Connect with us

Celebrity News

‘The White Lotus’ Thailand Hotel Is Really 4 Different Resorts in Koh Samui and Phuket Combined (Exclusive)


To avoid spoilers, this story only covers locations in season 3, episode 1 of The White Lotus.

The White Lotus in Thailand holds more secrets than viewers might think.

The stunning fictional hotel where the HBO drama’s third season is set can be visited by fans in real life, but they might have to take a flight to go from breakfast to dinner.

Unlike the first two seasons, which were filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea in Hawaii and San Domenico Palace in Taormina, Sicily, respectively, the Thailand edition is actually four hotels combined into one seamless setting, the show’s executive producer David Bernad tells PEOPLE exclusively.

The Four Seasons Koh Samui, Anantara Bophut Koh Samui, Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas and Rosewood Phuket were all used as different parts of The White Lotus Thailand.

Fabio Lovino/HBO


In reality, two of the luxury properties are located on Koh Samui, an island in the Gulf of Thailand off the peninsula’s east coast, while the other two are about 200 miles away off the west coast on Thailand’s largest island, Koh Phuket, located in the Andaman Sea.

“When we scouted Thailand, we looked at Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Chiang Mai.” says Bernad. “We didn’t go to Koh Samui because [director] Mike [White] was like, ‘We’re never going to shoot in Ko Samui.'”

Dom Hetrakul and Natasha Rothwell in ‘The White Lotus’.

Fabio Lovino/HBO


The show’s creator, it turns out, had a negative personal association with the popular island. “Mike was twice on the Amazing Race,” says Bernad. “And twice, when he was eliminated, he went to Koh Samui and had to stay in the elimination station.”

But the pair, who also worked together on the show’s first two seasons, had heard about an amazing Four Seasons property there, so they sent another member of the team to see it, just in case.

Fabio Lovino/HBO


“The hotel was just so perfect. It called our name, and I think it’s fair to say that Mike has avenged his Koh Samui demons after shooting there,” says Bernad.

However, the stunning property, which is comprised of a collection of villas set into a cliffside overlooking the sea, didn’t provide every type of space the script required, so the showrunners set out to find some equally lavish supplementary shooting spots in the region.

Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Sam Nivola in Season 3 of ‘White Lotus’.

Fabio Lovino/HBO


“The Four Seasons in Koh Samui is an A-plus vacations destination, but it didn’t offer us certain things we needed for our show to work visually,” explains Bernad. “So we augmented some of the show using the spa at the Anantara Phuket,” which he says, “made more sense for filming.”

The dining areas are also a mash-up of real-life locations. The show’s characters eat breakfast at the Four Seasons Koh Samui, but “at night, we couldn’t shoot the restaurant area. It was too dark,” says Bernad. “So all the dinner scenes take place at the Rosewood actually in Phuket.”

The hotel’s reception area is yet another location. “The reception center at the Four Seasons Koh Samui is built for the shock and awe of the view. It’s not built for an HBO drama series about guest checking into a hotel,” says Bernad. “So we augmented that with the reception area at the Anantara Mai Khao, which is a much bigger space.” The resort, located at the north end of Phuket, allowed for them to accommodate all the necessary cast, crew and equipment inside.

Fabio Lovino/HBO


The third season’s opening scene featuring Belinda’s (Natasha Rothwell) son Zion (Nicholas Duvernay) in a session with Amrita was also shot at Mai Khao. “Mike had scripted it that he jumps in the water. That didn’t exist at the Four Seasons, so we had to go and find it,” says Bernad.

Viewers hoping to be welcomed to any of the four resorts by waving staff members standing on a sandbar, as the shows stars are, may be disappointed. The actual sandbar is not at any of the luxury properties. Instead, it’s just an isolated spit in the sea on one of the small islands north of Phuket.

Fabio Lovino/HBO


Bernad and White’s original draw to Thailand was a practical one.

They needed something that “worked weather-wise” for the always tropical-set series, and that was film friendly (with tax breaks). “It was just only Thailand in that region,” Bernad says, So they started their search there without much passion, thinking they’d visit more countries after, but it didn’t happen.

“I get emotional talking about. We really love the people and the culture,” he adds, “It’s hard to put in words, just the warmth you feel as you travel through Thailand. We just fell in love.”

This story will be updated as more locations are revealed in each new episode.

The White Lotus airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.


Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Featured

Celebrity News1 hour ago

Miley Cyrus reveals if ‘Flowers’ dress is a Jennifer Lawrence diss

After years of fans believing Miley Cyrus’ dress in her “Flowers” music video was a Jennifer Lawrence diss, the singer...

Celebrity News5 hours ago

All About Rickey Smiley’s Twin Daughters, Allyson and Allyssa

Rickey Smiley’s twin daughters, Allyson and Allyssa, have helped him find joy again after loss. Allyson and Allyssa were born...

Celebrity News9 hours ago

‘Speechless’ Savannah Chrisley reveals next steps for Todd and Julie after Trump’s pardons

Savannah Chrisley tearfully revealed she’s preparing for her parents, Todd and Julie Chrisley, to return home after President Trump pardoned...

Celebrity News13 hours ago

Hugh Jackman’s Ex-Wife Deborra-Lee Furness Breaks Her Silence on ‘Betrayal’ as Their Divorce Is Finalized

NEED TO KNOW Deborra-Lee Furness makes her first public statement since filing for divorce from Hugh Jackman The former couple...

Celebrity News17 hours ago

Why Brooklyn Beckham didn’t visit parents David and Victoria on London trip

Brooklyn Beckham reportedly decided not to visit his parents, Victoria and David Beckham, while in London to avoid an unpleasant...

Celebrity News21 hours ago

Emma Heming Willis’ Future Plans With Bruce ‘Simply Vanished’ (Exclusive)

NEED TO KNOW Emma Heming Willis recalls learning of her husband Bruce Willis’ frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, saying there was “no...

Celebrity News1 day ago

Chelsea & Cole DeBoer Watch Car Crash Through Front Window of Their Store on Down Home Fab Premiere (Exclusive)

NEED TO KNOW Down Home Fab season 3 premieres on Tuesday, May 27 on HGTV The series follows married couple...

Celebrity News1 day ago

All of Jennifer Lopez’s AMAs 2025 outfits

Jennifer Lopez kicked off the AMAs 2025 broadcast in a semi-sheer black trench coat, which she later whipped off for...

Celebrity News2 days ago

Nicola Peltz behind ‘hostage’ Brooklyn Beckham’s bizarre motorcycle video: report

Brooklyn Beckham’s loved ones are reportedly worried he’s “being controlled” by his wife, Nicola Peltz, amid rumored tension with his...

Celebrity News2 days ago

Kelly Clarkson staffers fear show’s ‘collapse’ as singer’s uncertain TV future looms

Kelly Clarkson has reportedly made her eponymous talk show staffers fear for their jobs as rumors continue to swirl that...

Trending