Season 3 of The White Lotus Will Be Filmed at This Hotel

By James Medd and Matt Ortile

Four Seasons Koh Samui Koh Samui

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Unless you've been living entirely off the grid these last few years (good for you), you know that The White Lotus is now one of the biggest breakout TV hits in recent memory—singularly scooping up 14 Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes; inspiring memes and iconic cultural moments ("These gays! They're trying to kill me!"); elevating the actor Jennifer Coolidge to an even higher echelon in the Hollywood pantheon; and turning it creator Mike White into a household name.

The mini-series-turned-franchise produced by HBO, streaming on Max, revolves around the fictional White Lotus resorts and casts of psychosocially dysfunctional guests that check in and out of glamorous hotels, tan themselves in the sunlight of Maui and Sicily (in seasons one and two, respectively), and, shall we say, push each other to their limits. On top of the stunning filming locations that essentially act as ads for the destinations (the show has been partially responsible for making “set-jetting” a travel trend), the high-caliber acting performances and the superstar names attached to the show have made the whole thing a phenomenon. And now, there's a highly-anticipated third season in the works.

White, who wrote and directed every episode of the first and second seasons, says he was surprised that the series was even recommissioned: “I always thought of it as an experimental show,” he told Entertainment Weekly , “so there was never any idea that we would even do another season.”

Similarly surprising: Both hotel locations in both seasons were set at Four Seasons hotels. After season one, White admitted that the hotel group “were happy for the business. But the fact that this is now the visual for the hotel from hell probably escaped them to some degree.” Proving that there’s no such thing as bad publicity, the show installed themselves in another magnificent Four Seasons location for the second season—this time in Sicily .

What about the third season? You guessed it: The cast and crew are back at another Four Seasons. Read on for our guide to the paradise settings used in each season of The White Lotus —and to find out where they're going for the third season.

A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller UK . All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

Where was season one of The White Lotus filmed?

The first season of The White Lotus filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, in Maui, Hawai'i. A single filming location was the requirement when HBO asked White to dream up a show that could be made under strict production guidelines during the Covid-19 pandemic. With this in mind, his thoughts turned to childhood holidays, which for him were in Hawaii. He liked the place so much, he bought a house at Hanalei on Kauai, and the recent arrival of billionaire ‘tech bros’ as his neighbors fed into the story of the show.

“At first, it’s, like, ‘It’s so beautiful! I’m in touch with nature and it’s so healing,’” he told  The New Yorker . “Then you realise it’s on the backs of people who’ve had a complicated history with people like me.” The result was  The White Lotus , written at speed in August 2020 and filmed at leisure, from October to December, with cast and crew quarantined in the resort for the duration.

Four Seasons Resort Maui Hawaii

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

Opened in 1990, the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea lives up to the tropical-paradise clichés with ease, with some of the suites we see in the show costing up to $26,000 a night. Alongside the 380 guest rooms and suites, its 15 acres house three pools, three restaurants (including Wolfgang Puck’s Spago), three golf courses, a spa, and an art museum. Amazingly, White and his crew were given almost free rein, from the entrance and lobby to the restaurants, the spa, and even the neighboring Wailea Beach.

Key to the drama are the suites, all carefully decorated to reflect their occupants, while keeping to strict ground rules laid down by the resort. While they weren’t allowed to paint the rooms, they could change the materials, bedding, and curtains—an important factor, as production designer Laura Fox explained to  Architectural Digest : “They’re lovely rooms, but not to film in. I think [my job] was trying to find a version of a new hotel that was kitschy and flawed and rich, like the characters.”

Wailea Beach Maui Hawaii

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The Palm Suite, a home-away-from-home for the honeymooning characters Shane and Rachel, is one of the resort’s Elite Oceanfront Suites—and was given what Fox called an ‘anti-beach’ makeover with vintage greens, velvet, and hanging lights.  The White Lotus ’s other honeymoon suite, the Pineapple, is the Lokelani Presidential Suite; at 4,500 square feet, it's the hotel’s (and Hawaii’s) largest, with three bedrooms, five bathrooms, and two living rooms. This was given a palette of yellow, green, and brown with, of course, pineapple motifs.

For volatile Tanya, played by Jennifer Coolidge, who arrives with her mother’s ashes in a plastic bag, the Hibiscus Suite was created in one of the Oceanfront Prime Suites, with pinks and reds expressly designed to clash with her sartorial fondness for bright prints. Then, for the Mossbacher family, led by tech exec Nicole, the Tradewinds Suite was created from the Maile Presidential Suite, with a range of blues and very '70s Hawaiian art. This was the biggest departure from the real Four Seasons hotel: In the show’s Tradewinds, the Mossbacher kids sleep in the living room, but the Maile is in fact the Four Seasons Maui’s second-largest suite, with three bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a full sauna included.

Four Seasons Resort Maui Hawaii

Wailea Beach

Outside the rooms and restaurants, it’s water that matters. Beach scenes focusing on Quinn Mossbacher were filmed on Wailea Beach, just steps away from the hotel, as we see on screen. For the swimming pools, meanwhile, the action focused on two of the Four Seasons's three, leaving the child-friendly Waterfall Pool in the background. We spend plenty of time at the Serenity Pool, where Shane and Rachel take a cabana, the Mossbacher girls read waterside and Quinn is seen wading to the swim-up bar carrying his phone and console at arm’s length, like holy relics. For Quinn and his father’s scuba lessons, it’s the Fountain Pool, which sits at the center of the property.

