For the longest time there were just two Taj Exotica properties: Goa & Maldives. So when the Andamans property was first revealed, around the middle of the last decade (opened early 2018) it immediately became part of my bucket list. Then Covid happened and all travel plans got postponed, and not until this summer we were able to plan this trip. However, note that although the temperatures don't change much during the year, the humidity levels can be pretty high in May, especially before the monsoon commences, which can be a killer for a trip during this time. This resort was built at Havelock's famous Radhanagar beach next to a mangrove forest. As mangroves naturally trap moisture and given the forest cover inside the resort, the humidity levels were significantly higher during our stay, than say out there on the beach. The end result being although located next to a beach, there was none of that airy beach resort type feel at Taj Exotica Andamans where the air was stuffy and was rather uncomfortable in May. I booked months back via Taj Direct for a mangrove facing villa. We got a good rate (relatively speaking) that included breakfast, dinner, pick-up/drop-off and even a bottle of wine. The ongoing rates at this property were at "exotica-levels" year-round, but I was a bit happy to have booked early. We were also pre-celebrating our twin boys' birthday and so I connected with the current GM Brij Rampali. Among other things, we requested for an upgrade (although all villas were the same, design wise, except the pool villas and the TATA suite), some arrangements for the birthday and if one of the dinners could be done at their speciality restaurant The Settlers. The last request was flatly refused, while there was no comment about the room upgrade. One of the dinners, he suggested, we do at the Turtle House, the pool-side restaurant to which I agreed. We reached Havelock from Port Blair and were picked-up in a plain looking (unbranded) Toyota Innova, not exactly sign of a luxury beach resort. The welcome to all guests happened in a semi-open space near the entrance, where we were served coconut water, our details would be taken and then a Nicobari welcome song sung by the staff. Apart from Mr. Rampali, Ajay Thakur the resort manager (duty manager), the activities manager and a few others welcomed us and sung the song. None of them were exactly Nicobari and so it was impossible for me to judge its authenticity. In fact, all the staff of this resort were from the Indian mainland while just a handful of locals were employed in gardening and nothing beyond. A group picture was taken in front of a large tree (which would appear in a framed form soon) and then Ajay took us ***** in a buggy to show two villas. One of them was right next to the lobby while the other was the one we booked: a mangrove villa. All this while, no one anywhere mentioned about my requested upgrade. We soon understood there were none as the pool villas, ri
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