Finally get to go away at end of January for a week. The only bugger question is traveling with cigars. I wont be buying them down there, but will be takeing 30 Habanos of my own. Question is:

Do I really need to go through all the hassle of removeing all the bands? Leaveing from Chicago. I know getting back into country , that is what I do. But is security gonna do anything ,or even look when I leave from Ohare in Chicago?

If any1 Travels out of the states, couyld you let me know what you have done?

TIA

Dude, ya gotta remove them...no sense taking any chances. If you leave them on, who knows. Not worth the chance in my opinion. I always do when I'm in that situation.

Probably will now. Cant find anywhere how many you can bring with. I guess it is up to customs agent if they think they are for personal use

I went to Punta Cana in August. It was sweet. Stayed at the Melia Caribe Tropical. Anyway, I was stupid and did not come prepared. There are fakes every where. The hotel had moldy, overpriced cigars. I ended up buying a few hand rolled robustos (done in the morning). I also bought cigarrettes to get a fix because they are so cheap.

I forgot what the numbers were for customs. Sorry.

We are staying at Secrets for a week. I also hear that it is 1 hour away from everything

I just returned from a week at Secrets.
You could bring a damn elephant in your bags on the way in or out of the DR. Thety just don't care.
The only place you'd encounter any problems is coming back home.(for you in the US, with Habanos)

Little tip- they're changing part of the immigration policy with respect to their $10 visitor cards you have to have to get in. If your travel agent gives you a green card in advance, fill it out. As soon as you get off the plane and enter the terminal, go to the desk in the center and ask for a blue card, then get in line for immigration (at the back end of the term.) and fill it out while in line.
Because they're partway through the green/blue card changeover, it can turn into a real hassle when you get there. There's no way to get a blue car din advance right now.

As for smokes, don't buy any Habanos. There- I just saved you hundreds of dollars. Don't ask me how I know they're all fakes

Hope this helps.

Oh, yeah- Secrets is a 1 hr, 15 minute drive but it's quite the ride, and you won't notice the time.

ThanX!!! The wife and I are counting the days. Never buy when we go on trips. I figure that I have atleast $20 k in my cabinets and not that much time to smoke them all

6 months ago we went to Jamaica. FOr a week, took 50 Cubans with me and came home with 1 left. Needless to say by the 6th day at 6 cigars or more a day, couldnt taste much of anyhting

TOPS ^^

Has anyone puchased a decent cigar in Punta Cana/Bavaro? My stock of Cubans was finished on Christmas Day with a fine R&J Limited. I had never enjoyed a Dominican until last month when I received a few as a gift in anticipation of our Feb. trip. Has anyone tried these Domenicos which are made in/near Bavaro?
Thanks The Hawk

I hear everything is counterfeit. I have bought a nice leather travel humi that holds 30 and it will be filled to take with. PLus we dont really plan on leaveing the resort.

SOme resorts though have cigar shops on property. I hear the do have some genuine CUbans but are in very poor condition. But not all of them.