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Infinity pools that melt into the endless horizon, days that drift from sunrise yoga to sunset cocktails and private pool villas to die for: if The White Lotus Season 3 – streaming now on BINGE has you dreaming of Thailand, you’re not alone. With its third instalment set among Koh Samui’s coconut palm-studded shores, the show’s mix of decadence and drop-dead gorgeous scenery captures Thailand at its most indulgent. Read on to discover how to plan your own ultra-luxurious Thailand escape.
How to get to Thailand: glamour from the minute of departure
If you’re going to do Thailand à la Tanya, the experience starts well before touchdown. No matter your flight time, slip into holiday mode early with a spot of pre-departure (and duty-free) luxury shopping. Departure points like Melbourne Airport (MEL) – Australia’s largest 24/7 airport – boast an array of high-end shopping and dining spots, with retail spaces like Peter Alexander, MECCA and Sunglass Hut rubbing shoulders with local legends, including Brunetti Classico, the city’s premier Italian patisserie.
Thailand’s flagship carrier, Thai Airways, offers twice-daily flights from Melbourne to Bangkok with an exceptional onboard experience that includes award-winning service, luxury amenity kits and fully flat beds in Royal Silk Class. Royal Silk Class travellers also enjoy an in-flight dining program spearheaded by Thai celebrity chef Chef Bo Songvisava. Street-food-inspired flavours are complemented by the airline’s signature beverage service, with Black Silk Blend coffee and Kan Vela chocolate supporting Thailand’s local growers.
Where to stay in Thailand: White Lotus-worthy escapes
The White Lotus Season 3 – streaming now on BINGE transports its drama to the glamorous Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, a secluded sanctuary of ultra-luxurious villas, private plunge pools and sea-facing cabanas. The show’s sun-soaked scandals unfold among the coconut palms of Laem Yai Bay, setting the stage with many scenes shot beside its pristine beachfront and stunning infinity pool. A secret garden spa, rum library and oceanside grill add to the luxury, and with this dazzling location in the spotlight, the hotel is bound to be in high demand. But Thailand is brimming with equally extravagant stays, some of which also make an appearance this season.
Koh Samui
For those drawn to Koh Samui, Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort exceeds expectations with dramatic gardens, a gorgeous beachfront location and a fountain-adorned infinity pool. Six Senses Samui drips with opulence in true seclusion, with airy and spacious private villas cascading down a dramatic hillside overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.
If wellness is your calling, InterContinental Koh Samui Resort – named Thailand’s leading beach resort in the World Travel Awards 2024 – blends expert wellness rituals at Baan Thai Spa by HARNN with scene-stealing ocean views from six infinity pools and sky-high sunset spot Air Bar.
Phuket
Phuket’s coastline is lined with world-class resorts, but few match the sheer exclusivity of Trisara, where you can dine like a celebrity at PRU (the island’s only Michelin-starred restaurant) and retreat to a sleek, minimalist ocean-facing suite or villa. At Rosewood Phuket, feast on Southern Thailand cuisine at the very restaurant where The White Lotus Season 3 – streaming now on BINGE filmed some of its most decadent dinner scenes, Ta Khai, and settle into a private pavillion the size of three standard hotel rooms combined.
If the resort’s spa caught your attention on screen, you’ll find the very same serene experience at Anantara Mai Khao Phuket‘s Anantara Spa, featuring an array of Ayurvedic treatments, all delivered by a spectacular lagoon filled with blooming lotuses.
Bangkok
Thailand’s capital brings cinematic grandeur to urban luxury. The riverside Mandarin Oriental Bangkok’s crowning as #12 on The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024 has only cemented its reputation as one of the city’s most legendary hotels, welcoming royalty, Hollywood actors and famous writers alike. If high-rise sophistication is more your style, Banyan Tree Bangkok‘s dazzling rooftop bar, Vertigo, makes for an incredible introduction to the city’s one-of-a-kind nightlife. For a truly elegant experience, Capella Bangkok exudes cosmopolitan joie de vivre, with Michelin-starred French and Italian Riviera-inspired dining at Côte, plus a central location that’s perfect for days meandering through art galleries and temple-hopping along the Chao Phraya River.
What to do in Thailand: get a true taste
If The White Lotus Season 3 – streaming now on BINGE has you craving a high-low mix of indulgence and authenticity, start in Bangkok’s Or Tor Kor Market, where generations-old food stalls serve up plates of aromatic pad Thai, fiery papaya salads and rich, intricately flavoured curries. For a waterfront night out matched with plenty of live Thai music, Phuket’s Chillva Market is an excellent choice – it’s the kind of place where a cocktail in a coconut is just as important as the grilled satay in your other hand.
Beyond the markets, Thailand’s beaches feel straight out of a cinematic montage – set out on a kayak adventure, with resorts like InterContinental Koh Samui offering water sports equipment rentals. Relax in a beachside cabana with a traditional Thai massage, or step beyond the resort gates for a deeper cultural experience – visit the intricate Wat Arun in Bangkok or the serene Big Buddha in Phuket, then dive into Thai cuisine with a hands-on cooking class led by local chefs.
Discover Thailand
This article was produced in partnership with Melbourne Airport and Thai Airways. Thai Airways operates two flights a day from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Book Thai Airways flights from Melbourne Airport now.
