Cuba Cancun Vacation

[compitaveggie]

I wrote the same trip report on another Cigar forum but just thought you guys might like to read as well as on this forum the conversations are more civil and interesting and I meet up with a fellow Botl from this forum in Havana.

What’s up Hernan!! Hope you made it home safe my friend.

Well I left for my trip to Cuba/Cancun two weeks ago and boy was it exciting. I started off my trip by getting to Havana. I spent 12 hours on overnight flights to get to Havana so when i arrived I was beat. I walked the Malecon and stopped by the Hotel Nacional for a Mojito. After that my Wife, my Mother, my Auntie and I had a huge dinner. After dinner my wife and I knocked out for over 12 hours. My Mom on the other hand went straight to the Malecon to enjoy the many concerts going on. I really missed out on that. The next day I met up with the world’s best guide. I was connected to him by a great friend. My friend told me he would be able to show me all that Cuba has to see and he sure did. The awesome guide had connections everywhere and where he didn’t he sweet talked his way in. He drove us around the city in his new car and took us to all the tourist and local joints. Best of all he had major hook ups in the cigar factories. He was able to show me around and find me the cigars that I need. I was lucky to meet up with a fellow BOTL from Northern Cali at the Partagas factory that was there for two weeks. Great company and we had much to talk about because he used to live about a block from where I currently live. Overall Cuba was great. I was surprised to see most people were happy there just living life and enjoying the night. The one thing that was odd was getting through the airport on arrival. It was a mess. Nothing that can’t be handled with patience, just a little disorganized going through 4 inspections. Leaving the airport was a breeze. They recommend you don’t arrive more than two hours before your flight because the airline counters will not be open. I was asked how many cigars I had on me and I told the truth and they let me go with no problems. No stamping of passports for those that wants to know. By the way I brought back a box of Ramon Allones Specially Selected, 2 boxes of RyJ Dukes 2009 Els, one box of RyJ Romeo #1 Tubos for gifts, and best of all the customs cigars… 15 Sublime size cigars, 15 Canonazo size cigars, 5 corona Gorda size cigars , and 5 Robusto size cigars. I also brought back 20 corona Gorda size cigars for my friend as a gift from my guide. I was gifted a bottle of Ron Caney Oro ligero from my guide and it has to be the best and most smooth rum I have ever tasted. I also brought back a HC7 and a few bags of Serrano Coffee.

My trip to Cuba was short but it was very enjoyable. I can’t wait to go back. Things in Cancun went well also with a few hiccups. First when I arrived at the airport I was fined $300 USD for having too many cigars. I told them I was traveling in a group of people but on this day the Customs were all female and they don’t bargain or care to listen like their male counterparts. A European man was fined over 1000 Euros so I guess I had it easy. My suggestion is that if your are traveling to Mexico from Cuba and have more than 25 cigars (the tax free limit) split them up before you leave Cuba. The other hiccup was that I got a throat and ear infection on the first day I landed in Cancun( I think I got it on my last day in Cuba) When I had a doctor come visit me in the hotel and he told me strickly no smoking and no drinking. Well I didn’t drink because I didn’t want to mix alcohol with the medications but I decided to smoke a cigar and boy was I stupid. My throat was so sore that I couldn’t sleep. I had the doctor come by again and he had to give me an injection in the butt. After a nice scolding he decided he was going to be checking in on me on a daily basis until I left back home. He was a great Doctor that with medications allowed me to enjoy my vacation even if I didn’t get to smoke and drink. As for Cancun, well Cancun was great fun as well. I met up with my sister in law and my friend that went straight from SD to Cancun and visited the pyramids, went clubbing (no drinking), Eco-parks, snorkeling and time at the beach. The weather was gorgeous and the water was super clear. Cancun is a great place to party, rest, explore, hook up, or whatever you what Cancun to be for you. I arrived yesterday because my flight was cancelled due to mechanical problems and had to stay an extra day. I am still recovering from my infection at the moment but I had a great vacation and plan on doing the same next year

As for cigars here is a quick run down

Cuba

Old Havana-

Partagas was a great factory. They had a good selection of cigars as well as all the El’s. They were making a few of the Regional Edition when I took the tour. I also saw the Bolivar Royal Corona tubos, in my opinion they were UGLY. The factory tour was great I got to see them put the cigars together as well as the boxes and I had the honor to meet La China. I spent a few hours in the VIP lounge with A few friends including one that I recently meet from a Cigar Forum. Great time and great company

I also stopped by the La Casa Del Ron Y El Tabaco Cubano. They are located right next to the Floridita Bar. ( I believe this is the store that Ken recommend I stop by to find the Oro Ligero when I asked in the Alcohol forum, Thanks Ken ) They had a small selection of cigars and a good selection of rums.

