15 Andaman Tips That Will Save Your Trip (and Your Wallet)
The Andaman Islands are gorgeous and remote. That remoteness means the usual Indian travel shortcuts don't work. I learned most of these lessons through personal failure. You don't have to.
Money
1. Carry cash. Lots of it.
ATMs on Havelock and Neil run out of cash regularly — especially weekends, holidays, and peak season. SBI ATM at Havelock is the most reliable but still fails. Withdraw INR 10,000-15,000 before leaving Port Blair. Many dive shops, boat operators, and small restaurants are cash-only.
2. The Andaman is expensive by Indian standards.
Everything is imported by ship or plane. A water bottle costs INR 30 instead of INR 20. A basic hotel room is INR 1,500 instead of INR 800. Fresh seafood is affordable (fish thali INR 200-350), but packaged goods, alcohol, and processed food cost 20-50% more than the mainland.
Transport
3. Book ferries the moment you have flight tickets.
Makruzz and Green Ocean catamarans from Port Blair to Havelock (1.5 hours, INR 1,000-1,800) sell out 2-3 days ahead in peak season. Government ferries are cheaper (INR 400-600) but uncomfortable and less frequent. Book at makruzz.com or andamantrunk.com.
4. Chennai is the cheapest flight gateway.
Chennai to Port Blair is the most frequent route (2 hours) and usually the cheapest (INR 4,000-8,000 one way). Book 6-8 weeks ahead for December travel.
5. Carry seasickness medication.
The Bay of Bengal gets choppy. Even the catamarans bounce in moderate seas. Dramamine or local Avomine (INR 15 at any pharmacy in Port Blair) works. Take it 30 minutes before boarding.
Beaches and Water
6. Radhanagar is best at 3:30 PM, not noon.
Asia's best beach faces west. The golden light starts around 3:30 PM. Sunset is the main event. Arriving at noon means harsh overhead sun and no shade (the beach has zero facilities beyond basic changing rooms). Bring your own water and snacks.
7. Swim only where lifeguards are present.
Radhanagar has rip currents. Elephant Beach has boat traffic. The currents around Neil can be strong. Lifeguards are on duty at Radhanagar until 5 PM. Stay within flagged areas. Don't be a hero.
8. Use reef-safe sunscreen or wear a rash guard.
Regular sunscreen with oxybenzone kills coral polyps. The Andaman's coral reefs are protected by law. Use mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide-based) or, better yet, wear a rash guard shirt for snorkeling. The equatorial sun will burn through SPF 30 in 45 minutes.
9. Never touch or stand on coral.
It takes coral 10+ years to grow a few centimeters. One fin kick can destroy a decade of growth. Keep your fins up. Don't stand on the reef (even in shallow water at Elephant Beach where you can touch the bottom). It's also punishable by fine.
Logistics
10. Give yourself at least 5 nights.
The common mistake: 2 nights Port Blair, 1 night Havelock, fly out. That's too rushed. Havelock alone deserves 2-3 nights (diving, Radhanagar sunset, Elephant Beach, bioluminescence). Neil needs 1 night. Port Blair needs 1.5 days for Cellular Jail and Ross Island.
Minimum: 5 nights. Ideal: 7 nights.
11. The Cellular Jail sound-and-light show is worth it.
Entry INR 50-100. English show at 7:15 PM (Hindi at 6 PM). The story of India's freedom fighters imprisoned in solitary cells is gut-wrenching told against the actual walls. Don't skip this for dinner plans.
12. Foreigners get a free Restricted Area Permit on arrival.
At Port Blair airport (IXZ), foreign nationals get a 30-day RAP issued at immigration. Free. Covers all tourist islands. Keep your passport handy — random checks happen on ferries. No separate application needed.
Diving
13. Do your PADI course here, not in Southeast Asia.
Andaman diving is world-class and significantly cheaper than Thailand or Indonesia. PADI Open Water: INR 25,000-35,000 (3 days) versus $400-500 in Koh Tao. Visibility and marine life are comparable. Dive India and Barefoot Scuba are the trusted operators on Havelock.
14. Discovery dives are perfect for non-swimmers.
You don't need to know how to swim for a discovery/try dive (INR 4,000-6,000). The instructor controls your buoyancy. You breathe through the regulator. And you see coral walls, clownfish, and sometimes reef sharks at 10 meters depth. If I could convince every non-diver to try one thing, it's this.
Mindset
Combine the Andaman's beaches with Kerala's backwaters for India's ultimate tropical itinerary.
15. Slow down. This isn't Goa.
The Andaman moves at island pace. Ferries might be delayed. The restaurant might take 45 minutes. The sunset might cloud over. The bioluminescence might not show up on your specific moonless night.
The islands reward patience. I spent 20 minutes sitting on Radhanagar Beach doing absolutely nothing, and the sky put on a show — pink to orange to purple to stars — that no guided tour could have planned.
The Andaman isn't a checklist destination. It's a place to breathe salt air, put your phone in a waterproof case, and let the Bay of Bengal run the schedule.
