Inside the Real White Lotus in Thailand

I was recently visiting a fancy beachfront resort when, while being escorted to my villa, the manager described the property as "like The White Lotus but with no murder." This was not the first time I had heard that. Since the hit television show premiered in 2021, calling something "a White Lotus" has become shorthand for a type of uber-luxurious hotel, usually but not exclusively of the beachfront varietal, where the veneer of privacy is paramount, no whim is left unserved, and no detail is overlooked.

But I've been thinking, what would it be like to actually live in The White Lotus? To find out, there was only one place I could go: the Four Seasons Koh Samui, the actual resort where most of Season Three was filmed, to find out just how White Lotus-y I could get. Just, you know, without the murder.

View in Browser  SHOP EXCLUSIVE SUBSCRIBE I Stayed at the Real-Life White Lotus in Thailand. Here's What It Was Like. I was recently visiting a fancy beachfront resort when, while being escorted to my villa, the manager described the property as "like The White Lotus but with no murder." This was not the first time I had heard that. Since the hit television show premiered in 2021, calling something "a White Lotus" has become shorthand for a type of uber-luxurious hotel, usually but not exclusively of the beachfront varietal, where the veneer of privacy is paramount, no whim is left unserved, and no detail is overlooked. But I've been thinking, what would it be like to actually live in The White Lotus? To find out, there was only one place I could go: the Four Seasons Koh Samui, the actual resort where most of Season Three was filmed, to find out just how White Lotus-y I could get. Just, you know, without the murder. Read More Zach Cherry Is Ready to Talk About the Severance Season 2 Finale Amidst the chaos of Apple TV+'s shocking finale, the actor's dual performance as Dylan is the beating heart. Read More These are the Best Cloud Gaming Services in 2025 A full breakdown of how you can play high-quality games wherever you go. Read More "Elon is NOT BEING BRIEFED ON ANYTHING CHINA BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR!!!" Says the Leader of the Free World There is an angry talking yam loose in Our Nation's Capital, and we all ought to be calling our congresscritters to tell them not to go out without armed guards and huge amounts of anti-yam repellent. On Thursday, it was reported that the Department of Defense would be briefing a certain unelected ketamine proponent on the country's secret war plans for a possible conflict with China. The angry talking yam began storming around Pennsylvania Avenue, eating its own liver. Read More 1923 Episode 5 Puts the Duttons Through Hell It's time for Taylor Sheridan to pick up the pace. Read More 15 Casual Pants That'll Easily Replace Your Jeans Give your denim a break. Read More Some of The Best Arc'teryx Jackets Are On Sale Right Now The worst of winter has passed, and now it's time to get back outside. Go hiking, running, whatever it is you like to do, and make sure you have a trusty companion to do it. The trustiest of all companions, of course, would be some fresh Arc'teryx gear like my preferred Mantis backpack. And if you're a real savvy shopper, you can buy a discounted insulated jacket in preparation for next winter—or you're upcoming fly-fishing trip in Argentina. Read More Follow Us Unsubscribe | Privacy Notice | CA Notice at Collection Esquire is a publication of Hearst Magazines. ©2025 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This email was sent by Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019-3779