Must Pick Up Cuban Cigars in Cuba

[havanaclub]

I love these Factura things. I ask every time when I go and never, ever do they want to do them. Even when I tell them how many boxes I have they say “it’s ok”. They have taped the receipts on the boxes and say this will be fine. Lol


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[Derboesekoenig]

5 minutes ago, nino said:

There is NOTHING remotely "very similar" to this official Factura in Cuba -  which consists of 3 pages and records where you bought the cigars, what cigars, your name, Passport number, nationality and total amount paid ....

I at least received a receipt. I wish I had taken a picture of it. It said La Puntilla on it, and said the quantity (50 total) and the price

[Nino]

1 hour ago, havanaclub said:

I love these Factura things. I ask every time when I go and never, ever do they want to do them. Even when I tell them how many boxes I have they say “it’s ok”. They have taped the receipts on the boxes and say this will be fine. Lol


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That is a fairly recent BS behaviour by LCDH / Casa del Tabaco employees out of being lazy and not giving a flying freak about you as a customer - if Cuban customs demands those official Facturas going out I am sure it will be no laughing matter when your boxes are gone ...

1 hour ago, Derboesekoenig said:

I at least received a receipt. I wish I had taken a picture of it. It said La Puntilla on it, and said the quantity (50 total) and the price

A receipt is not a Factura - and customs rolled cigars do NOT get a Factura.

Do not mix/confuse/misinterpret terms.

That receipt is worthless paper at Cuban customs if you have more than 20 unbanded and they confiscate them ...

[BDSpiritual1]

Don't mind my ignorance... But if the bundles seem to come in 25's (based on some pics I've seen), would they potentially confiscate the additional 5? 

Nonetheless, it sounds like the safest way around this is maybe pick up 20/25 custom rolls and then use the rest of the bandwidth for commercial products. No?

Hearing about these custom rolls has me thinking how they smoke and taste! 

There is a shop downtown Toronto where I work that has some house blends that are made with Cuban filler, binder and wrapper. I wonder how they compare.

[Nino]

9 minutes ago, Jequan_sparxxx said:

Don't mind my ignorance... But if the bundles seem to come in 25's (based on some pics I've seen), would they potentially confiscate the additional 5? 

 

No,

mostly you are safe and sound - put a bundle in your checked luggage and another in your carry-on.
90% of the time you will NOT have a problem.
And if you have boxes, place them in your carry-on along with your official Facturas, you will be safe.

it's only when they do check that these limits and paperwork are important.

The thing is : You never know when they will be checking and they are getting stricter lately at Cuban customs ...

[Philc2001]

Can you share recent pricing on custom rolls that you mentioned? Ballpark is fine. Thanks!

Puntillas are under $5, and most of Yolanda’s custom rolls are $5-$7. Get as many as you like, it doesn’t have to be in bundles of 25, you can get singles or any number of what they have available on hand. Best bet is to order in advance and they will have them ready for you to pick up.

I didn’t pre-order, I just walked in. As luck had it, Alex had one last bundle of Puntillas available, and Yolanda had mostly big cigars, but she had 15 Coronas and a number of Lonsdale size on hand so I took those.



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[Philc2001]

I stand corrected on the factura issue. My friend got a standard receipt.

I was there this week, I asked for Facturas for the custom rolls, but Yolanda does not give facturas for custom rolls, and neither does Alex. Alex will give you an un-official receipt though if you want it.

The folks at Nacional informed me they only give facturas for 50 or more factory cigars. But they didn’t complain when I asked for facturas anyway. But you don’t need them, nobody at customs asked for them, or even bothered to look at them.




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[Philc2001]

So, I know the duty free limit is 50 on return... But... are you guys saying there may be a Cuban limit of 20?

The official duty free documents I got (from US Customs) this week state you may bring back up to 100 cigars or 200 cigarettes per person duty free.


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[JGD]

6 minutes ago, Philc2001 said:

But you don’t need them, nobody at customs asked for them, or even bothered to look at them.

That’s not always the case. When I was there in March I was specifically asked for the facturas. I didn’t have any because I bought the b.s. that you don’t need them anymore from one of the clerks at the LCDH in the Nacional. While I didn’t get anything confiscated, that was only because I had some CUC left in my wallet that Customs was more interested in than the cigars.

