Havana/Cuba's LCDH's. How are they doing?

[El Presidente]

 

Several members of the forum travel to Havana regularly and their input here would be invaluable. 

Havana/Cuba LCDH's. How are they doing?

It is just over a year since Cuba joined the global cigarmageddon pricing alliance. It was widely touted at the time that the result would be the death of Cuba cigar tourism and that  Cuban LCDH's would become morgues devoid of tourists. Has this come to pass? 

Mind you, Cuban LCDH's are hardly normal commercial enterprises. They are simply shop windows for the state.  Cheap labour and cheap produce inputs mean that they are cash cows.......if they can get enough people to spend the coin. What is the traffic in the stores like? Have you seen changes over the past year? 

Literally hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of cigars are being stolen/racketeered out the factory side door in differing levels of sophistication. There were a couple of arrests last week, but that won't scratch the surface.  However, the interest here is in the retail sale environment within Cuba itself. 

If you have been to Cuba over the past 12 months, we would love your insight into this Cuba retail sale environment. 

 

 

[anthem]

I was at the LCDH in Cayo Santa Maria in April 2023, there was not much choice when it came to full boxes. I managed to get a box of JL 1 and a box of San Cristobal La Punta and a couple of boxes of 10 HdM.

Other than those previously mentioned, they had Trinidad and Cohibas, but out of my range since Armageddon.

I also was able to get some nice customs, rolled by Miguel at the LCDH.

I’m planning on going to Cayo Coco in November, and will report back as to what they have down there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NSXCIGAR]

As of 4 weeks ago the Havana LCDHs are pretty much ghost towns with very little stock that anyone would want. 

[avitus]

I visited LCDH Varadero this February.

Stock was ok, I've managed to get few boxes HdM Epicure de Luxe (BRT DIC 22), Punch Short de Punch (BRM SEP 22), RyJ Wide Churchill's (RGB NOV 22), SCdlH La Cabaña (BRM SEP 22), plus couple Magnum Tubos.

As for people its hard to say, it was daytime when I came, so obviously most tourists were chilling on the beach.

 

[Corylax18]

I was last in Havana the week before the Habanos Festival in February. There were plenty of cigars on the shelves at that point (as evidenced by the photos below) but it was mainly odds and ends. Certainly less quantity and variety than before the pandemic. There where some Cohiba and Trinidad, but it was mostly the same stuff that isn't selling anywhere else. I'm sure anything sought after was picked thru the week after I left. 

The lounges where completely empty. I smoked at Club Habana, Palco, 5th and 16, Melia Habana and several times at the Partagas shop. It was just me and my friend/s the vast majority of the time. There were a few tourists/looky lous in the shops, but not much stock was moving. 

[mcicvara]

I was in Cayo Santa Maria end of June, no full boxes except Cohibas and Trinidads. They are getting new boxes once in 2-3 months.

Not many tourists on the island, so LCDH was empty. 

Miguel is producing record number of customs, he's busy.

[avitus]

Friend of mine just visited LCDH Varadero (63rd). Lots of Cohiba and Trinidad and not much other markas available except for "budget" brands like Quintero, Fonseca, Vegueros. Nothing from my wish list with ~30 positions (regulars only) was available.

Price tags are very disappointing - Fonseca Cosacos $7/stick, Rafael González Coronas de Lonsdales $8/stick, Vegueros Entretiempos $9/stick, H.Upman half corona $10/stick, Por Larrañaga Picadores No.1 $15.45/stick, Partagás Lusitanias $34/stick.

[ChangBang]

18 minutes ago, avitus said:

Friend of mine just visited LCDH Varadero (63rd). Lots of Cohiba and Trinidad and not much other markas available except for "budget" brands like Quintero, Fonseca, Vegueros. Nothing from my wish list with ~30 positions (regulars only) was available.

Price tags are very disappointing - Fonseca Cosacos $7/stick, Rafael González Coronas de Lonsdales $8/stick, Vegueros Entretiempos $9/stick, H.Upman half corona $10/stick, Por Larrañaga Picadores No.1 $15.45/stick, Partagás Lusitanias $34/stick.

Damn those prices aren't very good considering they don't have to pay to export them!  Hell they should be even cheaper just to attract more tourists to the island. In San Sebastian I paid 27 euro or about 29 dollars for a lusi

Without some discount for getting them on the island, I doubt I'll ever attempt to go 

[Corylax18]

18 minutes ago, ChangBang said:

Damn those prices aren't very good considering they don't have to pay to export them!  Hell they should be even cheaper just to attract more tourists to the island. In San Sebastian I paid 27 euro or about 29 dollars for a lusi

Without some discount for getting them on the island, I doubt I'll ever attempt to go 

The LCDHs in Varadero are well known for charging over list prices. Captive tourists and no competition I guess. For example, Lusi's should be $24.40 each, still not a good deal, but an extra 10 bucks a stick is crazy. The LCDHs in Havana, Pinar, Santiago, Etc. charge the list price. (except for the Cohiba atmosphere in Kempinski hotel, they have an idiot tax) You can still find some decent deals in Havana compared to other places in the world, but its nothing like it was pre 2021. 

