Meet the scene-stealing characters of The White Lotus in Thailand

Set-jetting – planning your vacation around locations featured in popular movies or TV shows isn’t a new phenomenon. For decades, romantic settings and iconic characters have inspired travelers to pack their bags. What’s changed, however, is the growing role these stunning venues now play in the storytelling itself, becoming central to the narrative itself. 

And with this latest season of The White Lotus not only captivating local audiences but also leading to a remarkable 412% surge in global searches for Thai holidays in 2025, these hotels aren’t just places to stay, but characters in their own right – each one well worth meeting in person, as long as you can secure a booking, that is.

If the hotel locations we all love in season three were a group of friends jetting off on an extravagant Thai getaway, each would bring its own distinct personality. Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui is the effortlessly chic one – the polished socialite who always leads the pack. Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort is the elegant matriarch, rich in heritage and sophistication, but still knows how to let loose. 

Meanwhile, Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort is the free-spirited sibling who’s into wellness, barefoot luxury and sunset cocktails after a day of ocean adventures. Anantara Mai Khao Villas plays the role of the wise, zen-like guru, who encourages both deep relaxation and unapologetic indulgence.

Together, these hotels don’t just set the stage for The White Lotus – they are the stage. They shape the drama, the indulgence and the inevitable unraveling that makes the show so deliciously irresistible to us at home and the set-jetters who hunt it down IRL.

Of all the hotels featured in the series, Four Seasons brings with it some serious main character energy. Rebranding in 2022 with a new tagline ‘luxury is our love language’, the chain pivoted towards a new generation of wealthy travellers looking for more genuine experiences and wellness-focused stays — just like some of our favourite characters this season.

With two seasons under its belt, it only seems appropriate that Four Seasons use their Thai properties as the main setpiece for season three. However, being so popular means that making a reservation is getting harder by the minute, with extremely limited availability all the way into the first half of 2026.

If you want to get into character yourself, the CoCoRum Bar is where you need to be. Asia’s only rum vault is currently transformed into a White Lotus experience until mid-May this year, complete with craft cocktails inspired by the show’s iconic settings. However, due to high demand, reservations for non-guests are temporarily unavailable as the resort focuses on accommodating its fully booked schedule for the foreseeable future.

If you do get the chance to go, getting to know the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui is easy. This destination resort is friendly, unpretentious and rich with activities and interactions that more than make up for the B40,000 per night price tag. Think boat tours, sunset cruises, island-hopping adventures and more – each one an invitation to indulge in your own set-jet fantasy. Just maybe skip the part where someone doesn’t make it to checkout.

Young, spiritual, yet loves a martini, Anantara Hotels & Resorts is the more carefree hotel of the bunch. It’s the place to go when you feel like ditching the city grind for a generous helping of sunrise yoga and ocean swims, as long as there’s a good cocktail nearby to balance the chi. 

Much like Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), the young and cheerful partner to the more paranoid Rick (Walton Goggins), Anantara Bophut thrives on balance. It’s the kind of place where morning starts with an herbal tea ceremony and ends with a glass of vintage wine under swaying coconut palms. 

Wellness and spa treatments top the list for most guests here, with six private treatment villas overlooking a lush garden designed by tropical starchitect Bill Bensley. But perhaps the biggest testament to its reputation is that most of the spa guests aren’t even staying at the resort – with high-end travelers from across the island booking in for world-class spa treatments every day. 

Offering a very Thai experience throughout, the hotel invites all guests to join a lotus flower folding ceremony, a happy coincidence given the series name. Thai khantoke style dining, using a pedestal tray as a small dining table, promises equally classic experiences while optional candlelit beach dates and boozy island adventures provide a perfect contrast – because, after all, what’s a stay themed around The White Lotus without a little extravagance?

A sanctuary for the spiritually curious and romantically restless, Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort is a wellness-seeker’s paradise for those who still want a taste of the good life. And starting at just B11,000 with rooms available throughout the rest of the year, she’s just as approachable as Chelsea herself.

Set on the pristine shores of Koh Samui’s Chaweng Beach, Anantara Lawana is owned by one of Koh Samui’s first families, carrying with it the elegance of an old-world matriarch – one who has seen it all, weathered every story and still has the energy to host the most lavish and entertaining parties. At first glance, she is dignified, poised, even a little reserved, but beneath the refined exterior lies an upbeat and adventurous spirit. 

For guests, that spirit manifests itself through General Manager Frederic Kolde himself, who personally joins morning sunrise walks and regular eco-island kayaking excursions, proving that even the most polished hosts know how to embrace the wild beauty of their surroundings. 

