Is a houseboat safe for children and elders

Parents and grown-up children planning a trip for their families ask us about safety more than anything else, and the questions are good ones.

Every boat carries life jackets for every guest, including small sizes for children. The crew will show you where they are when you board. Decks have railings, and on boats with an upper deck the stairs have a rail on both sides. We still ask that children under ten are not on the upper deck without an adult.

The lake is calm, and the boats move slowly, at about the pace of a brisk walk. Seasickness is very rare. At night the boat is moored and does not move at all. For elders, the main thing is stairs. Most of our two-bedroom boats have both rooms on the lower deck, with no steps between the bedroom, the bathroom and the dining area. Boarding at the jetty is by a short wooden plank with a rail, and our crew will help.

The boats are moored overnight in quiet spots, but never far from a village or a road. Our crews carry a phone and a first-aid kit, and the nearest hospital is in Alappuzha town, usually less than forty minutes away by boat and road. Tell us about any health needs when you book.