Kerala Houseboats

For ₹45k per night for a 4 bedroom houseboat, this was a mess, and the stay felt very overrated for the money. The evening backwater ride had stunning views, and the lunch fish, karimeen (Green chromide), was nice. The food was otherwise decent but had little variety. The Pazham pori snack wasn't up to the mark for the native dish, and if you wanted more fish than what was served, you had to buy it and give it to the cook. Fish and seafood were very expensive at the nearby market, where king fish (vanchiram) was quoted at Rs 1800 for a Kg. Tea or coffee was served just once across lunch, snacks, and breakfast, and not at any other time. After dinner we found there were no other shops serving it either. Those were small problems compared with the state of the boat. The restrooms were a whole other mess, and the washbasin cabin was literally shaking and moving, not because of the float 😜. Several spots in the dining area had damaged flooring, so you had to watch your step, and many fixed windows were broken. There was no hot water for bathing onboard. Quite a few of us avoided bathing because we weren't sure where the water came from. Houseboat stays are overrated, and this one certainly wasn't worth the money.

The food was very poor in both taste and hygiene, and mosquitoes were all over the boat, making it unpleasant and unhealthy. The AC didn't work at all, so the stay was uncomfortable, and the washrooms were unhygienic and badly maintained. This houseboat didn't meet basic standards for cleanliness, comfort, or service. It was a total waste of time and money. I strongly advise customers not to choose it under any circumstances. Don't believe Instagram reels or promotional videos, since the actual experience was nowhere close to what they showed.

From the start to the end, it was a great boat experience and a really memorable trip for my family and me. Pulickattil houseboats were great hosts, and the hospitality onboard felt homely. Top-notch hospitality 💯

We had a very bad experience and others should avoid booking this property if they don't want to be disappointed. The manager was very unprofessional, and the reservation staff behaved badly too. We booked on 29th monday, with 3 bed rooms for 10 adults at 26000 ₹. The food was very bad, and in the morning they gave only black tea for 8 adult. At checkout, the staff and manager showed us what they said was property damage and asked for 4000 rupees compensation. When we refused, the manager said it was okay and asked us to pay 2000₹ for additional kids, which we paid. When we tried to explain what had happened, they said they would call police, and there were some goons present too.