Kerala Houseboat questions

Pookstar · Sep 2nd, 2005, 21:44

Sorry to have to ask these questions.......but I have read so much information on this site (and others) regarding houseboats cruises that I have confused myself without actually knowing what to do!

Please help me with my questions!

1. Will I need to pre-book a boat to hire on 2nd December? I really want to turn up on the day and hire one but as I am on a tight schedule I don't want to get there and there to be none left!

2. In 24 hours is a good / picturesque cruise to go from Aleppy to Kumarakom?
If not, what is the prettiest 24 hour route to take?

3. Do the crew sleep on the boat with you? I'm hoping for a romantic evening and wondered if there would be much privacy.....

john.sw · Sep 2nd, 2005, 21:53

Hi,

It is best to book to avoid disappointment. December is a very popular month, and there is a limitied number of houseboats.

Make sure you specify that you want your own boat - not sharing with other tourists.

Alleppey to Kumarakom is perfect. Get the boat late morning, and stay on the lake overnight (ask the crew to anchor in the middle of the lake, or you'll be with other tourists/locals). You'll arrive at your destination at about 10:00.

The crew will also sleep on the boat, so there won't be much privacy!

You will also be under a mosquito net, which is a bit of a passion killer...

You can always ask the crew to have the generator running all night - in that way you can have the fan on and have whatever else

without being overheard so easily!

I hope you're ending up at Coconut Lagoon - it's an ideal place for romance, and the mansions, bungalows and villas are very private!

shanthi · Sep 2nd, 2005, 21:54

You obviously know how expensive these houseboats are to hire in Kerala?? if you want to find the thread concerning the same thing, put houseboats into the IM search engine. I do know there are booked up quite some time iun advance, though there are plenty of them. I'd think it'd be best to book very soon - to avoid disappointment. There are some that book the boats for a couple of weeks at that time of year - hope you have a good time

Pookstar · Sep 2nd, 2005, 22:17

Think you are both right that I should book in advance, how am I best to do this?
I've read that booking over the internet is expensive and you can end up with a boat no-one else would hire if they had seen it in advance!

Another option would be to get to Aleppy from Cochin on arrival in Kerala and book a boat for hire in a few days time (we'll go on the cruise on the way back from Periyar). This would add quite a detour to our journey up to Periyar but unless someone has a good recommendation of who to book with from the UK I guess it is the best option?

Regarding the crew - I did read one review where they slept on the riverbanks - is this unusual? (I thought that there may be a smaller boat attached to the barge that they could use to get to the riverbank once it was moored in the lake - maybe this is wishful thinking!)

p.s. john.sw - I am still completely un-decided about whether to go to Coconut Lagoon or Kumarakom Lake resort!!! Decisions, Decisions!

shanthi · Sep 2nd, 2005, 22:22

Hi

You could just put "kerala houseboats" into the IM seacr engine (there's p[robably a few links to decent websites where you can book) or do the same thing with your google/msn. Eityher way, you won't get a look at the boat until you arrive - guess you've gotta take that chance friend!

touristxyz · Sep 3rd, 2005, 14:49

To have a good houseboat on 2nd December, you have to reserve at least by end of October. It is true that good boats would be booked soon. If you turn on the day, you may find a houseboat of the last choice and the price might be less or more depending on the demand of the day.

If your houseboat is anchored, where there is good wind and the boat is smoked before dusk there would not be any mosquitoes in the boat and you could keep the nets away. Now, most of the houseboats have solar panels other than diesel generators, which could be very noisy at night. It is unusual that the crew sleeping on shore. I would prefer the crew on board for better safety.

Alleppey around would be more attractive and less expansive than Alleppey – Kumarakom. Kumarakom lake is very wide with very little activities.

Storkplay · Sep 4th, 2005, 20:53

Hi Pookstar,

Dont worry and confuse your poor little mind.

1. You must book them in advance and from what i know Kumarakom lake Resort owns three marvellous houseboats, which come with two crew members and the resorts chef. You can pre-decide the menu, which the chef will then cook for you on board. They have a good one bedroom boat with a deck upstairs that offers a lot of privacy.
You also have the option of boarding the boat from the resort itself, cruise to Alleppey, anchor overnight on the lake , the next day cruise in and around Alleppey, have breakfast and head back to Kumarakom Lake Resort. You can disembark at the resort and continue with the rest of you romantic sojourn. I have tried it and it is just perfect. Make sure you carry a lot of beer or wine and frsh seafood and frsh ice cubes.
2. I strongly recommend the fantastic Kumarakom Lake Resort.

