Nova Holidays Houseboat
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Overview
1 bedroom
2 bathrooms
8 guests
1 night minimum
Boat house
Our houseboats have all the creature comforts of a good hotel including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen and even a balcony for angling. Parts of the curved roof of wood or plaited palm open out to provide shade and allow uninterrupted views. Our main highlights is our staff they are well trained and friendly .We have houseboat up to 8 rooms which we can manage 100 people in same time MenuWelcome drink; Tender Coconut or fresh fruit juiceLunch; Rice Fish fry,4 veg dish, curd pappadm,pickle,and sweatsEvening Tea/coffee and snacksDinner Chappathy(Indian bread) Rice ,3 veg dish and chickenBreakfast Bread Butter Jam egg tea/coffee fresh juice and Kerala dish ITINERARY»...
House Rules
Pet-friendlyKid friendlySmoking allowed
Bedrooms
1 Double
Bathrooms
3 Attached (ensuite)
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Reviews (72)
ToniGillan
Blenheim, New Zealand32 contributions
Top Notch Again
Sorry for the delay in writing about me and my sons fabulous experience on the backwaters with this company.
I’ll be honest and tell you I’ve used this company I think 5 of 6 times bringing my friends and family and , separately, recommended them to anyone who was nervous about who to book with!
The day we arrived the weather was atrocious. Torrential rain thunder and lightning. My son had never been to India much less on a houseboat and he ran cold - saying he didn’t want to go!
I almost caved - I rang Eldose and explained the situation saying my son was dragging his heels…could not see the good in going out in such awful weather. Eldose assured me the weather would clear .
He was of course right. We were delivered through foot high waters to the boat and off we went. No rainbows to signal a clear day ahead but it was calm and clear. Full steam ahead (!).
We settled in . A beautifully prepared delicious lunch that would have served 6 was served and off we cruised stopping to purchase extras of fresh water prawns for our evening meal.
The boat captain and chef were kind attentive and considered. Our rooms ( we had a two bedroom houseboat) were clean and fresh. We relaxed and chatted as we cruised the backwaters finally tying up for the night around 5pm
Another beautiful cooked evening meal ( we gave it full justice) followed by a restful lulling sleep. Bed tea, breakfast and all to soon back at base we disembarked again driving through heavy ground water back to our hotel. I’m again saying it was unseasonably wet but no matter - the crew looking after us prior during and after ..indeed Eldose turned up and said Hi , Goodbye .
I totally recommend this company. This I think is the second time I have written a review. They are Top Notch and I believe excellent value for money.
Visited October 2023
Written 29 October 2023. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Babu Jacob
Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), India18 contributions
Very exciting cruise onboard Nova Holidays' ANGEL Houseboat.
I arranged the day cruise with Mr. Eldhose (the Hebrew name means kindhearted)
for our two guests from Dubai. One was a native of Sri Lanka.
We boarded the ANGEL houseboat from Punnamada jetty at 11:30 am. When the ANGEL docked to take us onboard, we were surprised to see a double bed-roomed huge boat. We asked for a single-bedroomed one. It was just like the poet sang, " I asked for a Flower, but you gave me the Spring".
The very first thing which we got impressed was the appearance of the crew, Mr. Stephen(the skipper) and Mr. Appu (the cook-cum-caretaker). They were immaculately dressed. Stephen wore a white dhoti and matching white shirt and Appu wore a golden-shaded dhoti with matching shirt. Appu wore a vermilion mark also. After the self-introduction, welcome drinks were served. The boat was sailing. At noon, the boat stopped for lunch. The lunch was very good. 'Paysam' ( Kheer made of rice cakes and jaggery) was served for dessert. We made a request for it in advance. In the evening, we were served with 'Ethakka Appam' (Banana Fries) and tea. We got off at 4:30 pm from the houseboat.
It was a very exciting day for us; especially for our guest from Sri Lanka. Though, in many ways, Sri Lankan tourism is at par or a bit above Kerala tourism, they have no such houseboats.
We thank the proprietor Mr. Eldhose for his arrangements. He delivered what he promised, to our utmost satisfaction. We thank the crew also. Their good nature and care were rellay admirable. We wish all success to Mr. Eldhose and his team.
