Houseboats are the converted – Modern forms of Kettuvallams or Rice Boats which was used as ferries to carry rice in the olden days. The boat has on board an attendant and a cook to look after your every requirement. There will be a sitting area and a private bedroom. Stay in house boats have became an inevitable part in a tour, which provides a unique experience.
There are a large number of houseboat operating companies as well as individual operators providing services in Kerala, even then during the peak time it is very difficult to get the accommodation in a houseboat. The government have already stopped issuing license to new houseboats, but the operators can build new houseboat with existing license and the number of houseboats operating may remain almost same and customers can get opportunity to travel in new /renovated houseboats.
At the same time there are certain points to be noted when you choose houseboats cruise as part of your tour program in order to avoid any unexpected issues.
- House boat Cruise time will be 12 PM to 05.30/06.00 PM depending on the climate. The boat will anchor afterwards in a location where the Houseboat operators normally halts or where power supply is available ( pre arranged).
- There may be mosquitoes or flies at the halt point , which depends on the climate or environmental changes. Unlike Luxury houseboats , deluxe house boats do not have a glass covered front area and are more affected. ( mosquito repellents are used)
- Food menu will be fixed in houseboat (Veg/ Non Veg) due to the practical difficulties.
Additional dishes can be arranged at extra cost if informed in advance.
- The amenities in a deluxe house boat do not match with any star category hotel amenities. Guest need to keep this in mind while choosing a houseboat instead of hotel in order to avoid any dissatisfaction. Main attraction of a houseboat is the cruising part. Anyway this may be different in case of luxury houseboat in which the amenities almost resembles hotels and the price for the same will also be high (40 % or higher than deluxe)
- A/C timing in Deluxe house boat will be from 09 PM to 06 AM. In Premium houseboats A/C will be provided throughout on request. ( deluxe houseboats can be used as premium by providing extra cost for A/C – which works on generator during cruise time)
- Houseboat owners /operators are mushroomed in such a way that ,it is difficult to get professional crew for the houseboat and also small or medium operators cannot afford to appoint highly qualified professional staff as running cost & maintenance cost for the houseboats are very high.
- It may not be always possible to anchor the house boat at any places guest wishes as the boats are large and should consider the wind conditions also.
- Chances of shutting off power supply are there due to mechanical ,power cut scheduled by concerned government authority or may due to any unexpected reasons . Alternative arrangements like generator are arranged in such instances
- In any occasion of A/C, Fan etc not working during the night it should be informed to the crew at the same time so that they can solve it. ( it is not advisable to complaint about the same in the morning or after check out without informing about the same in right time )
- House boat Crew may insist the guest on going to the bedrooms after 10-10.30 PM during the night particularly in houseboat with open front area as there are previous incidents of accidents.
- Any unexpected mechanical failure in the boat may take a little more time to get repaired than normal due to accessibility to the location of the boat.