Dominican Bound

[Kass]

I'm going to be going to Dominican in mid February. I've never bought cigars off the internet, and I was wondering if it is worth (money wise) buying lots of cigars while I'm there or just buying them of the internet.

[bigpoppapuff]

99% of what you're being told are cuban in the D.R. are fake...DO NOT BUY 'EM!!!!


you might find some fuentes in the better hotels or resorts...lots of leon jimes and la aurora,and some fonseca.....if you're not familiar with a brand......pass....

[hex1848]

I'm going to be going to Dominican in mid February. I've never bought cigars off the internet, and I was wondering if it is worth (money wise) buying lots of cigars while I'm there or just buying them of the internet.

I visited the DR back in July. I stayed in Santo Domingo and visited Santiago to tour a couple of factories. One thing I noticed was that the cigars were for the most part the same price as the US or higher. Even the domestic brands seemed a bit high. I got a good deal at the factories, but then it was a business trip. I was kind of wondering if they had a high Tobacco tax in the DR or if they just liked ripping off the tourists.

What part of the DR are you going to be in?

[420seth]

Y awatch out, at hotels in DR the ciggies are expensive. I was down there this time last year and I was disappointed for the most part with selection and prices. But go to a factory if you can.

[Kass]

I wasn't planning on looking for cubans while down there.
I'm actually going to Santo Domingo also. Maybe I'll look to go on a tour of a factory, may have to do it solo though as I don't imagince anyone I'm going with would be interested.

[kevin7]

Kass if you can go see a factory. Its a great time and take pics if they will let you. Have a great trip

[Kass]

Thanks! The people at the hotel should know about factory tours right?

[hex1848]

Thanks! The people at the hotel should know about factory tours right?

Well most of the cigar factories are actually in and around the Santiago region. It's a 2 hour bus ride to the North from Santo Domingo. I didn't really feel confortable renting a car and driving around for myself, mainly because traffic laws don't seem to exist down there. I just took the Metro (bus) and it didn't even cost $20.00 round trip IIRC.

Where are you staying? I stayed here in Santo Domingo: http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/SDQGW. Its one of the better hotels in the city. They have a business center with computer/internet access and some of the rooms get wireless. It’s close to the colonial district, and you have a few restaurants / bakeries within walking distance so you don’t have to pay hotel prices for food.

[Kass]

I'm staying here http://www.conquestvacations.com/hot...l.aspx?hc=LANQ
Its 45 minutes from Santo Domingo airport. I read somewhere that there are factories in La Romana, which looks much closer.

[bigpoppapuff]

there are factories in la romana...or go to santiago and see la aurora or fonseca (matasa)

[cigar no baka]

I'm staying here http://www.conquestvacations.com/hot...l.aspx?hc=LANQ
Its 45 minutes from Santo Domingo airport. I read somewhere that there are factories in La Romana, which looks much closer.

Barcelo is a well known and established Spanish-owned chain of resorts and hotels. You should have a good time, good luck!!!

[Kass]

Yeah I'm pretty excited. I haven't been anywhere tropical in quite some time, its usually trips out west to go snowboarding.

[hex1848]

I took this in Boca Chica which is about a half hour East from the Santo Domingo airport.

(Don't buy the Glass Top Cohibas)

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar...47,147,00.html

Despite the draw of the sea and golf, Tabacalera de Garcia is the only cigar factory in La Romana -- nearly all of the other ones in the Dominican Republic are clustered in and around Santiago, a manufacturing city well to the west. No commercial flights connect the two towns, just a traffic-laden, often dangerous road and a four-hour drive. In the cigar world, La Romana is isolated, and that benefited Seijas during the cigar boom; while his counterparts in Santiago were losing cigar rollers to newcomers, Seijas's workers stayed put.

http://www.epinions.com/content_2508103812

In La Romana, Altadis produces a huge line-up of premium brands: Bock, Cabañas, Don Diego, Flamencos Las Palmas, H. Upmann, Montecristo, Menendez y Garcia, Por Larrañga, and Romeo y Julieta.

I'd say its worth the trip . But try to find contact information and schedule a visit ahead of time.

[Kass]

Thanks for the links.
What is the deal with the glass top cohibas??

[chefchris]

Thanks for the links.
What is the deal with the glass top cohibas??

they're fakes.

[drew_goring]

they're fakes.

Yup. With absolutely no exceptions.

[Kass]

Ahhh... thanks.

[Kass]

Anything else to be wary of? What about fake domincan cigars?

[drew_goring]

Anything else to be wary of? What about fake domincan cigars?

Don't count on finding real Opus, or if it is real it won't be cheap. The way Fuente is set up is that all of their production has to be exported to the US. If any real Opus make their way back to the Dominican, it will have to be imported from the US.

[bigpoppapuff]

virtually any of the name brands are export only....you might see some...but not alot...you will see plenty of leon jimenes and la aurora....which are not export only......and don't buy anything that is s'posed to be cuban.....they'll be bad fakes...