B
Bob
Guest
going here march 3....1. whats the best excursion to take 2.where can I buy "real" cigars 3.best dive spot from resort (and snorkeling spot)...thanks
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staying at costa caribe-3 questions?
S
steve
Guest
Bob, I stayed at the costa caribe in Juan Dolio the week after Christmas. It's a nice place. As for excursions, I'd recommend you rent a car and explore the DR up close. I've explored the whole country by rental car and there's really nothing like it. Dominicans are wonderful, friendly and exciting. Just be aware if you've never driven in the DR, it's a bit of a challenge, so be careful.
Since I neither dive nor smoke, I can't help you with your other questions.
Hope you have a great time.
Since I neither dive nor smoke, I can't help you with your other questions.
Hope you have a great time.
K
katia
Guest
Bob,
I have stayed at another hotel in Juan Dolio and went scuba diving with an instructor at Costa Caribe. Since I was a beginner, we didn't go very far. You'll enjoy it I'm sure.
Katia
I have stayed at another hotel in Juan Dolio and went scuba diving with an instructor at Costa Caribe. Since I was a beginner, we didn't go very far. You'll enjoy it I'm sure.
Katia
J
Jim Hinsch
Guest
Re: staying at costa caribe-3 questions? *PIC*
You can buy genuine cigars at Darren's Portofino in Boca Chica. See www.BocaChicaBeach.net for more info (see map and discounts page).
You can buy genuine cigars at Darren's Portofino in Boca Chica. See www.BocaChicaBeach.net for more info (see map and discounts page).
M
Marvin
Guest
Bob,
Was there last year in January. The only excursion I took was to Saona Island. The snorkeling out there wasn't as good as I've seen elsewhere, but the Catamaran and speed boat trip over to Saona and back were fun. I don't remember the company that put them on, but the crew on the bus trip over and on the boats were exceptional. Unlike other resorts I've been to, there wasn't much else offered for snorkeling. In all, it was a great time.
Was there last year in January. The only excursion I took was to Saona Island. The snorkeling out there wasn't as good as I've seen elsewhere, but the Catamaran and speed boat trip over to Saona and back were fun. I don't remember the company that put them on, but the crew on the bus trip over and on the boats were exceptional. Unlike other resorts I've been to, there wasn't much else offered for snorkeling. In all, it was a great time.
H
hillbilly
Guest
I'm affraid to say that the cigars are very poor?
at Darrens. Way over-priced and of dubious quality, at least of late.
I would suggest you talk to Tony in the Casino and ask him about
some good cigars. Forget Cubans , because 99.99%of anything you see outside of Casa de los Habanos in Santo Domingo are fakes for the tourists. That line: "I go to Cuba all the time and bring them back with me" is just that-> a line..!! He would have to charge over $300 dollars a box to make it worth is efforts....
For that kind of money, you can buy several boxes of the very finest cigars made in the Dominican Republic. Try the day trip to the colonial zone in Santo Domingo, try and get to the Nacional Supermarket and get your cigars there. Or ask Tony about getting some cigars for you...
Or try and get a tour to the cigar factory in La Romana.
Sorry for the rant, it is a tender point...
HB
at Darrens. Way over-priced and of dubious quality, at least of late.
I would suggest you talk to Tony in the Casino and ask him about
some good cigars. Forget Cubans , because 99.99%of anything you see outside of Casa de los Habanos in Santo Domingo are fakes for the tourists. That line: "I go to Cuba all the time and bring them back with me" is just that-> a line..!! He would have to charge over $300 dollars a box to make it worth is efforts....
For that kind of money, you can buy several boxes of the very finest cigars made in the Dominican Republic. Try the day trip to the colonial zone in Santo Domingo, try and get to the Nacional Supermarket and get your cigars there. Or ask Tony about getting some cigars for you...
Or try and get a tour to the cigar factory in La Romana.
Sorry for the rant, it is a tender point...
HB
J
Jim Hinsch
Guest
Re: Darren's Portofino Cigars
Do you know Darren? Do you have anything to back up those statements?
Since I don't smoke cigars, I can't say other than that I know a lot of people who do, and they claim that he is the only one in the area that has the genuine product, both Cuban and Dominican.
There was a raid about two months ago in Boca Chica. The police came in and confiscated all the cigars from all the cigar shops in Boca Chica for being fakes. Except for Darren's Portofino. They did come to his shop and examine his cigars. He says that was because he is the only one not selling fakes.
Do you have any evidence to the contrary?
Do you know Darren? Do you have anything to back up those statements?
Since I don't smoke cigars, I can't say other than that I know a lot of people who do, and they claim that he is the only one in the area that has the genuine product, both Cuban and Dominican.
There was a raid about two months ago in Boca Chica. The police came in and confiscated all the cigars from all the cigar shops in Boca Chica for being fakes. Except for Darren's Portofino. They did come to his shop and examine his cigars. He says that was because he is the only one not selling fakes.
Do you have any evidence to the contrary?
H
hillbilly
Guest
Could that be because his father-in-law is the
Chief of ??????.?? nah....
Darren brings back fake Cubans from Cuba! Of course he does...it's a heck of a business. They are real Cubans! But fakes, and the cops wouldn't know how to tell one from the other.
They were looking for the Fuente, Davidoff, and Cohiba fakes made in the DR. Those are easy to tell...
Heck, some of the new fakes from Cuba even have the new micro-printed Seal fo Guarantee on them!!
