Field notes
Best Places to Stay in Andaman & Nicobar: Hotels, Resorts & Villas
Andaman & Nicobar Islands accommodation spans three main island zones: Port Blair, Havelock Island, and Neil Island. Choosing the best places to stay in Andaman & Nicobar depends on your travel purpose — beach access, diving, honeymoon, or family trip. Each zone has a distinct price band, property type, and ferry connection that affects your overall itinerary.
What are the main areas to stay in Andaman & Nicobar?
The three main areas to stay in Andaman are Port Blair, Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), and Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep). Port Blair suits transit nights; Havelock suits beach and dive trips; Neil Island suits travellers who want quieter beaches and lower prices.
Port Blair — transit hub or base for day trips?
Port Blair is the capital city of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the only entry point via Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ). Most travellers spend one or two nights here before taking the ferry onward. The city has Cellular Jail, the Anthropological Museum, and the Phoenix Bay Jetty for ferry departures. Port Blair works best as a one-night transit stop, not a primary beach base.
Havelock Island — who should stay here?
Havelock Island, officially called Swaraj Dweep, sits 57 km from Port Blair and is reached by ferry in 1.5 to 2.5 hours. The island holds Radhanagar Beach, the main PADI dive sites, and the widest range of resorts in Andaman. Couples, divers, and first-time visitors to Andaman are the primary guests here. Most Andaman itineraries allocate three to four nights on Havelock.
Related: Andaman tour packages
Neil Island — what kind of traveller does it suit?
Neil Island, officially Shaheed Dweep, is a smaller island south of Havelock with fewer than ten operational resorts. Laxmanpur Beach on Neil Island is the main draw — it has low visitor footfall compared to Radhanagar. Nightly rates on Neil Island run 20 to 35 percent lower than comparable Havelock properties. Travellers who want two quiet nights away from the main tourist circuit find Neil Island a practical choice.
Which hotels and resorts in Port Blair are worth booking?
Port Blair has a range of hotels from budget guesthouses to 4-star properties. SeaShell Port Blair and Sinclairs Bayview are the most consistently rated mid-range options. Most travellers stay one or two nights here before taking the ferry to Havelock or Neil Island.
Mid-range hotels near Phoenix Bay Jetty
SeaShell Port Blair is a 4-star hotel located near Phoenix Bay Jetty, which is the main departure point for inter-island ferries. Its location reduces morning travel time on ferry days. Fortune Resort Bay Island is another 4-star option with direct Bay of Bengal views from its hillside position.
Budget options in Aberdeen Bazaar area
Aberdeen Bazaar is the commercial centre of Port Blair and has the highest concentration of budget hotels. Properties here cost INR 1,200 to 2,500 per night. Hotel Sentinel and TSG Emerald View are mid-budget choices in this zone with reliable air conditioning and in-house dining.
| Property Name | Star Rating | Location Advantage | Approx. Nightly Rate (INR, Peak Season) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SeaShell Port Blair | 4-star | Adjacent to Phoenix Bay Jetty | 5,500 – 8,000 |
| Sinclairs Bayview | 3-star | Near Cellular Jail, Bay of Bengal view | 4,000 – 6,500 |
| Fortune Resort Bay Island | 4-star | Hillside, sea-facing rooms | 6,000 – 9,500 |
| TSG Emerald View | 3-star | Aberdeen Bazaar, central location | 2,800 – 4,500 |
| Hotel Sentinel | 3-star | Aberdeen Bazaar, near bus stand | 2,200 – 3,800 |
Related: How to plan your Andaman trip from major Indian cities
What are the best resorts to stay at on Havelock Island?
Havelock Island holds the widest selection of resorts in Andaman, from eco-cottages under INR 4,000 per night to beachfront villas above INR 20,000. Barefoot at Havelock, Symphony Palms, and Andaman Bubbles cover the premium, mid-range, and budget segments respectively.
Time magazine (2004) named Radhanagar Beach one of the best beaches in Asia. This ranking is the primary reason Havelock Island commands a price premium over Port Blair and Neil Island properties.
Premium and eco-resorts on Beach No. 7 (Radhanagar area)
Barefoot at Havelock is an eco-resort on Havelock Island known for its beachfront cottages and an on-site PADI dive centre. The property sits close to Beach No. 7 (Radhanagar Beach) and uses solar power and rainwater harvesting. Nightly rates run INR 10,000 to 22,000 in peak season. Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Andaman is the highest-rated luxury property on the island, with private pool villas starting above INR 25,000 per night.
Mid-range resorts near Beach No. 5 (Vijaynagar)
Symphony Palms Beach Resort is a 4-star property on Havelock Island offering sea-facing cottages and water sports packages. The resort is near Beach No. 5 at Vijaynagar, which is calmer and better for families than Radhanagar. Wild Orchid is another mid-range option in the same zone with a well-regarded restaurant. Both properties cost INR 5,000 to 10,000 per night in peak season.
