The White Lotus takes 'powerful marketing tool' to Thailand

This City Was the World's Most Visited in 2024

Bangkok is a hub for food, nightlife, and history, and it’s the perfect jumping-off point for additional travel throughout Thailand.Alexander Spatari/Getty Images Wat Arun Buddhist temple and Chao Phraya river on a sunny day in Bangkok, Thailand.Thailand is having a moment. Not only is it Travel + Leisure’s 2025 Destination of the Year and the filming location for season three of HBO’s The White Lotus, but it’s also home to the most visited city…

South Of Italy To Gulf Of Thailand, Can "The White Lotus Effect" Last?

Updated March 26, 2025 at 1:40 p.m.*The trend began with British aristocrats who, at the end of the 17th century, embarked on what was known as the Grand Tour. Then, in the 18th century, this fashion extended to the courts of Northern Europe, as rumors spread about the fascinating Italian Peninsula. In the 19th century, it was all about Byron, Shelley and Keats – the rebellious rockstars of romantic poetry – who added their celebrity stamp of ap…

White Lotus lifts Songkran bookings on Samui by 65%

Koh Samui tops the list of Thai destinations for the Songkran holiday next month, thanks to the continuing influence of the hit TV series “ The White Lotus ”, a government spokesman said on Wednesday.

What "The White Lotus Gets Right (and Wrong) About Wellness Resorts

You don't need to chance a trip to "The White Lotus" to try a real-life wellness resort. Viewers have already seen the show's bougie Hawaiian retreat and scenic Italian property, but the Thailand location in season three offers a unique emphasis on wellness. In these episodes, guests seek out services like biometric testing, digital detoxes, and sensory deprivation tanks — all in the name of furthering their own health. It might seem like the st…

I live on the Thai island featured in ‘White Lotus.’ Here’s what life on Koh Samui is really like.

For nearly two decades, my now ex-husband and I made frequent trips from the UK to Thailand, always drawn to the charm of Koh Samui. But it wasn’t until we had our daughter that we decided to relocate permanently. In the UK, we lived in a typical suburban family home with a garden. We could walk to our daughter’s school. But it rained all the time and was cold because, well, it was England. We moved to Samui nine years ago. We saw it as an ideal…

I live on the Thai island featured in 'White Lotus.' Here's what life on Koh Samui is really like.

Zanette Francis moved to Koh Samui, Thailand nine years ago.Zanette FrancisIt's been nine years since Zanette Francis left the UK and moved to Koh Samui, Thailand.After many vacations in Thailand, she saw it as the ideal place to raise her now 13-year-old daughter.The slower pace of life on the island has been a welcome change.For nearly two decades, my now ex-husband and I made frequent trips from the UK to Thailand, always drawn to the charm o…