Escape to Paradise: Andaman's Honey Moon Beach Resort Awaits!
Andaman's Honey Moon Beach Resort: Paradise Found (and Maybe a Few Lost Things Too!) - A Thoroughly Unfiltered Review
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your average, sterile hotel review. We're diving DEEP into Andaman's Honey Moon Beach Resort – and trust me, it's a wild ride. I’m talking a rollercoaster of emotions, from pure bliss to… well, let’s just say I saw my fair share of tiny ants on that croissant. But hey, that’s life, right? And especially life in paradise!
First Impressions: Accessibility and Getting There (and, You Know, Breathing)
Okay, so the first thing to address is Accessibility. They say the resort is "facility-for-disabled-guests" type of property, which is a fine start, but I'm not really the best to make a call, since I was not testing it with a wheelchair. I'm more of the "wander around and trip over my own feet" type. But there is an elevator. And that's a huge plus when your travel companion has a bad knee or when you are tired of going up 100 stairs.
Getting to the resort, well, that's part of the adventure! Airport transfer is available (a must!), and thank goodness, because navigating the Andaman Islands on your own after a long flight? Nope. Hard Pass. The roads are… characterful. Let’s leave it at that. Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site] also is available.
Cleanliness and Safety: Sanitized and Slightly…Smelly?
Cleanliness and safety are crucial these days, and the resort seems to take it seriously. They’ve got anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, room sanitization between stays, hand sanitizer galore, and staff are trained in safety protocol. The rooms are sanitized between stays. All the things that make you feel like you might survive a rogue cough. They even have individually-wrapped food options, so you can wrestle with your croissant without potentially spreading germs on people. Rooms sanitized between stays is a big one. Feeling safe and clean is key. But the smell… okay, so sometimes the cleaning products felt… a bit too enthusiastic. I swear, walking in, you could smell the bleach from a mile away. I guess that's better than the alternative, but maybe a touch of fresh air wouldn't hurt, too.
The Rooms: Paradise… with a Few Quirks
Ah, the rooms. Our room, a glorious, non-smoking haven, boasted air conditioning (thank GOD!), a mini bar (essential!), and a safe box (mostly used to store my dwindling supply of chocolate). Let's go through the details:
- Available in all rooms: Everything is good to go.
- Air conditioning: A MUST.
- Alarm clock: I hate them, but I need them.
- Bathrobes: Luxurious.
- Bathroom phone: When did this thing ever came in handy?
- Bathtub: I'm a shower person.
- Blackout curtains: Perfect for sleeping in late.
- Carpeting: Clean.
- Closet: Spacious enough.
- Coffee/tea maker: Good for that mid-day pick-me-up.
- Complimentary tea: Nice touch.
- Daily housekeeping: They kept things ship-shape!
- Desk: Useful for the rare moment I actually did work.
- Extra long bed: Big enough for me and my suitcase!
- Free bottled water: Always appreciated.
- Hair dryer: Essential.
- High floor: The view was glorious.
- In-room safe box: For the valuables.
- Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless: Spotty at times, but worked mostly fine.
- Ironing facilities: Because wrinkly travel clothes are a crime.
- Laptop workspace: See “desk.”
- Linens: Clean and crisp.
- Mini bar: My best friend.
- Mirror: You know.
- Non-smoking: Bless them for this.
- On-demand movies: Could have been better.
- Private bathroom: Excellent!
- Reading light: For late-night bookworms.
- Refrigerator: Cool.
- Safety/security feature: Always a good thing.
- Satellite/cable channels: Something to watch to pass the time.
- Scale: I avoided it.
- Seating area: Nice to chill out.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Choose your own adventure!
- Shower: Excellent!
- Slippers: Comfy.
- Smoke detector: Good to have.
- Socket near the bed: A necessity in the modern world.
- Sofa: Lovely to relax.
- Soundproofing: Mostly effective.
- Telephone: Useful.
- Toiletries: Provided.
- Towels: Soft and fluffy.
- Umbrella: It rained once.
- Visual alarm: Didn’t need it.
- Wake-up service: Use the phone!
- Window that opens: Yay!
- Additional toilet: Didn’t need it either, but good to have.
The Food: A Culinary Adventure (Mostly)
The food scene at Andaman's is…an adventure. There is a buffet in restaurant, breakfast [buffet], Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, coffee/tea in restaurant, desserts in restaurant, salad in restaurant, soup in restaurant, available restaurants, restaurants that are pretty good.
- Dining, drinking, and snacking: Delicious.
- A la carte in restaurant: So many choices.
- Alternative meal arrangement: If you don’t like something, they will change it.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Excellent.
- Bar: The cocktails were AMAZING.
- Bottle of water: Always free.
- Breakfast [buffet]: The croissants… okay, the croissant situation. Some days, they were perfect. Flaky, buttery, heaven. Other days… well, I mentioned the ants, didn't I? The coffee was hit or miss, too. But overall, the buffet was solid.
