Lightin' Up Habanos in Havana @ Habanos Festival?

[LaoFan]

I’m going from China to US and then a hang at my spot in Costa Rica.

Recently got obsessed with squeezing Havana in the itinerary and getting tickets to the Habanos Gala.

Would be 1st time in Cuba.

Figured even if I can’t manage to score tickets I will take the missus and do a week in Havana. Have had a few great conversations with members, been introduced to a couple local fixer types who know the lay of the land, and learned tons of valuable insight.

Have gone thru every piece of info I can find on the forums, but most of it (I imagine) would be outdated. Would be fantastic to get some feedback from the FOH crew.

1) Tickets for the Festival (Gala in particular)

Have heard a mixed bag of availability.

Lots of people tell me just wait and that you can grab tickets on the website or thru travel groups pretty easily - last year tickets released Jan 30th~ so could be coming any day now. Others (mostly LCDH shops) have told me that with the BHK anniversary it’s already overbooked and almost impossible to grab tickets.

Feedback from people who have gone / are planning on going would be great.

2) Box/Singles Availability

Not really looking for regular production stuff (have that on lock thanks to El Pres and the FOH team). Not too concerned on pricing as I know cheap is not a thing anymore. Mostly wondering about the odds of local LCDHs having stock that is interesting.

3) Sending cigars back to China/HK

Again mixed bag. Have heard people saying they wouldn't trust local logistics providers to get the job done. Others saying that Chinese Nationals always come thru dropping big stacks and sending a ton back. Others say it’s impossible.

4) Bringing sticks back to the states

I appreciate this is a YMMV situation with a 'don't bring anything you don't want to lose'.

Mostly just looking at likelihood of confiscation (is that worst case)? Flying thru Mexico/Canada first? Different airports (have heard Houston>Miami)?

5) Bucket List

Hotels: Skip Nacional for a stay but can't miss for a smoke. Hotel Parque Central / Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski are top, but local/Airbnb probably the best for the full Cuban experience.

Old Car Tour -  This song 'Mojito - Jay Chou' (listen at your own discretion 😅) was huge in China so this is a must for the missus.

Restaurants/Bars - got a long list now of fantastic looking spots, but the more the merrier. Wide spectrum of date night/fancy and street food all great.

Tropicana - worth it or skip?

Best LCDH?

Best plantation / factory tour?

I think this is the most I've planned a trip itinerary in my life lmao.

6) Most importantly.. who's all headed to the festival?

Would be great to meetup for a smoke and meet some members face to face.

I’ll document my trip and throw an update in the Cuba threads once the trip is done.

[Gubbins]

Hector Louis Farm is decent if you’re there for a week. Probably about an hour and a half from Havana in a taxi. I did the same research as you last year. Make sure you have a meal on the terrace at La Guardia. Stock was limited when I went, and it was just about checking all the humidors I went past. It can drop a bit more detailed info, when I get back, but just about to head out.

Also reckon you could probably see most of Havana in less than a week.

[SUP8333]

Just booked my flights tickets, but I have no idea about the rest too!

[LaoFan]

15 hours ago, Gubbins said:

Hector Louis Farm is decent if you’re there for a week. Probably about an hour and a half from Havana in a taxi. I did the same research as you last year. Make sure you have a meal on the terrace at La Guardia. Stock was limited when I went, and it was just about checking all the humidors I went past. It can drop a bit more detailed info, when I get back, but just about to head out.

Also reckon you could probably see most of Havana in less than a week.

La Guardia definitely getting booked. Heard nothing but good things. Hector Louis Farm looks solid, will check it out. Seems like the check every humidor in every LCDH is probably the best route. Appreciate the notes, the more the merrier.

9 hours ago, SUP8333 said:

Just booked my flights tickets, but I have no idea about the rest too!

Right on! Will shoot you a DM.

[ATGroom]

On 1/25/2025 at 8:50 PM, LaoFan said:

1) Tickets for the Festival (Gala in particular)

In about November Habanos sent out an email announcing the dates for the festival. That was your cue to go to your local LCDH and sign up for a ticket. The LCDHs then put their order in with their distributor, who put their total regional order in with Habanos. This all was finalised by the end of December.

If there is remaining allocation then Habanos will release it to the general public in January sometime.

I've heard from some that because of the recent change to duty free laws in China a lot of the Chinese aren't coming, and that because the gala falls during Ramadan this year a lot of the middle eastern guys aren't coming. I've also heard from some that they weren't able to get tickets from their LCDH because the allocation was exhausted. 

So, who knows? You might get lucky. It also might be possible to buy a pass from someone in Cuba that week or otherwise finagle your way in, particularly if you just want to go to the event and don't mind if you don't get the gifts.

 

On 1/25/2025 at 8:50 PM, LaoFan said:

2) Box/Singles Availability

Most stores in Havana will get a restock during Festival week. Only problem is, there are also plenty of buyers around, including those who aren't attending the festival and are just there to snipe the good stuff. With some good luck and greasing a few palms and you should be able to find whatever you're looking for.

