Travel and accommodation - Andaman Islands

I am planning on travelling to the Andaman Islands early January - I will be looking for basic cheap accomodation as I am travelling on a budget and intend to stay on Havelock Island has anyone got any accomodation contacts or hits and tips things to do things to avoid etc. Also what iss the best way to get there a flight form Chennai or the boat.

Ta

Getting to Andamans:-
By boat - There are regular sailings from Chennai & Kolkata & it takes around three days to reach Port Blair Capital city of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The boats are very ordinary types with very bare minimum facilities.
By Air - Chennai & Kolkata are connected to Port Blair with daily flights. You can try booking with India's best low cost carrier Air Deccan The sooner you book the better deal you get once the bookings open.

There are plenty of low budget options at Port Blair & even at Havelock. Havelock to me is the best place in Andamans. Try Scuba diving & snorkelling at Havelock. Try visiting this links for more info.
Andaman & Nicobar Administration
andamandiveclub/home
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andaman, andamans, nicobar, andaman islands, andaman nicobar islands, havelock, andaman island, andaman nicobar, nicobar island, andaman tour, andaman and nicobar, andaman islands india, port blair, andaman and nicobar islands
Welcome to the Andaman Islands! Resorts in Havelock Island, PADI scuba diving, dive resort, flights from Bangkok to Port Blair, eco-tours and more in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India. Scuba dive andamans, Andaman Nicobar, andamans resort,holidays
DIVEIndia - PADI Scuba Diving Center in the Andamans, India
Hotel Aparupa home page
Welcome to Island Vinnie's Tropical Cabanas and Dive Center, a full-service dive resort located in the Andaman Islands, India.

Do get back if you have any specific query.

Ronak.

There's not much difference between any of the budget places on Havelock. Most are strung out along the east coast of the island, from beaches #1-5. Just scout around when you arrive.

Over at #7, on the west side, there's also a couple of places.

I got the ferry from Chennai to Port Blair. Took 3 nights. I travelled in bunk class (the cheapest) which cost 1550 Rupees, but it was really hot and stuffy, so I slept on deck for the last 2 nights.

Amanda,

I traveled from Chennai to Port Blair in January of 2006 and spent 2 weeks traveling around the islands. Spent most of my time on Havelock 1 1/2 weeks in which i stayed at Barefoot Resorts. This is a very good place for cheap accomadations i rented thier most expensive bungalow w/ two beds and a cieling fan for about 300 rupees a night but there were smaller "backpacker" tents which could be rented for less than 100 rupees a night. Everyone was very friendly and the onsite restaurant was cheap and very tasty. I even got to be good friends with the owner and met him later in Pondicherry for drinks and a cookout about a month after i left.

Cheers,
John

I should also mention Barefoot runs a very nice establishment on Beach No. 7 which was just way to expensive for my liking and the restaurant there was no where near as good as thier cheaper establishment on one of the less "beautiful" beaches.

Dear Vargoje 3.
I find your post extremely misleading. Upon checking out the barefoot website it would appear that their prices are about 50 times more expensive than you state.
What is the truth?
Sincerely, Martinez

Martinez,

When i visited Havelock their were two resorts run by Barefoot. One was on beach No. 7 which was extremely expensive and one where Barefoot Scuba was run from, this was where i stayed and the prices were very good and very cheap. Cafe Del Mar is where i stayed on Beach No. 3. I was under the impression that both resorts were run and owned by the same person who i met and had drinks with at both locations.

Here is the link to the Cafe Del Mar website http://www.barefootindia.com/contents/fe/home.aspx

John

You can rent a small A frame shelter at Cafe Del Mar for 100 rupees a night although you have to use the public showers/toilet. The cabins are slightly more expenisive then i remember but still only 700 rupees a night (18 american dollars).

Dear vargoje3,
Thankyou for the time spent replying.
Some of India is very expensive these days(considering what you get for your money)maybe 1000 rupees is not much if ya come from UK or USA. I get occaision to travel through Andalusia in Spain a few times a year and i get a very good hostal and wonderful mountain scenery for the same price as a garden shed in the Andaman islands,ok, the Andamans is a bit special but some of Goa is too,and huts can still be had for 150 rps there(despite what some`punters`have been known to pay)..
I have a feeling that there is gonna be a big price hike in Andaman (especially Havelock island) and i would say to all please dont pay it just because you can. There is a much bigger picture here needing to be considered. If big buisness is supported it invariably becomes a monster and sweeps aside all of those that stand in its way and often destroys the environs in which it was spawned.
rather than rant on i shall shut the ----up,before someone tells me to..
Martinez (stuck in a time wharp??? )

have you seen prices of other island places that have good diving and snorkelling? 13,500 rupees i was quoted for a night at lakshadweep. in tropical places one doesn't really need much more than "a garden shed", even when it is raining as it is usually still warm. the prices mentioned would be the cheapest for where it is, tropical isle, snorkelling diving and more, that i have seen, anywhere!
i,m on my way!!!!!!!!!

Thats the idea cobber,you just go for it!And then go for it some more,plus some more after that too!

January is the peak season so it will be a bit expensive during that time. airdeccan offers very cheap air tickets(book early). on port blair there are lots of budget hotels but nothing much to do there. on havelock I think dolphin resorts run by the tourism dept is value for money. also there is accomodation available in tents on the radhanagar beach(not sure abt the booking procedure).
i think scuba diving is a bit expensive. It's india so don't forget to bargain for everything