Where was season two of The White Lotus filmed?

The second season of The White Lotus was filmed at the San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel, in Taormina, Sicily. Situated high on the rocks a little inland, it overlooks the Ionian Sea, Mount Etna, and an ancient amphitheater, built in the Greek style by the Romans. The town is famous for its proximity to the still-active Etna, as well as the Isola Bella nature reserve and for its medieval architecture.

boats on beach Cefalu Sicily

San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel

The San Domenico is almost as famous itself, built on the site of a 15th-century monastery and incorporating several historic features. In its original incarnation, opened with the addition of a Grand Hotel Wing in 1896, it hosted famous faces from Oscar Wilde to Audrey Hepburn and Edward VII, and its fame has only been boosted since its 2021 refurbishment as a member of the Four Seasons and, fictionally, the White Lotus. With 111 rooms, including suites and speciality suites, it features a spa, the fine-dining restaurant Principe Cerami, the pool-terrace diner Anciovi, courtyards and gardens that date back to the time of the monks, and an outdoor infinity pool that wins plenty of screen time on The White Lotus .

This is certainly not its first time on film either. Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1960 classic L’Avventura ended in the hotel, and it was also where the divers of 1988’s The Big Blue stay while preparing for a big competition.

Cathedral Noto Sicily

Unlike season one, filmed under strict pandemic-era lockdown conditions, the second season allowed the characters to leave the confines of the hotel. As Mike White told Entertainment Weekly , this was a bonus: “I'm not going to complain about being at the Four Seasons Maui, but you do start to feel like it was a Hawaiian Shining . It was cool this season to be able to feature more of the city and some of the iconic places in Sicily. The canvas gets much bigger and that's a huge improvement.”

As well as the town of Taormina, and a yacht trip on the Ionian, this included a visit to Noto, on the southeast end of the island. This town is famed for its baroque architecture, dating to the early 18th century following a devastating earthquake. For The White Lotus , it became the venue for a day trip where Harper and Daphne have a chat in the limestone piazza, while taking in the Palazzo Ducezio and the cathedral on Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

Cefalu Sicily

This coastal town close to Palermo on the island’s north coast provided another outing for the White Lotus guests. The architecture here dates back to medieval times, with a Norman cathedral and streets blending into a popular beach resort. The harbor featured in the film Cinema Paradiso as the venue for an outdoor screening of Kirk Douglas’s Ulysses . It’s close to the Piazza Marina that features in The White Lotus , though most of the filming for the series took place on the seafront by the Sea Palace Hotel on Lungomare Giuseppe Giardina.

Where will season three of The White Lotus be filmed?

The third season of The White Lotus will be filmed at the Four Seasons Koh Samui . Located on a peaceful private peninsula on the island's northeast coast, it's just as glamorous as the show's previous properties. Think breathtaking thatched-roof villas dotted across the landscape, with sprawling views out onto the Gulf of Thailand, sparkling infinity pools, and a world-class spa (where we hope to see more of Natasha Rothwell as she reprises her role as a spa director from the first season).

Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui Thailand

Alongside Rothwell, other recently announced cast members include Leslie Bibb, Harry Potter 's Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Sex Education 's Aimee Lou Wood. According to Bloomberg , this series will also feature a second hotel as its filming location: the Anantara Mai Khao Villas in Phuket. These stunning pool villas offer guests a sleek, tranquil escape just beyond Phuket's longest beach .

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‘The White Lotus’ season 3 filming location revealed

cnn travel white lotus

By Karla Cripps, CNN

Bangkok (CNN) — The rumors have finally been confirmed – season three of HBO hit TV series “The White Lotus” is coming to Thailand.

In statements released this week, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and HBO announced filming on the show, created by Mike White, is scheduled to begin in February in Bangkok, Phuket and Ko Samui.

Though the third installment of the satirical dark comedy-drama isn’t set to air until 2025, the TAT is already anticipating the glow of the “White Lotus” spotlight and has teamed up with HBO for the filming and promotion of the award-winnnng show.

“We are honored to have amazing Thailand featured as the filming location for the highly anticipated upcoming season of ‘The White Lotus,’” said Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, in a press release.

“The kingdom’s exotic natural beauty, rich historical sites and diverse landscapes are the perfect settings to share our fascinating culture, fantastic cuisine, top-notch wellness and luxury offerings, and most importantly our people and Thai hospitality.”

Janet Graham Borba, EVP of production at HBO & Max, also commented on the tieup, saying in a statement: “We are pleased to partner with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to execute Mike’s creative vision and showcase all that the beautiful country of Thailand has to offer, as the next group of guests check in to the White Lotus.”

A role for the Four Seasons?

The selection of Thailand, one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations, is certainly fitting. As fans of the hugely popular show know, seasons one and two were set in luxury hotels in two stunning places – Hawaii and Sicily.

In both seasons, guests and employees at a luxurious resort experience a transformative week, as the truths behind the characters’ seemingly idyllic lives are exposed.

Four Seasons properties represented the fictional White Lotus resort in both destinations.

During season one, viewers were transported to the stunning Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. For season two, the show headed to clifftop San Domenico Palace, a five-star resort operated by Four Seasons in the town of Taormina, Sicily.

This has led to much online speculation in recent months that season three will be set in one of Thailand’s four Four Seasons properties, which are located in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Samui and Bangkok.

For now, the luxury hotel resort brand isn’t confirming or denying the rumors – a press representative told CNN Travel they aren’t commenting at the moment.

