Koh Tao Montra Resort — On Mae Haad Beach with the Biggest Pool on the Island
You step off the ferry at Mae Haad pier and just want to drag your bag to the room as fast as possible — Koh Tao Montra Resort & Spa is the name regulars reach for first, because the lobby is a 5-minute walk from the pier. What guests keep coming back to is the large outdoor pool the resort calls the biggest on the island, complete with a swim-up bar, plus the Taste of the Orient beachfront restaurant where dinner tables are set down on the sand under paper lanterns — an evening setting only a handful of Koh Tao properties can match.
Koh Tao Montra opened in 2008 and went through its most recent major refurbishment in 2017. It's a beachfront resort of around 60 rooms on Mae Haad Beach — the quieter side compared to Sairee, but still within walking distance of everything. Rooms run from Mini Standard and Standard up through Superior, pool-view Deluxe, a 120 sqm Junior Suite, and the Khun Paen Family Suite that stretches to 210 sqm. Most rooms are finished in wood with a private balcony, a minibar fridge, and beds that several reviews describe as more comfortable than expected at this price point.
The headline feature is the outdoor pool the resort markets as the largest on Koh Tao — a multi-level pool that runs down toward the beach, with a swim-up bar where you order drinks from the water and a jacuzzi corner. Families with children rate it highly because there's so much room to swim. Right beside it sits Taste of the Orient, the beachfront restaurant serving both Thai and Western dishes. Breakfast is a buffet that guests praise for its freshness and range, and the beach setting at dinner is the part most people remember.
One guest recalls dinner on the beach, feet in the sand, paper lanterns overhead, watching the fishing-boat lights out on Mae Haad bay — "they didn't want to get up from that table all night."
Koh Tao is Thailand's diving capital, and Montra leans into that fully. The on-site Deep Dive Center is a PADI 5-Star Dive Resort with its own boats, running Open Water courses and fun dives that you can walk straight from your room to board. Beyond diving there are Thai cooking classes, motorbike rental, and arranged island trips. The spa works out of a Thai massage room finished in wood and bright fabrics — a sensible stop after a full day underwater.
The location is a genuine advantage on Koh Tao. Mae Haad Pier is a 5-minute walk away — the same pier where the Lomprayah and Songserm ferries dock — so you can roll your bag from boat to room without a transfer. Sairee Beach, where the restaurants, bars and nightlife are, sits about 10–15 minutes on foot. The resort runs a free shuttle to the pier at 9 am and 2 pm. That position gives you the calm of Mae Haad while keeping Sairee's buzz within reach when you want to head out.
The Trip.com score sits at 8.9/10 from 41 verified reviews — location scores 9.4 and service 9.2, with staff drawing repeated praise for arranging trips and looking after guests. Honestly though, the building is starting to show its age, and some reviews flag inconsistent room cleanliness, air-conditioning and electrical issues in certain rooms, and hot water that doesn't always come through fully. The poolside bar also runs noticeably pricier than places outside the resort — worth knowing before you check in so it doesn't catch you off guard.
On price — Montra starts around ฿2,100/night for a Standard room in low season, which is good value for a beachfront resort with a large pool and a dive centre built in. Pool-view rooms and the Beach Front Villa climb with the view and the size. High season (December–February) and long weekends push rates up and fill rooms fast, since accommodation on Koh Tao is limited — book at least 3–4 weeks ahead and compare Agoda, Booking and Trip.com every time before you commit.
The bottom line: Koh Tao Montra works best for families with kids and divers who want a beachfront base near the pier, a big pool, and diving as the priority — without paying luxury rates. You get a strong location, warm service, and a beach dinner you'll remember. But if you're expecting a flawlessly new room throughout, temper that a little — this is a resort that earns its place on location and atmosphere more than on the freshness of its fittings.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Beachfront and a 5-minute walk to Mae Haad Pier — easy off the ferry
- ✓ Large pool with plenty of room for kids to swim
- ✓ Staff helpful with arranging trips and information
- ✓ Breakfast buffet fresh with a good range of options
- ! Building shows its age — some rooms look older than the photos
- ! Room cleanliness can be inconsistent
- ! Poolside bar pricier than places outside the resort
- ✓ Beachfront location quieter than Sairee but still walkable to everything
- ✓ Spacious rooms with a private balcony, pool or ocean view
- ✓ On-site PADI dive centre — walk straight to the boat
- ✓ Free pier shuttle, morning and afternoon runs
- ! Air-conditioning and electrics in some rooms have issues
- ! Hot water doesn't always come through fully
- ! High season rates climb and rooms fill fast
- 💡If you want the best-condition room — request a refurbished or pool-view room at booking → the building dates to 2008 and some rooms are older than others, so flagging it ahead helps
- 💡If diving is your priority — the Deep Dive Center is on the grounds and you walk to the boat, but book courses ahead in high season as slots fill fast → ask about a room-plus-diving package when you book
- 💡If you're travelling as a family — the large pool and the 210 sqm Khun Paen Family Suite suit bigger groups → but suites are limited in number, so booking early pays off