Cover The Ratliff family arriving for their vacation at the White Lotus in Koh Samui, Thailand (Photo: Max)
The Ratliff family arriving for their vacation at the White Lotus in Koh Samui, Thailand (Photo: Max)
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The heart of The White Lotus isn’t about the mystery. It’s rich spiralling into emotional chaos while maintaining the illusion of paradise. If the showrunners need ideas for the next backdrop for all this madness, here's what we think
After a raucous Roman holiday and a Sicilian scorcher, The White Lotus has just released its third, deliciously deranged season. This time, the cast luxuriates (and, inevitably, self-destructs) amidst the lush backdrop of Koh Samui. Yet, as fans already start fantasising about this black comedy’s next passport stamp, one thing is clear: Asia’s glittering constellation of resorts offers more than enough material for Mike White’s next biting social satire. So where should our next batch of dysfunctional elites book their next ill-fated getaway? We have a few ideas.
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1. Aman Tokyo
Location: Otemachi Tower, Tokyo, Japan
Vibe: Glossy, minimalist luxury meets urban serenity
Why it’s perfect for The White Lotus: Suspended high above the frenetic pace of Tokyo, Aman Tokyo offers a hushed, almost reverential experience. Picture sky-high views of Mt. Fuji, a 30-meter black basalt swimming pool and a spa that could almost double as a modern temple. The interiors are all about clean lines and natural materials—washi chandeliers, camphor wood and kakou gan granite—merging Japanese tradition with cutting-edge design.
Plot potential: A group of Silicon Valley tech bros attempts a digital detox, only to find themselves unraveling faster than their startup’s valuation. A missing influencer? A suspiciously calm sushi chef? The possibilities are as layered as a kaiseki dinner.
Also read: The architect behind the latest Aman Resorts talks about emotions and space
2. Six Senses Bhutan
Location: Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, and Bumthang, Bhutan
Vibe: Sustainable luxury with a spiritual twist
Why it’s perfect for The White Lotus: Five distinct lodges, spread across Bhutan’s mystical valleys, allow for a slow burn both emotionally and narratively. The design pays homage to local architecture, with hand-carved wood, open fireplaces and panoramic views of the Himalayas. Wellness is the religion here: you can have your pick of forest bathing, Bhutanese hot stone baths, and astrology readings that might reveal more than just one’s rising sign.
Plot potential: A wealthy New York family embarks on a “healing” journey through Bhutan. However, as they ascend higher into the mountains, their carefully curated Instagram narratives collapse. By lodge three, someone’s gone missing. By lodge five, so has their grip on reality.
3. Capella Ubud
Location: Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Vibe: Dutch colonial nostalgia meets tropical opulence
Why it’s perfect for The White Lotus: Capella Ubud isn’t your run-of-the-mill luxury resort. It’s also part adventure camp for the fabulously wealthy. Its 22 luxury tents, hidden within the jungle, are a fever dream of teak floors, vintage steamer trunks and copper bathtubs. There’s even a saltwater rainforest pool that feels plucked from a Gauguin painting.
Plot potential: A group of expats “finding themselves” over cacao ceremonies and jungle treks seems innocent enough, but they feel the rainforest is watching them back. Colonial echoes, millennial entitlement and a Balinese healer who may or may not be a charlatan? White Lotus could use a supernatural subplot.
4. The Datai Langkawi
Location: Langkawi, Malaysia
Vibe: Half rainforest sanctuary, half seaside luxury
Why it’s perfect for The White Lotus: Set on the edge of a 10-million-year-old rainforest, The Datai offers something rare: genuine isolation and cinematic beauty. Doesn’t that sound ready for a dark drama? Villas with private pools sit amidst lush jungle, where dusky leaf monkeys and hornbills outnumber the guests. The Andaman Sea is steps away and it comes complete with coral reefs and enigmatic sunsets that look like something out of a Wong Kar-wai film.
Plot potential: Wealthy honeymooners, an enigmatic naturalist and a staff member who knows far too much about what lurks in the mangroves. A guest goes missing, but perhaps the jungle—or the sea—took them. So whodunit?
5. Amankora Paro
Location: Paro, Bhutan
Vibe: Monastic calm with a dash of Himalayan mystique
Why it’s perfect for The White Lotus: Amankora Paro, nestled in a pine forest with views of snow-capped peaks and ancient dzongs, is as secluded as it is sumptuous. Suites feature king-sized beds, deep soaking tubs and wood-burning stoves, all designed to create a cocoon of warmth against the mountain chill.
Plot potential: Imagine a silent retreat where no one can speak—but the tension is deafening. Couples arrive to “reconnect,” only to realise they have nothing left to say. A missing guest, a suspiciously serene retreat leader and a cliffside monastery where no one leaves quite the same.
Don't miss: Unveiling Bhutan: 5 things you may not know about this Himalayan Kingdom
6. The Four Seasons Tented Camp
Location: Golden Triangle, Chiang Rai, Thailand
Vibe: Jungle adventure with a touch of colonial glamour
Why it’s perfect for The White Lotus: Set along the Ruak River, where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet, this camp offers elephant treks, private riverboat excursions, and sundowners overlooking the misty Mekong. The accommodations are lavish tents, complete with hand-hammered copper bathtubs and romantic mosquito nets that suggest both luxury and danger.
Plot potential: A group of European socialites seeking adventure stumbles into the darker side of the Golden Triangle’s history. A rare artefact goes missing, alliances shift like river tides, and an elephant—or a guest—never returns.
7. Capella Hanoi
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Vibe: Art Deco aesthetics with old-world intrigue
Why it’s perfect for The White Lotus: Capella Hanoi is a beautiful throwback to the roaring 1920s, with theatrical interiors and a rich, cultural tapestry. Tucked away in the historic Hoàn Kiếm district, the hotel’s intimate ambiance and operatic charm make it a setting primed for hidden affairs and whispered betrayals. The Diva’s Lounge, with its velvet drapes and vintage cocktails, practically begs for a clandestine rendezvous or two.
Plot potential: A group of international art collectors arrives for a glamorous exhibition, but as priceless artefacts go missing, so does their composure. Against a backdrop of Vietnamese history and modern ambition, the line between patron and predator blurs—and not everyone will check out with their reputation intact.
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