There’s one potential clue, though: The Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui website shows there’s no availability at the resort whatsoever from early February through to the last week of March.

Who’s coming to Thailand?

When season one of “White Lotus” ended, many fans were disappointed to learn that the characters would not be coming back for round two. In the end, Jennifer Coolidge returned to play clueless but beloved wealthy traveler Tanya.

HBO has once again announced a new list of actors for season three of the anthology, but is also bringing back Natasha Rothwell to reprise her role as Belinda, who played spa manager at the White Lotus resort in Hawaii.

Other season three cast members announced by HBO – which, like CNN, is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery – include Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, Leslie Bibb, Dom Hetrakul and Tayme Thapthimthong.  

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The White Lotus Season 3 Will Be Filmed at This Glamorous Thailand Hotel

By Nicole Kliest

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What began as a Covid-era experiment to maneuver through tight filming restrictions has lavishly unfolded into an international cultural touchstone: The White Lotus is, without a doubt, among the most buzzed-about television series of our time. Produced by HBO and streaming on Max, the show is written and directed by Mike White and takes place in a fictional luxury resort over the span of one tension-fueled week of vacation. Both seasons one and two followed a parallel storyline structure: the opening scene teases a death—human remains loaded onto a plane; a floating body in the Ionian sea—with revelations to be unveiled in the dramatic finale. What ensues between these salacious bookends is, well, captivating.

White Lotus season 2

But beyond its titillating whodunnit reveal, The White Lotus is acclaimed for its whip-smart character studies that examine privilege and power dynamics, whether that’s through the lens of money, sex, or in the case of the upcoming third installment—spirituality. “[The next season] will be a satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality,” White said in a behind-the-scenes video released after last season’s finale. The show confirmed it began filming in Thailand in mid-February with an Instagram post showing a clapboard in front of a lush seaside jungle, setting the stage for its notorious vacationers to check in.

(The season three cast includes Parker Posey, Michelle Monaghan, Jason Isaacs, Leslie Bibb, Tayme Thapthimthong, Dom Hetrakul, Carrie Coon, Morgana O’Reilly, Lek Patravadi, Shalini Peiris, Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Sam Nivola, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Francesca Corney, Nicholas Duvernay, Arnas Fedaravičius, Aimee Lou Wood, and most recently announced: Blackpink’s Lisa.)

Internet sleuths have been quick to speculate which properties the series will take place within. If you’ll recall, both season one and two were filmed at Four Seasons locations (Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea in Hawai’i and Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in Sicily, respectively), and there are four resorts in Thailand that fall under the Four Seasons umbrella. After months of speculation, it’s now reported that the Four Seasons Koh Samui is a filming location, as well as a second hotel in Phuket, Anantara Mai Khao Villas .

Palm trees and pool overlooking palm trees and the ocean

The next chapter in this social satire is all but certain to drive tourism to the country; according to a recent New York Times article , since the official announcement, Expedia searches for Thailand have spiked 50 percent. And similar patterns ensued after the first two seasons were released, bolstering a viral trend referred to as ‘set-jetting’ where travelers choose a locale inspired by their favorite on-screen destinations.

So, when will the highly-anticipated season three premiere? We’ll unfortunately have to wait until 2025 due to delays caused by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes (it was originally slated for a 2024 release). In the meantime, scroll below to brush up on all of The White Lotus ’s wanderlust-inducing filming locations, including season three, to help inform your next great getaway. Now cue that addicting opening theme …

Where was season one of The White Lotus filmed?

Four Seasons Resort Maui Hawaii

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Kicking off the acclaimed franchise, The White Lotus season one was filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea in Hawai’i in 2020; a time when Covid restrictions were airtight and most productions were completely shut down. (The cast quarantined at the property for the entire shoot, which took place from October to December.) Filming took place in and around the picturesque beachfront resort, with the show’s production designer refashioning interiors to reflect the narrative. In real life, the five-star property sits on 15 acres overlooking the otherworldly Wailea Coast and is home to three restaurants, 383 rooms, three pools, and a spa.

Where was season two of The White Lotus filmed?

‘The White Lotus Season 3 Will Be Filmed at This Glamorous Thailand Hotel

After garnering a steady fan base, The White Lotus released the first episode of season two to an audience of 7.6 million viewers. Backdrop? The paradise island of Sicily. White chose another Four Seasons property for his sophomore season: Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in the hilltop town of Taormina, overlooking the Ionian Sea with brooding Mount Etna in the distance. It’s housed in a former 14th-century convent and was converted into a hotel in the late 19th century. Now, visitors can relish luxuries such as a clifftop infinity pool, puzzle-like Italian gardens, and sea-view accommodations. And because this time around production wasn’t stilted by Covid restrictions, the cast and crew were able to explore the surrounding region, including baroque-influenced Noto, the seaside village of Cefalù, and even the vineyards of Mount Etna (we all remember that episode set at Planeta Wine ).

Where will season three of The White Lotus be filmed?

Tables and chairs overlooking greenery

Guests of The White Lotus Thailand will enjoy sprawling, panoramic views of the calm Gulf of Thailand framed by shady coconut palms and thatched roofs. Indeed, Four Seasons Koh Samui is a spectacular tropical setting for the third season of The White Lotus situated on a private peninsula. Each of the property’s secluded hillside villas features a pool and afternoons can be spent lounging around by the infinity pool or at the world-class spa. Over in Phuket, the Anantara Mai Khao Villas are sandwiched between a golden beach and a lush national park. The property is influenced by the Southern Thai village style, with traditional wooden pool villas dotted around a central lagoon.