 

[moryc]

I was in Havana in April of this year.  I visited probably 8 shops, if I remember correctly.  The stock was there, just not the selection.  Plenty of Cohibas and Trinidads as mentioned by others.  Partagas P2, D4, E2, H Upman: 46, 50, 54, Connie A, Montecristo 1,2,3,4,5 Edmundo and Petit Edmundo, Especiales (some) and Especiales 2.  Quai D'Orsay, Por Laranaga, RASS, Hoyos Epi 1, 2, Especial, Rio Seco.  Bolivar BBF, PC.  Punch Punch.  Apart from that lower end stock.

There was very little people shopping, empty stores for the most part.

Funny how I can remember what I saw at LCDH in Havana 4 months ago, but I can barely remember what happened yesterday.

 

 

[SCgarman]

Things sound bleak there. Hardly any good stock, nobody smoking in the lounges. What incentive is there for any American or Canadian tourist to travel to Havana? Certainly not for the cigars anymore. 

[bates40]

3 hours ago, SCgarman said:

Things sound bleak there. Hardly any good stock, nobody smoking in the lounges. What incentive is there for any American or Canadian tourist to travel to Havana? Certainly not for the cigars anymore. 

There is no incentive. 

[mcicvara]

4 hours ago, bates40 said:

There is no incentive. 

I still go for custom rolls, excellent value in Cuban cigars.

[NSXCIGAR]

5 hours ago, mcicvara said:

I still go for custom rolls, excellent value in Cuban cigars.

I just heard the good rollers are charging $25/stick, so not so much anymore! 

[moryc]

On 8/17/2023 at 4:18 AM, SCgarman said:

Things sound bleak there. Hardly any good stock, nobody smoking in the lounges. What incentive is there for any American or Canadian tourist to travel to Havana? Certainly not for the cigars anymore. 

We will still go with the family to an all-inclusive in Varadero and I'll do a day trip to Havana to do some quick shopping.  This is what I did in April.  But to actually go to Havana and stay there for a few night to enjoy the city as I did in the past is not going to happen in the foreseeable future.  It's just not worth it anymore.  Apart from the cigar prices, everything else has gotten too expensive. When we would go a few years ago with the wife, we were able to eat and get drunk at a casual restaurant for $70USD and go for a fancy dinner for $100USD, I don't think this is possible these days.

[SCgarman]

3 minutes ago, moryc said:

We will still go with the family to an all-inclusive in Varadero and I'll do a day trip to Havana to do some quick shopping.  This is what I did in April.  But to actually go to Havana and stay there for a few night to enjoy the city as I did in the past is going to happen in the foreseeable future.  Its just not worth it anymore.  Apart from the cigar prices, everything else has gotten too expensive. When we would go a few years ago with the wife, we were able to eat and get drunk at a casual restaurant for $70USD and go for a fancy dinner for $100USD, I don't think this is possible these days.

With food shortages and fuel shortages inflicted on the Cuban citizens, I can't imagine things for tourists would be any better. What do restaurants have available to serve? How do you get from point A to B with people struggling to find fuel for cars? Certainly there are better "island" options for a vacation where quality of life is leaps and bounds better. 

[Corylax18]

7 hours ago, SCgarman said:

Certainly there are better "island" options for a vacation where quality of life is leaps and bounds better. 

No argument there, but a trip to Cuba can still be very enjoyable if you know where to go and what to do. And if you have the right mind set. The whole intermittent water and electricity thing is the biggest frustration for me. Because its often very random and hard to plan around. 

Despite being a "communist paradise" there is still a massive gap between the life style of the poorest and richest Cubans. In Havana especially, there are neighborhoods full of very nice Casas to stay at for very affordable prices. Those rich Cubans and dignitaries from other countries still go out to eat plenty and their favorite restaurants have access to imports and products inside the country that most people don't (and couldn't afford if they did). It's the same with Fuel, the Government, Military and Foreigners still have enough, you may need to travel around with an extra 20 liters in the trunk, just in case, but its still doable. Pinar del Rio is still great. Spending the night at Farms, or Casas near the farms is still extremely affordable. Meals are often included with the purchase of the room or a bundle of cigars, its rustic, but if you like that its great. 

Things are no where near what they where during the Obama thaw peak in say 16 to 18 or 19, but you can still have a very fun and very affordable trip to Cuba if you do your research.

[moryc]

With food shortages and fuel shortages inflicted on the Cuban citizens, I can't imagine things for tourists would be any better. What do restaurants have available to serve? How do you get from point A to B with people struggling to find fuel for cars? Certainly there are better "island" options for a vacation where quality of life is leaps and bounds better. 

With food shortages and fuel shortages inflicted on the Cuban citizens, I can't imagine things for tourists would be any better. What do restaurants have available to serve? How do you get from point A to B with people struggling to find fuel for cars? Certainly there are better "island" options for a vacation where quality of life is leaps and bounds better. 

The restaurant we went to for lunch had really good food. I can’t tell you now what the name was but it away from the old Havana closer to where Habana Club is. We had tacos, enchiladas, grilled meat platter. Overall excellent food. As for getting around we got a cab from Varadero to Havana and had driver in Havana to take us around for the day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk