero and go to the plaza Las Americas. Tell you Mule that you will pay for the cab ride.}

[Troels]

I havent been to the varadero airport, but the condition of the cigars in havanna airport was pretty sad as well

[Guest Robo]

Sorry to hear that guys, but that hasn't been my experience. Maybe because most of the stuff I've asked for comes in varnished boxes and are protected better? Even then, I got a box of Serie D No. 4 from the airport that are simply magnificent.

[Hubba]

I haven't bought anything at the cigar store in the depatures area of Varadero (near the smoking lounge), but have been in it a few times. It has a walkin humidor and store area much like LCDH. While many of the refreshment kiosks or the duty free there offer cigars which aren't taken care of, the stores seems good. Unfortunately i can't speak to specific stock today, last summer they were carrying most regular production, bhks and 1966s.

[ArtifactsofSmoke]

I noticed that on my last trip late last year they have installed a full Casa de Tabac in the departure lounge, along with a separate glass enclosed storage humidor. There was a lounge chair or two around and the setup seemed much more professionalized than when I was there between 07-10, when your options were basically hole in the wall kiosks and one duty free shop that had a shelf behind a sales counter. Prices were consistant with LCDH, and selection was suprisingly decent for an airport (1966's were in stock).

The hole in the wall sandwich/beer/cigar sellers are still there, but at some point they seemed to have fixed things up with the Casa de Tabac...whether it's lipstick on a pig, I'm not sure, but it's prettier, and I'm personally more comfortable sending someone there than in the past.

That said, you're doing friends a cultural favor sending them on a sightseeing tour to every LCDH in Havana

[BrotherBear]

You'd be best served by expanding your list to include some less exotic smokes, especially if their return flight is either very early or very late as the la casa del tabac may be closed.

Storage shouldn't be an issue from the LCDT and I'd guess the stiicks should be fine. The loose ones for sale at the various counters are a joke and mostly fakes.

Stock didn't look bad when I was there last week but with that said, it was pretty basic. For what it's worth, the LCDH on 63rd is having inventory issues with keeping stuff in stock (PSD4 & Monte 2 for example)... I wouldn't expect the LCDT at the Airport to have any BHK, LE's, rare or HTF stock. There is lots of RyJ, Cohiba Siglo linea and Guantanamera (LOL). Monte 4s can ofcourse also be found.

Cheers

[bstarrs]

The bigger store that has the humdidor has the humidity set way too high. I grabbed some Upmann half coronas there because they were out of stock everywhere else in Varadero and they had some white mood just starting to grow on them. I got them anyway because it brushed right off and they were fairly freshly rolled but I stayed away from everything else. There were some Cuaba Pyrimides I was going to get but I walked away from because of the storage conditions.

[CanuckSARTech]

Agreed with the others, regarding choosing not to buy at the airport. I also prefer/recommend the Calle 63 store rather than at the Varadero airport.

But, regarding your specific question....

...Does anyone know if the Varadero airport is currently in stock of any of the following??

1. Trinidad Reyes
   
2. Partagas 898
   
3. Montecristo Especiale #1
   

I'd say the odds are good for the Trinidad Reyes, and the Partagas 898's to a slightly lesser extent. The Reyes are somewhat inexpensive, and fairly popular, so they're usually in stock at most of the main places. Monte Especiales - likely not.

Again, like Marc said earlier, stock has been fluctuating a lot lately. We really saw this back in November too.

[brassie00]

DRY,DRY DRY ,poor conditions in my last 4 trips to Varadero

[Pilsner14]

Airport in Varadero had all the LE's including 520's, H. Up., etc. last week. Stock was really impressive since the last time I was there. The casa de tabac or whatever it was called.....had it all.....minus the 66's and other rare stuff. I was 4 am when I was there and fully stocked with my goods or else i would of probably tore the place apart! Looked fine to me for the puros.......I would have bought there.

JD

[Guest Robo]

Airport in Varadero had all the LE's including 520's, H. Up., etc. last week. Stock was really impressive since the last time I was there. The casa de tabac or whatever it was called.....had it all.....minus the 66's and other rare stuff. I was 4 am when I was there and fully stocked with my goods or else i would of probably tore the place apart! Looked fine to me for the puros.......I would have bought there.

JD

Excellent!

Thank-you,

Rob

[dpodiluk]

I was in Varadareo on tuesday and it seemed to be Ok. the product was behind glass but there was a few large sponges keeping the humidity. Looks like they had lots of stuff in there but I didn't have too much of a look as I had already got my goods at the Calle 63 store.

[Knvb]

Was just in Varadero airport last week... Never buy at the airport.. the prices are higher and the conditions vary between bad and brutal... there are 4 good shops in varadero buy before you go...

[Guest Robo]

I just found out my mule mate will be visiting Havana and said he will go to the Partagas factory LCDH. I hope there are no issues with the Partagas factory LCDH??

[BrotherBear]

I just found out my mule mate will be visiting Havana and said he will go to the Partagas factory LCDH. I hope there are no issues with the Partagas factory LCDH??

You're golden.

[ajgagnon]

I've had good luck at the airport in Santa Clara. Picked up a great box of PSP2s as it turned out. I'm not sure I'd recommend relying on the airport though. There's no plan B once someone is already at the airport.