- Breakfast service: Very convenient.
- Buffet in restaurant: Very good.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Very good.
- Happy hour: Excellent.
- International cuisine in restaurant: Good variety.
- Poolside bar: A MUST.
- Restaurants: Many, of great quality.
- Room service [24-hour]: Perfect for those late-night cravings.
- Salad in restaurant: Fresh and tasty.
- Snack bar: Great for a quick bite.
- Soup in restaurant: Comfort in a bowl.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Had options.
- Western breakfast: Excellent.
- Western cuisine in restaurant: Great.
Ways to Relax (and Maybe Over-Indulge): Spa, Pool, and…More Pool!
Okay, this is where the resort really shines. This place is all about ways to relax.
- Body scrub: Pampering.
- Body wrap: Relaxing.
- Fitness center: I went once.
- Foot bath: Lovely.
- Gym/fitness: See "Fitness Center."
- Massage: Heavenly.
- Pool with view: Breathtaking.
- Sauna: Hot!
- Spa: Amazing!
- Spa/sauna: The best.
- Steamroom: Steamy.
- Swimming pool: Awesome!
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Essential.
The swimming pool [outdoor] is… well, it's the star of the show. Seriously, it’s stunning. You can spend hours floating, sipping cocktails from the poolside bar, and just existing in pure, blissful relaxation. And the spa? Oh, the spa. The massage was so good, I almost fell asleep on the table. The sauna and steamroom were divine. Honestly, I think I spent half my vacation just wandering around in a bathrobe, feeling like a pampered lizard.
- Couple's room: Great.
- Proposal spot: Romantic.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
The resort offers a whole host of services and conveniences.
- Air conditioning in public area: Needed.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: They have it.
- Business facilities: The business people will like it.
- Cash withdrawal: Yes!
- Concierge: helpful.
- **Contactless check-in/out
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into a honeymoon… in paradise. Honey Moon Beach Resort, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Sounds dreamy, right? Prepare yourselves, because even in paradise, things get real.
The Honeymoon Itinerary: Honey Moon Beach Resort - Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Plus a Whole Lotta Me!)
(Day 1: Arrival & Beach Bliss… or Maybe Just Jet Lag)
- 6:00 AM (Ish): Blast off. Okay, technically, we were supposed to have a "romantic sunrise viewing" at home, but the alarm clock and I had a serious disagreement. Now we're hurtling through space (read: Delhi airport) on our way to the magical land of Andaman. I'm fueled by instant coffee and the frantic energy of "OMG, we’re MARRIED!" (still weird to say). Hubby is, as always, a stoic, calm island. Ironically.
- 12:00 PM (Aproximately): Land at Veer Savarkar International Airport (Port Blair). First impression: humid. Gloriously, sticky, wonderfully humid. My hair is already rebelling. Hubby, true to form, is fine with the humidity. I, on the other hand, am already fantasizing about a cold towel. Thankfully, everything is smooth, and the resort arranged a ride. Yay!
- 1:30 PM: Arrival at Honey Moon Beach Resort. And… WOW. Okay, rewind. I had pictures in my head, but seeing this beauty in person… the turquoise water, the swaying palms, the little beach shacks… I actually teared up. (Don't tell anyone!) Hubby, predictably, said "Nice." (I’m pretty sure he was equally floored but has impeccable poker face).
- 2:00 PM: Check-in. The room is lovely. Beach view, a balcony, a mosquito net (bless). I immediately test the bed (firm, good), the shower (pressure, excellent), and the view (spectacular). Hubby, meanwhile, is already unpacking, which I find both endearing and terrifying because I haven't even thought about unpacking yet.
- 3:00 PM: BEACH TIME! We practically sprint to the beach. The sand is white, the water is clear, and the sun is… powerful. I slather on sunscreen like my life depends on it. Hubby, bless him, forgets to apply any.
- 4:00 PM: Disaster of a Snorkel. Okay, maybe not a full disaster, but I’m trying to snorkel for the first time, and I’m not doing it well - at all. My mask fogs up, I swallow half the ocean, and I pretty sure a clownfish calls me a loser. Hubby, of course, looks like a professional diver and is pointing out all the cute fish. I give up. I go back to building sandcastles.
- 5:00 PM: Sunset drinks at the beach bar. Okay, THIS is the life. We drink cocktails that taste like sunshine, watching the sun melt into the sea. Absolute perfection. I even manage to convince Hubby to let go and get a little silly.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at the resort restaurant. Seafood, of course! Delicious, fresh, and perfectly spiced. By this point, I am exhausted from the long day and sunburn. I fall asleep halfway through my grilled fish.
(Day 2: Adventure? …or Nap Time?)
