1 BHK Houseboat in Sea View Ward, Alappuzha, by GuestHouser (5DCA)

Biju was warm and helpful, and the hearty breakfast was delicious. I loved staying in this peaceful, beautiful heritage house. My room was comfortable and spacious, with AC, a fan and an ensuite bathroom. The location worked well for me, about a 15-minute walk to the beach and 30 minutes to town. Thank you.

The place has the potential to be charming, but it was neglected and badly maintained. The room was dark, dusty and uninviting, with dusty windows and surfaces and unwashed curtains. The wooden door had a broken panel and wouldn't close properly, even when locked. When I tried to open the windows for light, the curtain rod fell. Basic upkeep seemed to have been ignored for a long time. This isn't a resort, and at best it's a two-star lodge, not worth the price. I specifically requested a clean room because of my allergy, both when booking and again the day before check-in. The host, Madhu Mohan, assured me each time it would be very clean, but I was disappointed when we arrived. He didn't seem to care and felt unreliable. Good service and hospitality don't seem to be a priority. The condition was so bad that I left within two hours. My request to refund the advance payment was ignored, making it even more frustrating. Be cautious: don't pay an advance for this homestay. Better to visit and decide in person or choose somewhere else. The photos look good, but the house is in poor condition.

Our stay at Tharavadu Heritage was decent, but dealing with the owner, Madhu Mohan, was very disappointing. We were a group of families, and his recommendation for our next stay badly affected the trip. He suggested and arranged French Square Rooms, where the rooms were extremely poor, with temporary UPVC partitions and no attached bathrooms. They weren't worth the price. Our whole group suffered, and we later heard that a huge commission may have been taken on the booking. We had arrived late because of travel delays and gone on an early morning shikara ride, so we didn't get the breakfast that was included. There was no adjustment or support. After we checked out of Tharavadu and ran into problems at the next hotel, Madhu Mohan stopped answering our calls. He came across as too commercial and focused on money, with little responsibility toward guests once payment was made. I wouldn't trust his arrangements outside his own property, especially for a family group.

The owner kindly added an extra hour when our houseboat check-in ran late, even though we had booked the place for three hours. The rooms were clean, and it's a calm, quiet spot that's easy to reach.