Alleppey houseboat family guide

Is an Alleppey houseboat family trip a good idea

For most families, a Kerala houseboat family trip is a yes. Children love the ducks, the passing ferries and the novelty of sleeping on water; grandparents enjoy a day of sitting and watching with nothing to climb. The whole group eats together at one table, which rarely happens on a holiday.

It suits families less well when there is a crawling baby who will not stay in a lap, or a child who cannot sit still for hours. In those cases a day cruise, or a boat with an enclosed lounge, is a gentler start. The day cruise guide explains the shorter option.

Child safety on the deck and the water

• Life jackets: ask whether the boat carries child sizes, not just adult ones. If not, consider bringing your own.
• Railings: check that the front deck and any upper deck have full railings without wide gaps. Some older boats have low sides.
• Upper deck stairs: these are steep and narrow. Keep small children downstairs unless an adult is holding their hand.
• The edge at moorings: when the boat ties up, there is often a gap between hull and bank. Lift children across rather than letting them jump.
• The kitchen: it is small, hot and full of gas burners. Keep children out.

How many bedrooms a family needs

The bedroom guide describes one, two and three bedroom layouts, and the interior page shows what the rooms look like.

Food for children on board

Kerala food on houseboats is delicious and often spicy. Cooks are used to families and will adjust if they know in advance.

• Ask for plain rice, curd, dal, an omelette or boiled eggs, and chapati alongside the usual curries.
• Request that one fish or chicken dish be made with very little chilli.
• Bananas, biscuits and juice are easy for the crew to buy on the way, but bring your child's favourite snacks.
• For infants, carry formula, a flask and sterilising tablets; ask for boiled water.
• Drink only sealed bottled water or water the cook has boiled.

The food on board page lists a typical menu.

Grandparents and family members who move slowly

Boarding often means stepping from a jetty onto a narrow plank or the boat's edge. Ask the crew to hold the boat steady and give a hand. Choose a boat where the bedrooms and dining area are on the main deck, not up a stair. Check that the bathroom has a western style toilet and a handheld shower, which most modern boats do.

Heat is the real concern for older travellers. Afternoon sun on the backwaters is fierce from March to May. An AC lounge or a boat with longer AC hours is worth it in those months, and the categories guide shows which boats offer them.

Alleppey houseboat friends and large groups

Groups of friends often book the same large boats families use. The same rules apply: one bedroom per two or three people, life jackets checked, and the cook told about food preferences. Music is usually fine during the day, but keep it low at the mooring, where village homes and other boats are close. Ask the operator about their policy on outside food and drinks before you board.

What to pack for a family houseboat stay

1. Mosquito repellent for everyone, plus a plug in device if the boat has none.
2. Sun hats, sunglasses and sunscreen.
3. A change of clothes per child, since splashes happen.
4. Small games, colouring books or cards for the long afternoon.
5. Basic medicines: motion sickness, fever, stomach upset, plasters.
6. A torch for the bathroom at night.
7. Child life jackets if the boat cannot confirm it has them.

For the shape of the day, the cruise itinerary has an hour by hour plan.