Mountain Reef Beach Resort in Koh Tao Island

The biggest plus of this place is definitely its direct beach access - you can walk straight out of your room (down some stairs of course) and into the water. There are plenty of fish to see right off the shore and two dive schools are located directly on the beach. Two excellent restaurants are also just next door, and the whole place is run as a friendly family business. However, for the high-season price of 5,900 baht (around €170) per night for a family room, you shouldn’t expect luxury. The furniture is extremely hard, both in the restaurant and the rooms, and there are no chairs on the balcony - only a hammock made from stiff plastic mesh. The beds aren’t great either, as you can feel every movement from the person next to you. Breakfast is quite basic (the banana pancake was dry, and the coffee is instant). The beach itself isn’t ideal for relaxing walks: there’s hardly any sand, mostly gravel and broken coral, which makes walking uncomfortable. Stray dogs often poop the beach and during the day, party tourists can be quite intrusive. There are no mosquito nets, the restaurant lacks atmosphere, and the lighting everywhere is cold-white (around 5000 K), giving the place a rather sterile feeling. Prices are noticeably higher here than on nearby Koh Phangan - typically 50–80% more - and scooter rentals directly on the beach are overpriced (300-350 THB for 24h). Tip: rent your scooter at the pier immediately after arrival to save money. In short, this spot offers great snorkeling and convenience for diving enthusiasts, but it’s not ideal for travelers seeking comfort, atmosphere, or real value for money.