Nicaragua Trip
Alex_Svenson
Posts: 1,224 ✭✭✭
Hypothetically, if I we ere able to put together a factory trip for the forum for february, would there be interest in a group going. Would be a Wednesday to Saturday and probably cost anywhere from $650 to $1100 per head depending on what part of the country folks fly from. Let me know roughly if something like this would be fun.
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"Long ashes my friends."
Wednesday arrival at 1pm to Managua - A CCOM rep (most likely Josh or the Beard) would meet you guys in miami of the second leg of the trip so you would all arrive together. I will be there already and waiting outside customs with the bus. Once you get on the bus you will start with a gratis bundle of 20 cigars (sampler of 10 brands 2 of each from fernandez). We will most likely pull into esteli around 4pm. Since everyone will have been up super early, I will drop everyone at the hotel to shower up and rest. Everyone would have their own room at Los Arcos hotel which is a stones throw from the center of town. That night we would eat a traditional latin meal and be joined by our host AJ Fernandez for some Q and A and just plain old fun.
Thursday would be a very busy day. Buffet style breakfast at the hotel then a seed to cigar presentation. You will see seeds, seed beds, fields, picking, curing, fermenting, aging, rolling, packaging, box making... literally everything that goes into making a premium cigar. It will be a packed day trying to squeeze it all in. We will break for lunch halfway through the day where Abdels wife will prepare a traditional cuban lunch with beef, pork, rice, beans.... it is always the highlight of our trips. That night we would have a bbq at the house in Esteli.
Friday would be a little slower paced. We could revisit anything people want to go back to from the day before. We will also break up the day into three seminars and split up a bit. You will go through rolling school, you will work with me on making your own blend (that we will ship you a bundle of 20 a few weeks after you get back) and we will do a cigar tasting seminar on the palate, body, flavor etc. That night another latin dinner in town followed by drinks in the VIP suite at Cigar Zone disco tech in Esteli.
Saturday, before departing for the airport, each guy would get to pick a bundle of 20 of his favorite cigar from the trip to take back with them.
It would be an all you can smoke type of things with selections strait of the tables, from the aging rooms etc. All meals, lodging and transportation included in the price. Only thing outside the price which you would pay would be booze. This trip would be centered only around AJ's operation since he would help coop the cost. If we had time, we may be able to stop by the Plasencia facility.
Best time of year to go is Feb to April. I am looking at 2/2/10 possibly as flights get more expensive in March. I just went to AA to look up what they are currently and most of the flights and prices havent even been scheduled yet. However, to give you an idea, here are some estimates based on November travel which should be similar to February. Given all the free cigars it is a pretty good deal. We are not making money on it, just a pass through on costs. Estimates are by departure city below. I will only have space for about 10 to 15 guys.
Chicago $820
Miami $800
Atlanta $1020
Newark $935
Los Angeles $1100
Again, just estimates. Lets start by getting a head count of who would be interested assuming the prices dont change horribly. Please reply stating "put me on the list" if you want to reserve a spot. It is not binding and if you need an estimate for a city not listed shoot me a PM. Again, this would be for a rough head count only but please only reply if you are at least 80% comfortable with the price range and the date of 2/2
¨Only two people walk around in this world beardless - boys and women - and I am neither one.¨