Picking up La Trova in Havana?

[99call]

So I've never been to Cuba, but me and the missus are thinking about it this Feb. 

As I don't particularly want to submit her to endless sifting through humidors etc.   Does anyone have any 'Best bet' ideas about where to full fill the order of;

4x boxes of La Trova

2x boxes of Fundies    

I imagine it should be a pretty easy ask, but I'm just trying to zone in on a quick, one stop shop. I would be wanting somewhere where there wouldn't be any BS about box opening etc. 

Any help, would be much appreciated. 

[SigmundChurchill]

24 minutes ago, 99call said:

So I've never been to Cuba, but me and the missus are thinking about it this Feb. 

As I don't particularly want to submit her to endless sifting through humidors etc.   Does anyone have any 'Best bet' ideas about where to full fill the order of;

4x boxes of La Trova

2x boxes of Fundies    

I imagine it should be a pretty easy ask, but I'm just trying to zone in on a quick, one stop shop. I would be wanting somewhere where there wouldn't be any BS about box opening etc. 

Any help, would be much appreciated. 

I am speaking from limited experience, as I have only been to Cuba 1 time.  But if it is anything like my recent experience, neither of those orders will be an “easy task”.  The stuff on the shelves was a lot of basic cigars.  We didn’t see Fundies or La Trova just sitting on the shelves.  That is not to say you wont get lucky and find a box or two.  We found some random boxes of exotics here and there, but it wasn’t the norm.  Luckily, we had a driver that knows how to shmooze LCDH managers, and even then, we didn’t get the stuff we REALLY wanted, but we weren’t far off.  I think your two choices might be a little easier, or at least the fundies will.  I am thinking it might be easier on a slow week instead of a busy one, like when we were there, but someone who goes often would give you a more definitive answer.

[99call]

8 minutes ago, SigmundChurchill said:

I am speaking from limited experience, as I have only been to Cuba 1 time.  But if it is anything like my recent experience, neither of those orders will be an “easy task”.  The stuff on the shelves was a lot of basic cigars.  We didn’t see Fundies or La Trova just sitting on the shelves.  That is not to say you wont get lucky and find a box or two.  We found some random boxes of exotics here and there, but it wasn’t the norm.  Luckily, we had a driver that knows how to shmooze LCDH managers, and even then, we didn’t get the stuff we REALLY wanted, but we weren’t far off.  I think your two choices might be a little easier, or at least the fundies will.  I am thinking it might be easier on a slow week instead of a busy one, like when we were there, but someone who goes often would give you a more definitive answer.

Cheers for that dude.   

bugger!  I was hoping not to be too selfish with the time allocated for cigar hunting.   With only 50 cigars possible to take back to the UK, It's strange to say, but maybe it's not even worth bothering.   Never thought I'd utter those words, but sounds like I'll just have to go with the flow. 

 

[SigmundChurchill]

20 minutes ago, 99call said:

Cheers for that dude.   

bugger!  I was hoping not to be too selfish with the time allocated for cigar hunting.   With only 50 cigars possible to take back to the UK, It's strange to say, but maybe it's not even worth bothering.   Never thought I'd utter those words, but sounds like I'll just have to go with the flow. 

 

Like I said, take my experience with a grain of salt.  I have no idea what it is like during the slow periods there, only I think February is supposed to be just as busy as November.  But dont make any quick decisions until someone with more knowledge on the subject chimes in.

[Corylax18]

I have to agree with @SigmundChurchill. It's possible to find both, but it wont be easy. I'm always able to find a box of Fundies, somewhere. I've gotten lucky and found boxes at t the first shop I walk into and I've also searched for a week or 10 days before a box shows itself. I've had great luck with Trinidad at Club Habana, but that's no guarantee. 

La Trova are a different story. I've never seen a box on the shelves, out in the wild. The lone box I was able to acquire myself came from "the back" after a lot of  very polite asking. If time is a factor for you, I would recommend switching this box out for something else on your list.

