I may be going on a vacation there. Does anyone know if you can tour the cigar fractories like you can wineries? Can you get deals on cigars and how many can you bring back?

when i was there i wasn't a cigarer and i found the people very friendly. i have read somewhere that it was difficult or impossible to visit the factories and the few places that sold cigars charged too much. when you come back, please tell me i am wrong. like you, i think of the cigar mfgs the way they are pictured in adds, kindly old men that can't wait to have a drink and a cigar with one of their customers.

Rick, shame on you, beware the ruthless big corporations that front with those kindly old men and use them for puppets! Only joking, I hope you give us a good report on how nice they are, etc. Look up Avo Uviazin and have a drink and a smoke with him! Charlie

I think they're around the same age too 😉

went there about 12 years ago when the hatians were raiding the border. TWo things, you can get cheap hand rolled bundles, I paid about a nickel apiece then. If you are a golfer go to casa decampo and play the tooth of the dog, world class course and resort. I never could comunicate to the local that I was trying to find the good sfuff. I'm sure it has changed a lot. Always use American money in the restaurants the locals will give you a better exchange rate than the banks.The ride from tthe airport is not for the week of heart. People are really friendly, you'll have a blast

weak of heart sorry

TEETH of the dog

Went to Santa Domingo some years back, also before I smoked cigars. I imagine you wont be in that neck of the woods, more likely towards Puerto Plata or something tropical. Anyway, I do know that cigars were cheap, as was the local rum which was terrific. I think you should check with customs regarding the smokes. As long as they're not Cubans, you will be limited only by the fact that tobacco and alcohol are treated seperately from other goods. Have a great time, and have an Ice Cold Presidente beer for me!

Have two of those bad boys for both of us! Charlie

This is from the Cigar Family (Fuente) site: While we would love to welcome every cigar lover to our factories, we are unfortunately unable to have tours. Our factories are located in a special "Free Trade Zone" in the Dominican Republic. These zones are huge manufacturing complexes surrounded by barbed wire fences and secured by armed members of the Dominican army who search every vehicle. Probably 90% of Dominican cigars are made in these Zones which allow for the direct exportation of our cigars. Therefore, because of their location, we are unable to host regular tours of our factories. Also, on buying Fuente cigars: Unfortunately, because our factories are located in the special "Free Trade Zones" all of the cigars must be directly exported from the Dominican Republic. Therefore, to legally sell cigars in the DR, we would have to import them from the USA.

that explains why I couldn't get any good stuff there

Incredible. So, I should buy cigars in the US before I leave. What an interesting story. C.A. or some other publication should do a series on this and also other countries.