Cigars/buying cigars in cuba
Advertisement
Question
Hello James.I'm planing a trip to Cuba this year,and I was wondering if you would have any knowledge as to what the tax rate is when purchasing cigars by the box full in Cuba.Thanks for any knowledge you might have.I've tried to look into this with no luck thus far.Take care.
Hi William,
Martymix has an excellent guide for purchasing Cuban cigars in Cuba so I'll quote directly from his guide:
"Everything purchased in cash in Cuba must be made in Convertible Pesos (CUC). You will be able to get CUC’s at exchange offices and hotels through-out Cuba. 1CUC is valued at $1.12US or around $1.25CDN. DO NOT BRING US$ IN CUBA, you will lose another 11% from the rate mentioned above! If you bring ANY other currency, there will be no added tax on your exchange rate, just make sure you aren’t getting ripped-off by the exchange desks, do the math also! If this sounds too complicated, you can pay with your credit card. Since the Credit Card companies don’t take CUC’s, the charges have to be in US$. So what they will do is convert your purchase from CUC to US$ by adding 12% more from the CUC prices. But just so you know, it comes to the SAME THING! So if you pay cash in CUC’s or with your Credit Card, it doesn’t matter!"
Also, please note that you're allowed up to 50 cigars (per person) to bring back from Cuba.
I hope this helps! :)
Regards,
James
Related Articles
- Cuba Travel Guide - Travel, Vacation and Holiday Guide to the Island of Cuba in the Caribbean
- Cuban Cigars - Why Cuban Cigars Are Illegal in the United States
- Timba - Overview of Uniquely Cuban Timba
- Biography of José Martí
- Bobalu Cigars - Review of 1998 Connecticut Shade Fresh Rolled Robusto Cigar
James Yee
Expertise
My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".
Experience
I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.
Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)
Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.