Sreekrishna Houseboats

The staff’s appearance made us uncomfortable: they seemed drunk and were dressed inappropriately, sometimes with nothing on top. We’d booked the Shreekrishna Houseboat for one night for 24 family members and had been promised six bedrooms, plus extra mattresses and blankets. Late in the evening, staff told us we could use the upper deck and dining area only until 10:30 p.m., then had to leave because they planned to sleep there. That was not what we understood when booking. With several women in our group, we were worried about privacy and safety. Staff wouldn’t change their decision despite repeated requests, so we rearranged the sleeping plan at the last minute and put a man in each room to help the women feel safe. The stay was a huge disappointment and fell well short of the comfort and professionalism we expected. Please take this seriously, review how bookings and staffing are handled, and prevent this happening to future guests.

The cook’s food was so spicy that our whole family could barely eat it. We’d booked the entire houseboat for 25 people, but the owner said we couldn’t use the shared dining area after 10:30 p.m. because staff needed to sleep there. They also said we had to stay locked in our rooms and not come out. Paying for the whole boat and then being shut in while staff took over the common space felt very unsafe, and those rules ruined our family trip. The staff there were all very drunk too. Please don’t book this place.

The boat felt unstable and dirty as soon as we got on, and there was no privacy for our family. The staff seemed untrained, rude and careless, and felt especially unsafe for women because they were drunk and walking around without T-shirts. This was the worst travel experience of my life. It was a waste of time and money. If your safety and peace of mind matter to you, avoid this houseboat.

We had a very good stay, and everything was amazing. The food was really nice, and the staff treated us very well. If we tour Aleppo again, we’ll choose the same houseboat.