Paris shops?

[davidmanning]

I'm new to the buying-cigars-abroad thing; but I leave for Paris in a few hours, and since I'd rather not bring any cigars with me from the States for obvious reasons... anyone have a reputable shop in the City of Lights they've enjoyed and can recommend?

Dave

[CIGARHead]

» I'm new to the buying-cigars-abroad thing; but I leave for Paris in a few

» hours, and since I'd rather not bring any cigars with me from the States

» for obvious reasons... anyone have a reputable shop in the City of Lights

» they've enjoyed and can recommend?

»

» Dave

Dave. I dont know about shops in Paris, but you should have no problem bringing smokes with you. I traveled twice this year. Had a CigarCaddy loaded with Cuban cigars in my carry on. No problems whatsoever. The first time I took the bands off. Had nill prob. The next time I left 'em on. No problema.

[davidmanning]

» Dave. I dont know about shops in Paris, but you should have no problem

» bringing smokes with you. I traveled twice this year. Had a CigarCaddy

» loaded with Cuban cigars in my carry on. No problems whatsoever. The first

» time I took the bands off. Had nill prob. The next time I left 'em on. No

» problema.

I was thinking after I wrote that, that if the cigars don't blare "CUBAN! CUBAN RIGHT HERE!" that it wouldn't get a second look from any inspectors. Hell, how many regular folk know a Habano from a 'domestic' version of the same anyhow?

Still would like to know if there are recommended Parisian cigar shops, but good to put my mind at ease with respect to carrying on.

Have to check the cigar cutter, though. Don't want to lose that.

[CIGARHead]

» Have to check the cigar cutter, though. Don't want to lose that.

Yeah def. check the cutter to be safe. I was worried at first traveling with cigars, but was put at ease by frequent travelers who do it all the time. No worries...just make sure to carry them on. Ive had lots of **** stolen out of my luggage and would be pissed if it were my precious cigars.:-D

[Colt45]

I realize this may be too late, but:

La Casa del Habano

169 boulevard St.-Germain, 6th arr.,

(011) 33 1 45 49 24 30

Le Floridita

19 rue Presbourg, 16th arr.,

(011) 33 1 45 00 84 84

À La Civette

157 rue St.-Honoré, 1st arr.,

(011) 33 1 42 96 04 99

Boutique Lemaire

59 avenue Victor Hugo, 16th arr.,

(011) 33 1 45 00 75 63

Boutique 22

22 avenue Victor Hugo, 16th arr.,

(011) 33 1 45 01 81 41

La Civette de Quatre Temps

Centre Commercial des 4, La Défense,

(011) 33 1 47 74 75 28

Tabac Georges V

22 avenue Georges V, 8th arr.,

(011) 33 1 47 23 44 75I realize

[strayvector]

»

» Tabac Georges V

» 22 avenue Georges V, 8th arr.,

» (011) 33 1 47 23 44 75I realize

I visited this shop when I was in Paris last year. It was just half a block from the hotel we stayed at, Hotel Prince de Galles. Bellman recommended the shop, but I think it has more to do with the proximity of the shop than anything else. The shop itself was cramped, but it had a pretty decent sized walk in humidor and excellent selection. Nothing unusual or hard to get, but they stocked most of the Cuban brands and vitolas. Not a place to light one up and talk to shopkeep. It was strictly a retail outlet. I'd try to find the CDH if I were you.

[Curmudgeon]

» » Dave. I dont know about shops in Paris, but you should have no problem

» » bringing smokes with you. I traveled twice this year. Had a CigarCaddy

» » loaded with Cuban cigars in my carry on. No problems whatsoever. The

» first

» » time I took the bands off. Had nill prob. The next time I left 'em on.

» No

» » problema.

»

» I was thinking after I wrote that, that if the cigars don't blare "CUBAN!

» CUBAN RIGHT HERE!" that it wouldn't get a second look from any inspectors.

» Hell, how many regular folk know a Habano from a 'domestic' version of the

» same anyhow?

»

» Still would like to know if there are recommended Parisian cigar shops,

» but good to put my mind at ease with respect to carrying on.

»

» Have to check the cigar cutter, though. Don't want to lose that.

Well, aside from security gate inspectors--who have no right to confiscate Havanas--you won't have any contact with American authorities on your way out of the country. The French have no ban on Cuban goods, so their customs inspectors won't mind if you bring a few Havanas with you.

[davidmanning]

» I realize this may be too late, but:

Wound up finding a place our second day, Tabac des Vosges located near (you guessed it) the Place des Vosges. Decent selection of habanos, not a walk-in humidor, prices weren't horrible considering the VAT (Punch Punch 10 euro, Monte #4 7 euro).

Bought a lighter, even, that I was planning on putting in the checked luggage; the woman who walked the line prior to check-in at CDG told us, in a "you should know this" voice that lighters were strictly forbidden even in checked bags and told me to fish it out and throw it away. Hm. I fished it out and stored it in a shoe in the checked bag. Still there when I arrived home, along with my remaining Cohiba Minis and a couple cigars I didn't get to smoke while abroad.

US Customs gets the opportunity to check your bags when you arrive in the States, if you have to change planes on US soil. Such was the case with us, arriving in Philadelphia en route to NYC. No worries, obviously.

Let's see if I can keep up the good fortune in the tipping competition now as well.

[strayvector]

Glad to see that your trip went smoothly and you were able to find a good shop.

[Colt45]

Welcome back, and glad you had no problems. In what part of Paris

did you stay? I stayed very near Luxembourg gardens during my

one trip there. A great walking city.

[joerose]

Never bought cigars in Paris, but in the Duty Free at CD airport they have a decent selection, especially in terminal C. Picked up a cab of RyJ Ex 3 that had 4 yrs of box age on it. More expensive than many internet vendors, but you could see what you're getting on the spot. Also HC rum, especially the barrel proof is there and you can't get that anywhere other than DF shops. FYI

[davidmanning]

Stayed on Port Royal, the southernmost part of the 5th, this time. Very quiet area at night, and not near too much. Which was fine, as we'd take the Metro to a more interesting area in the morning, walk around forever, then metro home.

Academie de la Biere was right down the street, so I had good beer to while away the late evenings when need be. And of course, everyone's smoking, albeit cigarettes. Cohiba Minis work well in those situations. Cigars for boat rides and whatnot.

As to purchasing cigars at duty-free, I didn't want to antagonize US officials by bringing in obvious contraband in such quantities. Especially when there are other means (cough online cough) should it be necessary.