The Singing Bird Lounge, however, epitomises the White Lotus effect most and could almost be regarded as a main character in its own right. This iconic treehouse-style bar sits in the clutches of a 120-year old sacred fig tree and features regularly in The White Lotus season three. 

Inspired by the island’s unique bird-singing contests, the lounge serves a feathery-themed cocktail menu crafted by head mixologist Myo Hein, and two Tree Top Dining tasting menus that pair with a fantastic wine list curated by the young sommelier Emma Promjant, who is one of the most informative sommeliers you’ll ever meet. 

In The White Lotus, no character is ever just one thing and Anantara Lawana plays its part with precision. A destination of impeccable grace on the outside, that, given the right moment, can still throw a party to rival any that have come before. Coming in at just B8,800 per night and with plenty of availability for the remainder of the year, what’s stopping you? 

With a world-renowned spa that has been featured in the series itself, there’s no other character in the show with a better understanding of wellness – even with ex-spa manager Belinda Lindsey (Natasha Rothwell) checking in once again in episode one. 

Although some 250km away from the fictional hotel’s island setting, the untouched region of Phuket’s northern coastline on which it sits is a perfect setting for The White Lotus, with the hotel’s wellness sanctuary, spa and Belinda’s room making prime appearances.

The resort’s beautiful outdoor lobby, nestled next to a long walking bridge and natural lotus pond, was actually transformed into the entrance of the spa during season three – first teased at the start of episode one with a less than tranquil scene of gunfire playing out. 

And while in The White Lotus, wellness may act as a mask for the multitude of dysfunctional characters checking in, the real life Anantara Mai Khao is steadfast in its position as a learned and unapologetically luxurious wellness resort destination. Sprawling and serene, the resort is home to countless lotus ponds separating villas and facilities, and for the next couple of months the hotel elevates this symbolism even further with a ‘Taste of the Lotus Season’ special dinner  which celebrates every part of the lotus, inspired by the HBO series and the resort’s unique natural setting. 

But make no mistake, there’s a playful side to this wellness guru too. Lagoon pool villas offer a space for private unwinding while beachfront dining at Sea.Fire.Salt reminds guests that mindfulness and pleasure are not mutually exclusive. An overnight stay starts at B11,000 per night and there is plenty of availability throughout 2025, so prepare your lotus position and get ohm with it…  

Every series of The White Lotus has its fair share of supporting cast, and our round-up of resort actors are no exception. Outside of their walls, villas and pools you’ll find a roster of places that provide the perfect settings for moments of seduction, deception and unraveling egos as the series develops. 

In Bangkok, the city’s fast-paced atmosphere offers a stark contrast to the relaxing wellness centres of our star-cast of resorts. The Bamboo Bar at Mandarin Oriental sets the stage for hushed conversations over negronis, while the neon-drenched chaos of Sing Sing Theater is also rumoured to make an appearance. And, while not yet featured in the series’ three aired episodes, the opulent riverfront estate of Siri Sala Private Thai Villa may yet host discrete discussions of fortunes or unhatched plans. 

Over on Koh Samui, Samujana Villas also make an appearance with their cliffside infinity pools – available on Airbnb now, where bookings for Koh Samui soared more than 80 percent last year. Meanwhile, the island’s Fisherman’s Village, with its charming wooden shopfronts and local markets is sure to reel in some authenticity to the hyper-curated world of The White Lotus. 

And perhaps the star of the show and the Thai island’s most famous of characters, Haad Rin Beach on Koh Phangan promises to deliver the kind of tropical hedonism that The White Lotus thrives on thanks to its reputation as the home of the legendary Full Moon Party. 

If you’re a fan of the series, you’ll know that in The White Lotus, no one ever leaves quite the same as they arrived. The same can be said for Thailand’s scene-setting locations that will hold character for years to come. 

From opulent villas and world-class spas to atmospheric bars and mysterious beaches, the country is playing its role to perfection. The resorts are living, breathing characters of the show and, given their set-jetting appeal, there’s no surprise that the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui has experienced a remarkable 44% increase in hotel reservations, closely followed by Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort at 40%. More than just a backdrop, Thailand and its world-class resorts have become the undeniable stars of the show – a testament to the power of world building and the subsequent set-jetting that follows.

As The White Lotus continues to blend indulgence with intrigue, Thailand’s dreamy resorts have transcended fiction, becoming bucket-list destinations for travellers eager to live out their own luxury-fueled fantasies – hopefully, without the signature White Lotus misfortune.