[BDSpiritual1]

Wow! I didn't expect that the recommendations would be so much in the favour of the custom rolls!! Now I'm really curious to try - especially Alex's roll! 

When compared to say a typical, commercial Cuban cigar (I.e. Monte, Hoyo, etc.).... How would the custom ones compare? How would you describe the characteristics of the smoke? 

Again, im new to cigars and I'm still learning about them so please forgive my ignorance. 

[Nino]

2 hours ago, Philc2001 said:

I was there this week, I asked for Facturas for the custom rolls, but Yolanda does not give facturas for custom rolls, and neither does Alex. Alex will give you an un-official receipt though if you want it.

The folks at Nacional informed me they only give facturas for 50 or more factory cigars. But they didn’t complain when I asked for facturas anyway. But you don’t need them, nobody at customs asked for them, or even bothered to look at them.
 

Nobody gives Facturas for custom rolled cigars ....

Oh yes, customs asks for Facturas for boxes .... see below - all else is ... B.S.

2 hours ago, JGD said:

That’s not always the case. When I was there in March I was specifically asked for the facturas. I didn’t have any because I bought the b.s. that you don’t need them anymore from one of the clerks at the LCDH in the Nacional. While I didn’t get anything confiscated, that was only because I had some CUC left in my wallet that Customs was more interested in than the cigars.

You were lucky you didn't buy the B.S. of not needing Facturas - it might happen only 10% of the time but if you don't show the Factura for the boxes ( and Customs is not interested in CUCs that day ) you will lose the boxes ...

[Nino]

1 hour ago, Jequan_sparxxx said:

Wow! I didn't expect that the recommendations would be so much in the favour of the custom rolls!! Now I'm really curious to try - especially Alex's roll! 

When compared to say a typical, commercial Cuban cigar (I.e. Monte, Hoyo, etc.).... How would the custom ones compare? How would you describe the characteristics of the smoke? 

Again, im new to cigars and I'm still learning about them so please forgive my ignorance. 

I also bring mostly CR's back from Havana.

Besides Alex at the Comodoro I'd recommend the Monsdales ( although I haven't tried any from the new roller replacing Jorgito ) from Club Habana and anything from Juanita, the lady that rolls at the Melia Cohiba ..

As for characteristics : it is your own taste that determines what you enjoy and you should try and find it, be it with production cigar brands or with CRs.

Hard to define from a distance, just see that you get your hands on some and take it from there ...?
 

[canadianbeaver]

We have custom rolls in several sizes from three rollers. I find smoking them right off the table is lovely because you meet the roller and this adds to our whole Cuban cigar culture.

Then we let them rest for a year, two or three. They are great.

Wait? I have never been to Cuba! They sometimes roll in LCDH’s worldwide.

CB

 

[stogieluver]

I stand corrected, @nino.  I found my receipts and facturas from my last trip and the facturas were only for the regular production cigars.  I did have various forms of receipts for all the customs I bought.

To the OP's question, I went through customs at the cruise terminal and the young ladies inspecting our bags were interested  in all the cigars and asked for my facturas.  I handed them the bundle of facturas and receipts and they made a feeble effort to match each with the cigars and passed us through.

[PigFish]

Interesting read folks. Thanks for sharing!

[Hookmaker]

Although my experience is limited compared to many in here, I have smoked a good stash of Cubans the last year and I find the CR’s some of the absolute best value out there. Some of them beat a lot of good standard cigars by a mile. And you might as well get use to them, because in 5 years no cigars will probably be allowed to Cary bands or labels so who gives a darn?

[Philc2001]

On 9/29/2018 at 12:43 PM, Jequan_sparxxx said:

So, I know the duty free limit is 50 on return... But... are you guys saying there may be a Cuban limit of 20?

The U.S. Customs website confirms the duty free limit is 100 cigars (or 200 cigarettes). GOV LINK

Quote

Tobacco Products

Returning resident travelers may import tobacco products only in quantities not exceeding the amounts specified in the personal exemptions for which the traveler qualifies (not more than 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars if arriving from other than a beneficiary country and insular possession). Any quantities of tobacco products not permitted by a personal exemption are subject to detention, seizure, penalties, abandonment, and destruction. 

