I stayed in this hotel for 24th, 26th and 27th January ’12. The best part of Hotel Shompen is its location - its in Aberdeen bazar, which is bang in the middle of the small town that is Port Blair (10 mins walking distance to Cellular Jail Anand/Annapurna restaurants, the market place is even closer, and the Bus for Wandoor (where the ferry leaves for Jolly Buoy) stops right in front of the hotel!).
Rooms are neat and clean, accompanied by a spacious bathroom with hot water - provided you don’t get conned by the manager into accepting any of the first floor rooms (the room numbers start with A, instead of the usual 10x / 20x series). I had paid for a AC deluxe room in advance (2000 + 5.15% tax), but the room I was initially shown was in the first floor - it was dank, with no fluorescent lights and no balcony, no working TV.
When I was adamant in accepting it, it was then I was showed the actual AC rooms in 2nd floor (Room # 206) - it was what we were actually promised in the website. Breakfast is nothing home to write about - Aloo paratha’s and eggs, but then, you hardly expect better fare at this price.
The lobby does have an adjoining "Travels" desk, but the staff is woefully ill-informed (they told me ferries for Ross island are available till 4.30 PM, whereas the last ferry leaves at 2 PM - something that cost me 1 failed trip to the water sports complex!). They have provisions for packing breakfast and lunch when you do leave for Jolly Buoy - it’s again a bargain compared to what the other restaurants are offering (we got breakfast + chicken sandwiches for lunch packed for Rs 140 only).
All in all - if you are young couple who’d spend most of the time outside the hotel roaming the city and adjoining islands, this is perfect for you, as its prime location would allow you to go to most places on foot/ at minimal auto fares!).