Miramar-

I went to have dinner at El Ajibe and was surprised to find that the restaurant had a La Casa Del Habano. They had a very good selection.

Centro Havana-

On my last day I stopped at the Romeo Y Julieta Factory to find some cigars to give away to coworkers. If I was walking by RyJ I would have never known what it was. It had a good selection of cigars with a small VIP lounge and stocked with rum and coffee with a nice bar area.

Jose Marti Airport-

I was truly disappointed with the cigars at the airport. They had bad selection; mostly cheap cigars to get people to empty their pockets of remaining money ant the conditions were horrible. ALL the cigars I saw were extremely dry. Do all your shopping in Habana and avoid the airport.

Mexico-

Cancun- There were a few cigar stores in the Hotel Zone but only two that I would feel comfortable saying they are legit. La Casa Del Habano next to La Isla Mall was by far the best. It has the same owner as the LCDH in TJ. The older gentleman working the bar was very nice and friendly and reminding me of the first time I went to LCDH TJ and was warmly greeted by Moises. Great people working at both locations. Very nice and classy lounge to smoke your cigars. It has an outdoor terrace overlooking the lagoon. The LCDH in Cancun was well stocked with Regional Editions from throughout the world and had a few hard to finds as well. The prices were good considering Mexico has such high tobacco prices.

The second place was La Bodeguita del Medio Cancun. They had a smaller selection of cigars keep in good conditions. The prices for the cigars were HIGH. LCDH Cancun seems like a much better place to smoke and find a better selection for cheaper prices. The only advantage La B del M has is that since it is a restaurant it is open late and you can go late at night and find a real Cuban cigar.

Playa Del Carmen-

I saw two Casa Partagas in Playa Del Carmen. These are also official Habanos stores. The two stores that I saw were both on Quinta Avenida just two blocks from each other. Both had small selections but a few hard to find cigars. Prices were higher that LCDH in Cancun. Aside from those two stores I saw many fake cigars in other stores that sold liquor and clothes. Stick to Casa Partagas while in Playa Del Carmen and if you can just go to the LCDH in Cancun.

Isla Mujeres-

Nothing but fakes here. If you plan on staying on the island stop by the LCDH Cancun first because they only have the best quality glass top Cohibas in Isla Mujeres

Cancun City-

Nothing but fakes here as well. Don’t try to bargain shop for Cuban cigars because all I saw was fakes.

Jose

Some pics

http://picasaweb.google.com/jvaguayo

[Ethernut]

Nice pics man, thanks for sharing!

[compitaveggie]

Thanks ethernut!!

Imo this forum is the most down to earth of the cigar forums and I wanted to save my first thread (aside from intro) until I had something interesting to write.

Jose

[Tampa1257]

Congrats on the expected.

Nice photos of Havana and the sights.

[ndtoronto]

I was in Havana 2 weeks ago as well and had alot of fun at their festival along the Malecon. We stayed at the Nacional and I have to say that it is a dump. I was not impressed at all with it

[Bartolomeo]

Great pics of Cuba..........Closest I have come is 90 miles

Bart

[laficion]

Great post and writeup, the Pics. are just beautiful.

I'm glad that your trip to Cuba was a happy and an enjoyable experience.

You'll see that, once you've tasted Cuba, you'll always want to go back.

OH, and by the way, congrats to both on the expected new member of the family

[Habanos2000]

Nice report Jose. Sounds like you had an interesting time in more ways than one!

[compitaveggie]

Thanks laficion!! I had a great time in Cuba and will be going beck next year for sure.

Jose

[Guest rob]

Fantastic first thread!

Mucho congrats as well.

[maalouly]

Thank you for sharing

[TrickNick]

Wow, absolutely gorgeous pictures! Thanks for sharing.

[Aficionado]

Fantastic trip.

Thank you,absolutely awesome end important pictures!

Congrats on the expected.

100$ for EL-reasonable price.

[El Presidente]

Thank you for the great summary Jose

Next time you are there give me some notice and I will hook you up with some of my friends.

[jquest63]

Great vacation story and pics! Thanks for sharing!

[thechenman]

Thanks for the post compitaveggie. Outside of the infection...sounds like you and the family had a great trip. Truly enjoyed reading your post and seeing the amazing pictures you posted. Having never been to Cuba myself, your post just made me want to go even more. Take care, hope you feel better soon, so that you can enjoy some of those great smokes you brought back with you.

[scinmyheart]

looks like a fun visit...too bad you were under the weather for part of your trip, though

thanks for posting the pictures