Kerala Backwaters - A cruise on budgets!

How did it go? Interested to read about your experience...

Guyz..help me out..a nice nite stay in a house boat in allepey that fits in budget..???
We will be a group of 15 when setting out to alleppey.

yea..me too eager to find out how it was?? are the facilities gud?? which route u took?

yea me to eager to find how it was?? are the facilities gud?? which route u took ???

I'm going to SOuth India for 4 weeks, leaving this Saturday! I'm going to Kerala (after Mumbai and Goa) towards the end of April and would really love to do a houseboat tour for a couple of days. However, I'm travelling on my own. I was wondering if anyone else is going to be there in April and if anyone would like to charter a boat with me for a couple of days?

Yes it would be fun if schedules permit I would love to share a houseboat tour! I have been here since Dec and am yet to do one :-)

Kaybee, i wont be back in Kerala (IF luck and money hold out) 'til next year...but i wanted to wish you a happy and interesting journey!!
If you've read up on it, you're probably aware that opinions vary on houseboat tours.You might want to do one day with an option to extend if you enjoy yourselves.
p/s/ Your hometown is one of the greatest places on earth--on three trips to India, i stopped there on the way home, and look so forward to it as the India trips come to an end.

Good to know about. Thank you Sujith.

i am looking to do a houseboat trip, 2 nights starting at alumkadave and finishing at alleppy. have any IMers done this trip? and if so any recommenations on houseboats and cost in january 2012. cheers zamba

Thanks! I love California! Stayed in LA a few times and absolutely loved it... I wanted to move out there but it didn't work out. Yes, good tip about the houseboat tour, will see how it goes!

Great. Not sure of my dates yet but will check in on here nearer the time!

I was planning to visit Kerala for backwater boating. At first I wanted to go to Alleppey, as it's the famous place for backwater houseboats. While I was going through different threads in IndiaMike I got the idea that, it's might be a good idea not to hire any houseboat. Cause, it halts at night and there is nothing much to see, moreover we may 'encounter' different types of bugs including most irritating mosquitoes! Rather I can hire some other boat for full day (on hourly basis) which will take us to small canals where I can have more scenic beauty and stay any resort at night, like Lake Haven, Pagoda Resort, Palm Grove Resorts etc!

Now I need help to choose from Alleppy or Kumarakom or Kochi!
As I came to know lately that Kochi has got also very good scenic rural beauty, where KTDC operates full day tours! Kumarakom is close to Kottayam Railway Station. I'll not get down at Ernakulam as I have no plan for Kochi, if I dont go for boating there.

Should I take houseboat or not? what are the other types of boats? are they safe? None of us are very good swimmer!

shopnopoka

With so many questions and so many options, it sounds like you might be doing too much planning.

Rather than make a firm commitment to do this and that, I suggest it might be better just to plan to be in an area (region) for a while and give yourself too many options. By that I mean if you plan to be in (say) Kochi for (say) 3 days, then have 5 or 6 possible options in mind. So, when you get there, you can choose which to partake dependent on weather, feedback, etc..

Personally, I am not into resort accommodation. I find it too contrived and too expensive. I'd rather accommodation that is different to the 'ordinary'. So, I'd be heading for an overnight boat. But, as you appear to be appreciative of resort accommodation, you may not like the romance of a quiet night on the water.

In the end, just play it cool and relax - that's what a holiday is all about (is it not?).



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Thanks BruceMoon!
actually I am like that, but not my wife!
ha ha ha.. so, I had been travelling I wouldnt even thought of so many things! I'd just have start travelling and I would make it minimum 7days!

but, reading your reply.. i m thinking to start being MYSELF only! .. so, no worries.. just wishing for HAPPY HOLIDAYS :-)

Greetings, Shopnopoka.

I think that is a great option--the houseboat for the day only. Why? Because i too hear too many stories of those skeeters" at night by the water. YOu cna still have the meals on board and enjoy the experience of being on the water and stopping at the villages.

For seeing the very small canals-- the houseboats can't make it thourhg those. YOu have to hire a smaller boat, e.g. a country boat. Check out some of Vandy's post for more information.