Visited March 2019
Written 13 May 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
skipz23
London, United Kingdom75 contributions
Memorable houseboat stay
We were slightly apprehensive after reading a few less favourable reviews but it turned out to be an excellent experience. We messaged the owner directly & got a better price than quoted online (Rs 8000 vs 10000 for a 1 bedroom houseboat). On arrival we inspected the boat before paying & found all to be fine. The crew were very accommodating with the chef in particular cooking a delightful range of dishes for our vegan diet over 3 meals. He understood our needs perfectly & we ate in abundance - some of the best dishes we have had in Kerala! If you eat meat\fish then that would also be cooked. The route wasn’t over crowded which I’d been concerned about (mid March) & we took an optional smaller boat ride of some smaller canals. We docked for night at a quiet village where we took a sunset walk. Again, it wasn’t overcrowded with boats. Power always worked (although the shower didn’t run hot in the morning) & whilst there were insects if you have bug spray you should be fine. We were on a one bed boat so it will vary from the photos. Ours didn’t have a sun deck which was the only downfall but you still get enough of the environment and weather through the sides. Would definitely recommend this tour.
Visited March 2019
Written 16 March 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
bhau.pawar
Pune, India2 contributions
It was average experience with Nova Holidays
I had booked my houseboat by looking best review from internet with highest rating.
Pros: 1. First thing Mr. Eldhose is very genuine guy, He took enough care for you to have you best experience of houseboat.
2. We covered almost 30km in houseboat, was nice experience...!
3. Nice food on boat
4. Caring cook & boat driver
Cons:
1. Little bit expensive, as one night we need to pay 13500/-
2. I have charged Dollar conversion rate apprx 450/- on credit card. (which was revised by Eldhouse after trip)
3. Houseboat toilet exhaust fan was not working.
4. The Toilet door was not get easily shut, need more force to close it.
5. AC flaps are not working. Also AC got shut down twice in one night.. :(
6. AC battery was not working. need to remove & again fit for functioning of AC
7. No hot water for bath... :(
8. One bathroom water tap not working.
9. Room TV not working
10. Damaged locks for the fencing or steel cage around boat (unsafe for children)
Visited February 2019
Written 15 February 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sujatha
Carmel, IN4 contributions
Houseboat stay
The whole stay was good except for the bedding. The boat captain and cook were nice and tried to do their best. We didn't have proper sleep as the bedding were not clean or comfortable.
Visited December 2018
Written 25 December 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
GoPlaces29464962133
1 contribution
Excellent experience
Really friendly staff and great value. It was the best room we had since being in India! The food was fantastic too! Nova holiday went above and beyond and allowed us to stay in their guest house as we had a late flight..
Visited November 2018
Written 15 November 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sriram A
4 contributions
Good house boat service for a family (including infants)
- They have car parking facility close to the boarding point of the boat house.
- We had 1 year old infant with us and we are vegetarians. The staff were courtesy to accept this request and provided us simple but excellent food. Hot milk was arranged whenever we asked for the baby.
- Boat house was clean and tidy even though it was raining heavily during our trip. There was no mosquito problem (which we were surprised). The trick is to make sure you bedroom door is closed all the time :)
Overall it was happy and pleasant experience.
Visited July 2018
Written 22 July 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
gallesram
32 contributions
Surpassed all my expectations; a must-do experience!
This was an amazing experience; I suspected Eldhose would run a great operation given his responsiveness prior to my arrival, but of course you never know until you arrive. Eldhose was really helpful in guiding me through how everything works and promptly answered all my questions (which were many). He even arranged for a taxi to pick me up at the Cochin airport and deliver me right to the boat.
I was traveling solo and was in Delhi on business prior so I had a one-bedroom boat to myself. It was amazing; there were 2 lounges on either side in the front and a couch in the middle. I spent most of my time going back and forth on the lounges since something would catch my eye on either side of the boat. It also had an enclosed dining room (with A/C if you wanted to pay for it), a large bedroom with a king sized bed and a full bathroom. The bed was really comfortable, the A/C worked great at night and there was plenty of water. I slept like a baby both nights (and I am a light sleeper). One caveat to mention: there was no hot water on the boat, although honestly you don't need it given the warm weather and the fact that the cold water temp. was tepid. It was actually very refreshing (and I never thought I would say that).
The boat was very clean and I saw the captain sweeping the floors in the morning. The food was the best I have had in India, hands down. The second day they presented lunch on a banana leaf with about 15 different items. The boat also had a stereo with bluetooth so I could stream my music.