[99call]

10 minutes ago, Corylax18 said:

I have to agree with @SigmundChurchill. It's possible to find both, but it wont be easy. I'm always able to find a box of Fundies, somewhere. I've gotten lucky and found boxes at t the first shop I walk into and I've also searched for a week or 10 days before a box shows itself. I've had great luck with Trinidad at Club Habana, but that's no guarantee. 

La Trova are a different story. I've never seen a box on the shelves, out in the wild. The lone box I was able to acquire myself came from "the back" after a lot of  very polite asking. If time is a factor for you, I would recommend switching this box out for something else on your list.

Cheers dude, great advice.  It's sounding like x4 boxes of Fundies might be more do-able. 

[HDGSN]

Fundies were near the top of my list. Only place I saw them was Libre, and we went to 9 shops. There was a mastercase sitting on the shelf. Only place I saw La Trova was at Upmann. This was all months ago, though. Good luck!

[mtapia3]

I have been to Havana 4 times (Most recently last month) since the release of La Trova and I've yet to find a single box. I have seen singles at the Habana Libre LCDH, but never full boxes. As far as Fundies go, I've had far better luck finding those, especially at Habana Libre. There's been a few boxes on their shelf everytime I've visited. 

So, Habana Libre would be my starting point. If you don't find what you're looking for there, the Hotel Nacional LCDH is only a couple blocks away. I'm sure the misses would'nt mind. 

I'll offer you the same advice that I give everyone who goes to Havana looking for cigars: Don't expect to find every cigar on your wish list. Just like most things in Cuba, finding cigars is a hit-or-miss adventure. You never know what you're going to find until you get there, regardless of the day/week/month. Enjoy the hunt, but keep your expectations low.  

[SigmundChurchill]

54 minutes ago, HDGSN said:

Fundies were near the top of my list. Only place I saw them was Libre, and we went to 9 shops. There was a mastercase sitting on the shelf. Only place I saw La Trova was at Upmann. This was all months ago, though. Good luck!

No Fundies at Libre when we were there two weeks ago.  Even when they offered us back room stuff, I asked.  And I think that is a cigar that they wouldn’t be holding onto so tightly compared to some of the other cigars they did offer us.  Just luck of the draw, I guess.

[joey rockets]

My wife just retired and Cuba had been a potential vacation high on our list however, I thought it had become more difficult for USA citizens to travel there?  Then I noted that those posting today are probably USA citizens so I need to investigate further.

[SigmundChurchill]

13 minutes ago, joey rockets said:

My wife just retired and Cuba had been a potential vacation high on our list however, I thought it had become more difficult for USA citizens to travel there?  Then I noted that those posting today are probably USA citizens so I need to investigate further.

They have been chipping away at it, but it is still easily doable, for now.  First they made it illegal for cruise ships to stop there.  Then they made it illegal to fly into any airport other than Havana,  

From all the people who messaged me with questions when I posted pictures on facebook, I think their campaign is working in making people think that they can’t go there anymore.  I got a lot of “How did you go there?  I thought they made it illegal.”

For now, it is still legal, and you can easily book a flight and get a visa.

[sho671]

19 minutes ago, joey rockets said:

My wife just retired and Cuba had been a potential vacation high on our list however, I thought it had become more difficult for USA citizens to travel there?  Then I noted that those posting today are probably USA citizens so I need to investigate further.

It is as easy as booking a flight and checking off "Support of the Cuban People" for reason for visit, and that's it. Enjoy. 

[Monocle]

9 hours ago, SigmundChurchill said:

They have been chipping away at it, but it is still easily doable, for now.  First they made it illegal for cruise ships to stop there.  Then they made it illegal to fly into any airport other than Havana,  

From all the people who messaged me with questions when I posted pictures on facebook, I think their campaign is working in making people think that they can’t go there anymore.  I got a lot of “How did you go there?  I thought they made it illegal.”

For now, it is still legal, and you can easily book a flight and get a visa.

Southwest looks like they make it pretty easy. I’m looking at a February or March trip and there’s a service through SWA for the visa and mandatory health insurance for $75 if I recall correctly.

