Coconuts, bean bags and palm trees: 'This tiny island airport is one of the best I've ever been to'

I'm sitting outside on a beanbag, sipping an icy-cold fresh coconut, under a palm tree that's shading me from the bright Thailand sun.

Everyone around me is chilled out, chatting about their holidays or scrolling through their phone as they kill time.

If I didn't have a boarding pass and a passport in front of me, it'd be very easy to forget that I'm in an airport.

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Flying out of Koh Samui airport after a week-long holiday on the Thai island was the perfect way to end my trip.

It's not like any airport I've ever been to. Forget the fluorescent lighting, the stressful PA announcements, the overpriced meals, and the rush to get through security to your gate.

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Samui airport just feels like one big outdoor mall, with cafes, shops, bars, and grassy areas where you can relax.

There's an indoor area where you check in, and another where the gates are located, but otherwise, you're mostly outside.

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Singapore's Changi airport has been named the best in the world 13 times, but I reckon Koh Samui's is miles better.

Sure, it may not have the same amenities. Samui's airport doesn't have a butterfly garden, or a movie theatre, or even a McDonald's.

But for an airport to genuinely make me feel relaxed, and like I could spend my whole day there, it has to be pretty special.

One of the most interesting parts of the airport was the baggage screening process. After check-in, before you can head over to the departures area, you must wait in front of a screen for five minutes.

If your bag appears on the screen, then it means security has flagged an issue with it - like maybe you've accidentally packed a portable charger.

Once your bag has been given the green light, then you can proceed.

From here, you head back out into the blinding sunlight and head to the departure gates. Stop along the way for a fresh coconut, a final holiday cocktail, or a steaming plate of pad Thai.

According to Samui Airport's website, it is "considered the most beautiful and is designed in perfect harmony with the breathtaking natural surroundings."

If you're lucky, you'll be able to score a seat on a swing, from which you can watch planes take off and land, until it's your turn to board.

And the best part? The VIP 'Lounge' is for everyone, so you can help yourself to snacks and bottles of water near the gate.

I was almost hoping our flight to Bangkok would be delayed, so we could chill at Samui airport for just a bit longer.

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