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Filming location for ‘The White Lotus’ season 3 revealed

The hit HBO TV series 'The White Lotus' reveals the filming location for season 3

The rumors have been confirmed for the hit HBO TV series.

By Karla Cripps, CNN

Bangkok (CNN) – The rumors have finally been confirmed – season three of HBO hit TV series “The White Lotus” is coming to Thailand.

In statements released this week, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and HBO announced filming on the show, created by Mike White, is scheduled to begin in February in Bangkok, Phuket and Ko Samui.

Though the third installment of the satirical dark comedy-drama isn’t set to air until 2025, the TAT is already anticipating the glow of the “White Lotus” spotlight and has teamed up with HBO for the filming and promotion of the award-winning show.

“We are honored to have amazing Thailand featured as the filming location for the highly anticipated upcoming season of ‘The White Lotus,’” said Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, in a press release.

“The kingdom’s exotic natural beauty, rich historical sites and diverse landscapes are the perfect settings to share our fascinating culture, fantastic cuisine, top-notch wellness and luxury offerings, and most importantly our people and Thai hospitality.”

Janet Graham Borba, EVP of production at HBO & Max, also commented on the tieup, saying in a statement: “We are pleased to partner with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to execute Mike’s creative vision and showcase all that the beautiful country of Thailand has to offer, as the next group of guests check in to the White Lotus.”

A role for the Four Seasons?

The selection of Thailand, one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations , is certainly fitting. As fans of the hugely popular show know, seasons one and two were set in luxury hotels in two stunning places – Hawaii and Sicily.

In both seasons, guests and employees at a luxurious resort experience a transformative week, as the truths behind the characters’ seemingly idyllic lives are exposed.

Four Seasons properties represented the fictional White Lotus resort in both destinations.

During season one, viewers were transported to the stunning Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. For season two, the show headed to clifftop San Domenico Palace, a five-star resort operated by Four Seasons in the town of Taormina, Sicily.

This has led to much online speculation in recent months that season three will be set in one of Thailand’s four Four Seasons properties, which are located in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Samui and Bangkok.

For now, the luxury hotel resort brand isn’t confirming or denying the rumors – a press representative told CNN Travel they aren’t commenting at the moment.

There’s one potential clue, though: The Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui website shows there’s no availability at the resort whatsoever from early February through to the last week of March.

Who’s coming to Thailand?

When season one of “White Lotus” ended, many fans were disappointed to learn that the characters would not be coming back for round two. In the end, Jennifer Coolidge returned to play clueless but beloved wealthy traveler Tanya.

HBO has once again announced a new list of actors for season three of the anthology, but is also bringing back Natasha Rothwell to reprise her role as Belinda, who played spa manager at the White Lotus resort in Hawaii.

Other season three cast members announced by HBO - which, like CNN, is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery - include Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, Leslie Bibb, Dom Hetrakul and Tayme Thapthimthong.

The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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A former resident of The World cruise ship spent 6 years onboard, says it's not unlike 'The White Lotus'

  • A retired lawyer compared living on The World, a residential cruise ship, to 'The White Lotus.'
  • During his six-year residence, he told CNN Travel he saw people getting drunk and having affairs.
  • His experiences inspired him to write three novels about scandalous behavior on the high seas.

Insider Today

A former resident of The World , an exclusive private residential ship with a strict invite-only policy, said living on board was not unlike HBO's "The White Lotus."

Peter Antonucci, a retired lawyer who lived on the cruise ship for six years, told CNN Travel that it was full of wealthy people "doing playful things, sometimes naughty things, sometimes scandalous things."

In fact, Antonucci told CNN Travel that it was not dissimilar to the popular HBO series, which has won 15 Primetime Emmy Awards. The dark comedy features affluent characters vacationing in luxury locations, engaging in hedonism, extramarital affairs, and sometimes harboring dark secrets.

"I'm not saying that everything that happened on 'The White Lotus' has happened on The World, but I think, in large measure, the comparison is not inaccurate," Antonucci said.

Describing the ship as a "country club meets sorority house," Antonucci told CNN Travel that there was "drinking and carousing" and infidelity on board.

"There are married people, married couples on the ship, who are not always sleeping with their spouse," he said.

According to Antonucci, his experience on The World inspired him to write novels about sinning and scandal on the high seas.

Though Antonucci told CNN Travel that people begged him not to write about them, guests later asked him why they weren't featured.

He told the news outlet that his three novels are fictional and do not include real people.

A spokesperson for The World told BI in an email statement that it had been in touch with Antonucci, " who has assured us in writing that his works are unrelated to The World or its residents, and that his publications are fictional works of art about a fictional ship."

The spokesperson said The World wishes him well in his "creative works of fiction."  

Antonucci said he first booked a taster voyage with his wife on the ship, which launched in 2002, after hearing about it in a Wall Street Journal article in around 2012.

At first, he told CNN Travel, he was shocked by how expensive everything was, but by the second day he asked how he could sign up.

He said he was enticed by the crew's ability to anticipate residents' needs and offer exclusive experiences.

Antonucci said he and his wife purchased their first cruise ship condo in 2014 .

He couldn't recall exactly how much it cost, but said he believes he spent around $1.6 million.

Over the years, Antonucci said he owned four separate apartments on board, with the price tags rising to about $4 million.

