Traveling to Tuscany and Milan, Italy

[Yigal]

In about two weeks, I'll be traveling to Tuscany and Milan. I'm curious if cigar smokers are generally well-received in those regions. While I'm in Milan, I plan to visit my first Casa Del Habano and I'm curious about their inventory. Is it consistently well-stocked or is it hit or miss?  Lastly, would anyone happen to know the limit for the number of cigar boxes I can buy and bring back to the US?  Any tips or suggestions to enhance my trip would be greatly appreciated.

[Drguano]

The smart ass answer is you can bring back as many cigar boxes as you want but only 100 cigars as long as neither the boxes nor cigars are Cuban. There is still a ban on the import of Cuban products into the US.

[Yigal]

Last year, while traveling in Mexico, I decided to purchase a box of Cuban cigars from a duty-free shop. The shop assured me that bringing the cigars back to the United States would not be a problem. Although I did successfully bring the cigars back without any issues, in hindsight, I realize that it was a risky decision.  Anyone have some experiences they want to share? Either from Duty-Free or a Habano's store.

[BrightonCorgi]

I think you'll be disappointed in general on the selection and prices at all opportunities of your trip.  Hopefully you'll find some Regional's. 

Italian Regional's tend to be some of the best and most sought after by collectors.

[JY0]

Risky, unfortunately. You may get away with it or your cigars may get confiscated. It's up to the agent.

[BrightonCorgi]

I wouldn't worry on confiscation.  CBP is only a shadow of itself at US airports  at Inspection.  Even before that it wasn't much of an issue. 

Bringing home a Mortadella is more likely to be confiscated.

[Puros Y Vino]

Can't speak to the LCDH stock and bringing back Cubans.  As for smoking it Italy, you should be fine.  Many Italians smoke in general.  Whether it be cigarettes, Toscanos or Cubans.  Indoor smoking is pretty much banned IIRC, but many walk the streets with their smokes or sit on an outdoor pation with an Aperol Spritz.

[joeypots]

Visiting Italy is everything it is cracked up to be, I hope you enjoy the country as much as I did.  I didn’t see anything great in Florence or Rome when I was there quite a while ago. I’d bring cigasr with me and enjoy the trip rather than getting shocked by prices and availability.

[BrightonCorgi]

29 minutes ago, joeypots said:

 I’d bring cigasr with me and enjoy the trip rather than getting shocked by prices and availability.

This is a great tip.  Always travel with a few cigars just in case.

[dominattorney]

@Yigal. I'm going may 12 thru 28th to Palermo, Tropeo, Salerno, Rome, and Florence/Tuscany. I hope you have a great time. Leave some wine for me!

As always, I will be bringing my own cuban cigars for the vacation. Always got made fun of for doing it in Mexico but to me, it is the only way. I had 5 monte no2 for the price of one questionable one purchased there. Europe in my experience is pretty tough to best prices vs bringing your own. Only thing I'd look for would be a regional addition at a casa del habano

[Puros Y Vino]

1 hour ago, BrightonCorgi said:

This is a great tip.  Always travel with a few cigars just in case.

Yup. I was in Italy Sep 2022.  Brought a bunch of my own for the trip.  Rome LCDH and other tobacco shops had pathetic stocks. I was up north too and fortunately the Tobacconists up there had some decent offerings.  Even picked up the RA Noellas jar for 500E. 

[cigaraholic]

Take cigars with you, they’re very expensive in Italy! Smoking is not a problem. The LCDH in Milan is not downtown and had a very small inventory when I was there a few years ago. The nicest shop is in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Noli. Florence had one very small shop facing the Duomo. The Italian RE’s are the only thing I bought, I doubt they have any now. The Galleria is a woman’s shopping heaven!

 

[Rhinoww]

Going to Tuscany and Rome in May with a side trip to capri . Curious to hear what you find. Was planning on bringing a few w me. Now a regional, that would be a vacation treat. 

