The next Four Seasons to be the host hotel for HBO’s “The White Lotus” may have been crowned, according to Hollywood chatter and a two-month blocked-out reservations page.
Thailand’s Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui will serve as the backdrop to the third season of “The White Lotus,” according to a post this week on the celebrity gossip Instagram account Deuxmoi.
But we aren’t just relying on anonymous celebrity gossip for our clues.
Thailand was announced earlier this year for the show’s third season, reportedly meant to explore themes of death and Eastern religion and spirituality. TPG previously gave a rundown of which Thai Four Seasons properties were in the running, including Koh Samui.
Koh Samui’s star was already shining bright for its potential TV appearance. Also, the reservations page for the Four Seasons property shows the hotel isn’t accepting any bookings from later this month through late March, which links up with earlier reports that production is set to begin in early February.
A Four Seasons spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by TPG, but the company was widely seen to be a shoo-in for once again being the stand-in for the fictional, ultra-luxury White Lotus hotel brand.
The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea was the host hotel for the TV series’ first season, which was filmed in late 2020 during the pandemic. Part of the appeal of the show and what prompted the initial green light for creator Mike White’s idea was that it could be filmed safely in a closed-set bubble, according to White in prior interviews.
The series moved to Sicily in the second season, with San Domenico Palace, Taormina, a Four Seasons Hotel, serving as the White Lotus du jour. By this point, the series became a cultural juggernaut and vaulted Jennifer Coolidge back into legend status (though “Legally Blonde” fans among us will say she never lost said legend status).
What’s so special about Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui?
The Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui is a TPG and luxury traveler favorite. Its location on a secluded northwestern stretch of the island of Koh Samui makes this an ideal spot for some rest and relaxation away from more bustling Bo Phut, the island’s popular beach town.
The property features a mix of pool villas, beachfront villas, elevated villas with panoramic ocean views and even over-the-top private residences to house an entire family. Basically, there are plenty of luxe accommodations for “White Lotus” guests to spar in, spar over in the event of an overbooking and get up to their usual ultra-one-percent melodrama.
Related: The 16 best Four Seasons in the world, according to travel experts who have stayed at them
Additionally, when the tough gets going and characters get peeved at one another, they don’t have to actually take it out on each other. Instead, there’s the option of booking a session with the on-site professional Muay Thai kickboxer and trainer. Of course, one can also unwind with a slew of high-end treatments like an energy four-hands massage — including in an alfresco oceanfront setting — at the spa.
While guests of last season’s “The White Lotus” got real-life media scrutiny for largely sticking to the hotel restaurants for meals, it’s hard to leave the Four Seasons Koh Samui when one’s stomach rumbles.
KOH Thai Kitchen at the resort serves a palatial breakfast spread — including cooked-to-order fried rice and omelets — before turning into a Thai restaurant for lunch and dinner. Guests will find tapas and drinks at the CocoRum pool bar, while Pla Pla is a Mediterranean option for lunch and dinner. There’s also the Rum Vault for a library of global rums meant to sample and also Koh Bar for pre-dinner cocktails.
Guests can also pass time by swimming in the oceanfront infinity pool or lounging in a chaise lounge at the pristinely maintained beach. Guests can also take part in a wide array of activities like kayaking and paddle boarding.
The stellar service Four Seasons is known for shines at the Koh Samui beachfront, as guests can enjoy a free mini barbecue station with roasted corn and bananas and cool off as staff members furnish complimentary scented cold towels, juice shots, fresh fruit and facial spray.
White Lotus guests might consider checking their small children into the Kids for All Seasons club to avoid passing on their drama to the youth. Alas, prior seasons show that usually never happens.
Who’s in and who’s missing
Spoiler alert: We’ll miss Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya (and probably give any yacht excursions a second thought going forward), but Natasha Rothwell, who played spa worker Belinda in the show’s first season, is back for season three.
The rest of the cast is expected to be announced for check-in in the coming weeks.
At least we know there will almost certainly still be stellar fictionalized Four Seasons service with a smile to go with all that well-to-do ennui and trickery that keeps us tuning into “The White Lotus.”
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