Budget guesthouses for divers near Elephant Beach
Andaman Bubbles is a budget guesthouse on Havelock Island popular with divers for its proximity to Elephant Beach. Rates start at INR 1,500 per night for a basic air-conditioned room. Emerald Gecko is a similar budget property with a social common area suited to solo travellers. Both properties offer dive package tie-ups with local operators.
| Property Name | Segment | Nearest Beach | Approx. Rate INR/Night (Peak) | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taj Exotica Resort & Spa | Luxury | Beach No. 7 (Radhanagar) | 25,000+ | Honeymoon, luxury stays |
| Barefoot at Havelock | Premium Eco | Beach No. 7 (Radhanagar) | 10,000 – 22,000 | Divers, eco-conscious couples |
| Symphony Palms Beach Resort | Mid-range (4-star) | Beach No. 5 (Vijaynagar) | 5,500 – 10,000 | Families, couples |
| Wild Orchid | Mid-range | Beach No. 5 (Vijaynagar) | 4,500 – 8,000 | Couples, small groups |
| Emerald Gecko | Budget | Beach No. 3 | 2,000 – 4,000 | Solo travellers, backpackers |
| Andaman Bubbles | Budget | Near Elephant Beach | 1,500 – 3,500 | Divers, budget travellers |
Related: Things to do in Andaman & Nicobar
Is it better to stay on Neil Island than Havelock for a quiet trip?
Neil Island suits travellers who want fewer crowds, lower prices, and a slower pace. The island has around 8–10 small resorts and guesthouses. Munjoh Ocean Resort is the most-reviewed property there. Neil Island works well as a two-night add-on after Havelock.
What does Munjoh Ocean Resort offer?
Munjoh Ocean Resort is a boutique resort on Neil Island known for its glass-floor cottages and coral-view rooms. Guests can see live coral formations through the cottage floor panels. Rates range from INR 7,000 to 14,000 per night in peak season. The glass-floor cottage category books out several weeks in advance during October to February.
Budget stays on Neil Island
Neil Island has several guesthouses near the main jetty priced between INR 1,200 and 3,000 per night. These are basic properties with fan or air-conditioned rooms. Laxmanpur Beach, the island's main beach, is a 10-minute auto-rickshaw ride from most budget guesthouses.
Related: Andaman honeymoon packages
How much does accommodation in Andaman cost per night across different budgets?
Accommodation in Andaman ranges from INR 1,200 per night for basic guesthouses to INR 25,000 or more for beachfront villas. Peak season (October to February) pushes rates 30–50% higher than the off-season. Havelock Island properties are generally 20–40% more expensive than equivalent Port Blair hotels.
The off-season runs from May to September. Several Havelock resorts close partially or fully during the monsoon months of June and July. Booking in October or November gives the best combination of good weather and moderate rates before the December–January peak. Advance booking of 45 to 60 days is standard for Havelock resorts in peak season. Port Blair hotels are available with shorter lead times of 10 to 15 days for most of the year.
Budget travellers spending INR 1,500 to 3,500 per night can find clean, air-conditioned rooms on all three islands. Mid-range stays from INR 4,000 to 10,000 cover most 3-star and 4-star options. Properties above INR 12,000 per night are almost exclusively on Havelock Island.
Related: Best time to visit Andaman & Nicobar
What should you check before booking a stay in Andaman?
Before booking in Andaman, confirm ferry schedules between islands, check whether the property has a generator (power cuts are common), and verify the cancellation policy for monsoon months (May to September). Indian nationals need no permit for Port Blair, Havelock, or Neil Island.
Ferry timing and its impact on check-in
Government ferries and private operators — Makruzz, Nautika, and Green Ocean — run between Port Blair and Havelock Island. The journey takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on the vessel. Most ferries depart Port Blair between 6:00 AM and 8:30 AM. Travellers arriving on late-night flights into IXZ often miss the morning ferry and need a Port Blair hotel night. Confirm your ferry slot before finalising resort check-in dates.
Permit rules for Indian and foreign nationals
Indian nationals do not require any permit to visit Port Blair, Havelock Island, or Neil Island. Foreign nationals receive a 30-day entry permit on arrival at IXZ airport. A Restricted Area Permit (RAP) is required for tribal-protected islands such as North Sentinel Island and Little Andaman's interior zones. No tourist — Indian or foreign — is permitted near tribal-protected areas regardless of accommodation bookings.
Related: Andaman honeymoon packages
Ready to Plan Your Trip?
Tripstor's consultants can match you to the right island, property segment, and ferry schedule for your dates. We handle resort bookings, ferry tickets, and complete Andaman itineraries from a single point of contact. Call us to confirm availability before peak-season slots fill up.
For package booking assistance, call us at +91 98253 43323