[Yigal]

Definitely going to take some with me. I always do. I guess I’m keeping my fingers crossed and “hoping” for a good find.

[Thirds]

I was there last fall and stock in Rome, Florence, Venice was decimated.  I checked several other shops on our journey north - all pretty slim pickings.  
 

i did see one Noella jar in the humidor and my best bribe couldn’t convince them otherwise.  I did appreciate their loyalty to the customer that purchased it, so I returned to pay 3x that price on BR. 😉

[dangolf18]

Bring your own stock to smoke, but definitely check for the Italian regionals. I regret not bringing more of my own sticks my last trip to Europe. Selection is paltry and prices are ludicrous.

[mdido]

I was in Milan in August 2022. The LCDH and Noli had dismal inventory and fairly high prices. I believe the Italians tax their tobacco pretty heavily despite the many people smoking cigarettes on restaurant patios.
 

I was headed to Ireland the next week for my good friend’s wedding so the taxes and poor selection didn’t stop me from grabbing a pretty nice box of Famosos to celebrate.

[Rhinoww]

Any updates on Rome supplies?  Heading there in a bit. 

[GoodStix]

14 hours ago, Rhinoww said:

Any updates on Rome supplies?  Heading there in a bit. 

Thanks for the question. There soon too.

[steelcity]

Bumping this. Headed to Rome, Amalfi Coast, Palermo in March. First time traveling to Europe. Do I need to declare the sticks that I take over with me? Based on the comments above, there doesn't seem to be an issue with me smoking them over there. 

[BrightonCorgi]

12 hours ago, steelcity said:

Bumping this. Headed to Rome, Amalfi Coast, Palermo in March. First time traveling to Europe. Do I need to declare the sticks that I take over with me? Based on the comments above, there doesn't seem to be an issue with me smoking them over there. 

No, unless you are bring enough that is well beyond personal use. If you like wine, considering bring a wine shipper with you.

[steelcity]

According to the wife, we are allowed 2 bottles each to bring back. She picked up some wine "diaper" bags to put each bottle in. If they happen to break in your suit case, the liquid is absorbed. Not sure how feasible it is to ship wine back to Tampa?

We're traveling with a group and they recommended bringing a collapsible tote/bag of some sort to put in your suit case. You can load it up over there with goodies and use it as a carry on for the way home. It looks like I can bring back hard cheeses, but unfortunately no cured meats. 

Anyone know about pocket knife carry or swiss army knife carry? Seems to be acceptable outside of the Vatican, Colosseum, or museums. I keep seeing that you must state a reason for carrying such as hunting, fishing, mushroom hunting. Is a small blade acceptable for peeling fruit or cutting cheese? 

[MagicalBikeRide]

In most EU countries, things are a little grey. Italy is the same. Small blades (almost regardless of size) are only acceptable when there is a defined reason - work, fishing, camping, etc. - generally not ok to carry a knife for a purpose you don’t yet know about (e.g. just in case you need to cut some fruit, but don’t yet have fruit on your person). Anything double sided definitely won’t fly - same with anything that is auto open. 

On the flip side, I wouldn’t expect you to ever be searched in great detail without reason or for anyone to look twice should you take out a small swiss army to cut some fruit. But if arrested, I also I’d expect your conversations to happen through Italian - so there’s that.

 

[BrightonCorgi]

11 hours ago, steelcity said:

According to the wife, we are allowed 2 bottles each to bring back.

You can bring back as much wine as you want. If you have to pay extra over a certain amount is another story. I have brought back two cases with no tariffs. 

Cured meat needs an FDA stamp, meaning it was from an FDA inspected facility. That being said, you can use your imagination on how one could get that stamp on cured meat packaging in Italy. 😉

[Ford2112]

I have shipped cheese in large amounts from Europe. There are ways if you're creative. I brought a bunch of smokes to Greece last fall no issues. Brought some home too!