Season 3 of The White Lotus brought Thailand's luxury resorts into sharp focus, and many of us spent weeks captivated by the show's beautiful settings. The good news? These aren't movie sets—they're real places you can actually visit.

If you're planning a trip inspired by the show, here's what you need to know about the main locations and how to experience them without the melodrama.

Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui

This resort served as the primary filming location, and it's genuinely stunning. The villas sit on a steep hillside overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, each with private infinity pools and ocean views.

What to do here: The resort has an open-air Muay Thai ring where you can take morning classes. There's also a secluded beach area that's only accessible to guests. The spa is excellent, and the resort's vertical layout means you'll get a workout just moving between locations—bring comfortable shoes.

Practical note: The hillside setting is beautiful but not ideal for anyone with mobility concerns. Golf carts ferry guests around, but there are still plenty of steps.

Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas

This property appeared in several key scenes and showcases a different side of Thai luxury—more spread out, with standalone villas set among tropical gardens and lagoons.

What to do here: The spa treatments are worth the splurge, particularly the traditional Thai massage. The resort can arrange boat trips to nearby beaches like Ya Nui, which is less crowded than the more famous Phuket beaches. If you're interested in local culture, Phuket Old Town is about 40 minutes away and offers colorful Sino-Portuguese architecture and good street food.

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

The show featured this historic hotel in the Bangkok episodes. It's been operating since 1876 and sits along the Chao Phraya River.

What to do here: The Authors' Lounge serves afternoon tea in an elegant setting. The hotel can arrange private boat tours on the river, which is a relaxing way to see the city's temples and neighborhoods from the water. If you're extending your Bangkok stay, the hotel's location makes it easy to visit the Grand Palace and Wat Pho.

Making It Work

A few practical considerations for planning this kind of trip:

Timing matters. Thailand's dry season runs from November to April, which is peak tourist season. Prices are higher but the weather is more reliable. May to October brings rain and humidity, along with better deals.

Budget accordingly. These are luxury properties. Expect to pay $500-1,200+ per night depending on the season and room type. Bangkok tends to be less expensive than the island resorts.

Get beyond the resort. While the hotels are impressive, Thailand has much more to offer. Hire local guides in Koh Samui or Phuket to see cultural sites, or take a cooking class to learn about regional cuisine. The contrast between resort luxury and local life is part of what makes travel here interesting.

The show dramatized wealth and privilege for entertainment, but the locations themselves are simply well-run hotels in a beautiful country. Visit them if they fit your budget and interests, but don't feel like you need to recreate a TV show to have a meaningful trip to Thailand.