Munjoh Island House Suites and Spa

We stayed at the Port Blair property and found it nowhere near worth the price. We booked after reading Google and TripAdvisor reviews, then realized many of the positive ones seemed to combine feedback for the Havelock and Port Blair properties. The online photos also gave a very different impression from what we found on arrival. We chose the Jade Suite expecting something premium, but it was a basic room with missing amenities and almost no service support. There was no room intercom or TV, and the bathroom had a shower but no tap. The place was badly understaffed, so guests often had to sort things out themselves. Requests went through a single phone number. Staff would take note when we called, but a follow-up call meant explaining everything again. That kept happening for two full days. Meals were another major problem. The food wasn't edible to us, and my children barely ate during the stay. You have to tell them your order well in advance, remind them again at the restaurant, then wait a long time. Dishes arrived in no clear sequence: the main course came first, then ice cream, then soup and starters. We saw just one chef and one service person. The Head Captain was both taking orders and serving, and didn't understand basic menu terms like starter or main course. When we asked for the main course, he pointed us to the appetizer section. After we explained several times, he said he was new. A Chicken Chilli dish was hard, smelled bad, and had an overly sweet sauce. If you stay here, I wouldn't choose the meals. Other hotels or restaurants in Port Blair offer better food for the money. Housekeeping only happened when we kept asking. The pool looked very dirty, the water color showed it, and there seemed to be no chlorine. The property is a long way in from the main road, with no shops or restaurants nearby. Bring water and dry snacks. Without your own vehicle, getting around is difficult, and the hotel didn't have proper car rental contacts. We checked in on a weekday and saw two or three other families run into similar problems over the weekend. One couple left without eating after the long delays and poor service. Despite the name Munjoh Island House, Suites and Spa, there is no spa at the Port Blair property, and staff couldn't give clear information about spa services. It's overpriced, poorly run, short-staffed, and marketed in a misleading way. Our stay was extremely disappointing, and I wouldn't recommend the Port Blair Munjoh Island House.

The service was the main letdown. We were meant to get a village and forest walk as part of the 11k room booking. Mr.Ravi asked us to be ready at 7 am, so we were outside by 6.55, but waited about 20 minutes and got no reply. He never showed up or answered our calls. At 7.40 am there was still no response. We also had to call three times and wait two hours to get the TV working after arriving, because its device needed a recharge. The property could use refurbishment, and for 11k the only amenity was the pool. It was large, clean, and had a great view, though it needs maintenance. The rooms themselves are nicely built and have a Victorian feel, a bit like ITC Windsor Manor in Bangalore. Food was decent. We stayed one night at the end of our Andaman trip. At other points we paid half as much at Symphony and TSG properties, which had much better amenities and service. That's why I'd give this place two stars, even though the rooms are good.

The pool looked dirty and unusable, and there were repeated power cuts, though those may not have been the hotel's fault. There's no spa, apparently because of a manpower issue, and no WiFi or alcohol. We were told they'd become a boutique hotel six months ago. There was no TV either, and the spot where one had been taken off the wall was still obvious. Because the hotel is remote, we had to eat there. Only an old buffet was available. It tasted poor and cost 1550rs, around three times what delicious meals cost at restaurants on Havelock. I paid three times my usual nightly hotel rate on the last day of my holiday, and the stay really wasn't worth it. The high rating puzzles me. The Google price also wasn't right, since GST was added on top.

The rooms are comfortable and nicely designed, but the restaurant is short on staff. Food takes a long time to arrive both there and through room service, which brings down the service and the whole stay. The staff seem stretched thin.