The World's 165 condos cost between $2 million and $15 million, excluding the annual ownership fees, with only about a dozen being resold annually, Business Insider previously reported.

In 2019, Antonucci decided to sell up, telling CNN Travel: "Once you've circumnavigated the globe a few times, you've seen it. I had seen what I wanted to see, I was ready to do something new."

The World travels to over 100 destinations a year, with the itinerary decided years in advance.

Watch: The rise and fall of the cruise industry

cnn travel white lotus

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The perks—and pitfalls—of letting TV and films inspire your trip

From ‘White Lotus’ fans in Italy to ‘Wednesday’ groupies in Romania, here’s what set-jetting is—and why travelers are embracing it.

Looking outside onto a hilly green landscape from a hobbit home at the Hobbiton™ Movie Set.

The third season of HBO’s Emmy-winning series The White Lotus is currently filming on Koh Samui, a remote Thai island. When the location was announced, it was “a moment of celebration for us,” says Gopal Kumar, general manager of the Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary Koh Samui , a local spa resort.

His excitement was understandable; the show has been a boon for tourism. The first season of the mystery, shot at the Four Seasons on Maui , led to a 386 percent increase in availability checks at the property. The second season drove tourists to Sicily . Sensing an opportunity, the Thai government heavily courted the show’s producers, offering them $4.4 million in tax incentives.

Destination promoters are calling it “The White Lotus Effect.” It’s part of a larger trend in tourism known as “set-jetting,” in which travelers pick a destination because a TV show or movie was shot there.  

This isn’t new: Star Wars   fans have been flocking to Death Valley (a.k.a. the planet Tatooine) since the 1970s, and New Zealand tourism estimates that one in five travelers visits because of the The Lord of the Rings   or The   Hobbit.

“The exposure is product placement,” explains Simon Hudson , a tourism professor at the University of South Carolina. “Or destination placement.” But that compelling place you saw onscreen might look and feel a bit different in person. Here’s how to couch your cinematic expectations with on-the-ground reality.

Emily in Paris, Wednesday in Bucharest

Set-jetting has taken on a fevered pitch of late, Hudson reports, perhaps due to people binge-watching during COVID-19 lockdowns. Shows with memorable settings— Bridgerton, Emily in Paris, Squid Game— fed their wanderlust. “There was that pent-up demand for travel,” he says.

Expedia’s Unpack ’24 Study, a report on global travel trends, found that two-thirds of worldwide tourists considered visiting a place because they saw it on a small or big screen. Netflix’s Wednesday was credited with a 150 percent spike in searches for Romania ; Viator currently offers multiple tours of Bucharest featuring locations used in the series. Even more revealing, 39 percent of travelers surveyed actually booked those trips. (This perhaps prompted the Washington Post to publish a proposed tour of Alberta , Canada, inspired by the apocalyptic HBO series The Last of Us , “minus the zombies.”)

Tourism promoters are even designing marketing plans around popular shows filmed or linked to their destinations. “There’s nothing else which can really offer that kind of platform to a global audience of potential travelers,” says Robin Johnson, global marketing director for Visit Britain. “You can go from a standing start to absolutely monumental interest.”  

In fact, later this year Visit Britain will launch a marketing campaign, “ Starring Great Britain ,” to lure fans of shows like Ted Lasso,   which shot in southwest London . After Castle Howard was featured on Bridgerton , the estate in North Yorkshire saw a 3,400 percent increase in visits to their website from the 18-to-24-year-old demographic.

( Travel to these six places if you love “Star Wars.” )

Separating fact from fiction

Do your research before leaving home, since set-jetters who arrive with certain expectations may be disappointed, Hudson says. He recalls fans of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin   descending on Kefalonia, Greece , only to find the film’s sets had been dismantled. Notting Hill fans determined to enjoy the London park where Hugh Grant romanced Julia Roberts should plan accordingly, since the private Rosemead Garden is open to the public just once a year. Viewers who saw Poor Things and began plotting trips to Lisbon or Paris won’t find the film’s candy-colored landscapes: most scenes were shot in Budapest or on sound stages.

New Zealand’s government, by contrast, invested in Hobbiton , a theme park where visitors can tour the actual The L ord of the Rings sets two decades after the first film’s release. Devotees of The White Lotus who check into San Domenico Palace, Taormina , where season two was filmed, will find it much the same as the show, down to the staff uniforms and a bar manager who played a restaurant maître d’ on TV. Want to stay in Jennifer Coolidge’s room? Book the Royal Suite.

But even set-jetting destinations that deliver aren’t exact copies. At the San Domenico Palace, guests can’t just wander straight onto a sandy beach like Aubrey Plaza and Michael Imperioli seemingly did. The Italian hotel is perched on a cliff (hence the dramatic views), and while there’s a beach in Taormina, the one seen on screen is actually in Cefalù, 120 miles away on the northern coast of Sicily.

People enjoying the Luxembourg Gardens.

Netflix’s Emily in Paris   prominently features a neighborhood bistro called Les Deux Compères which specializes in Normandy cuisine. Fans regularly pose outside the restaurant, which in real life is called Terra Nera . But it’s Italian, not French. (The pub featured on Ted Lasso   is a real place— The Prince’s Head in Richmond—but like Cheers in Boston, the interior was shot on a soundstage.)

