Sterling Luxury Houseboat, Alleppey

Все было шикарно. Каюта уютная с большим окном, повар отличный, персонал замечательный. Получили огромное удовольствие от незабываемого путешествия.

The boat is lovely and rooms on board are comfortable and have air con. The opportunity to see life in the backwaters was fantastic and the crew prepared a good lunch for us.

The boat is part of a resort and so once we came back from the cruise at 6pm it stayed mored at the resort the rest of the time and we were told to eat dinner and breakfast at the resort which was not what we were expecting , to not be a bit more in nature and no morning cruise back. We could have just paid for a 5hour trip.

Lovely boat

It was moored up more than exploring the backwaters. You do not start off till1pm, finish at 6. Food was eaten in the hotel, full board!!! Not cooked on board. You were moored right in front of the hotel!! There were no drink facilities on board. We had to ask for drinks for over night, water, tea, coffee. I would recommend only doing one night .

Beautiful location, a lovely welcome to the hotel, incredible food, a stunning river tour and beautiful boat with extremely comfortable and clean rooms. One of the highlights of our trip

This house boat stay and hotel was very close to being perfect if it wasn't for a couple of disappointing things. Despite a warm welcome when we arrived, on departure it felt like we were just thrown out, no goodbye or thanks for staying from staff, no help with our bags, breakfast wasn't ready when they said it would be so we missed it out on that too. Communication before the trip and during the was terrible failing to answer our questions. The fridge was broken or missing on the boat so we had no way to keep our drinks cold although upon request the hotel did eventually supply a cooler box with ice. When we actually got on the boat there it wasn't really explained to us if we had food and drink and how it would work which caused some confusion including us ordering prawns from a local market we definitely didn't need as there was plenty of food already. The crew were really nice on the boat but we felt the guide giving us information on the boat wasn't necessary and spoilt the tranquility of the moment a bit.

The staff were very polite, attentive, and helpful.

It finished too soon.

We rented a houseboat from Lake Sterling Palace in Alleppey after reading many reviews, as we wanted something clean, comfortable, and quiet, without crowds. The houseboat itself was comfortable, clean, and well maintained. The staff on board were polite and friendly. The tour was stunning.

However, overall the experience did not meet our expectations. 1. Fish market scam attempt Before booking, we had already read reviews warning about a common scam: guests are taken to a fish market, encouraged to buy fish at inflated (European) prices, and then the staff splits the profit while offering to cook it for you. Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened within the first five minutes on board. We immediately refused and asked to speak to the manager. To be fair, the manager was understanding and handled the situation calmly — but the attempt itself left a bad impression. 2. Limited houseboat operation (not clearly communicated) Only after booking and paying did we receive a message stating that the houseboat operates only from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM, after which it returns to the hotel and docks there. Breakfast and dinner are then taken at the hotel. This completely defeats the purpose of paying a high price for a houseboat experience. Had we known this clearly in advance, we would not have booked it. 3. Extra charges for drinks All soft drinks and alcohol must be paid for separately and immediately. Combined with the other issues, the whole experience felt more like a money-making machine than a genuine hospitality experience. There was no soul to it. 4. Hotel restaurant cleanliness The hotel restaurant was not clean. There were visible stains and oily handprints on doors and windows, which was quite disgusting and unacceptable. Recommendation: Before booking, clearly ask whether the houseboat returns to the hotel or continues the journey and docks elsewhere (we later learned some boats do continue). Honestly, a better option is to stay at a hotel on land and rent a smaller boat for the canals, which can access areas large houseboats cannot — and offers a more authentic experience.

Yes and the staff was really helpful specially Aymaan and Sayan

Just that they should add some morning cruising time. If only breakfast could be served while on cruise and check out time is way too early! Rest this is the perfect cruise experience. On board staff is helpful and cuisines cooked are flavourful 😃

Boat cruise was amazing and the staff was very kind and polite, great food cooked by the chef on the houseboat Maharani, worth the money.

To the staff at Sterling Lake Palace- we had the best time during our overnight boathouse stay. Everything from the food, location, staff, amenities, cruise was simply excellent. It was absolutely worth it and my friends and I will not forget this experience!

Everything was perfect!

