Ban’s Diving Resort

Ban's is one of Koh Tao's most happening spots. This is dive central, with the resort offering PADI and learning-to-dive courses. The crowd here tends to be young and there's often plenty of partying going on; the beachfront restaurant and bar is always crowded. The lobby area is decked out in earth tones, with dark wood walls and seating accented by orange cushions and lighting fixtures. The updated upper level of the resort, far from the beach, is almost like another hotel, with snazzy wood-paneled rooms with sea-view terraces and a romantic circular restaurant overlooking the relaxing pool. The resort is big enough that it can cater to everyone from families to couples to solo travelers. 

Ban's is located in between Sairee and Mae Haad beaches and is part of the epicenter of the Koh Tao party scene. A plethora of bars and restaurants are available to guests nearby, and it's only a 10-minute walk or so to the heart of Sairee, which is known for its party scene. The resort’s hillside area is a steep walk uphill from the beach, but it’s far quieter than other portions of the property. Koh Tao is also renowned for its natural topography and the diversity of its marine life. 

To reach the resort itself, many guests fly into Koh Samui, take a ferry to the pier at Mae Haad, and take a taxi from the pier (the walk to the resort from here is about 30 minutes). Cheaper options include taking a bus or train from Bangkok and a longer ferry ride.

Ban's offers a wide selection of guest rooms, with categories ranging from Pool View units to the Pool Villa Complex. Updated hillside rooms and suites fuse traditional Thai decor with modern minimalism and offer polished wood floors and small balconies with sea views. Tech amenities include free Wi-Fi and satellite flat-screen TVs. At the other end of the spectrum, the standard rooms that comprise the beachside wing are more like walk-in closets, cramped and worn, though diving course students do get free stays in these spaces if they book a course with the resort. Keep in mind certain bathrooms feature just toilets with freestanding showerheads. Note that not all rooms have air-conditioning. 

The hillside Darawan Restaurant has plenty of atmosphere and charm, offering views of the entire property out to sea. In contrast, the beachfront restaurant and bar is more of a party central hangout. The resort also has two swimming pools, although the beach-wing pool is small and mostly used by diving-course groups. The upper-area pool is larger and more ideal for chilling out. The Ban's comprehensive Dive Center offers everything from introductory scuba-diving lessons to advanced certification courses and PADI rescue-diving training. Dive sessions are typically small, allowing for more individualized attention, and the knowledgeable instructors here get rave reviews from guests. A bright on-site store also specializes in marine gear.

Wi-Fi is free, but the signal is typically only reliable near reception (and is very weak or nonexistent in the hilltop units).