Hotel : SeaShell Portblair..
I booked a total tour package 9 days at seashell .. both PB and Havelock..
The hotel in PB is at a good location provided you are taking the Deluxe Sea View rooms.. I suppose those are the only rooms from where you can get the awesome view of the ocean..
The staff over there is courteous but but but they are very very slow.. If you order something to the room, they might take an hour or even "forget" to send it up..
Check if you are going in the offseason.. if thats the case then you can always ask for discounts..
I booked a total tour package 9 days at seashell .. both PB and Havelock..
The hotel in PB is at a good location provided you are taking the Deluxe Sea View rooms.. I suppose those are the only rooms from where you can get the awesome view of the ocean..
The staff over there is courteous but but but they are very very slow.. If you order something to the room, they might take an hour or even "forget" to send it up..
Check if you are going in the offseason.. if thats the case then you can always ask for discounts..
The only complimentary stuff that they offer to a couple is a "candle light dinner" at havelock..
Are you going to Havelock also?
Havelock is great place to be..
Seashell Havelock is also an amazing place to stay at..
The view from the hotel is awesome.. there is kind of a private beach that every hotel there has..
the only problem they have is, they dont have geysers and so you wont get hot water for bathing..
Travel -
I had a tour package with the hotel itself and it cost me a lot for travel. There are other modes of transport, like taxis and rickshaws at Portblair.. At Havelock one would also get bikes on rent..
Sightseeing the most important part :
In PB -
1. dont miss the Cellular Jail..
2. Go to Wandoor (Gandhi Marine National Park) also called Jolly buoy..
3. I would say you can skip Samudrika and Anthropological museum without even thinking.. this is if you are not interested in seeing the museums..
4. Carbyns Cove beach..
5. Ross Island/NorthBay/Viper Island - there is a tour boat which takes you to all three in a days time..
6. Chidiya Tapu - for the beautiful sunset and the biological park..
In Havelock -
1. Radhanagar beach.. Around 20kms road travel from seashell havelock..
There are no water activities here.. but the beach is one of the amazing beaches i have seen till now.. You can spend around 2-3 hours in the morning here.. Then you can do something else for the remaining time..
2. Elephant Beach.. Boat ride takes you there..
-- You can do snorkelling (costs Rs.200)
-- Glass Bottom Boat ride (costs Rs.200) -- avoidable..
-- Speed boat ride (costs around 300 or so)
3. Scuba diving - If you dont do this in Havelock then you have missed a lot..
-- I booked my scuba through Barefoot resort. Costs Rs.4000/- for a fun dive.. but its worth every penny.. and oh yes, you DONT need to know swimming for this..
You can add Neil Island to the itinerary.. I couldnt..
-- I booked my scuba through Barefoot resort. Costs Rs.4000/- for a fun dive.. but its worth every penny.. and oh yes, you DONT need to know swimming for this..
You can add Neil Island to the itinerary.. I couldnt..
Important Tips :
1. Carry Umbrella.. It can rain anytime there.. Or a raincoat..
2. Carry Odomos..
3. Some basic medicines, ask your doctor and carry them along with you.. as medical assistance is very limited..
4. Carry Electral/Glucon-D just in case, PB/Havelock have some other brands ..
Adding my itinerary just for reference :
Day I:>> Pick up from Airport.
:>> Visit to Carbyn's Cove Beach.
:>> Light & Sound & Sound Show.
Day II:>>Depart to Havelock. -- ferry (Makruzz) at 8.45am.. reaches havelock at 10.30am..
:>> Snorkeling at Elephant Beach.
:>> Mangrove Dinghy Ride.
Day III:>> Scuba Diving @ 4000/- per pax.. happens early in the morning..
Day IV:>> Trip to Radhanagar Beach
:>> Evening - Country Fishing.
Day V :>> Return from Havelock By Makruzz. 3.45pm is the timing.. so you have the whole morning for doing sightseeing.. but the checkout at seashell is 11am..
:>> Check in at Sea Shell, Port Blair.
Day VI(29/12/10):>> City Tour( museums & cellular Jail) -- skip museums.. arent worth even a penny..
Day VII(30/12/10):>> Visit to Three Island.
Day VIII(31/12/10):>> Trip to Wandoor. (Jolly buoy)
:>> Visit to Chiriya Tapu & Shopping
1. Carry Umbrella.. It can rain anytime there.. Or a raincoat..
2. Carry Odomos..
3. Some basic medicines, ask your doctor and carry them along with you.. as medical assistance is very limited..
4. Carry Electral/Glucon-D just in case, PB/Havelock have some other brands ..
Adding my itinerary just for reference :
Day I:>> Pick up from Airport.
:>> Visit to Carbyn's Cove Beach.
:>> Light & Sound & Sound Show.
Day II:>>Depart to Havelock. -- ferry (Makruzz) at 8.45am.. reaches havelock at 10.30am..
:>> Snorkeling at Elephant Beach.
:>> Mangrove Dinghy Ride.
Day III:>> Scuba Diving @ 4000/- per pax.. happens early in the morning..
Day IV:>> Trip to Radhanagar Beach
:>> Evening - Country Fishing.
Day V :>> Return from Havelock By Makruzz. 3.45pm is the timing.. so you have the whole morning for doing sightseeing.. but the checkout at seashell is 11am..
:>> Check in at Sea Shell, Port Blair.
Day VI(29/12/10):>> City Tour( museums & cellular Jail) -- skip museums.. arent worth even a penny..
Day VII(30/12/10):>> Visit to Three Island.
Day VIII(31/12/10):>> Trip to Wandoor. (Jolly buoy)
:>> Visit to Chiriya Tapu & Shopping
Checkout from PB seashell is at 7.00am.. So check at what time you have the flight and let them know in advance if you would need to stay back for more time..