Cigar shopping in Tax Havens

[pedro_han]

So far I've been to cigar shops in HK, Macau, UAE, Andorra and Gibraltar. The best and cheapest was from the Cigar Shop in Andorra La Ville, Macau is a pretty nice place to buy from wholesalers at minumum 20 boxes.

Has anyone been to other tax free nations to buy cigars and recommend us with some good shops and guides. :cowboyic9:

[The Rodster]

The cheapest I have bought tax free is Gibralter and the duty free in Dubai airport. Best value in the world!

[El Catador]

Likewise with HK, UAE, Gibraltar and Andorra, but my most favourite (but sadly not cheapest) experience was St Barts, which had several world-class establishments virtually next door to one another, what a selection, and what a great place to fire a couple up!

[CigarInspector]

Been in the UAE and Andorra. Both great locations.

[Luis]

Pedro

Where do you buy cigars wholesale - although I don't see myself travelling with 20boxes - and cheap in Macau ? I've bought a few times from the cigar shop in The Venetian and whereas I love the place the prices of singles are quite steep.

I will be back there and in HK in a few days so all information is most welcome .

[pedro_han]

Pedro

Where do you buy cigars wholesale - although I don't see myself travelling with 20boxes - and cheap in Macau ? I've bought a few times from the cigar shop in The Venetian and whereas I love the place the prices of singles are quite steep.

I will be back there and in HK in a few days so all information is most welcome .

Hey Luis, cigar shopping in Macau is pretty expensive, quite apparently they are prepared for Casino visitors. But since it's nearly duty free, most people import it from Macau, and smuggled them to mainland China. If you're going to cross the border to Zhu Hai, i could recommend someone, or if to hongkong, try this one.

www.ragiconline.com their shop located at,
CUBANO CLUB
RM 2A, WING LOCK HOUSE, 14 PEKING ROAD,
14 PEKING ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI, KOWLOON, HONG KONG(MTR C2 EXIT)
TEL: (852) 2191 9819
FAX: (852) 2810 1933
EMAIL: cubanobond@gmail.com

:cool: hope it helps

[pedro_han]

Any information on Monaco?

[Luis]

Thanks Pedro ! You mean they sell at those prices when you walk in :eek: It would be surprising though as they state they deal out of a bonded warehouse -cigarofhabanos for instance is also based in HK but can't service locally.

Anyone else has dealt with them ? either buying directly or ordering ?

I'm largely OK ordering through the net actually and will bring along a bunch of cigars, but if someone locally has an important and legit collection at similar prices I could pick up a few boxes.

As of Monaco there is a decent cigar selection in the tobacco shop on The Place du Casino ( look at the main casino and enter the left alley, right after the Zegg and Cerlati jewelry shop). Must have many more but that's the only one I remember of. As of prices they seemed the same as in France.

[pedro_han]

Thanks Pedro ! You mean they sell at those prices when you walk in :eek: It would be surprising though as they state they deal out of a bonded warehouse -cigarofhabanos for instance is also based in HK but can't service locally.

Anyone else has dealt with them ? either buying directly or ordering ?

I'm largely OK ordering through the net actually and will bring along a bunch of cigars, but if someone locally has an important and legit collection at similar prices I could pick up a few boxes.

As of Monaco there is a decent cigar selection in the tobacco shop on The Place du Casino ( look at the main casino and enter the left alley, right after the Zegg and Cerlati jewelry shop). Must have many more but that's the only one I remember of. As of prices they seemed the same as in France.

hmm i've been to HK 3 times, the first time for a night, second time for 7 hours and the last time, for 2 hours. Haven't been to any cigar shops yet but i doubt the price at the club would be the same as online prices:smile:

[Luis]

Ragiconline has a hell of a customer service :rolleyes: Mailed them last night the following :

"Hi

I'm coming regulary to HK. Is it possible to visit your shop and buy at similar prices than on internet, or at least select some boxes and than have them shipped overseas ? Do you also have a smoking lounge ?

Regards
Luis "

And this morning they had already replied . Here is their reply, highly informative :

你好，我們香港零售店的價格都是打了稅的，所以做不到網站的價格。但我們最近有在做圣誕推廣，相信價格在本 地也是很有競爭力的，而且本店設有試煙房，專業的雪茄保存設備。歡迎你隨時來參觀。謝謝。

:biggrin1::biggrin1:


Anyway it means roughly ( I'm not the one who translated, except the last bit):

"The cigars in the HK shop are subject to tax, so can't be the same as on our website, but with the Chrismas promotion we are confident they are very competitive.

Besides we do have a smoking lounge and professionnal cigar conservation equipment.

You are most welcome to come and visit but your gwailo ass better speak the local linguo ! "


Besides there are good critics about this company on FOH and they have another store in Central. They're supposed to be the cheapest in HK. Yet their communication shkills might not be so funny the day you are trying to enquire on your prepaid order ...