In cases like these, set-jetters might benefit from consulting a travel agent. For fans of Emily in Paris,   Virtuoso —an international network of high-end travel agents—tracked down the real chef from Normandy who consulted on the series, directing clients to Anona , his farm-to-table restaurant in Paris. James Bond aficionados can consult Black Tomato , which recently launched a customizable, luxe package with options like a London training session with Daniel Craig’s stunt double and a stop at a chateau in Champagne, France, to taste a rare La Grand Année vintage that Bond sipped in Casino Royale.

“There are websites dedicated to showing you exactly where places were filmed,” says a Virtuoso spokesperson, Misty Belles. “But getting access is another thing altogether.”

( Retrace Oppenheimer’s footsteps—and filming sites—around the U.S. )

How film sites combat overtourism

What if a flood of tourists ruins the very thing that captivated viewers in the first place? It’s a legitimate question the industry wrestles with. Thailand’s Maya Baya—which was featured prominently in Leonardo DiCaprio’s 2000 film The Beach— had to close to tourists for more than three years to stem the damage done to its coral reefs.

cnn travel white lotus

Dubrovnik experienced overcrowding in the wake of Game of Thrones.   Croatia’s capital stood in for the show’s fictional King’s Landing and became such a popular destination that American Airlines added a direct flight from Philadelphia to Dubrovnik. The government welcomed the tourist dollars —$200 million from 2013 to 2018 by one estimate —but the influx of travelers put a strain on the city’s infrastructure and decency laws. ( Thrones fans made headlines for stripping down naked and strolling through the center of town—an homage to one character’s infamous walk of shame.)  

At one point, Dubrovnik’s Old City was so overrun it was in danger of losing its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site, forcing the mayor to limit the number of daily tourists . Perhaps fearing the same, the government of Svalbard, Norway, declined a request from Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning to film there.

Courting tourists while preserving local charm is a delicate balance. Visit Britain’s Robin Johnson suggests travelers be curious. The way he tells it, his office hopes to use shows like Poldark   (shot in Cornwall), Peaky Blinders   (Birmingham) ,   and Bridgerton   (Bath) as Trojan Horses. For example, come for Harry Potter’s Platform 9 and 3/4 at London’s King’s Cross Station, stay for a trip to a smaller city. “The film location,” he says, “is the hook to then tell the broader story.”

Expedia’s 2024 study predicted a spike in travel to Sydney, Australia —where the Mad Max prequel Furiosa —due out in May—was filmed. That report also cited interest in Surrey, England (thanks to HBO’s House of the Dragon ), and Budapest ( Dune: Part Two ).

If the new FX series Shōgun   has people excited about a trip to Japan , that’s understandable. But viewers should know: The show was shot entirely in Vancouver.  

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Sydney Sweeney rejects meet cute, all about girl power in ‘SNL’ promos

Sydney Sweeney was not down for a meet cute.

In a promo for her hosting spot on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend, the “ Anyone But You ” star bumps into “SNL” cast member Michael Longfellow in studio 8H and his script and her book go flying.

He picks up her book, Haruki Murakami’s “Kafka on the Shore,” and muses that it’s one of his favorites. Romantic music plays as Longfellow tries to work up the courage to ask Sweeney out in an internal monologue the viewer hears.

But forget dreams of a relationship as we cut to Sweeney, who has walked away from the conversation. The romantic music swells as Longfellow says, “She said no. It didn’t work. Thank you, though.”

There’s a bit more love in a promo featuring Sweeney, cast member Heidi Gardner and singer Kasey Musgraves, who is this week’s musical guest on the show.

“Love this group of three strong ladies,” Gardner says. “I bet so many women are going to tune in this week.”

“Weirdly, a lot of my fans are men,” Sweeney says to which Musgraves quips, “Hmmm, I wonder why.”

Sweeney is best known for her roles in “Euphoria” and “The White Lotus.”

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

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Lifestyle Asia Bangkok

Inside ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 filming locations (and the plot lines they inspire)

As the buzz around The White Lotus being filmed in Thailand only keeps on growing, we suss out the key filming locations and luxury hotels that could be featured — and the plot lines they inspire.

The rumour mill just cannot catch a break around The White Lotus . Netizens have been fed with new details around the show’s third season over the last few months, causing speculations and fascinations to run high.

At the beginning of the year, it was finally confirmed that The White Lotus Season 3 would be filmed in Thailand. The Tourism Authority of Thailand, together with HBO, proceeded to cast the spotlight on Bangkok, Koh Samui, and Phuket, as key filming locations . Then, the official cast was unveiled, including three Thai actors , to the delight of many local followers.

After this, it got really interesting. Almost mimicking the viewer experience, super-fans got investigative, piecing together all these new snippets of information. Which filming locations would best serve the plot of a dark-comedy-meets-murder-mystery in Thailand? Which hotel suites would be large enough to fit all the burgeoning romance and following drama? And in which waters would there be a floating body — dead or alive — to fill and thrill us with wonder?

On location and with extensive local knowledge, we did some digging, and we have some answers.  

[Hero Image Credit: HBO; Featured Image Credit: Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui]

the white lotus cast season 3 predictions thailand

Where will the The White Lotus Season 3 be filmed?  

The White Lotus Season 1 saw filming at the Four Seasons Resort Maui, whilst Season 2 was shot at the Four Seasons’ San Domenico Palace, Taormina, in Italy. As Four Seasons boasts four luxurious properties in Thailand, would Mike White opt exclusively for these hotels, or would he stray from the predicted path and switch things up?  