This is nothing new and it has even beenr eported in Bloomberg's. The counterfiet business inCuba is nearly as important-money wise- as the real cigar market.. Fidel doesn't care where the moneycomes from as long as it is coming!.
Please Jim, do not argue cigars with me. Golf courses are okey, to each his own, but cigars are my livelihood and passion....
Chief of ??????.?? nah....
Darren brings back fake Cubans from Cuba! Of course he does...it's a heck of a business. They are real Cubans! But fakes, and the cops wouldn't know how to tell one from the other.
They were looking for the Fuente, Davidoff, and Cohiba fakes made in the DR. Those are easy to tell...
Heck, some of the new fakes from Cuba even have the new micro-printed Seal fo Guarantee on them!!
This is nothing new and it has even beenr eported in Bloomberg's. The counterfiet business inCuba is nearly as important-money wise- as the real cigar market.. Fidel doesn't care where the moneycomes from as long as it is coming!.
Please Jim, do not argue cigars with me. Golf courses are okey, to each his own, but cigars are my livelihood and passion....
J
Jim Hinsch
Guest
Re: Like I said, what evidence do you have?
I don't smoke cigars. I believe you know your business. I don't offer anything other than 2nd hand opinions of others that claim they "know" cigars and judge on taste. One guy also said something about the size of the veins in the wrapper.
Can you clarify how you know his cigars are all fakes? Or maybe you can advise the rest of us how to tell. I hope you aren't going to tell us that only an expert can tell the difference, because if that were the case, then I guess it doesn't even matter if they are just good copies. After all, if an avid cigar smoker feels they look and burn and taste like the real thing and as expected, ... Isn't that what it is all about? They way they taste, burn, smell, etc.?
Give us something to go on.
I don't smoke cigars. I believe you know your business. I don't offer anything other than 2nd hand opinions of others that claim they "know" cigars and judge on taste. One guy also said something about the size of the veins in the wrapper.
Can you clarify how you know his cigars are all fakes? Or maybe you can advise the rest of us how to tell. I hope you aren't going to tell us that only an expert can tell the difference, because if that were the case, then I guess it doesn't even matter if they are just good copies. After all, if an avid cigar smoker feels they look and burn and taste like the real thing and as expected, ... Isn't that what it is all about? They way they taste, burn, smell, etc.?
Give us something to go on.
H
hillbilly
Guest
My files on counterfiet Cuban cigars is 3 inches t
There are several websites that dedicate tons of pages on Cuban cigars.
What it boils down to is this:
Plain business sense: You do not invest tons of money to make a few pennies. None of Darren's cigars are close to the"real" Cuban prices.
Then there are questions of the box codes, the Seal of Guarantee, the packaging of the cigars themselves, eventhe types of nails used to seal the boxes.
Of the cigars themselves, I would have to go there and see what is there at the moment. As of last week there were about 15 boxes of cigars in the place, all Dominican.
Now, why would I go there and do that? Doesn't make sense...
Please remember, I said that I did not dispute the fact that they were Cubans. What I said was that they are not authentic Cubans. And I quoted Bloomberg-good enough for you?-as but one authority on the reality of a booming Cuban business in fakes.
Hey, I have lots of Cuban buddies that bring me back Cubans-real and fake..And some fakes are better than the real ones, but usually, the construction of the cigar itself will be the givaway. You ever come to my house, and I'll give you Cuban Fakes 369 (For graduate Students)....
And my complaint is not about Cuban counterfiet Cuban cigars, but with Dominican counterfiets of Cuban cigars,and even Dominican cigars.
Last week, Carlos Fuente and I were talking about this very thing, and he told me that he never suggests a place where people can buy his cigars...Even though there are two places-Santo Domingo Cigar Club on 27 de Febrero and Cigar Caf? in Hotel Lina that are authorized to carry his product and do it legally.
Nuf said?? Remember the old saw? "When it's too good to be true....?"
There are several websites that dedicate tons of pages on Cuban cigars.
What it boils down to is this:
Plain business sense: You do not invest tons of money to make a few pennies. None of Darren's cigars are close to the"real" Cuban prices.
Then there are questions of the box codes, the Seal of Guarantee, the packaging of the cigars themselves, eventhe types of nails used to seal the boxes.
Of the cigars themselves, I would have to go there and see what is there at the moment. As of last week there were about 15 boxes of cigars in the place, all Dominican.
Now, why would I go there and do that? Doesn't make sense...
Please remember, I said that I did not dispute the fact that they were Cubans. What I said was that they are not authentic Cubans. And I quoted Bloomberg-good enough for you?-as but one authority on the reality of a booming Cuban business in fakes.
Hey, I have lots of Cuban buddies that bring me back Cubans-real and fake..And some fakes are better than the real ones, but usually, the construction of the cigar itself will be the givaway. You ever come to my house, and I'll give you Cuban Fakes 369 (For graduate Students)....
And my complaint is not about Cuban counterfiet Cuban cigars, but with Dominican counterfiets of Cuban cigars,and even Dominican cigars.
Last week, Carlos Fuente and I were talking about this very thing, and he told me that he never suggests a place where people can buy his cigars...Even though there are two places-Santo Domingo Cigar Club on 27 de Febrero and Cigar Caf? in Hotel Lina that are authorized to carry his product and do it legally.
Nuf said?? Remember the old saw? "When it's too good to be true....?"