Why Does Your Dream Honeymoon In Andamans Need Proper Planning?

Andaman and Nicobar Islands are heaven for honeymooners. They boast pristine beaches, crystal blue water, and thick greenery of tropical forests, providing a truly idyllic scenery of love. However, due to being an isolated archipelago, traveling there is not the same as going to beach destinations of the Indian subcontinent like Goa or Kerala.

There are many unique features in terms of infrastructure, network availability, and transport between the islands is based only on ferries.

Just one planning error may spoil your relaxing journey turning it into an adventure of solving problems related to transportation, network issues, accommodation, and other matters. For your convenience, we prepared a checklist of honeymoon mistakes to avoid during your trip to Andamans.

1. Wanting to See Too Many Islands (Packing too much in an Itinerary)

By far the biggest mistake that honeymooners commit is wanting to see and do all things. The attempt is to cram all islands like Port Blair, Havelock, Neil, Baratang, and Ross & Smith Islands within the limited duration of five days only.

How This Kills the Mood

Every island change means repacking your luggage, checking out from the hotel, traveling to the Jetty to take a boat and sail for some hours to reach another place where you check into another hotel. All these activities take around half a day or more. And doing the same activity every twenty four hours makes you tired.

Alternative Approach

It is quality over quantity when it comes to honeymooning. If you are going to stay for five to six days, you should consider the classic three islands combination of Port Blair, Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep).

2. Failing to Book Intercity Ferry Tickets in Advance

A large number of tourists make the mistake of believing they can purchase ferry tickets immediately upon arriving in Port Blair, just like one does in the case of an ordinary city bus.

The Truth About the Transfer of the Islands

Luxury catamarans like Makruzz, Nautika, and Green Ocean have restricted passenger capacity. For the honeymoon period from October to May, tickets need to be booked weeks in advance.

What To Do Otherwise

It is recommended to book your ferry tickets in advance, through the Internet, 30 to 45 days before your arrival. It is strongly advised not to depend on the government ferries; it is practically impossible for tourists to get tickets for them.

3. Compressing Flight and Ferry Arrangements into One Day

What would happen if you arrived at Port Blair at 11:30 AM and then booked a ferry ride to Havelock Island which leaves at 12:15 PM? This will result in a holiday tragedy.

Zero Margin of Safety

Flight delays are not uncommon and getting through your luggage will take some time. In addition, there is no way around the need to get there 45-60 minutes before your departure time because this is required by private operators who manage the ferry service. If you fail to board, you have just wasted your hotel reservation on another island as you have to pay an extremely high price for making last-minute reservations.

How to Proceed

Leave yourself ample room for maneuvering. If you arrive in Port Blair in the late morning, spend your first day discovering the island (like visiting Cellular Jail) and depart for Havelock the following morning.

4. Selecting a Hotel Only Based on its Name “Havelock” or “Neil”

Online hotel booking websites usually mention only “Havelock Island” as the place. Couples tend to select such hotels thinking that they can directly step out of their hotel room and enter into soft sand beaches.

The Distance Illusion

Havelock and Neil are large and scattered islands. A cheap resort can be as far as 25 minutes from the coast, situated in the middle of the island or very close to the harbor markets. You can spend your whole honeymoon money by taking pricey transportation just to reach the sea.

What Should Be Done Differently

Check the exact location or GPS coordinates before selecting the resort. In case you are seeking the beach vacation experience, go for resorts that specifically state themselves to be situated on Govind Nagar Beach (Beach No. 3) and Vijay Nagar Beach (Beach No. 5).

5. Bringing Giant, Heavy Hard-Case Suitcases and Luxury Mainland Attire

Carrying oversized and heavy hard-case suitcases, as well as luxurious mainland attire, are some of the worst packing mistakes when going to an island.

Practical Problem

You will be stepping up and down wobbly ferry gangways, walking through sandy roads, and transporting your luggage into tiny speed boats. It is quite challenging and tiring dragging such an enormous 30 kg trolley bag through a sandy beach. Furthermore, high heels do not work on untarred beach roads.

Instead

Pack light and airy cotton or linen clothes. Pack your rubber sandals, swimsuits, wide-brimmed caps, and high SPF sunscreens. More importantly, carry a water-resistant dry bag to protect your phones, camera, and money from sudden saltwater exposure when traveling via boats.

6. Overlooking Tides for Viewing Major Natural Attraction

Most of the major natural attractions of Andaman are entirely dependent on the sea tides of that particular region.

Missed Window

The Natural Rock Bridge, for instance, which is one of the major attractions of Neil Island can be reached through walking route during the time of low tide. In case you reach during high tide, then everything will be covered with tough water, and therefore, it would be impossible for you to visit this attraction. There are some snorkeling reefs whose clear waters become clouded due to change in tides.

Action Item

Do not blindly go to a beach on the basis of information available in any travel guide. It is better to ask for tide chart timings from the resort desk or local scooty service providers.

7. Expecting High-Speed 5G Internet Connection Anywhere

If you have to make frequent zoom video conference calls for work or need to watch HD movies in the evening, then Andaman will surprise you.

The Digital Disconnect

Though mobile connections (especially of Airtel and BSNL) function fine when making phone calls and sending simple texts in the major cities, but when it comes to accessing internet data on beaches, especially the remote ones, the internet speed becomes highly irritating.

