Shops Abroad

[kern47]

A more general question regarding shopping abroad...

I've noticed from looking around online (and some limited real world experience) that a lot of the 'tabacs' shops that sell cigars can look a little 'suspect'. Often looking more like an off licence and targeting cigarette smokers (among other things). Is this just the way they tend to be in Spain, and some other parts of Europe? I'm sure there are more specialist places focusing more on cigars, but in the smaller towns, can these shops be worth it still?

I remember in Andorra, there were both types of shops. The higher end cigar specialists, and the catch-all duty free/souvenir shops. I avoided the latter, but is it just that cigars carry less of the 'snobbery' over there and are made much more widespread and easily available from the local corner shop?

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[potpest]

Estanco's in Spain are licensed but usually individually owned so there is a lot of variation.
If you look for cava de cigars this usually means a humidor.
Whether that's a large well kept walk in or a dried out cabinet depends on the owner.
You never really know until you have a look, I've seen some Tabacs with just a small cabinet of cigars, but well stocked and kept, with a good variety of things like D4, RASS, Monte Edmundo etc. Others will just have a few tubos, local cigars or sometimes an empty cabinet.
Usually the places with the large walk ins have pictures on Google and these are probably the places to go. I find most of these shops have cigars because the owner is a cigar smoker and that's where I like to buy from.
Sometimes in the smaller towns there are hidden gems, you find an afficionado owner with a great humidor and decent stock. The problem then is usually that no one speaks any English and you need some Spanish.
Having said that all , if anywhere has any sort of stock these days I'm just glad to see that I'm not going home empty handed.

[NorthernPuro]

ditto what potpest says - in spain its a big variation from likes of a specialist cigar shop like we would get here in UK, to more corner shop type experiences with a humidor in the corner.

[Simon Bolivar]

A comprehensive reply & I would agree; backwaters can throw up some old stock, as the Spanish prefer fresh cigars. But check both levels of a box to check for plume/mould, Spain's perfect temp & humidity for it & I have seen plenty in one box & none in the box next to it. A minor dusting is acceptable & can be brushed off ( I use a hog hair art brush). Language can be a problem but if they want to sell you can usually make yourself clear enough. One problem you might find (& I have had this in Cuba too), is when you want to look underneath the box for the date & box code. Many really don't seem to understand why you'd be interested & may try & stop you. In Varado, they didn't want to let me into the walik-in, initially. Firm but polite usually wins the day.

My other tip would be, if buying a sealed box, explain you'll pay for it, open it & it mouldy/ flaky ect you'll want to exchange it. They often want want you to check before payment as some prefer their boxes sealed.

[Cigar_Addict]

I have been to Paris, Spain & Portugal in the last few months & went to their Tabac/Estanco etc, not any specialist. They are far from tacky useless shops selling tourist type stuff. I found some amazing (NC) cigars that were VERY hard to find ANYWHERE, at a place in a shopping centre, and one that wasn't even listed on Google maps. So much so I'm trying to find the best way to go back & check for more