 

On 1/25/2025 at 8:50 PM, LaoFan said:

3) Sending cigars back to China/HK

No idea about to China specifically, but they have DHL in Cuba which is as reliable as it is anywhere else in the world. Probably wouldn't bother with the regular mail. There are always a lot of Chinese buyers around so they must have some way of getting cigars out. There may be a Chinese courier company or something like that.

[LaoFan]

21 hours ago, ATGroom said:

In about November Habanos sent out an email announcing the dates for the festival. That was your cue to go to your local LCDH and sign up for a ticket. The LCDHs then put their order in with their distributor, who put their total regional order in with Habanos. This all was finalised by the end of December.

If there is remaining allocation then Habanos will release it to the general public in January sometime.

I've heard from some that because of the recent change to duty free laws in China a lot of the Chinese aren't coming, and that because the gala falls during Ramadan this year a lot of the middle eastern guys aren't coming. I've also heard from some that they weren't able to get tickets from their LCDH because the allocation was exhausted. 

So, who knows? You might get lucky. It also might be possible to buy a pass from someone in Cuba that week or otherwise finagle your way in, particularly if you just want to go to the event and don't mind if you don't get the gifts.

Started going deep on the idea of going in December. Closest LCDH is HK/Macau - will start visiting more often so I can get on their radar for future years.

Great tip for seeing what I can find on the ground when there. I'd imagine most people who didn't get tickets won't just show up in Cuba ha. Likelihood of scammers trying to sell dodgy tickets to yumas like me?

21 hours ago, ATGroom said:

Most stores in Havana will get a restock during Festival week. Only problem is, there are also plenty of buyers around, including those who aren't attending the festival and are just there to snipe the good stuff. With some good luck and greasing a few palms and you should be able to find whatever you're looking for.

Lots of members have DMd their favourite shops. Will get in a couple days before the festival and grease some palms. Good tip.

21 hours ago, ATGroom said:

No idea about to China specifically, but they have DHL in Cuba which is as reliable as it is anywhere else in the world. Probably wouldn't bother with the regular mail. There are always a lot of Chinese buyers around so they must have some way of getting cigars out. There may be a Chinese courier company or something like that.

DHL is our courier of choice for all logistics both in & out of China. Will make DHL my first stop and see what they can ship. 

 

Thanks for all the info!

[ATGroom]

5 hours ago, LaoFan said:

Great tip for seeing what I can find on the ground when there. I'd imagine most people who didn't get tickets won't just show up in Cuba ha. Likelihood of scammers trying to sell dodgy tickets to yumas like me?

Never heard of anyone selling a scam ticket, but stranger things have happened.

A lot of people just really want the gifts and don't care too much about the parties, so if you just want to go to the party then you may be able to do a deal with someone to take their ticket and pick up their gifts for them.

If you are determined to attend the festival and don't have a ticket then I wouldn't recommend showing up in Havana and trying your luck. But if you're happy to go with the flow and take the trip regardless of whether you end up at the festival or not, then you might get lucky.

[LaoFan]

2 hours ago, ATGroom said:

Never heard of anyone selling a scam ticket, but stranger things have happened.

A lot of people just really want the gifts and don't care too much about the parties, so if you just want to go to the party then you may be able to do a deal with someone to take their ticket and pick up their gifts for them.

If you are determined to attend the festival and don't have a ticket then I wouldn't recommend showing up in Havana and trying your luck. But if you're happy to go with the flow and take the trip regardless of whether you end up at the festival or not, then you might get lucky.

Tickets already booked - definitely want to go to the Gala but am more than happy to be there and go with the flow either way. Hopefully can bump into somebody who just wants to pack gifts.

Will keep the thread posted with my efforts to get a ticket.

 

[Habanoschris]

You're not alone?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS7uPNDspMk

[LaoFan]

6 hours ago, Habanoschris said:

You're not alone?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS7uPNDspMk

Wild - this surely is just a lack of organizational SOPs 🤪 

Read: Make sure Habanos 'influencers' get tickets.

[El Presidente]

7 hours ago, Habanoschris said:

You're not alone?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS7uPNDspMk

This is a little nuts. 

The way to the Festival (for us) has generally been through the distributors. Distributors will normally have the details in November. If I was to take a group, I would contact PCC in November and reserve the tickets as they have an allocation. To have done so and be told later that events are sold out is disappointing. 

Interestingly, this year, I did not receive a PCC invitation to book. No doubt they were likely oversubscribed from HK/mainland China. It is a Behike celebration after all. 

I didn't give it a second thought as I wouldn't have been going.  

 

[Marco_011t556]

DHL in Cuba is not allowed to ship any cigar to HK since Dec 24 or Jan 25. I don’t know why this happened.

[Gubbins]

13 hours ago, Marco_011t556 said:

DHL in Cuba is not allowed to ship any cigar to HK since Dec 24 or Jan 25. I don’t know why this happened.

Are they allowed to ship to Europe? I'm assuming they are reliable?

[LaoFan]

10 hours ago, Gubbins said:

Are they allowed to ship to Europe? I'm assuming they are reliable?

They're the best of the best on intl logistics.

13 hours ago, Marco_011t556 said:

DHL in Cuba is not allowed to ship any cigar to HK since Dec 24 or Jan 25. I don’t know why this happened.

You tried? Or you heard it just through the grapevine?