| While backpackers and shoestring travelers continue to explore the world with guidebooks in hand (or e-books on devices; it’s 2025, after all), there’s a luxurious realm of travel that never fails to fascinate. The new (third) season of The White Lotus, which is set at an opulent resort on the Thai island of Ko Samui, has escalated such curiosity globally. I could have visited Thailand’s gorgeous islands, spending sublime days tracking down the best food, lounging on amazing beaches, hiking through forests and touring its temples, DIY-style and on a budget. But I wanted to know if I could unlock the elevated yet still authentically Thai vibe depicted in the show – only without the dark drama and, um, homicide. Ladies and gents, I am pleased to report that I did in fact find this mystique at some of the very resorts on Ko Samui and Phuket where the series was filmed. The third season’s storyline may still be shrouded in mystery, but one thing’s for certain: the lovely lotus flowers, serene spas and ritzy resorts that grace our screens very much exist in real life. Here’s how I found them, and where. | | | Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, I'm a Brooklyn transplant and editor who can't get enough of trips that involve life-altering meals, trains, hiking boots and loads of opportunities to break out my camera. | | |  | Anantara Mai Khao Villas, Phuket | | | | Ko Samui’s airport is owned by Bangkok Airlines, which operates most flights going to and from the island, connecting to Thailand’s major cities, Phuket, Singapore and Hong Kong, among other destinations. Phuket hosts more airlines and has more availability, with direct flights from across Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
I stayed one night in Bangkok before heading on to Ko Samui. If you’re traveling between multiple destinations in Thailand, book your domestic flights as soon as possible. The Ko Samui airport (one of the most adorable I’ve visited) is tiny and can only turn over so many flights per day. | | | While the Four Seasons is the official resort partner of The White Lotus, another hotel brand played a large role in the show’s filming: Thai-born-and-bred Anantara Hotels & Resorts.
Anantara properties are known for their top-tier spas – which tracks with the reappearance this season of Belinda, the spa manager from the show’s Maui-set first season. Three other resorts figure in this new Thailand season: Bophut Koh Samui, Lawana Koh Samui and Mai Khao Phuket Villas. I checked into all three to soak up the full White Lotus experience.
| | | Traveling in style means private hotel transfers can guide you to and from airports and on excursions beyond resort properties. Or download the Grab app, which is Thailand’s Uber equivalent. For full-on independence, rent a car or motorbike! | | | Clothes so thin you can easily ball them up in your hand. Seriously, the humidity levels don’t mess around! And neither does the sun – pack plenty of SPF, a swimsuit, a hat and don’t forget deodorant. If you plan to visit any temples, dress modestly, covering your legs and shoulders. Buy a bottle of mosquito repellent as soon as you arrive. | Perhaps the most crucial element of this itinerary is what I’ve left out: everything that comes in between. When you’re on vacation, soaking up sunshine while next to the pool or oceanside is a given – and there’s no better relaxation than at a luxury beach resort. | | The beach at Anantara Bophut Koh Samui | | | | Anantara Bophut Koh Samui
| From watching just the first episode, it’s clear that Bophut has all the elements The White Lotus’ producers were looking for. Flora is a key feature of the property, with most rooms sprawling around a long, rectangular lotus-dotted pond that’s lined with a canopy of palms, and paths leading guests to the pool area and beach. Monkey statues adorn the property, whose traditional Thai architecture features breezy, open windows, splashes of pastel hues and tall, dark wood ceilings.
My garden suite had its own porch and a spacious closet and bathroom area including – a true extravagance for this New Yorker – a large basin tub. | | | Thai food constantly surpassed my expectations on this trip, and I sampled other delicious cuisines along the way too. The best table at the Bophut property is on the porch of Guilty, a South American spot with a stunning view of the pool and beach. That view, tableside-prepared guacamole and hibachi BBQ pork belly were all I needed at the end of the day.
Also, let’s please take a moment to shout out a solid hotel breakfast buffet. Each resort offered both Thai and Western breakfast options, but perhaps nothing felt more luxurious than snacking on fresh native fruits and sipping bright juices and smoothies in February, knowing it was snowing back in New York. | | | A little set-jetting roundup for your leisure: viewers will recognize the resort’s main driveway, which also featured a security station that was built and then demoed by the show’s crew; the main lobby; and the library, which stood in as the hotel store in the show. Book an appointment at the spa, and you may be lucky enough (as I was) to get a lotus oil massage in one of the rooms Belinda is pictured in the season trailer. | | | Yes, the characters in the show do leave the hotel property – and so should you. The resort arranged an excursion for me, including stops at two famous temples, Wat Plai Laem and Big Buddha Temple; Chaweng viewpoint, one of the most popular views on the island, overlooking the waves crashing on the rocks; and Elephant Kingdom, an ethical sanctuary where visitors can learn about local rescue efforts and feed rehabilitated elephants from a suspended platform.
Conveniently, the Bophut property is also located next to Ko Samui’s Fisherman’s Village, which puts on a night market a few times a week. Even more impressive is the twice-a-night fire show on the beach at Coco Tam’s, right next to the market – a spectacle I recognized from the White Lotus trailer.
| | | Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by our partners. | | | Photography credits: Ann Douglas Lott/Lonely Planet, Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Resort | This email was sent to you by: | Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 | | | |