[pedro_han]

Ragiconline has a hell of a customer service :rolleyes: Mailed them last night the following :

"Hi

I'm coming regulary to HK. Is it possible to visit your shop and buy at similar prices than on internet, or at least select some boxes and than have them shipped overseas ? Do you also have a smoking lounge ?

Regards
Luis "

And this morning they had already replied . Here is their reply, highly informative :

你好，我們香港零售店的價格都是打了稅的，所以做不到網站的價格。但我們最近有在做圣誕推廣，相信價格在本 地也是很有競爭力的，而且本店設有試煙房，專業的雪茄保存設備。歡迎你隨時來參觀。謝謝。

:biggrin1::biggrin1:


Anyway it means roughly ( I'm not the one who translated, except the last bit):

"The cigars in the HK shop are subject to tax, so can't be the same as on our website, but with the Chrismas promotion we are confident they are very competitive.

Besides we do have a smoking lounge and professionnal cigar conservation equipment.

You are most welcome to come and visit but your gwailo ass better speak the local linguo ! "


Besides there are good critics about this company on FOH and they have another store in Central. They're supposed to be the cheapest in HK. Yet their communication shkills might not be so funny the day you are trying to enquire on your prepaid order ...

hehe hope your cantonese is good enough :cowboyic9:
tell us about their place when you come back, pictures welcomed

[Lascaux]

I may head to andorra in the summer for a weekend, but seeing their export customs, 75 cigars if over 3g each
and then gibraltar has export limit of 50 cigars, geneva 50 cigars too

if i was going to go to buy id like to bring back a good few boxes, what a bugger!

[tippexx]

Bugger it may be ..... but it doesn't prevent you from being highly selective!

[Cigar-aficionado]

You can bring as many as you like out of Gibraltar but it's getting them back into the UK where you are limited to 50 cigars

[seanbeer]

I live in Hong Kong, and have been visiting the 'shop' lately.

A very casual place for a smoke.

Just give me a shout if you want a bit more info. /photo / latest prices.

btw, I am a cigar newbie.

[Habana-Habanos]

I live in Hong Kong, and have been visiting the 'shop' lately.

A very casual place for a smoke.

Just give me a shout if you want a bit more info. /photo / latest prices.

btw, I am a cigar newbie.

Hi sean,

You should try introducing yourself in the newbie greets section.

-HH.

[snooky]

Stagnetto's Gibraltar is my choice based on a great aged selection and first class service. Though im off to Havana in a couple of weeks i hear they may have 1 or 2 nice outlets.:41:

[DeadBase]

I live in Hong Kong, and have been visiting the 'shop' lately.

A very casual place for a smoke.

Just give me a shout if you want a bit more info. /photo / latest prices.

btw, I am a cigar newbie.

Throw up some pictures Sean, I have friends in HK and I'm likely to be out there again soon and would love to have somewhere to go and enjoy a few smokes. I don't speak any Cantonese though!
:smoke::biggrin1::smoke:

[seanbeer]

ok, I shall do it tonight when i get home.

its not the best looking place in town but the price as i heard is 2nd to none. for posh environment, one can choose the up market smoke shops in the 5 stars hotels such as the Mandarin Oriental in Central or the Sheraton in Kowloon.

In Hong Kong, you get what you paid for most of the time and once in a while you get major rip off. LOL !

And don't worry about the language, almost everyone here speaks English. I am pretty sure the shopkeepers there do too.:smoke:

[seanbeer]

Here you are:

The room:
http://www.ukcigarforums.com/gallery/files/1/1/9/3/image191.jpg

The walk-in humi:

http://www.ukcigarforums.com/gallery/files/1/1/9/3/image193.jpg


sorry about the quality of the photos, please excuse my vintage mobile phone.
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[olliecampbell]

...Mandarin Oriental...

The Captains Bar :) Absolutely brilliant place and great G&T's too.

[seanbeer]

You can no longer smoke in the Captains Bar and in fact all indoor bars are now smoke free zone, hated it, but no choice. Yes, freedom is restricted here. What a free world

The only places are outdoor ares of pubs and cigar smoke shops. There is one at the Mandarin Oriental, called Cohiba Cigar Divan.
(http://www.pacificcigar.com/eng/location/hk/stores/shop1.php)

[olliecampbell]

You can no longer smoke in the Captains Bar and in fact all indoor bars are now smoke free zone, hated it, but no choice. Yes, freedom is restricted here. What a free world

The only places are outdoor ares of pubs and cigar smoke shops. There is one at the Mandarin Oriental, called Cohiba Cigar Divan.


Wow, really! It was such a great atmosphere in there with the cigar smoke.

Will definitely be coming back to HK in the future, maybe for the Rugby Sevens.