I hope that helps clarify your options. 

[Philc2001]

8 hours ago, stogieluver said:

I stand corrected, @nino.  I found my receipts and facturas from my last trip and the facturas were only for the regular production cigars.  I did have various forms of receipts for all the customs I bought.

To the OP's question, I went through customs at the cruise terminal and the young ladies inspecting our bags were interested  in all the cigars and asked for my facturas.  I handed them the bundle of facturas and receipts and they made a feeble effort to match each with the cigars and passed us through.

Oddly, I went through the same terminal just a few days ago with over 110 cigars, and nobody even blinked an eye or asked for any papers. I just put my bags through the scanner and picked them up on the other side. They just waved us through without a single word spoken.

[Derboesekoenig]

14 hours ago, Philc2001 said:

Oddly, I went through the same terminal just a few days ago with over 110 cigars, and nobody even blinked an eye or asked for any papers. I just put my bags through the scanner and picked them up on the other side. They just waved us through without a single word spoken.

Nah this seems to happen more often than not. I had over 300 cigars and same happened to me.

[bpm32]

Some people go through customs with hundreds of cigars, others get five cigars stripped off their single bundle of 25. Es Cuba--you roll the dice and take your chances.

[BDSpiritual1]

So... all these cigar shops are in the hotels? And anyone can walk in and purchase?

SoAs of now it sounds like I'd need a few bundles between how ever many people are going to be within the limit for...

1. Puntillas from Alex at the Hotel Cubanacan Comodoro (3rd Ave and 84 St, Playa, Miramar, 11300 Havana, Cuba)

2. Monsdales at Club Habana (5ta avenida y 214, Reparto Flores, Playa, Havana)

3. Anything from Yolanda/Juanita at the Melina Cohiba (Avenida Paseo y, Calle 1ra, La Habana, Cuba)

4. Monte Dumas At Hotel Nacional (Calle 21 y O, Vedado, Plaza, La Habana)

Does this summary sound about right??? Googled the addresses to be sure haha ?

[Nino]

8 minutes ago, Jequan_sparxxx said:

So... all these cigar shops are in the hotels? And anyone can walk in and purchase?

SoAs of now it sounds like I'd need a few bundles between how ever many people are going to be within the limit for...

1. Puntillas from Alex at the Hotel Cubanacan Comodoro (3rd Ave and 84 St, Playa, Miramar, 11300 Havana, Cuba)

2. Monsdales at Club Habana (5ta avenida y 214, Reparto Flores, Playa, Havana)

3. Anything from Yolanda/Juanita at the Melina Cohiba (Avenida Paseo y, Calle 1ra, La Habana, Cuba)

4. Monte Dumas At Hotel Nacional (Calle 21 y O, Vedado, Plaza, La Habana)

Does this summary sound about right??? Googled the addresses to be sure haha ?

All good except :

Yolanda rolls at Melia Habana Hotel which is next to the Comodoro Hotel in Miramar and Juanita rolls at the Melia Cohiba Hotel  which is in Vedado.

Good luck !

[earthson]

Customs are probably your safest bet if your friend doesn't know how to inspect a box and what to look for. Rumor is there's a lot of very good tobacco around right now, so anything from a reputable roller should be a go. I'd recommend seeing which vitola each roller is known for.

[BDSpiritual1]

Honestly speaking, this has been a great conversation full of details, insights and suggestions. 

I can't express how much I appreciate and the help and support I received in this thread.

I've shared the information and only hope they can make me proud and bring me back some nice custom rolls!!!! 

Thanks again everyone! 

[BellevilleMXZ]

On 9/29/2018 at 2:20 PM, havanaclub said:

I love these Factura things. I ask every time when I go and never, ever do they want to do them. Even when I tell them how many boxes I have they say “it’s ok”. They have taped the receipts on the boxes and say this will be fine. Lol


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Ya always seems a hassle getting them. Last time I didn't get any, i see why, as at the LCDH in Santa Marie the guy was "adding" a little extra to the cost as I left yul list at hotel. Next time I'll get ugly. Want a tip? fine, but your gonna write them up. Luckily didn't get asked for any at customs. To bad, as the guy was great, and spent an hr or so there having few drinks/cigars.