Houseboat or Lakeside Resort: Which Is Better for a Backwater Holiday?


Most backwater brochures run the same photo - a houseboat at sunset, a couple on the deck, flat water. The photos are accurate but only show a small part of the experience.
Book a houseboat for one night of moving scenery with a cook on board. Book a lakeside resort for two nights or more, for small children or older parents, or when you want a room that stays still.

Before you pay for any houseboat, ask for its Kerala Tourism classification and KIV number. Classification is not mandatory, so inquire whether the boat has one. Before you pay for any resort, ask how far it sits from the nearest shops and what the access road looks like.

The problem with choosing between a houseboat and a lakeside resort

Choosing between a houseboat and a lakeside resort can be tricky. Travelers often compare the two in the same price category and choose the cheaper or more appealing option. That fails, because the two sell different things.

A houseboat is a route. You move, you eat what the crew cooks, and you sleep wherever the boat ties up for the night.

A resort is a place to stay. The water is a view, a boat ride, and a kayak launch.

Two mistakes follow:

  • Booking a houseboat for a four-night trip and expecting a pool, a spa, and a room you can leave.
  • Booking a resort and expecting to drift through canals all day.


Where a houseboat wins

  • Movement: A boat moves you across the lake, which a lakeside property cannot do. Our Kollam travel desk books houseboats on Ashtamudi Lake.
  • Food: A chef cooks on board.
  • Short trips: For a first-time visitor, one night covers much of what a houseboat offers.

A traditional houseboat floating on calm backwaters with palm trees along the shore.

Where a houseboat costs you

  • Space: Cabins are bedrooms. Ask the operator for the room size and the bathroom layout before you pay.
  • Schedule: The boat follows a route and the crew’s timetable. If a child naps badly or a parent tires, you have no second room to retreat to.
  • Quality: It varies, and the state grades it. Kerala Tourism classifies houseboats into three categories. Silver carries the minimum facilities and Diamond the highest. The checklist has a responsible tourism section. Silver boats must meet one item in it, and Diamond boats must meet all six. Classified boats must display a KIV number, a name, and the classification certificate, so ask for the number. Kerala Tourism also publishes a list of approved houseboats on its website.

Where a resort win

  • Room: The Premium Lake View Villa at Fragrant Nature covers 850 sq ft and sleeps up to four. The Lake View Family Cottage sleeps up to six and has a 12 by 6 metre private pool and a separate kids’ pool.
  • Time: A resort works for a week. The Kollam property has Prana Spa, with Ayurveda therapies and yoga. Varkala Cliff is approximately 30 minutes by road, and Jatayu Earth Center is about 45 minutes away.
  • Water without commitment: Paravur Lake offers a complimentary boat ride, plus kayaking and fishing. You get a few hours on the water and a door that locks at the end of them.
  • Small children and older parents: They get a room to go back to, and the Family Cottage has its own kids’ pool.

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Where a resort costs you

  • Distance: The Kollam resort sits 75 km from Cochin International Airport, a drive of about 1.5 hours, and 20 km from Kollam Junction railway station.
  • The road: One guest review on our website warns that the approach road is narrow and a car can get stuck when another vehicle comes the other way. Drive with care and give way early.
  • Shops: A guest review on our Kollam page says the nearest shops are a long walk away and suggests an auto-rickshaw.
  • Menu orders: One guest review says dishes ordered from the menu take time. Order early.
Also Read: Where to Stay in Kollam for an Authentic Backwater Escape in Kerala

Which one to book

  • One night, a couple, and you want the boat itself: houseboat.
  • Three nights or more, a honeymoon or an anniversary: resort, with one houseboat night inside the stay.
  • Children under school age, or grandparents on the trip: resort.
  • A group of friends or an extended family: resort villas, plus a day cruise for everyone.
The resort is on Paravur Lake. The houseboats run on Ashtamudi Lake. The Kollam travel desk arranges day and overnight houseboats with onboard chefs. Overnight stays include meals and a guide. Ask the desk for the boat’s classification before you confirm.
 

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Questions to ask before you book either

For a houseboat, get answers on:
  • The classification and the KIV number.
  • The number of bedrooms, and whether each has its own bathroom.
  • What the meal price includes.
  • Where the boat ties up overnight.
For a resort, get answers on:
  • The drive time from the airport or station, and the state of the last stretch.
  • Which meals come as a buffet and which are made to order.
  • Which room categories face the lake.
  • Whether the boat ride is included.

Plan your stay

Request your stay at Fragrant Nature Kollam. Give the team your dates, your group size, and whether you want a houseboat night, and ask for the room that fits.
 

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