I was there 3 years ago. It is a very laid back place. Camaguay itself is an old city with twisted streets and hot as hell as it's in the interior. Expect a 90 minute bus drive to get to the Brisas. I stayed at the Gran Club Santa Lucia which is a 5 minute walk from the Brisas. There is caracol shops at the 4 resorts in Santa Lucia. The best shop is at the Brisas as they had a decent, yet small selection.
Don't buy at the airport, they have nothing. Actually the airport is a rusty dome in the middle of a field. It was built on the cheap with Canadian money to service the tourism industry.
Sorry to ramble, I loved Santa Lucia though, best place I've ever vacationed. Email me if you have any questions. I may be able to dig up some pictures from the area.
Posts: 1298 | Location: Canada | Registered: November 15, 2006
A couple of things. First, you are going to be at a resort, and you will be offered cigars by everyone...chambermaids, bartenders, lifeguards, taxi drivers, waiters, everyone. They will get you everything and anything you need for a fraction of the cost of cigars in legit stores. Don't buy into it.
Second, ONLY buy cigars at a licensed store, and even in a licensed store, DO NOT buy singles or the 3 to 5 packs. They are not factory production.
I've posted about this extensively, but boxes are strictly controlled. The stores do NOT have the liberty to crack a box to sell singles. To do that, the employees would have to shell out the money to buy the box, and they don't have the money to do that. Instead, the boxes can be from anywhere, and the store employees just fill them up.
Same deal with the 3 - 5 packs. All done off the books...and it is very safe to say and absolutely assume that anything and everything that does NOT come with a triplicate official receipt is suspect.
Third, don't think that the boxes they sell at the local convenience store in the resort or in the vicinity are authentic. They don't stock the Caracol stores with cigars...what is there is all black market.
That being said, that means that you're basically left with buying boxes at official stores that issue the official receipts. Short of that, you're taking a chance of simply throwing a lot of money away. If you can pick up a box for $20 - $30, that's about what they're worth...although they'll try to sell you boxes for $100 - $150.
That's sound advice. Have a good time...! And do venture out of the compound. A week at a resort in Camaguey is not unlike a week at a resort in Jamaica or Cancun or the Bahamas...but do be wary of the offers you will undoubtedly receive for boxes of cigars at special prices.
___________________ Santa Cabilla...patron saint of Quericæstan. VIVE COULTER (not Ann)! VIVE CPD! Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go...(Oscar Wilde)
Posts: 10327 | Location: Avenida de las Nalgas, Quericæstan | Registered: May 02, 2002
Originally posted by fuzzuki: So they do have a cigar shop. I'm looking for some Hoyo Epicure #2's Maybe they can get me a box if I ask real nice????
Is the snorkeling good right off the beach? I know you have to go to the coral reef get real nice snorkeling.
But how is the beach?
Steve? Are you interested in going? The price is fantastic.
The beach is awesome. The water doesn't get deep quickly but because the reef holds back the waves it is very warm. The sand is a little coarse as it has a lot of coral mixed in with it. I forget the facts but the reef off the beach is one of the largest in the world.
Posts: 1298 | Location: Canada | Registered: November 15, 2006
Yeah, I'm hip the the guys selling cigars on the beach thing. I've been there before. I only buy from the guys who wade out to me when snorkeling with cigars in zip lock bags.
Those are real.
quote:
Originally posted by ryj7x47: A couple of things. First, you are going to be at a resort, and you will be offered cigars by everyone...chambermaids, bartenders, lifeguards, taxi drivers, waiters, everyone. They will get you everything and anything you need for a fraction of the cost of cigars in legit stores. Don't buy into it.
Second, ONLY buy cigars at a licensed store, and even in a licensed store, DO NOT buy singles or the 3 to 5 packs. They are not factory production.
I've posted about this extensively, but boxes are strictly controlled. The stores do NOT have the liberty to crack a box to sell singles. To do that, the employees would have to shell out the money to buy the box, and they don't have the money to do that. Instead, the boxes can be from anywhere, and the store employees just fill them up.
Same deal with the 3 - 5 packs. All done off the books...and it is very safe to say and absolutely assume that anything and everything that does NOT come with a triplicate official receipt is suspect.
Third, don't think that the boxes they sell at the local convenience store in the resort or in the vicinity are authentic. They don't stock the Caracol stores with cigars...what is there is all black market.
That being said, that means that you're basically left with buying boxes at official stores that issue the official receipts. Short of that, you're taking a chance of simply throwing a lot of money away. If you can pick up a box for $20 - $30, that's about what they're worth...although they'll try to sell you boxes for $100 - $150.
That's sound advice. Have a good time...! And do venture out of the compound. A week at a resort in Camaguey is not unlike a week at a resort in Jamaica or Cancun or the Bahamas...but do be wary of the offers you will undoubtedly receive for boxes of cigars at special prices.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'll bet there's rich folks eatin in fancy dinin cars.Ther're probably drinkin coffee and smokin big cigars.
Posts: 325 | Location: Toronto. | Registered: July 10, 2007
They have zip-lock baggies there? Make sure they bring a Cuba Libre AND a daiquiri for your trip back to shore!!!
___________________ Santa Cabilla...patron saint of Quericæstan. VIVE COULTER (not Ann)! VIVE CPD! Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go...(Oscar Wilde)
Posts: 10327 | Location: Avenida de las Nalgas, Quericæstan | Registered: May 02, 2002
Actually, today I met someone who just arrived to the US who is FROM Camaguey...a city inland called Florida. He says that Santa Lucia (about 90 miles north of Florida...the Camaguey Florida) is absolutely spectacular, and a great place to scuba dive.
Oh...the dive-masters will also be peddling hojas de platano...I mean, cigars...and they'll be asking about $50 a box. Could be worth it!
___________________ Santa Cabilla...patron saint of Quericæstan. VIVE COULTER (not Ann)! VIVE CPD! Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go...(Oscar Wilde)
Posts: 10327 | Location: Avenida de las Nalgas, Quericæstan | Registered: May 02, 2002