[99call]

1 hour ago, mtapia3 said:

I have been to Havana 4 times (Most recently last month) since the release of La Trova and I've yet to find a single box. I have seen singles at the Habana Libre LCDH, but never full boxes. As far as Fundies go, I've had far better luck finding those, especially at Habana Libre. There's been a few boxes on their shelf everytime I've visited. 

So, Habana Libre would be my starting point. If you don't find what you're looking for there, the Hotel Nacional LCDH is only a couple blocks away. I'm sure the misses would'nt mind. 

I'll offer you the same advice that I give everyone who goes to Havana looking for cigars: Don't expect to find every cigar on your wish list. Just like most things in Cuba, finding cigars is a hit-or-miss adventure. You never know what you're going to find until you get there, regardless of the day/week/month. Enjoy the hunt, but keep your expectations low.  

cheers, much appreciated

[Bagman]

I went on a hunt for Fundadores a few weeks ago in Cuba and I went to almost every LCDH while there.  Of those, only 1 place had them.  Libre did not.  Melia Cohiba.  They only had 3.  I bought 2.  No place had la trova.  Though in previous trips I tended to find them at one store.

[99call]

Cheers to all, all very informative, looks like it's going to be a challenge.  Puts people's mega hauls into a whole different bracket of impressive.   

[Nino]

7 hours ago, 99call said:

I imagine it should be a pretty easy ask, but I'm just trying to zone in on a quick, one stop shop. I would be wanting somewhere where there wouldn't be any BS about box opening etc. 

 

Wish I could help you, but as others have previously commented, it is not an easy task. Not at all.

I hope you have enough time, nerves, some languague skills, a good driver and a truckload of Valium to help you find your boxes.

Specially as February is Festival week and all shops will concentrate on those "high-buyers" and "valued customers" in town for the events.

 

[99call]

1 hour ago, Monterey said:

I went on a hunt for Fundadores a few weeks ago in Cuba and I went to almost every LCDH while there.  Of those, only 1 place had them.  Libre did not.  Melia Cohiba.  They only had 3.  I bought 2.  No place had la trova.  Though in previous trips I tended to find them at one store.

Many thanks. Hats off

[Tstew75]

I agree with most others here, pretty hard to find either.

You're better off grabbing them here, or at secondary...that way you can keep your options open to what you'll find in Havana.

[99call]

Thanks to all.   Because of all you're great informative responses. The holiday is no longer looking like Cuba. And switched focus to Hokkaido, Japan

[mtapia3]

Sorry, didn't mean to make you change your vacation plans. Cuba is an amazing country that I highly recommend visiting.  For me, the cigar shopping is just a bonus on top of all the wonderful things the island has to offer. 

[joey rockets]

My wife was nervous about the lack of modern hotels in Cuba but she warmed to the vacation idea when she found a cruise line that would dock in Havana and then allow one to sleep on the ship at night; eat as well if local fare is not to your taste.  I think these cruises were curtailed?

[99call]

18 minutes ago, mtapia3 said:

Sorry, didn't mean to make you change your vacation plans. Cuba is an amazing country that I highly recommend visiting.  For me, the cigar shopping is just a bonus on top of all the wonderful things the island has to offer. 

haha, don"t worry.......no it was just a marginal choice, and this weirdly was the fine margin of difference.  I will get their soon...just not in Feb.    It was more that it's going to be busy, that put me off

[Hookmaker]

1 hour ago, 99call said:

Thanks to all.   Because of all you're great informative responses. The holiday is no longer looking like Cuba. And switched focus to Hokkaido, Japan

Well, in that case head for Andorra, plenty fundies and Trova there. And prices are not that far from Cuba - maybe 10-20% over ?

[mtapia3]

3 hours ago, 99call said:

haha, don"t worry.......no it was just a marginal choice, and this weirdly was the fine margin of difference.  I will get their soon...just not in Feb.    It was more that it's going to be busy, that put me off

Yeah I wouldn't want to be there either with all that competition around haha!