Bringin A Hookah + Tobaco Across The Border

[mynameizandy]

Hey everyone, MY buddies and i are road tripiin to VA beach this summer all teh way from montreal canada. We really want to bring the hookah kit along with us. does anyone know if there are restrictions at the border concerning the hookah and tobacco?
Is the hookah socially acceptable in virgninia? ... would we be able to smoke outside freely or would it be safer to do it inside privately? We dont want to cause any drama....
Also if we dont manage to bring it, are there hookah lounges in va beach?

Thanks in advance for your answers and keep up the good forum posts and friendly replies

[Shifty]

How Lucky.. I will be going to Toronto in a few days. From what I have found you are allowed to bring up to 2 kilos of ANY type of tobacco. Coming directly from a border crossing site.

"Going through U.S. Customs
Visitors who are at least 21 years of age may bring the following into the USA: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 2 kilograms (4.4 lbs.) of tobacco; 1 liter of alcohol; gifts to the value of $100. Different restrictions will apply to returning US residents and citizens."

http://www.gonorthwest.com Read all you need to.

I would also recommend that you make sure everything is very clean and stored in a non threatening way. Be polite, give straight answers and don't be evasive in any way. If they for whatever reason decide to search your car, see it, and ask you what it is just tell them it's a hookah, use simple language. If they get a little crazy about it, just comply with them and tell them you're more than happy to let them take a field drug test of it. (most agents have something like this handy, i wouldn't recommend this if you don't keep a "clean" hookah) Hopefully though, it will not reach that point. Just put your stuff nicely in a bag/case and set it in your trunk. Most likely won't be a problem at all. Good luck and have fun in VA.

Oh yeah, the cops in VA beach are as*holes. I would recommend either smoking on a balcony on in the hotel room away from prying eyes.

2c

Shifty

[disturbedguru]

I don't see where it would be a problem in virgina....where tobbacco was farmed and shipped to europe when we were still colonies....just be straight forward...i was underage and brought french wine across the border and they were obsessed over any food and meats...i wouldn't be to worried

[jordanneff]

I'd say just have the hookah in the car with you, and when they ask if you're bringing anything just straight up tell them that you're bringing a hookah, show them the shisha you have, and offer for them to drug test it if they want to before they would even ask. More than likely they'll feel you're genuine about it and let you pass without 2nd guessing you.

[oriteku]

I live 45 min from VA beach =) theres lounges out there that are pretty good as well as a few in Norfolk on the way and one in Newport News. If yall feel like stoppin in and saying hi on your roadtrip Im a tobaccanist in Williamsburg and we have alot of hookahs and shisha here, you're welcome to swing through and smoke a bowl =)~ Isn't scheetz out in VA beach as well? Im pretty sure theres a number of us in the area.

[mynameizandy]

I live 45 min from VA beach =) theres lounges out there that are pretty good as well as a few in Norfolk on the way and one in Newport News. If yall feel like stoppin in and saying hi on your roadtrip Im a tobaccanist in Williamsburg and we have alot of hookahs and shisha here, you're welcome to swing through and smoke a bowl =)~ Isn't scheetz out in VA beach as well? Im pretty sure theres a number of us in the area.

Thanks for the invite, ill definetly try to pass by. we're gonna be staying on arctic ave, 2 blocks form the beach... teh area code is 23451. How far away is ur place/ these hookah lounges form where we're staying?

[The King]

You should be fine as long your hookah really is used for shisha, i know people who dont. But yeah just keep it in your case and just be honest, its not like its an illegal thing.

[lazria]

Yes, VA Beach is A-hole central! I live in Norfolk, one city over. There's a hookah bar in the Hampton area and it's NOT worth the road trip to Hampton for it. No-body sells good shisha in town and very few places will carry anything. If you want, PM me and I'll let you know who and what everybody in town carries.

As for getting yor hookah here. The hookah itself should be no problem. As long as you only bring 1 maybe 2 tubs of shisha, I don't see any issue either. If you like Al Almir or Naklka - then you can pick them up in town. Havana is in stock in 1 place and if you really need good shisha - then make that before said trip to the bar. But just buy some and head home to smoke - they have Havana, Hookah-Hookah and Starbuzz, plus a few others. Edited April 11, 2007 by lazria

[oriteku]

The shop is zip code 23185, I live around buckroe beach area in Hampton, but theres no real good smoking spots around town. I don't know Lazy Dayz zip off hand but you can google for it and check their website out.

[cemab4y]

I am in Iraq (civilian). There are some small shops on this base, that sell Hookahs and supplies. I can buy the items here, and use them, but I am not permitted to mail a hookah in the APO mail, because it is considered "paraphenalia". I will have to buy one and hand-carry it back home. When I was in Saudi Arabia (1998), I bought three excellent hookahs, and hand-carried them in my personal luggage, and brought them back to the USA, no problem. I also had a couple of pounds of tobacco in my carry-on luggage, and got them through customs without a hitch.

[HarryTheHookaMaster]

I shipped 4 Hookas home from Q-West. I had to carry the Shesha in my carry on bag, THAT they wouldn't let me ship! The only Hooka you can't ship is a used one. If you want to ship one home, buy a new one. I had no problems with the APO. Could be your mail clerk is a real as*hole! Good luck and enjoy the tail end of the rainy season!

Harry
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[Lazy Dayz]

hmmm...hookah spot in the va beach area...

zip is 23601 for the shop.