“This is my world and I am world leader pretend” – R.E.M.
Spending a Night in my Town: Marine View Hotel, Port Blair, Andaman Islands, India
Jonny Blair to Port Blair? Are you serious? Deadly! Imagine spending a night in a town which I own. Well not really, but my Chennai to Port Blair journey was a completely ridiculous and unexpected trip for me. I booked a last minute flight on Jet Airways and there I landed – in Port Blair!
Jet Airways Chennai to Port Blair
While touring the Andaman Islands, I had to spend one night in the downtown part of the city to check out the vibrancy of this place. Did it live up to the Blair expectations?
Arrival in Port Blair, Andaman Islands
Jonny Blair arrives in Port Blair, Andaman Islands, India
Andaman Islands are a paradise and Port Blair is just the capital city, outrageously it houses 100,000 people so it’s no small fish either. And despite settling for a night in Port Blair itself, I was actually more excited to be heading to Corbyn’s Cove and my two nights at the fabulous Peerless Sarovar Portico Resort. But after arriving from the crazy Chennai – Blair flight, and getting my Andaman Islands permit, I headed to the Marine View Hotel. If you want to stay near the port and near the city centre, get yourself booked in here for the night.
Marine View Hotel, a night in Port Blair
I had my own room with an ensuite, air conditioning and a TV.
My room in Port Blair
Air conditioning
My ensuite
The downstairs restaurant dishes up some treats including the breakfast. I had a spicy Indian meal and a good cup of tea.
Breakfast at Hotel Marine View, Port Blair
Downstairs restaurant
There is Wi-Fi in the lobby, albeit slow. Andaman Islands are a tranquil and remote paradise and one of the rare negative aspects to these islands is the internet connectivity is poor overall.
WiFi in the lobby
I also had a balcony overlooking the street and was walking distance from the Marina and the city centre of Port Blair.
Balcony overlooking the street
Please I have to stress that Port Blair and the Andaman Islands are horrendous for Wi-Fi. I managed only 4 days here before going mad and almost losing my business head!
Downtown Port Blair
The hotel is situated about 5 minutes from the Marina and 10 minutes from the Gandhi statue at the foot of the popular Aberdeen Bazaar.I enjoyed my swift night here before the treat of the Peerless Sarovar Portico Resort.
The harbour at Port Blair
Touring the Cellular Jail in Port Blair
Port Blair, Andaman Islands
Here are the details for booking the Marine View Hotel:
| M/S. HOTEL MARINE VIEW UNIT OF JADWET AND SONS BEHIND MARINE HALL NEXT TO MARINE DRYDOCK 100 MTS FROM PHONIX BAY JETTY POST – ABERDEEN PORT BLAIR – 744101 |
| Mob: +91- 9734488899 Fax : 03192-234954 |
| Email: [email protected] |
Here are some videos from my time in Port Blair:
(as ever to be uploaded when/if I ever find decent internet connection)
When will you go to Serbia?? and will you get the Northern Ireland 2016 euro kit? hope the best for NI
– Nemanja
Hi Nemanja, I haven’t been to Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia or Liberland yet. I did have a few days in Kosovo and I have backpacked through Montenegro, FYR Macedonia and Slovenia before. I’ll get there someday. I won’t be buying the home shirt as I hate it, but probably the away one. I have lots of old Northern Ireland shirts too. Safe travels. Jonny