Picture a Koh Samui afternoon. In the dim coolness of your room the only sound is that of the surf outside the windows and the gentle sound of your masseuse working on your back. The room is fragrant will lemongrass and other aromatic herbs and the sense of relaxation is absolute. You're experiencing one of the wonders of Thailand - the traditional Thai massage and it feels heavenly.

You can have a stimulating massage or invigorating spa treatment anywhere in Thailand, but on the tropical isle of Koh Samui, it's truly wonderful. If you want to make health the central focus of your holiday this is the perfect destination owing to the presence of the many residential fasting and health improvement centres. For those wanting a detox, there are fasting retreats with colonic irrigation, and you can study yoga and other eastern regimens. Plus you can find countless restaurants featuring organic menus.

It’s quite easy to get to Samui these days, you can travel by bus, boat, train or plane – up to you as the Thais say! Really it all depends on your budget and how much time you have. If you come by road or rail then you’ll also have to take the ferry so it can take up to a day to reach your destination. Flying is obviously the fastest method and the airport on the island has won awards for its design that blends in perfectly with the natural surroundings. Flights arrive here from all over including Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, domestic flights from Bangkok are regular with most of them operated by Bangkok Airways.

Train is a great way to travel around Thailand, comfortable and inexpensive. Leaving from Hualamphong Station in Bangkok you can book an air-conditioned compartment or fan depending on how comfortable you want to be. It works out cheaper to buy a ticket that includes train and ferry travel, you arrive in Surat Thani where there’s a bus waiting to take you to the ferry port of Donsak. There are also lots of coach companies travelling to Donsak and they work in the same way as getting the train whereby you buy a combination ticket to take you all the way to Samui. This is the cheapest method, and you can find VIP coaches that have air conditioning and are very comfortable. The ferry takes 1 ½ hours and leave every hour during the day.

There is no public transport system on Koh Samui so you have to rely on yellow taxis that work out quite expensive, or stand at the side of the road and you’ll soon get picked up by one of the open pick-up-style people carriers known as ‘song thiews’. However they don’t run in the evening so if you want to go farther afield then you are reliant on a taxi to get you there. You could always hire a car or jeep if you are confident enough to drive. There are usually motorbike taxis convenient for short distances and cheap, or hire one yourself to explore the island. Be very careful however as accidents are common on Thai roads.

Samui has kept up with the times and it’s common for hotels and restaurants to offer internet access these days so you won’t be cut off from the rest of the world! Just don’t expect the same speed as you might get at home, be patient and chill out, after all you are on holiday. Wireless hotspots are also more readily available and generally should be free of charge.

There are plenty of cash machines found around the island, particularly in the more touristy areas, or money changing services are also very common. Be aware that only the larger hotels and resorts will generally accept credit cards, if you are staying at a small family-owned bungalow and eating at cheap Thai restaurants you will need to make sure you have cash on you.

There are a few do’s and don’ts to mention although Thai people are generally tolerant and happy by nature, so as long as you are polite and considerate and remember you are in a foreign country then there shouldn’t be any problems. Thai people are modest by nature, so although it’s acceptable to be uncovered on the beach, in the evenings or in town remember to put some clothes on!

This respect is particularly important if you are visiting a temple. Make sure you cover up and don’t wear skimpy tops or bikinis! Many temples actually have sarongs on hand to lend out to inappropriately dressed farangs. Also if you are a woman then ensure you don’t touch a monk as he is going through a 'purification' ritual and this will cause a lot of consternation.

Take off your shoes if you happen to visit a Thai’s house, this also applies to some shops. You’ll see a pile of shoes at the entrance if this is the case so just follow suit. Finally, never show anger to a Thai as you will get nowhere. If a Thai person has to handle an uncomfortable situation they will simply slow down or even disappear for a while. The angrier you get the more they will resist the situation, keep calm and keep smiling and you’ll get what you want a lot faster. Check out Koh Samui travel for a real-life adventure and a holiday that you will never forget.