I guess this could also be in the Travel discussions...but what the heck.

I am travelling to Havana in a few months, and because I will be waiting for about 3 hours for a friend to arrive from Europe, I was hoping there was some opportunity to buy single cigars at the airport? I know duty-free is available, but arriving there probably not an option. Can I smoke in the airport?

Thanks for any help on making the first few hours in Havana "smoke-worthy". Gotta start off right, right?

Cuba has a no-smoking policy that went into effect some time ago - smoking is prohibited in many public facilities; however, that does not stop people from smoking cigarettes...everywhere. Surprisingly few people smoke cigars in Cuba because the cost to MOST Cubans is prohibitive. There are peso cigars, and the gut-rot stuff that some of the people smoke...and there are cigar smokers out there, but even the cigar smokers smoke cigarettes...to a nauseating degree, actually.

I believe that the prohibition against smoking is enforced at the airport. You can go outside, however, and if you're arriving at Terminal 3 (which is the newest airport facility at Jose Marti), then you can go outside in front of the terminal to smoke. You can buy refreshments and snacks and rum at the little stores inside the terminal at the 2nd level (where they have the ticket counters and check in area)...but I don't recall if they sell boxes of cigars there. However, I am fairly certain that they sell machine made cigars in cello packages or 5...and that would probably be your best bet. There is also a little trailer outside that sells snacks, sandwiches, refreshments, beer... Security is VERY strict at the airport, and there are eyes EVERYWHERE. Mostly to control hustlers trying to make money acting as taxis for arriving tourists...but you are being watched there. It is not unsafe to sit outside and have a cigar, though, and as I say, if you go to the SECOND FLOOR where they have the ticket counters, there are lots of little shops there to get souveniers, ice cream, sandwiches, soda, beer, bottles of rum...and I'm almost certain that you can pick up a little package of coronas.

In case you forgot...don't buy singles in Cuba. Anywhere. At least with the assumption that they are from a box out of inventory, anyway.

Have a good trip! And be careful. ALWAYS review your tab, no matter where you go...and don't be surprised to see an extra dollar or two added to your tab. If and when you catch them, they will say, "oh, I thought you wanted that laundry detergent" or something like that. Never fails.

Otherwise, I don't recall seeing singles being sold at the airport, and sales of boxes are usually in the 'duty free' part which is accessible only by people leaving Cuba waiting in the "sala" for departures, after you pass immigration and customs and are waiting for your flight out.

Regardless, I would not buy singles ANYWHERE in Cuba, though. I posted about the reasons why elsewhere. It's a waste of money and there is absolutely no control over what you're getting. Because the inventory of boxes is so very heavily controlled with all sorts of paperwork required, it's not like the store or the State goes into inventory and breaks open a box for people to purchase singles. Inventory accounting is done almost daily, and in order to get a box out of inventory and into the stream of commerce, there must be payment in advance. But nobody has that kind of scratch to fork over for tourists wanting singles. I'll just leave it at that...with the caveat that you should NOT buy singles in Cuba.

In summary:

Check your bill VERY carefully - EVERYWHERE.
Don't buy singles.
Be careful - Cuba has become an increasingly dangerous place.

The last time I was there, (March) people were smoking in the airport.
Be careful about buying singles though. The authenticity would almost surely be questionable.

i don't buy singles in cuba either but i have to say one thing and its not to stir it up. when i was leaving this winter through varadero, the woman at the cigar counter was replacing a box of partagas something or other that came in a tube. i was watching closely to see the way they operated. she actually had to fill out a factura for the new box, take the seal/holigram off the empty box and staple it to the factura that was made out when she initially opened up the box that is now empty. i asked her for the box after she cut the sticker off and i have it today at home. this isn't a post to ruffle feathers here because at the barcelo solymar, i'm sure i bought a 5 pack of fake cohiba siglo II's.

'Duty Free' in Varadero and Havana is not actually duty free. Varadero duty free airport prices are not cheaper than the government stores outside. Jose Marti duty free prices are much higher than outside. IIRC a dress box of 10 Monte 4 is about 100CUC! It is a blatant rip-off and they don't even have to fudge the bill to do it! Selection is limited also.

Thanks for the responses..

I have been to Havana, only once, about 2 years ago and loved every minute of it. For the record, I only brought full boxes boxes purchases at the Partagas factory back with me.

As for the airport, I think I found my answer (many thanks ryj4x47), and I hope I can find a cigar...maybe a box of 5 to kill some time before my pal arrives in Havana as well.

Kind of discouraging that Cuba is getting more dangerous as you say...but I suppose we have to be diligent where ever we go right?

Thanks for the tips.

Yes, I forgot to mention that. RyJ is right, there is a no smoking policy in Cuba, but smoking is still prevailant everywhere, including the airport.
I guess it just comes down to enforcement.

It's been a few years since i've been to Cuba (2003), but I definitely remember prices for cigars & rum were higher at Jose Marti airport than at the factory stores.

My experience over the years is much to the contrary. Prices for rum, coffee, AND cigars are higher at the factory stores, like Partagas and RyJ. At the small stores in Terminal 3 near the ticket counters, prices are a dollar or 2 less for a bottle of rum; maybe a dollar less for coffee; but cigars...I never really priced so I can't say for sure. Prices are comparable, but the cigar stores are quite expensive. The airport stores are usually very well stocked for rum, anyway. Lots of times, you can't find certain bottles. You will almost always be able to find Havana Club just about anywhere, but if you're looking for Caney Oro Ligero, however, it's hit and miss in the cigar stores. At the airport, they keep things very well stocked.

There are other varieties of rum, like Ron Varadero, Caribbean Club, Mulatta, but they are not ever on my radar. Ron Santiago de Cuba Añejo is good, as is Caney Oro Ligero...of the Havana Club rums, I like the Barrel Proof, the Oro Añejo (I think it's called...), the Añejo Especial...but I'm not partial to the Añejo 7 year or the Añejo Reserva (unless there's nothing else!) (all a matter of personal preference).

Was there in late March and found one nice cigar shop in the main lobby of the airport, before you actually enter the ticketed area. Picked up a 3-pack of Romero/Julieta short churchill. Past the customs inspection they do sell cigars but I found them to be to pricey. As far as smoking, I saw lots of people including myself smoking everywhere. I unlike others,I did buy singles at the LCHD in Melia Cohiba Hotel. I found all the cigars to be first rate. Buy one and decide for yourself, I did.

We left the hotel in Holquin for the airport about 10:00pm for our return flight home.
A group of fellow Canadians had decided to purchase all their cigars at the airport as we left Cuba. I felt so sorry for them when they passed through customs and found the cigar shop was temporarily closed for inventory.
Leaning against the glass, peering at all those cigars,......so close yet so far away.
The doors would not re-open until after our plane left Cuba.

Don't buy singles. Anywhere in Cuba. Period.