Dominican republic

[jspyker]

I am traveling to the DR in Feb and was told you can bring back 100 stickes per person duty free. I can't find a site to verify this. Anyone know? Keep herfing!

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by jspyker

I am traveling to the DR in Feb and was told you can bring back 100 stickes per person duty free. I can't find a site to verify this. Anyone know? Keep herfing!

Do yourself a favor.
Don't bring back any.
You are in the US so don't see why they would restrict you to 100 being they are not illegal.
You may just have to pay duties.
Research this site and you will learn much of what is to be had there are not worth buying, unless you go directly to a place like Fuente's factory.
Lots of fakes there on the street.
Go online if you want Dominican smokes and you will fare much better.

[jspyker]

Originally Posted by Blueface

Do yourself a favor.
Don't bring back any.
You are in the US so don't see why they would restrict you to 100 being they are not illegal.
You may just have to pay duties.
Research this site and you will learn much of what is to be had there are not worth buying, unless you go directly to a place like Fuente's factory.
Lots of fakes there on the street.
Go online if you want Dominican smokes and you will fare much better.

Yeah, I know better then not to buy any on the beach or places like that. I have located three B&M stores in Punta Cana. Sorry to correct you, but the DR is not in the US. You might be thinking of Puerto Rico. You need a Passport and they deal in Dom pescos. I am hoping to get some deals on name brand sticks. (Michigan has a 36% tax on cigars) so I am hoping to save atleast that much.

[Cigar Man Andy]

Originally Posted by jspyker

I am traveling to the DR in Feb and was told you can bring back 100 stickes per person duty free. I can't find a site to verify this. Anyone know? Keep herfing!

You might not want to do that. The DR is an export only country, so, they have to export the cigars, then buy them and import them back. I was at the duty free at the Pueto Plata Airport, and Opus was $700 - $1100 US a box. All the cigars are more there than they are here after tax. example: Macanudo 1968 Toro, $11.95 in US - $21.00 in the DR. That was in September 08.

By the way, they do take US money everywhere in the DR.

[jspyker]

Originally Posted by Cigar Man Andy

You might not want to do that. The DR is an export only country, so, they have to export the cigars, then buy them and import them back. I was at the duty free at the Pueto Plata Airport, and Opus was $700 - $1100 US a box. All the cigars are more there than they are here after tax. example: Macanudo 1968 Toro, $11.95 in US - $21.00 in the DR. That was in September 08.

By the way, they do take US money everywhere in the DR.

Thanks for the input. That solves my problem

[snowboardin58]

Punta Cana!!! Which resort are you staying at???

Also, there are shops down the beach(a thatched MINI strip mall, of sorts). They actually have some decent smokes for cheap. And lot's of glass-top Cohibas! Anyways I would recommend getting a cigar factory tour up North.. something I didn't get a chance to do.

Originally Posted by jspyker

Yeah, I know better then not to buy any on the beach or places like that. I have located three B&M stores in Punta Cana. Sorry to correct you, but the DR is not in the US. You might be thinking of Puerto Rico. You need a Passport and they deal in Dom pescos. I am hoping to get some deals on name brand sticks. (Michigan has a 36% tax on cigars) so I am hoping to save atleast that much.

[jspyker]

Originally Posted by snowboardin58

Punta Cana!!! Which resort are you staying at???

Also, there are shops down the beach(a thatched MINI strip mall, of sorts). They actually have some decent smokes for cheap. And lot's of glass-top Cohibas! Anyways I would recommend getting a cigar factory tour up North.. something I didn't get a chance to do.

The Iborstar (sp) Doninico. I found a cigar factory that is German/Swiss owned that is working on an export license to the US. They will come to the hotel and pick you up, let you pick out a cigar to smoke then take you on a tour and even show you how to roll cigars and let you roll one also. (then I am sure they will want you to but some)

[RedSoxFan]

Originally Posted by jspyker

The Iborstar (sp) Doninico. I found a cigar factory that is German/Swiss owned that is working on an export license to the US. They will come to the hotel and pick you up, let you pick out a cigar to smoke then take you on a tour and even show you how to roll cigars and let you roll one also. (then I am sure they will want you to but some)

I stayed at the Iberostar this past September for my honeymoon. Excellent time, you'll really enjoy it.

I went on the cigar factory tour I think you are talking about. Its worth the trip because its free, but not quite what I was hoping for. The "factory" is very small and they kind of rush you, trying to get you into the store to buy. They do light one up for you to smoke, but the sales girl was kind of pushy. I did buy a box of cigars, but the were a bit pricey and I could of gotten a much better box of cigars for the money at home, but they are still decent sticks. It was a good souvenier for me to bring home and throw in the humi since I can on occassionly pull out a cigar from our honeymoon (and so I can play that card whenever the wife complains about me smoking too often).

