Surrounded by a canopy of trees overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, there is little to disturb the tranquility at The Monttra Pattaya apart from the idle chatter of birdsong and the sound of waves gently lapping up to the private beach. Enjoying a cocktail as the sun casts a golden hue over neighbouring Ko Larn it’s an idyllic and serene setting a world away from the stereotype portrayal of Pattaya.
Mention of the popular seaside resort may immediately conjure up images of noisy nightlife, groups of package tourists and crowded beaches. And whilst that side of Pattaya is undeniable, it is only part of the story. It’s true that there are rough edges to some parts of Pattaya but as savvy Thailand regulars already know, there is more than one side to the resort city. There is a reason why discerning visitors looking for a quiet seaside retreat within easy reach of Bangkok choose Pattaya. Away from the bright lights and the bustle of central Pattaya there are discrete luxury locations like The Monttra that sparkle with refinement and charm.
In total, there are 23 suites available at The Monttra Pattaya. On my recent visit, I stayed in a spacious garden suite with a balcony and a super-comfortable bed. It felt more like a small apartment than a hotel room and the homely, but contemporary feel made for an extremely relaxing stay. There are larger suites too, some of which even feature their own private plunge pools.
All suites feature:
All of the facilities you would expect at a luxury hotel are present at The Monttra Pattaya, but there are some added touches which have been thoughtfully provided. The price of the room includes a complimentary massage session at the Jungle Spa and guests are also able to take advantage of unique services including the soap concierge and skin supervisor.
Special events are arranged each day ranging from pool fitness to Thai cooking classes to monk blessings. Should you wish to venture further out of Pattaya and visit attractions such as the Sanctuary of Truth or Nong Nooch Gardens, tours and transfers are available on request for an extra charge.
The high-speed wi-fi worked seamlessly for me during my visit, but staying here you may just want to switch off from the outside world and relax. To help you do just that, the infinity pool provides stunning views of Ko Larn and it’s only a short walk down some steps to the small private beach area which is shared with the neighbouring Royal Varuna Yacht Club.
The Monttra Pattaya doesn’t have one specific bar area and drinks are served wherever guests want them in the hotel grounds. Whether it’s sitting by the infinity pool, in the garden or on the private beach, it’s a lovely way to relax with refreshments and enjoy the tropical surroundings and those sumptuous sunsets.
All the food I sampled was excellent with a substantial breakfast included in the room rate. In total there are 9 different breakfast options ranging from Oriental to Western which are served at the comfortable ‘Canopy’ dining area on a raised terrace looking out over the Gulf of Thailand.
Evening meals and drinks are charged separately, but are good value for a luxury hotel with prices starting from 250 Baht. I tried the khao phat talay (fried rice with seafood) and the spring chicken curry which were both delicious. Dining al-fresco with sublime views of the ocean and Ko Larn simply added to the enjoyment of the food.
At any hotel in Thailand, especially those in the luxury bracket, you would expect to see welcoming smiles from staff at reception. And so there were at The Monttra Pattaya, but there was more to it than that. Smiles come easily to most Thais and it doesn’t always mean they are happy. But the feeling I had during my stay was that staff were genuinely happy to be working there which isn’t always the case at some hotels I’ve stayed at in Thailand, especially in Pattaya. There were cheery ‘sawatdees‘ from everybody whether it was the gardeners, the cleaning team or the staff at reception. The Monttra hosted my stay, so you might expect me to be saying complimentary things, but hand on heart I can’t speak highly enough of all the staff I met. The small number of villas and the delightful setting may have something to do with the homely and welcoming atmosphere, but it is something which made my stay extra special. It’s easy to build luxury accommodation and spend money on all the best fixtures and fittings, but you can’t put a price on quality staff.
The Monttra Pattaya opened in December 2015 and is an ideal retreat for those in search of serenity and solitude or a romantic getaway. I’ve had numerous visits to various hotels and most parts of Pattaya over the last 10 years, but staying at The Monttra was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had in that time. And much of that was down to the attentiveness of the staff and the homely feel of the property.
It was difficult to find fault with The Monttra and I’d recommend it without hesitation to family and friends. For a luxurious seaside retreat within easy reach of Bangkok, The Monttra Pattaya is perfect. It’s the type of place you check-in and immediately feel a warm welcoming embrace that you won’t want to venture too far away from.
The Monttra Pattaya is located next to the Royal Varuna Yacht Club close to Pratamnak Hill and within walking distance of the Pattaya Viewpoint. It’s a short drive in one direction to Jomtien Beach and the opposite direction takes you to central Pattaya. The hotel isn’t on a songthaew route so if you haven’t got your own transport and want to explore the area you need to rely on taxis or motorbike taxis although the hotel can arrange transport for you.
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The Monttra Pattaya covered the cost of my 2-night stay in a garden suite. I paid all my own transport costs to and from Chiang Mai to Pattaya as well as all additional transfer fees incurred to get to and from the hotel. As always, views expressed here are my own.
