Yes I know, I'm dang lucky! CUBA Trip!!

[RobBooth]

Sadly too far away from Havana for my liking! We are just off Holguin staying at the Playa Costa Verde - which has a licensed cigar bar and shop! I'm looking for a factory tour near there and it seems a bit uncertain... Apparently one closed a few years ago? If not, I want to visit a small plantation!
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That's literally where I stayed when I was there earlier in the year. It's not a bad hotel at all. Rooms are basic but that's how it is in Cuba. Be warned the cigar bar doesn't have much in there in the way of stock. Monte 4s were about all that I ever bought and smoked in there in fact I dont think they had anything else other than Guantanameras. The hotel shop has a much better selection of cigars though check the condition of any before you buy, they don't seem to care too much about keeping them in the best condition.
Across the road there's a little shopping complex and there's a shop in there that has a nice little walk-in humidor. Again there's no massive selection in there though they are better kept and he'll go through the box to pick you a good cigar. Quite a friendly guy in there too.
If you take the bus / taxi to Guadarlavaca flea market there's a hotel there with a seriously good cigar shop, fantastic walk in humidor and little smoking lounge. I bought a few bits from there from a very helpful lady. The beach at the market was the only place I was approached to buy dodgy cigars funnily enough from a lifeguard.
They do overnight trips to Havana for about ?300. We were going to go but the weather was really dodgy at the time and we were warned that if they didn't fly us then there'd be a 9 hour bus journey either side which we didn't fancy.
You can take a trip to Holguin and the cigar factory there where you can buy any cigars you want to take home. If you don't get any there the airport has quite a good shop - it's out the back of the cafe part.
As people have said the prices are regulated.

[nplymouth]

Amazing Rob - this is the kind of intel that trip advisor can't give you! So cool to hear about the hotel... Really chuffed! I'm kind of expecting the standard but for me, a good pool and clean beach is all I care about... But really hoping to see the country at its "best" if you know what I mean! Did you go to a plantation?!


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[RobBooth]

The pools and surrounding areas were always nipping clean. The beach was always very clean and fairly quiet with nothing on it other than the beach bar and the parasols, sun loungers etc. Take your mozzie spray. There'd been a load of rain just before we arrived and I had a few bites but nothing too bad and I'm normally eaten alive.

They have three 'themed' restaurants included in your stay. Cuban, Italian and Japanese. The Japanese restaurant was by far the best with excellent food served and a flamboyant display at the teppanyaki grill. There was always a very good selection of food available at restaurant times. The only thing I could mark the hotel down for was waiting staff were sometimes very slow regardless of how busy an area was ( and regardless of tipping) and weren't quick to reset dining tables but overall they are only small niggles.

You won't get to any tobacco plantations, they're mostly located in Pinar del Rio which is at the other end of Cuba, to the West. You can visit a sugar cane plantation if you want though? There are tour operator trips organised from the hotel or you can opt to take a taxi for the day which we did. We went into Holguin, saw the sites and visited the cigar factory. I even scored for 10 RyJ Churchills for $25 from a rollers bench - look for the guy in the black cowboy hat, he seems to run the show, speaks good english and will have them from his station and into your bag before you know it.

Sitting drinking rum and smoking cigars while the days passes you by....that's why I'm looking to go back in October

[nplymouth]

My pulse is racing... Can't wait, super advice on the cowboy hat! How much was the taxi?


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[RobBooth]

My pulse is racing... Can't wait, super advice on the cowboy hat! How much was the taxi?
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Hmmm... I seem to remember about ?70/?80 for the day. I think it worked out the same as the organised trip for two of us but the taxis will hold 4 if you can get others interested in going.
The bus to the market was about $5 return.

[Edamski]

I'd be very surprised if you can find an 'A' in Cuban, especially if you're not visiting Havana. Never hurts to keep you eyes open of course but if you can find anything with 3yrs or more on it, you'll be doing well. I'd suggest buying the more expensive vitolas to save more money. Buy a Behike or two & have one for birthday/Christmas, it'll be a great reminder of your hols.

Best bet is in the hotels, the one I went to last year had about 6 A's left out of a 25 box dunno how old though there wasn't a date on it

As PeeJay already mentioned about freezing, freeze everything not just the customs. Freeze them the moment you get home before you put them with anything else. If you can inspect them before you buy them (not always possible).

I found all this out the hard way

[nplymouth]

Ouch Edamski... on the freezing though, how long for and when defrosting, do you do it in any particular way? Like meat in the fridge or back in the humidor?

Thanks

[PeeJay]

You'll find various opinions as to how long but essentially well wrapped in the freezer, then slow defrost in the fridge then back in the humi. Just search on here.

[nplymouth]

Can you just put the boxes in?


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[PeeJay]

Can you just put the boxes in?


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I did, well wrapped

[RobBooth]

I've read that some people wrap their boxes in clingfilm prior to freezing them.

[PeeJay]

I've read that some people wrap their boxes in clingfilm prior to freezing them.

I did, I also put it in a large zip lock bag.

[Simon Bolivar]

The point is, you're trying to avoid drying them out; hence clingfilm & zip locks.

[Edamski]

I also put them in the fridge for 24 hours first just to try and make it a more gradual process, then it was 2-3 days in the freezer and back in the fridge.

[EdBlackadder]

I also put them in the fridge for 24 hours first just to try and make it a more gradual process, then it was 2-3 days in the freezer and back in the fridge.

This was exactly what I did on returning from Cuba and so far no little beasties.