"But honey, I'm smoking one from our honeymoon and thinking about what a great time it was!"

[jspyker]

Originally Posted by RedSoxFan

I stayed at the Iberostar this past September for my honeymoon. Excellent time, you'll really enjoy it.

I went on the cigar factory tour I think you are talking about. Its worth the trip because its free, but not quite what I was hoping for. The "factory" is very small and they kind of rush you, trying to get you into the store to buy. They do light one up for you to smoke, but the sales girl was kind of pushy. I did buy a box of cigars, but the were a bit pricey and I could of gotten a much better box of cigars for the money at home, but they are still decent sticks. It was a good souvenier for me to bring home and throw in the humi since I can on occassionly pull out a cigar from our honeymoon (and so I can play that card whenever the wife complains about me smoking too often).

"But honey, I'm smoking one from our honeymoon and thinking about what a great time it was!"

nice, good idea. Thanks for the info.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by jspyker

Sorry to correct you, but the DR is not in the US. You might be thinking of Puerto Rico. You need a Passport and they deal in Dom pescos.

You misunderstood what I said and in reading it again, I can see I left out a word or two that were key in that sentence.
I am well versed on the Dominican Republic not being a US territory.
What I said or meant to is that YOU are in the US (right now) and I don't believe there is a limitation of 100 cigars as you alluded to. It is not as if you are traveling to Cuba, where the conversation would obviously be different. I am not sure of that last part (I am sure about the YOU are in the US part).

Since I recently went through customs, the form was quite fresh in my mind.
Nowhere does it ask for how many boxes of cigars.
It only asks to list the value of goods you purchased.
Cigars may be like booze that you can only bring in two liters duty free but that does not mean you can't bring say 10 liters. You just pay the duties.

I have visited that lovely country before and have driven from Puerto Plata all the way to the capital (Santo Domingo), then La Romana and back to Puerto Plata, long before the Autopista Duarte was completed, as I cut through sugar cane fields and waited for cows on the road to move.

Even in the B&M's and all that, you will pay dearly for your cigars.
Online, you will have better deals.
I would definitely head to Santiago, near Puerto Plata, if I had the chance to visit some factories.

Oh, and BTW, avoid exchanging to their money in the streets.
They are all scam artists.
I watched so many get taken.

[vtdragon]

I've been to the Dominican three times and am heading back to the Riu Bambu in Punta Cana in February. I stayed at the Iberostar Dominican three years ago and had a great time. The resort employs a gentleman who rolls cigars in front of their cigar store nightly. He will also roll some for you to purchase and answer any questions you may have. A really nice guy. Unfortunately the cigar store at the resort is quite pricey as has been said. I also found some decent smokes at the beach huts though you do have to be careful of all the glass topped "Cohibas, and Macanudos" they have for sale. I found that if I insisted upon Dominican cigars and specified a brand like LaFlor Dominica I actually got a real cigar at a decent price after haggeling. Have fun.

[snowboardin58]

Originally Posted by jspyker

The Iborstar (sp) Doninico. I found a cigar factory that is German/Swiss owned that is working on an export license to the US. They will come to the hotel and pick you up, let you pick out a cigar to smoke then take you on a tour and even show you how to roll cigars and let you roll one also. (then I am sure they will want you to but some)

That sounds awesome! Oh, I was thinking you'd say Iberostar.. we stayed at the Bavaro. Our bracelets were white, but some people from the Dominicano and Punta Cana turned their bracelets inside out and came on over to the Bavaro. Hint Hint. There is a cigar shop in the middle resort(Dominicano, I believe)

[MrMusicMan1]

Just got back from DR. Yes, US Dollars are accepted everywhere insist on the 35:1 ratio. They will accept it. Brought back 175 sticks or so but only because my good buddy owns a cigar company and I really enjoy his sticks. Stayed at Bavaro Casino. You should look him up, excellent sticks. He has one shop in Milwaukee, WI and his other home shop in Punta Cana, DR. They will come pick you up in their van all free and let you come hang out in their shop and give you good honest prices. Many places don't have a lounge like we enjoy here. Don't buy any cigars at the hotel or anywhere but a local shop and obviously look at how they keep their cigars. There are so many fakes and bad deals to be had. Make sure you enjoy some Mamajuana! Here is his site: Domingo Cigars, Exclusively @ Cigars Center I believe he will be there in February ask for Domingo.

Unless you are looking for something specific or have a good reason to buy up a bunch of cigars, don't. There are better deals to be had back home with online orders.