What Can You Do Then?

Instruct your family and office beforehand that you would be mostly offline. Pre-download all your flight tickets, voucher bookings, and offline maps in your phone storage. Look at this network breakdown as an opportunity to go digital detox with your partner.

8. Depending Entirely on Digital Transactions (UPI and Cards)

Mainland India operates entirely through cashless UPI transactions. Due to this reason, a lot of couples land at Andaman without having any cash with them.

The Problem of Payment Failure

This problem arises due to the poor internet connectivity discussed above as payment gateways such as card machines and UPI QR scanners become ineffective while purchasing something from beach huts, local souvenir shops, or fuel stops on remote locations. Even ATMs on Neil Islands tend to run out of cash during weekend visits by tourists.

What to Do

Keep an effective amount of cash handy. At least have ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 worth of notes with you in your bag.

9. Not Having Important Medications on Hand

There are some good health clinics in Andaman, but there are even better government hospitals in Port Blair. Still, none of the small islands outside have huge 24-hour pharmacies.

Shortage of Supply

Almost all consumer goods are brought to Andaman from mainland India. If you require specific prescription drugs, special skin care products, or even plain old sea sickness pills for a choppy ferry journey, obtaining those things in Havelock and Neil becomes a very hard task.

The Alternative

Bring your own medical kit. Pack your personal prescriptions along with over-the-counter medications for motion sickness, allergies, pain, and stomach disorders.

10. Carrying Prohibited Single-Use Plastic Objects

The Andaman Islands are an Eco-tourism reserve. For the preservation of marine flora and fauna as well as the cleanliness of the forests, there is a strict prohibition on plastics in Andaman.

Penalty

Carrying single-use plastic carry bags to the islands is an offense. Anyone found carrying or using plastic bags may have to pay a heavy fine of up to ₹1,00,000, spend six months in jail, or both.

Alternative Plan

Do not bring plastic bags with you. Carry cloth or jute bags for carrying your luggage. Besides that, make sure that you do not litter anywhere.

11. Ignoring Hiding Animals and Swimming Safety Regulations

The beaches of Andaman seem to offer peace and safety, but the ocean currents there can often be misleading and powerful.

The Dangers Zones

There are beaches that hide rip currents or those that are protected because of the presence of saltwater crocodiles. Swimming by yourself during night-time or swimming in areas where “No Swimming” boards are present is very dangerous.

What You Should Do Instead

Swim only in specified beaches such as Radhanagar Beach. Be aware of the safety flags and report to the lifeguards before getting too deep into the sea. Always avoid swimming while drunk or with an open cut.

12. Attempting to Pick Up Corals and Collect Dead Shells as Memorabilia

As part of the natural impulse of humankind, the urge to pick up a beautiful shell or pieces of white coral off the beach as a memorabilia of one’s honeymoon cannot be overlooked. Nevertheless, engaging in this act goes against environmental regulations.

The Airport Custom Inspection

Under the protection rules for the Coral Reef, the picking up of all marine creatures—alive or dead—is viewed as an egregious crime. On checking out, while going through the airport X-ray scanners with luggage, the customs officials shall seize any free shells or corals found, exposing one to harsh punishments.

What to Do Otherwise

Leave only prints and take only pictures. For anyone wanting souvenir shells, then visit the authorized handicraft shop in Port Blair such as the Sagarika Emporium where one can purchase shells legally. Ensure that you have the receipt of purchase.

13. Beach Parties, Nightclubs, and Midnight Shopping in Andaman?

Expectations of traveling to Andaman for beach parties, nightclubs, and shopping centers at night like North Goa are not true.

The Natural Rhythm of Andaman

Andaman has its own natural rhythm. It is an early bird culture. The day starts with sunrise at 5:00 AM and ends with sunset at 5:30 PM. All the local dining places, markets, and shops shut before 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM. The only highlight here is peace and star gazing.

How Else to Spend Time

Change your own rhythm. Rise early in the morning to see sunrise, keep busy during the daytime and relax at the beach at night.

14. Trespassing into Native Tribal Reserves

In the Andaman Islands there are several native tribes that live in peace with the surrounding forest environment for ages. The privacy of these tribes is highly respected according to the national law.

Legal Restrictions

There are very strict legal restrictions imposed in places such as the Jarawa Tribal Reserve that are situated on the Andaman Trunk Road. It is a criminal offense and an un-bailable one to make contact with the tribal people, to stop your car in the tribal reserve, offer them food items, and capture photographs and videos of them.

What You Should Do?

Follow the local boundary restrictions. If your transport goes through the reserve land, keep all your windows up and follow the official security convoy instructions.

Plan Wisely, Travel Leisurely, and Reap the Rewards of Paradise

Your honeymoon is meant for creating lovely memories, not for experiencing unnecessary travel stresses. Andaman is a paradise in its own right, but its unique geographical structure makes it difficult to plan a holiday there as easily as one does in other places. With some simple planning, arranging your travel well in advance, bringing cash along, and following the local environmental laws, you’ll be able to avoid falling into the very typical traps that tourists usually do. Consider yourself lucky because the absence of fast internet can be treated as a bonus for you two.