- 8:00 AM: Wake up feeling like I got hit by a bus. Jet lag is a beast. And sunburn, it turns out, is a sneaky little devil. Hubby, refreshed and ready to go, suggested we start the day with kayaking.
- 9:00 AM: Kayaking. We rented a kayak. This was a bad idea. I'm a terrible kayaker. I manage to bump us into a mangrove tree. I manage to fall out of the kayak, much to Hubby's amusement. More chaos, more sunburn. I swear I will never, ever go back on a Kayak.
- 11:00 AM: Post-Kayaking Recovery. Back to the room to soothe my ego and sunburn. I actually needed an hour long sleep, and Hubby quietly left the room to spare me from his jokes. I guess he wanted some down time as well.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. We got a light lunch at the resort's restaurant. I'm still recovering from the kayak incident.
- 2:00 PM: The Most Amazing Scuba Diving Experience. I decided to challenge myself. You know, to face my fears, to experience something truly remarkable. Scuba Diving. The instructor was kind and patient, guiding me through the basics. And then…we went under. It was a bit scary at first, the unfamiliar sensation of breathing underwater, the pressure in my ears. But then… the world opened up. Schools of fish, vibrant corals, a whole other universe in front of my eyes. I am still in awe. It was the most breathtaking moment of the trip.
- 5:00 PM: Post-Scuba Reflection. We're both quiet, processing the sheer beauty of the underwater world. I was so happy and emotional. Hubby was very happy, but he needed some more time to let it sink in.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. We went for a candlelit dinner on the beach. Hubby was so cute and romantic. He took my hand and had this amazing smile on his face.
(Day 3: Island Hopping… and Potential Meltdowns)
- 9:00 AM: Island Hopping. It was supposed to be all adventurous and Instagram-worthy. But first, there were some hiccups. The boat was late. The sun was HIGH, and my sunburn was UNHAPPY. I also realized I forgot my hat.
- 9:30 AM: We finally set off for Havelock Island. The boat ride was bumpy. I may have gotten a little seasick. I am not a good sailor. Hubby found it all hilarious.
- 11:00 AM: Havelock Island. The white sand beaches are beautiful, but I was not in a good mood. We went to Radhanagar Beach. The sand was nice, but I still had a bad headache. We decided we needed to find shade and eat some ice cream.
- 1:00 PM: More beach time. We went to a different beach at Havelock. We needed to calm down and enjoy the island. We spent a few hours strolling down the beach and sitting in the sand. It was nice.
- 4:00 PM: Head back. The boat ride back was smoother (thank goodness). We both decided that we were too exhausted anymore.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. We ate in the resort. We were too tired to find someplace else. We ate our dinner quietly.
(Day 4: Relaxation… and Reality)
- 9:00 AM: Wake up. No schedule. We have decided to do nothing. Total relaxation. I am so glad that it's a free day.
- 10:00 AM: Breakfast in bed. We ordered some breakfast by room service and relaxed in bed.
- 12:00 PM: Pool time. I swam in the pool. Hubby spent an hour, just reading a book, which meant no interruptions.
- 2:00 PM: Massage. I booked a massage. It was amazing.
- 4:00 PM: We had a quiet afternoon. We sat at our balcony and just enjoyed each other's company.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. Sunset Dinner. This time we ate at the sunset point. It was beautiful.
(Day 5: Departure… and a Whole Lotta Feelings)
- 8:00 AM: Pack. Sigh. The joy of a honeymoon is over. I am still in disbelief about my wonderful trip.
- 9:00 AM: Last breakfast. The sun rises, and we have breakfast once more.
- 10:00 AM: Check out. We made sure that we paid at the counter.
- 11:00 AM: Farewell to Honey Moon Beach Resort.
- 1:00 PM: Fly back to Delhi.
Ramblings & Reflections:
This trip was… everything and more. I mean, sure, my honeymoon wasn't always picture-perfect. There was the kayaking incident, sunburn and my fear of the ocean. But amidst all the chaos and the occasional meltdown, we found our paradise. We laughed, we loved, and we learned a little more about each other – and ourselves. I return home tired, but with my heart full.
Escape to Fairytale Germany: Hotel am Schlossplatz Hechingen Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Andaman's Honey Moon Beach Resort Awaits!...Seriously? Let's See...
Okay, Okay, So What *Actually* Is This "Honey Moon Beach Resort"? Sounds... cheesy.
Is Havelock Island *really* as beautiful as all the pictures? Because, you know, Instagram...
The Beach Cabanas... Are They Actually Romantic? And do they have AC?
Okay, but what about the FOOD? I'm a picky eater (read: hangry goblin).
Tell me about the staff. Are they annoyingly enthusiastic about romance?
What's there to *do* besides, you know, honeymoon? Are there excursions?
Overall, would you recommend the Honey Moon Beach Resort? Be brutally honest!