Just last week, Bloomberg reported that the latter is more likely. According to “talks with almost a dozen hotel executives,” The White Lotus Season 3 will be filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui and the Anantara Mai Khao Villas Phuket. This provides an interesting shift to the previous seasons, and whilst HBO has not confirmed (nor denied) these filming locations, a quick web search will show that both properties are fully booked for the suspected months of filming (February and April).  

Here, we take a closer look at the two hotels and the other potential filming locations for Mike White’s “supersized White Lotus .” Expect stunning landscapes, romantic hideaways, and villas so grand they (hopefully won’t) inspire another “high-end gay” murder.  

A few guesses for The White Lotus Thailand filming locations, and the plot lines they inspire

the white lotus season 3 thailand filming location bangkok

The Sukhothai Bangkok

Make it White Lotus : Mysterious lotus flowers line the pond as the guests arrive in Thailand, planting the seed for the story to come

We know Mike White likes to get a little meta in his work, and what better way to open the third season of The White Lotus than against an actual lotus pond? Strolling along the gorgeous wooden walkway outside The Sukhothai Bangkok ’s Celadon restaurant or inside the central courtyard, this presents a perfect opening shot to introduce the new cast. We’re not sure whether the show will make it apparent that it is shot both in the city and on the islands, so fittingly, The Sukhothai Bangkok is an oasis that could easily meld with both locations. Our money is on Thai actor Dom Hetrakul as the resort manager, welcoming everybody with open arms.  

book your stay

cnn travel white lotus

Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort

Make it White Lotus : Welcome drinks are served as the guests board the boat, mysterious temple reflections appear on the Chao Phraya river as the gang heads south

It’s not realistic, but it has been done before. Remember in The Hangover II when the islands were accessible from Bangkok by yacht? Since boat arrivals are popular on The White Lotus , we can imagine the cast sipping cocktails aboard Loy Pela  after they board at the Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort pier. Glimmering shots of the nearby temples set the scene, as Mike White has teased that Season 3 will focus more on spirituality. As the sun rises over the Temple of Dawn, we know a good story is on the horizon — as long as everyone wears sensible shoes, of course.  

white lotus season 3 thailand filming locations koh samui four seasons

Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui

Make it White Lotus : Sprawling sea views, swoon-worthy private villas, and bright sun beds set the backdrop for exotic romance and suspenseful scheming  

It is undeniable that The White Lotus can have a massive effect on the local economy, and anyone who has watched Season 2 will know how hard it was not to book an imminent flight to Sicily. The Four Seasons resort in Koh Samui could serve as the gorgeous hill-side backdrop for all the drama to ensue, with spacious pool villas, outdoor dining (ideal for those daily breakfast scenes), and brightly-coloured sun beds for lounging, gossiping, and potential scheming.  

Additionally, Mike White was actually spotted hanging out at this resort — perhaps location scouting — so this White Lotus filming location is a pretty confident guess. CNN Travel even noted that the hotel has “no availability…from early February through to the last week of March.”

white lotus thailand fire show

Koh Phangan

Make it White Lotus : Youngsters take strange drugs, neon face paint adorns half-naked bodies, as fire shows, fiery affairs, and jaw-dropping plot twists ensue

We can’t imagine The White Lotus without at least one party sequence. Not too far from Koh Samui, why not head to the most famous Thai party island of all, and have the characters get wild at the world-famous Full Moon Party? Questionable drugs enter the blood stream, neon paint turns faces into figures, fire shows spice up the night, and that all-encompassing The White Lotus soundtrack slivers through the scene: we just know this would be a major (dark) turning point on the show. Beneath a full moon and all its meanings, the culprits will have some major reflecting to do the next day. Maybe they’ll grab one of the island’s famous smoothie bowls to do so. 

the white lotus thailand phuket filming location

Anantara Phuket Mai Khao Phuket Villas

Make it White Lotus : Wellness immersions cleanse the conscious, a touch of culture feeds the curious, and finally, redemption for Belinda

Following Bloomberg ’s trail, the Anantara Phuket Mai Khao Phuket Villas will also feature on The White Lotus Season 3. We’d love to see the characters embrace local culture here, be it with a Muay Thai class (Thai cast member Tayme Thapthimthong is a fitness fanatic after all), or a visit to the spa. It has been rumoured that Natasha Rothwell (who played Hawaiian spa manager Belinda Lindsey in Season 1) will be returning to the show , and this would be a perfect spot for her reappearance, and her redemption. As Mike White has teased the season will see a “satirical and funny look at death” it could be a comment on karma following what happened to Belinda in Season 1.  

phang nga white lotus thailand filming location

Phang Nga Bay

Make it White Lotus : Island-hopping, jet skis, and impressive shots of the archipelago make for a clever nod to a James Bond pistol duel  

Injecting more wanderlust into the season, Phang Nga Bay could make for a wonderful filming location for The White Lotus Season 3, given that the guests of the resort often engage in water activities, and enjoy day trips to other locations. In Season 2, a few of the guests visit the set of The Godfather in Fiumefreddo. In Thailand, they could do something similar and visit ‘James Bond Island,’ or Koh Tapu, which featured in the 1974 film The Man with the Golden Gun . Here, right on the island, James Bond takes part in a pistol duel. Hint, hint. Nudge, nudge.  

cnn travel white lotus

Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River

Make it White Lotus : A return to the city for sobering reflections, and a classy cocktail for the road

The final episodes of The White Lotus often feature an airport scene, wherein the characters gaze out the window (sometimes at a body bag), and reflect on their actions. For a similarly sobering effect, we can imagine their return to the city from the islands to the Four Seasons Bangkok , where the guests can gaze out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the Chao Phraya River once more. Of all the Four Seasons properties in Thailand, this hotel boasts a more modern design ethos, and is lauded for its multiple dining outlets — especially its bar . Perhaps they indulge in one final cocktail before their long flight back home. They take sips and sighs. The sun sets over the river, the city of temples. End scene.  

