White Lotus Hotel Thailand Anantara Bophut Review and Booking Tips

This hotel was used as one of the filming locations for The White Lotus Season 3, which focused on luxury travel in Thailand. As a fan of the show, I wanted to experience some of the finest hotels that Thailand has to offer. When I went looking for the filming locations, I found that some rooms cost up to $2,000 per night.

As soon as it was announced that The White Lotus was going to be filmed in Thailand, there was one Thai hotel brand that I knew would have to be involved. This brand’s hotels are famous for high quality service and luxury that would be the perfect fit for the show. They’re also known for beautiful architecture that incorporates elements of Thai culture and scenery into the design of their hotels, making them some of the most beautiful in the country.

If you’ve watched season 3 of the show, you’ll recognise some of these stunning landmarks throughout the resort, like the garden pavilions with their curved roofs that resemble Lanna style Thai temples, the beautifully decorated spa area, and the stunning entrance to the hotel that was used in the show.

Perhaps the most iconic area of the hotel is the stunning lily pad garden that runs through it, which was used in multiple scenes throughout the show. Although it wasn’t featured in the show that much, I’m sure the cast and crew enjoyed unwinding on one of Samui’s best beaches and at the beachside swimming pool after filming.

Bophut Beach and Fishermans Village Nightlife

Despite being the cheapest option available, this hotel has an advantage over all the other hotels used as filming locations. If you compare this resort to some of Thailand’s most luxurious hotels, two things immediately stand out. First, the price. Even compared to the other White Lotus filming locations in Koh Samui, this one is a fraction of the cost.

Take the Four Seasons Koh Samui, the main filming location. It’s nearly $2,000 per night, but that price comes with a different kind of cost. It’s tucked away in a quiet corner of the island, far away from some of the best nightlife, restaurants, and cultural spots. Resorts like the Six Senses and others follow the same formula. Beautiful, yes, but secluded on private beaches where the only nightlife is the minibar.

This resort is the total opposite. It’s not only on one of the best beaches in Koh Samui, it’s also just a short walk from one of the island’s most exciting areas. Step outside and you’re greeted by wide ocean views with Koh Phangan floating in the distance. The beach itself has a natural, unspoiled vibe, with no wall to wall resorts, and in the evening you can watch the sunset behind the mountains. This is Bophut Beach.

Its biggest perk is what’s right behind it: one of the coolest and classiest nightlife strips in the country. Fisherman’s Village might sound like a sleepy port, but it’s actually home to one of the best nightlife spots in Thailand, with some of Samui’s finest bars and restaurants all along the beachfront. One of the highlights is Coco Tam’s, which is home to some of the biggest and best fire shows in Thailand. A few nights a week, the entire area transforms into a buzzing night market serving street food and locally made handcrafted goods. I found the market to have interesting and beautifully made items, rather than the same mass produced products sold at many night markets. There were also cocktail stands selling drinks for just 99 Thai Baht.

Anantara Bophut Resort Price and Family Experience

I’m at the Anantara Bophut Resort in Koh Samui, and already, just a few days in, this is definitely one of the best resorts that I’ve ever stayed in. Anantara is a Thai hotel brand, which is why you can get good deals on the hotels here. It’s also much cheaper than some of the other branded resorts used as White Lotus filming locations, like Rosewood or Mandarin Oriental.

We ended up paying just over $300 per night for a room because we had an extra person staying with us. My mother in law is staying with us, so we had four people in the bedroom. It could have been under $300 if it was just the two of us. I know that’s not cheap, and for some people it’s definitely more than they would usually pay for a hotel. But if you want to stay somewhere like this, these are the prices you can expect, and this is cheaper than most available places.

Whether it’s worth staying in a hotel like this kind of depends. I never used to stay in places like this when I was first travelling around Thailand. I was happy with the cheapest available place close to a few bars. However, my lifestyle has changed, especially now I’m travelling with a baby girl. I find it useful to be somewhere that is just that little bit nicer and where I know I’m going to be taken care of.

When we arrived here, they were late to check in, so they gave us a meal and made sure we had everything we needed. We got free drinks, and people came to take our luggage, which gets a lot trickier now that I’m travelling with a baby girl. I’ve had excellent times staying in cheap party hostels, and you don’t necessarily need to spend hundreds of dollars on hotels, but I’ve found that a place like this enhances my experience when travelling around Thailand.

The night before, to save a bit of money, we stayed in a cheaper hotel because we arrived late. The room was fine and the beach was fine, but there was a smell coming from the drain that made it difficult to sleep at night. When I stay somewhere like this, I know there won’t be any of that, and if there is, it can be taken care of immediately.

How to Save on Luxury Thailand Hotels

I see a lot of debate online about when it’s best to book. Some people say it’s better to wait until the last minute to get good deals, while others say to book in advance. I’m a Thailand travel agent, and I’ve been booking hotels for the last couple of years for people. If there’s one thing I’ve found, it’s definitely better to book in advance. Ideally, six months before your trip is when the best available deals are found.

If you wait until the last minute, you’re risking rooms booking up. I’ve yet to see prices drop significantly in the days or weeks leading up to the travel date, so booking in advance is definitely a must.

In general, it’s better not to travel to places like Phuket and Koh Samui if you’re looking for the best deals on luxury resorts. The real estate in those places is more expensive, so the highest priced hotels are there. I would recommend travelling to the north of Thailand, where things are a little cheaper and there are cheaper resorts.

You should also avoid major branded hotels because they generally have higher prices due to the brand behind them. Anantara is a branded hotel and part of the Minor Hotels group, but it’s one of the lesser known brands and is focused in Asia and Southeast Asia, although it does have branches around the world. That’s why you’re going to get a better deal on a hotel like this.

You should also avoid travelling during major Thai holidays or around Christmas and New Year. Christmas and New Year are generally the most expensive periods to travel, and things book up quickly. If you’re travelling around a major Thai holiday like Songkran or Loy Krathong, make sure you also book in advance because things will book up quickly and prices will automatically be higher even if you do book in advance. Avoiding Thai holidays is another must.