| A houseboat is a redesigned boat to be used primarily | | | | waterways only. |
| as a human dwelling like a regular house. The most | | | | Houseboating is a popular recreational activity for all |
| common pontoon type is a floating house mounted on | | | | age groups of people, on houseboats ranging from |
| top of a pontoon. Most houseboats are not motorized, | | | | 30ft. to more than 70 ft. luxury houseboats. |
| because they are usually moored or kept stationary at | | | | Houseboating is a great experience because : |
| a fixed point. These houseboats are common as | | | | · Great variety of natural terrain depending on lake |
| permanent dwellings in Southeast Asia; whereas in | | | | and time of year. |
| places like Australia and Europe they may serve more | | | | · A lot of water-based recreation choices when |
| frequently as secondary homes or vacation homes or | | | | you go on a house-boating trip. Fishing, waterskiing, |
| for tourism purposes. | | | | camping, hiking, power-boating, exploring, sunbathing |
| On Murray River in Australia there are many | | | | and just relaxing are some of the things you can do. |
| motorized, pontoon-based houseboats with two or | | | | · In some places on a smaller houseboat you can |
| more bedrooms; some of these houseboats have | | | | navigate lakes leading to more secluded areas. |
| levels or storeys. Some are privately owned as either | | | | · On luxury houseboats, you can get all amenities |
| a primary place of residence or as a holiday resort. | | | | as in a posh hotel such as hot tubs, big-screen TVs, |
| These are also available for rent with accommodation | | | | fireplaces, DVD players, and deluxe accommodations |
| for four to twelve persons. Europe offers some of the | | | | with private rooms. |
| costliest houseboats in the canals of Amsterdam, | | | | · As houseboats can accommodate from 4 to 15 |
| Netherlands, which even has houseboat hotels. In India, | | | | or more people, it's very common to share the cost of |
| houseboats are common on the backwaters of | | | | a houseboat vacation between multiple families or |
| Kerala and on the Dal Lake in Srinagar, Jammu and | | | | groups. |
| Kashmir. | | | | Some of the most popular house-boating lakes in US |
| Houseboating in the United States became popular | | | | are on Lake Powell, Lake Mead, Lake Shasta, Lake |
| only in the 1940s; the Lake Cumberland in Kentucky is | | | | Cumberland, Lake Amistad, Trinity Lake and Lake |
| considered the birthplace of houseboating in USA. | | | | Mohave. |
| Presently there are motorized houseboats with over | | | | Houseboat rentals are generally calculated on per trip |
| 2000 sq. ft. of living space at places like Seattle on | | | | or week or monthly basis. In each scheme which you |
| Lake Union and Portage Bay. Most houseboats are | | | | choose, the type of facilities offered and the size of |
| designed and built for traversing inland lakes and | | | | boat will determine the final price you pay. |