• الرحلة كانت جميلة والتنظيم ممتاز. • مستوى النظافة راقٍ جدًا والاستقبال محترف. • الهاوس بوت تابع لفندق خمس نجوم، وهذا يرفع جودة التجربة. • لو كنت أعلم مسبقًا أن الهاوس بوت مرتبط بالفندق لفضّلت الإقامة ليلة أو ليلتين في الفندق قبل الرحلة للدخول في أجواء أفضل. • أقترح تقديم بكج متكامل يشمل إقامة في الفندق ثم رحلة الهاوس بوت لراحة أكبر للضيوف

• طريقة الدفع غير مريحة وغير آمنة من وجهة نظري؛ فالحجز مضمون أصلًا عبر بطاقة الائتمان المضافة في Booking، وكان بالإمكان سحب المستحقات مباشرة كبقية الفنادق دون الحاجة إلى رابط دفع خارجي. • استخدام رابط خارجي يثير الشك لأن الضيف لا يستطيع التحقق إن كان الرابط صادرًا فعلاً من مكان الإقامة أم جهة أخرى. • إجراءات تسجيل الدخول معقّدة؛ إذ طُلب كتابة العنوان الكامل في بلدي ثم تمت محاولة التحقق منه عبر محركات البحث، وهذا أسلوب غير دقيق ولا يعكس احترافية في التحقق من هوية الضيف. • هذه الإجراءات سببت لي انزعاجًا وأثّرت على انسيابية التجربة

The reception was very nice . The house boat attendes did am excellent job . Special mention to chef Arjun, host bipin, Abhilasha and Aymaan you guys have done a fantastic job.

House boat and team were first class

The hotel team were not so good. Asked if we could have credit for evening buffet against dining in the seafood restaurant but were refused, only offered 10% discount. Also had quote for two rooms to stay additional night in hotel but the following morning said the quote was for only one room. We there for moved on.

Houseboat experience was amazing. Intern Sayan was above and beyond in guest service. Food by Chef was also tasty with wide range of offerings.

The houseboat ride was really peaceful and enjoyable. We loved the relaxing atmosphere on the water, and the staff were very polite and attentive. Lunch served on the boat was good and made the whole ride feel memorable.

Overall, it was a good experience and with a few small improvements, it could easily be excellent.

I stayed in the Rajdhani houseboat. I had a best experience of my life. The food was fantastic with a huge spread. The facilities were top notch. Very neat and clean. Staffs were very courteous.

Everything was excellent.

Staff are very helpful

MAHARANI - Beautiful traditional style boat in a peaceful location with local life to view whilst cruising. The ‘Captain’ Manoj and his assistant Geethu together with our chef and Adie who waited on us all day were amazing. We got off the boat and purchased tiger prawns and calamari from the locals en route and our chef cooked these to perfection together with a total ‘banquet’ of delicious local dishes. Nothing was too much trouble for any of the staff. Pure decadence and excellent value. Lastly a huge thank you to Alush M (Front office manager) who organised us from instructions to finding the resort to offering us all the services the resort has to offer and ensuring our stay was perfect. Highly recommend this trip!

Nothing at all

We embarked on a two-night journey aboard the houseboats, and it exceeded all our expectations. Every moment on the boat was filled with joy and relaxation. The room was not just comfortable; it was an oasis of cleanliness and convenience, equipped with everything we needed for a delightful stay. The staff at Sterling Houseboats Lake Place deserve a special mention for their exceptional hospitality. From the moment we stepped on board, their warmth and friendliness made us feel truly welcomed. They took care of our every need, ensuring that our experience was not just enjoyable but also memorable. One of the highlights was the incredible culinary experience on the boat. The cook went above and beyond by preparing a delicious meal using the fish we purchased during the trip. The flavors were exquisite, and it added a unique touch to our journey. Reflecting on the entire experience, I find myself wishing we could have stayed longer. Sterling Houseboat Lake Place has mastered the art of providing a perfect blend of comfort, hospitality, and culinary delight. It's not just a stay; it's a journey filled with exceptional moments, delicious food, and genuine hospitality. A heartfelt thanks to the entire team for creating such a wonderful environment for us to unwind and enjoy.

Everything was perfect.

Location and boat staff were good.

Restaurant staff behavior. It was noisy all night after some group party and didn't feel safe due to people drunk and walking all over the property at night. Few people enter the houseboat where i stayed with my family because there was no gate initially.