Koh Samui sees so many tourists a year that there are numerous amenities to make your stay comfortable. You'll find that many people on the island speak English, but it won't hurt to keep your Thai phrasebook handy.

Money:
ATMs line the main roads of Na Thon, Hat Chaweng and Hat Lamai, as do actual bank windows with tellers.

There's a currency exchange right along Rte. 4169 next door to Samui Beach Resort, but they charge hefty commission fees and argued that the exchange rate was lower than what we'd seen in Bangkok only a day earlier.

Phone and Internet:
Many storefronts in Koh Samui advertise international calls, but make sure to walk up and down the street to compare rates. Near our resort, shops advertised calls for 50 baht per minute, but closer to downtown Lamai the cost went as low as 30 baht per minute. Internet cafes abound - there were two right across the street from us that charged 1 baht a minute. One had a 20 baht minimum and the other had a 10 baht minimum; be sure to compare.

Hospitals:
Government Hospital is in Na Thon and Samui International Hospital is in Hat Chaweng. Nursing stations with English-speaking staff are common in Na Thon, Hat Chaweng and Hat Lamai, most of which are open 24 hours and accept credit cards.

Tourist Information:
There's a TAT office (0-7742-0504, tatsamui@samart.co.th) on Na Thon Road near the pier in Na Thon. It's open 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m. daily to answer questions in English and provide brochures and maps of the island. There are also travel agencies lining the main road in downtown Lamai that will help you book elephant rides or day trips to waterfalls and zoos.

Mail and Newspapers:
The main post office is on Na Thon Road, 50 meters left of the pier parking lot. Branches exist along Rte. 4169, including one near Hat Lamai that we noticed while walking to town from the Samui Beach Resort. The free "Samui Welcome" is a monthly tourist-oriented newspaper. Other free guides include "Samui Guide," "Accommodations Samui" and "What's on Samui." At our hotel we picked up free maps and a "Samui Dining Guide."

Other Tips:
There's a 24-hour Family Mart convenience store at the top of the Samui Beach Resort driveway (along Rte. 4169) and a few 7-Eleven stores in downtown Lamai for when you're craving packaged snacks or cheap bottled drinks. Also, if you want to do laundry on the island, make sure to compare prices. The norm in our area was 30 baht per kilogram.

Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our Asia Insiders page.