A few ideas for ‘The White Lotus’ Thailand, as creator Mike White is currently in town

Creative Content Director, Bangkok

Lisa is the Creative Content Director at Lifestyle Asia and Prestige Thailand. When she’s not knees-deep in SEO analysis or editorial calendars, you’ll likely find her in downward-facing dog at the yoga studio, or immersed in conversation at a secret bar in China town. Lisa writes mostly on dining, travel, and pop-culture, and is a huge fan of soup dumplings, Riesling, and power napping — in exactly that order.

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COMMENTS

  1. The 'sexy' reality behind Sicily's 'White Lotus' hotel

    The real 'White Lotus' hotel: Season two of HBO's acclaimed series "The White Lotus" was filmed in the San Domenico Palace hotel on the island of Sicily. San Domenico Palace, Four Seasons. Austere ...

  2. 'The White Lotus' season 3 location confirmed as Thailand

    Bangkok CNN —. The rumors have finally been confirmed - season three of HBO hit TV series "The White Lotus" is coming to Thailand. In statements released this week, the Tourism Authority ...

  3. Where was 'The White Lotus' filmed?

    The first season of The White Lotus filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, in Maui, Hawai'i. A single filming location was the requirement when HBO asked White to dream up a show that ...

  4. What could be in store for 'The White Lotus' Season 3

    He also speculated on where Season 3 might take place, and what it would focus on. (CNN and HBO are both part of the same parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.) "The first season kind of ...

  5. 'The White Lotus' season 3 filming location revealed

    Season three of HBO hit TV series "The White Lotus" is coming to Thailand, with shooting due to begin in February. Thailand's tourism officials are already gearing up for the spotlight. CNN

  6. 'White Lotus' teases more luxury and 'very bad decisions' in ...

    CNN —. "The White Lotus" is giving us a sneak peek at Season 2. Jennifer Coolidge returns to the HBO series, this time set in Sicily. "Whenever I stay at a White Lotus, I always have a ...

  7. The General Manager of the hotel used in The White Lotus speaks ...

    The General Manager of the hotel used in The White Lotus speaks to CNN. Link Copied! CNN's Julia Chatterley speaks to Lorenzo Maraviglia from the San Domenico Palace Hotel. College DEI programs ...

  8. 'The White Lotus' relocates to Sicily and delivers another ...

    "The White Lotus" hasn't lost any of its intoxicating allure, shifting its mix of rich-people problems and staff struggles to a new island (Sicily), with Jennifer Coolidge as the one ...

  9. 'The White Lotus' season finale review: 'Arrivederci' says ...

    HBO isn't free (and like CNN, it's part of Warner Bros. Discovery), but thanks to "The White Lotus," it's home to one of the best things on television, and as anthology-style concepts go ...

  10. 'White Lotus' Season 3 star Natasha Rothwell ...

    Link Copied! Natasha Rothwell on December 10. Natasha Rothwell is stoking excitement for a new season of "White Lotus.". The popular HBO series (HBO is owned by CNN's parent company) will ...

  11. 'The White Lotus' unpacks the staff-guest divide through the ...

    If you're itching for a tropical vacation, "The White Lotus" might cool those jets. The edgy, engrossing six-part HBO limited series follows multiple stories in a kind of modern "Upstairs ...

  12. 'White Lotus' adds Patrick Schwarzenegger, Walton Goggins and ...

    CNN —. "The White Lotus" Season 3 is growing its cast. Joining the upcoming season of the award-winning series are Walton Goggins ("The Shield"), Patrick Schwarzenegger ("The Staircase ...

  13. Inside The White Lotus Season 3 filming locations across Thailand

    At the beginning of the year, it was finally confirmed that The White Lotus Season 3 would be filmed in Thailand. The Tourism Authority of Thailand, together with HBO, proceeded to cast the spotlight on Bangkok, Koh Samui, and Phuket, as key filming locations. Then, the official cast was unveiled, including three Thai actors, to the delight of ...

  14. 'The White Lotus' was great. Let's hope it's not another 'True

    "The White Lotus" was great (Sunday's finale likely produced as many memes as viewers). ... Travel Destinations Food & Drink Stay News Videos ... (Like CNN, HBO is a unit of WarnerMedia.)

  15. 'The White Lotus' season 3 filming location revealed

    Bangkok (CNN) — The rumors have finally been confirmed - season three of HBO hit TV series "The White Lotus" is coming to Thailand. In statements released this week, the Tourism Authority ...

  16. The White Lotus Season 3 Will Be Filmed at This Glamorous ...

    After garnering a steady fan base, The White Lotus released the first episode of season two to an audience of 7.6 million viewers. Backdrop? Backdrop? The paradise island of Sicily.

  17. Inside Sicily's swanky San Domenico Palace 'White Lotus' hotel

    The real 'White Lotus' hotel: Season two of HBO's acclaimed series "The White Lotus" was filmed in the San Domenico Palace hotel on the island of Sicily. Austere past: The hotel, built on the ...

  18. Filming Locations for 'The White Lotus' Season 3 Revealed

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