Being confined to a boat for a few days, I was frankly quite pleased that the staff was not in my face all the time. They were always available and very friendly, but they would give me my space too. We stopped at a few fish markets to purchase fresh prawns each night and the captain stopped at a small town with a huge church and some souvenir shops; he even accompanied me around the walk but then left me so I could do some exploring on my own too. These things were done by the staff without my request (and since I had no clue about the area, I wouldn't have even known that these places existed). I really appreciated them doing so for me (and the prawns were the best I have ever eaten too; the cook prepares them for dinner after you buy them).
I really appreciated the route that we took; it ran the entire gambit of sights. We saw small canals, busy rivers, huge lakes and everything in between. Most of the time we were by ourselves; but other times there were plenty of boats around. It was cool to see rural areas and see how people live & work on the water; I was fascinated by the boats that ferry people along designate routes with dedicated stops (sort of like the vaporettos in Venice). What a way to run an errand or commute!
If you have never done this, I would highly recommend going through Eldhose and his crew for the experience. There's no point raving about the sights because everyone else has done so in their reviews and the sights are so outrageous that you just have to experience it in person to understand. I must have taken 500 pictures and 40 videos in 48 hours. Any concerns I may have had about the quality of the boat quickly evaporated once I stepped foot on it and was handed by first cold beverage from the smiling cook.
I'm a tough traveler when it comes to standards and I wouldn't hesitate to use Eldhose again. It would be ideal to do this as a couple or with a few friends; and definitely go for at least 2 nights since it takes at least 1/2 day to decompress and get into the groove of the area.
Visited April 2018
Written 27 April 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Shrikant K
Bengaluru, India4 contributions
Overpriced and Hopelessly Poor
Overpriced. The website says Rs 10232 but was charged Rs 12000. Unfriendly staff, dirty sofas, Dirty dining table, red ants on the dining table, no hot water for bath! no dustbin in the room! Semi-functional toilet flush! The houseboat is not worth Rs 8000 also.
I doubt if the owner Eldhose Baby ever gets on to the boat and checks its actual condition. We were a family of 3 and it was a disappointing experience. Evening, the boat was anchored at a place where we could not even get down on land.Unfriendly staff, who didn't bother to even talk to us in the entire trip. I don't recommend Nova Holidays Houseboat for all the above reasons.
Visited December 2017
Written 26 December 2017. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Nova H
Dear respected Guest
Thank you so much for valuable feed back , I dont want to explain all the story here anyway I will respect you if you pay the full amount to me which i quoted for this trip . also please apologize to my staff because you shouted them without proper reason
Written 26 December 2017. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JAGTAR SINGH ADVOCATE
10 contributions
Location is mesmerizing. Houseboat experience needs improvement
Trip Advisor charges amount extremely high than the actual rent of the boat. Boat staff was not well dressed and clean. It appeared they did not take bath. food was good and staff was cooperative. No effort from the staff or the owner of the boat to make the houseboat experience memorable. Cook did not know Hindi or English. No guidance about the location or places was provided, the job of the staff and owner was just limited to float the boat and provide the food. I shall suggest my friends to visit the place just for boating and scenic view and not for stay in houseboat.
Visited November 2017
Written 9 November 2017. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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What this rental offers
Entertainment
- DVD player
- Television
Indoor amenities
- Air conditioning
Kitchen and dining
- Cooker
- Kettle
- Toaster
- Refrigerator
Parking
- Secure parking available
- Parking available
Bathroom and laundry
- Towels provided
Location info
- Kid friendly
Map
Getting there
Kochi Airport
71.7 km
Restaurants
Bayroute Bistro
1.8 km
Halais Restaurant
2.7 km
Brews and Burgers Bistro
1.7 km
Thaff Restaurant
1.7 km
Attractions
Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple
3.6 km • Religious Sites
Kerala Backwaters
1.7 km • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple
4.5 km • Religious Sites
Alleppey Backwaters
1.7 km • Bodies of Water
Access
Car advised
About this property
- First, check the Availability tab on this page to see if your dates are available. If they are, contact the owner via the Tripadvisor Rental Inbox to confirm availability.
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All bookings are direct with the owner
All bookings are direct with the owner Property #HL222335076
Frequently Asked Questions about Nova Holidays Houseboat
- Nova Holidays Houseboat is able to accommodate up to 8 guests. See all property details.
- Nova Holidays Houseboat has 3 bathrooms available. See all property details.
- Nova Holidays Houseboat has one bedroom available. See all property details.
- Stays at Nova Holidays Houseboat must last at least one night. See all property details.