Sep 2nd, 2005, 21:44	#1
Pookstar Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 60	Kerala Houseboat questions Sorry to have to ask these questions.......but I have read so much information on this site (and others) regarding houseboats cruises that I have confused myself without actually knowing what to do! Please help me with my questions! 1. Will I need to pre-book a boat to hire on 2nd December? I really want to turn up on the day and hire one but as I am on a tight schedule I don't want to get there and there to be none left! 2. In 24 hours is a good / picturesque cruise to go from Aleppy to Kumarakom? If not, what is the prettiest 24 hour route to take? 3. Do the crew sleep on the boat with you? I'm hoping for a romantic evening and wondered if there would be much privacy.....

Sep 2nd, 2005, 21:53	#2
john.sw Up in the hills with my head in the clouds... Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: India/UK Posts: 1,021	Hi, It is best to book to avoid disappointment. December is a very popular month, and there is a limitied number of houseboats. Make sure you specify that you want your own boat - not sharing with other tourists. Alleppey to Kumarakom is perfect. Get the boat late morning, and stay on the lake overnight (ask the crew to anchor in the middle of the lake, or you'll be with other tourists/locals). You'll arrive at your destination at about 10:00. The crew will also sleep on the boat, so there won't be much privacy! You will also be under a mosquito net, which is a bit of a passion killer... You can always ask the crew to have the generator running all night - in that way you can have the fan on and have whatever else without being overheard so easily! I hope you're ending up at Coconut Lagoon - it's an ideal place for romance, and the mansions, bungalows and villas are very private! __________________ www.nilgiris.asia your guide to the Nilgiris, Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri and Gudalur

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Sep 2nd, 2005, 21:54	#3
shanthi Account closed on user's request Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South India Posts: 785	You obviously know how expensive these houseboats are to hire in Kerala?? if you want to find the thread concerning the same thing, put houseboats into the IM search engine. I do know there are booked up quite some time iun advance, though there are plenty of them. I'd think it'd be best to book very soon - to avoid disappointment. There are some that book the boats for a couple of weeks at that time of year - hope you have a good time

Sep 2nd, 2005, 22:17	#4
Pookstar Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 60	Think you are both right that I should book in advance, how am I best to do this? I've read that booking over the internet is expensive and you can end up with a boat no-one else would hire if they had seen it in advance! Another option would be to get to Aleppy from Cochin on arrival in Kerala and book a boat for hire in a few days time (we'll go on the cruise on the way back from Periyar). This would add quite a detour to our journey up to Periyar but unless someone has a good recommendation of who to book with from the UK I guess it is the best option? Regarding the crew - I did read one review where they slept on the riverbanks - is this unusual? (I thought that there may be a smaller boat attached to the barge that they could use to get to the riverbank once it was moored in the lake - maybe this is wishful thinking!) p.s. john.sw - I am still completely un-decided about whether to go to Coconut Lagoon or Kumarakom Lake resort!!! Decisions, Decisions!

Sep 2nd, 2005, 22:22	#5
shanthi Account closed on user's request Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South India Posts: 785	Hi You could just put "kerala houseboats" into the IM seacr engine (there's p[robably a few links to decent websites where you can book) or do the same thing with your google/msn. Eityher way, you won't get a look at the boat until you arrive - guess you've gotta take that chance friend!

Sep 3rd, 2005, 14:49	#6
touristxyz Account Closed - Travel Agent Join Date: May 2005 Location: Trichur, Kerala, India Posts: 125	To have a good houseboat on 2nd December, you have to reserve at least by end of October. It is true that good boats would be booked soon. If you turn on the day, you may find a houseboat of the last choice and the price might be less or more depending on the demand of the day. If your houseboat is anchored, where there is good wind and the boat is smoked before dusk there would not be any mosquitoes in the boat and you could keep the nets away. Now, most of the houseboats have solar panels other than diesel generators, which could be very noisy at night. It is unusual that the crew sleeping on shore. I would prefer the crew on board for better safety. Alleppey around would be more attractive and less expansive than Alleppey – Kumarakom. Kumarakom lake is very wide with very little activities.

Sep 4th, 2005, 20:53	#7
Storkplay Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 14	Hi Pookstar, Dont worry and confuse your poor little mind. 1. You must book them in advance and from what i know Kumarakom lake Resort owns three marvellous houseboats, which come with two crew members and the resorts chef. You can pre-decide the menu, which the chef will then cook for you on board. They have a good one bedroom boat with a deck upstairs that offers a lot of privacy. You also have the option of boarding the boat from the resort itself, cruise to Alleppey, anchor overnight on the lake , the next day cruise in and around Alleppey, have breakfast and head back to Kumarakom Lake Resort. You can disembark at the resort and continue with the rest of you romantic sojourn. I have tried it and it is just perfect. Make sure you carry a lot of beer or wine and frsh seafood and frsh ice cubes. 2. I strongly recommend the fantastic Kumarakom Lake Resort.