Houseboat or Resort in Alleppey?
A houseboat is sometimes described as a hotel boat: a hotel room that floats. That is half right. It has bedrooms, bathrooms and meals like a hotel, but the point of it is the journey across the backwaters, not the room. Choosing between a houseboat or resort comes down to this: a resort on the lake gives you a room and a view; a houseboat gives you the water itself.
We book houseboats, so we are not neutral. But deciding where to stay in Alleppey goes better when you know the trade-offs, so here they are.
What a houseboat gives you
- The backwaters from the water. Overnight boats cross Punnamada and Vembanad Lake, pass the paddy fields of R Block and C Block, wind through island canals and moor near a village for the night.
- A private space. The whole boat is yours, with a captain and cook for your group only.
- Every meal included. Welcome drink, lunch, evening tea, dinner and breakfast, cooked on board.
- A fixed 21 hours. Board at 12:00 PM, back at 9:00 AM.
What a resort gives you
- More space, and facilities a boat cannot have, such as a pool.
- Flexible check-in and longer stays without moving.
- A view of the water rather than a trip across it.
Honest trade-offs of a houseboat
- AC hours. On the Deluxe boats we book, bedroom AC runs from about 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Premium boats have it all the time.
- No cruising at night. The boat moors for the night by law, so the evening is spent in one place.
- A set menu. Meals are from a fixed Kerala menu, though vegetarian food and dietary requests can be arranged.
- Fixed times. You must board by noon for the overnight cruise. If you arrive later, our night stay starts at 5:30 PM on a moored boat.
The best place to stay in Alleppey depends on the trip
- One night in Alleppey: a houseboat. It is the reason most people come.
- Several nights: many travellers spend one night on a houseboat and the rest ashore.
- Travelling with people who need a lot of space or facilities: a resort, with a day cruise to see the backwaters.
- A tight budget: a sharing houseboat room, from ₹5,500 per room, is a night on the water for less than a whole boat.
Doing both
Houseboats run on fixed times, which makes them easy to fit around a hotel stay. Check out of your hotel in the morning, board at 12:00 PM, and you are back on land at 9:00 AM the next day with the whole day ahead. You can stay on board for up to 7 nights, but most guests find one or two is right.
What a houseboat night costs
The private houseboats we book are priced per boat, including 2 guests per bedroom and all meals on an overnight stay. Prices depend on the boat size and your dates; see the price guide.
How to book
Send your dates on WhatsApp. Pay 25% to hold the boat and the balance at check-in.
FAQ
Houseboat vs resort questions, answered.
Is a houseboat like a hotel?
It has private bedrooms, attached bathrooms and all meals, but it also cruises the backwaters and is yours alone.
Can we stay on a houseboat for more than one night?
Yes, up to 7 nights.
Are meals included on a houseboat?
Yes. An overnight stay includes five meals cooked on board.
Is a houseboat as private as a hotel room?
More so: on the private boats we book the whole boat, captain and cook are for your group only.
Spend one night on the water.
Send your dates on WhatsApp and we will confirm a boat and price. 25% advance to book.