Like hotels houseboats vary in degree of luxury and have been accordingly graded by the Department of Tourism. A luxury houseboat like a luxury hotel has fine furniture good carpets and modern bathroom fittings while the 'D category' (the lowest category) of houseboats like low-budget hotels is spartanly furnished. Like hotels too houseboats vary widely in their locations. Some overlook the main road others look out onto lotus gardens and yet others face tiny local markets and villages all right in the middle of the lake! All houseboats regardless of category have highly personalized service. Not only is there always a 'houseboy' for every boat but the owner and his family are never far away. The cost per day of hiring a houseboat includes all meals and free rides from the houseboat to the nearest jetty and back as no houseboat on the lakes is directly accessible from the banks.