Oct 14, 2008 05:57 PM
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There are a lot of wheels within wheels in the whole serene picture painted of the boating. First of all, there are many things to take into account in the house boat itself. One - There are so many types of house boats, all kinds of sizes and interiors. Do you know what you are getting? Do you know the approximate cost of such a faility? Two - When you book for an overnight trip, know that they are not authorised to ply after 6:00 in the evening.
So you will be moored for most of the night - Is that what you want? Ask them all this ahead. Find out if they can take you to spots where you can ply till 10-11 pm in the night. They will tell you stories of Govt. restrictions. I could not find any such restrictions. Third - A/C They dont put in during the day - but who needs it in the night? So you are possibly better off booking a non-A/c boat if it is cheaper. Fourth - Food. Ask what they will supply for meals.
Ask them specifically for more fish or chicken or meats if you think your crowd are good eaters. Fifth - If you book a per hour basis, make sure that the guys puts on the boat engines and cruises along. If he starts stalling and slow cruising, then you know that he is trying to pull a fast one. Best is to decide the time and the areas that he would show you before hand so that you have some kind of control over it. Ask locals and other houseboat people what they can show you. Sixth - Prices. Do some serious looking up.
I have seen rates advertised from Rs 300/- per hour onwards. There are some websites also. Comparison shopping and haggling is a must even if you do it over phone. There are 700+ houseboats, so even if they tell you that they are fully booked etc. you will find another ready to carry you. The best is to actually see what you are getting before you book it. If you go thru a hotel or resort to do the booking, they will take their cut, but they cannot ensure that you get everything promised. Seventh - The bottom line is prepare to be disappointed. The whole experience may not be like what you saw in NatGeo. The actual locales and waters and life may not be as pristine and clean as depicted. There are ways in which you could still get conned. Unless you have good company, you could also get bored.
