A White Lotus actor's guide to Thailand
Since its tourism boom in the mid-20th Century, Thailand has become synonymous with paradisical landscapes and top-notch hospitality. In recent years, however, the Southeast Asian country has risen beyond its reputation as a spiritual and adventure haven, partially due to acclaimed film productions and influential names drawing attention to its unique culture.
Today, the country's cultural influence has reached nearly every industry, from fashion to sports to entertainment. For a prime example, look no further than the highly anticipated third instalment of HBO's series The White Lotus, which premiered 16 February 2025. Following successful stopovers in Hawaii and Italy, season three features Thailand as its latest lush backdrop for intrigue and social satire. The islands of Koh Samui and Phuket are the main filming locations (with a smattering of scenes shot in Bangkok), while an ensemble of Thai actors including Blackpink's Lisa Manobal, Patravadi Mejudhon, Tayme Thapthimthong and actor, model and businessman Dom Hetrakul join the star-studded cast.
"The series is a very deep and dark comedy so it's going to be fun when it comes to Thailand, which has a different background compared to Hawaii and Sicily," says Hetrakul, who plays Pornchai, the beatific hotel spa therapist at the Thai branch of the fictional White Lotus resort. "We have strong values and beliefs influenced by our religious background, but we're still dynamic in a way. That might be something very distinctive when you get close to the Thai community [and why] everyone is looking at Thailand as one of the most famous destinations for tourism."
Hetrakul, who was born in Bangkok and calls the city home, balances his career in entertainment with a job in the motorcycle trading business. But his packed schedule has never stopped him from travelling and finding inspiration in his home country: "Apart from acting, sports and motorcycles take me everywhere. To find inspiration you need to get out of your comfort zone, that [means] more places and people to meet."
Here are Hetrakul's favourite places in Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui.
1. Best for wellness: Koh Samui
Home to the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui where much of the season's hotel scenes were filmed, Koh Samui is perhaps the ultimate White Lotus set-jetting destination. Indeed, a good deal of the season's drama and privileged behaviour unfolds on the palm-laden island, located in the Gulf of Thailand.
Most visitors arrive in Koh Samui via the Samui International Airport, but ferries and other means of transportation are available from Surat Thani Province. "You can take a cruise about 45 minutes from the mainland," Hetrakul says.
While its rugged coastline, majestic mountain ranges and long, sandy beaches make it a travel-worthy getaway, the island's wellness offerings have stimulated tourism in recent years; something keenly noted in season three, with the surprise return of fan-favourite spa manager Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) from The White Lotus season one, whose story arc involves learning Thai wellness techniques from Hetrakul's Pornchai so she can improve her practice in Maui.
Koh Samui's luxurious spas, remote resorts and holistic health centres provide wellness and spiritual therapies and retreats for meditation, Ayurvedic treatments and massages, but Hetrakul suggests immersing yourself in yoga. "In Koh Samui, they have a lot of different training experiences like Thai boxing and yoga," he says. "But [I'd recommend] yoga by the beach every morning with yogis from around the world... That's a very healthy community."
Address: Ko Samui District, Surat Thani, Thailand
2. Best culinary experience: Jun Hom, Koh Samui
Thai people's love for food runs deep so no trip to Thailand is complete without indulging in the country's culinary delicacies. "Over here, we eat all day, all night – daytime, office hours – we just order food and eat all the time," Hetrakul says. "Restaurants have to open all day."
While you'll have to watch the upcoming episodes to see the exact dishes and restaurants featured in The White Lotus season three, Koh Samui is packed with delicious food options from Western-style restaurants (Hetrakul likes Summer by Coco Tam, The Shack and Gusto Italiano) to local eateries like Hetrakul's favourite island haunt, Jun Hom. The unassuming beachside spot is recognised for its seafood and homemade traditional dishes like pineapple fried rice, silver sillago fish and yum tua pu(wing bean salad). "Everything is from the local fisherman's market," Hetrakul says, citing the Fisherman's Village Night Market, another go-to spot for foodies in Koh Samui – and rumoured to be the setting for some of season three's Songkran Festival shenanigans. "Those aromatic herbs, spicy chillies and coconut milk on all sorts of fish, crabs, and prawns – you name it – Jun Hom makes [it]."
Website: https://www.facebook.com/JunhomKohSamuiAddress: 7/3 Mu 5, Mae Nam, Ko Samui, 84330Phone: +66 77 602 008
3. Best for parties: Ko Pha Ngan
Whether at exclusive high-voltage clubs or vibrant festivals by the ocean, Thailand's much-revered party scene lives up to the hype. Previews of season three offer glimpses at the White Lotus' take on Thai nightlife; neon lights, fireworks and dance performances spice up the intricate plot entanglements in the trailer.
Hetrakul's top Thai party hotspot is Ko Pha Ngan island, about 38km from Koh Samui – eagle-eyed viewers may have spotted Phangan Mantra Inn located near Ko Pha Ngan's Haad Rin Beach in the trailer's party scenes. "[Koh Pha Ngan] is famous for the Full Moon Party," says Hetrakul, referring to the monthly festival-style beach parties that take over Haad Rin Beach every full Moon night or the day after. Locals and visitors celebrate by gathering around stages lined up across the shore for performances of various musical genres.
For those wary of big crowds – the parties attract thousands of attendants – Hetrakul has an insider tip. "Now, people are trying to host more parties, they call them the Half Moon Parties," he says. "Full Moon is more exposed to the public, so you expect the crowds, but Half Moon [celebrations] are less packed."
Address: Koh Phangan District, Surat Thani, Thailand
4. Best outdoor experience: Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park
About 30km north-west of Koh Samui lies the Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park, an enclave of 42 islands surrounded by turquoise sea. The archipelago's clear-water shores welcome The White Lotus guests, serving as a fitting introduction to Thailand's stunning seascapes.
Though camping areas and bungalows are available on Ko Wua Talap, the park's largest island, Hetrakul recommends planning a day trip to the archipelago to explore luscious tropical forests, azure beaches and rugged landscapes apt for any type of visitor, from those seeking a calm, stress-free retreat to adventure enthusiasts. "There are white-sand beaches and mountain ranges on the island itself, so you can enjoy a beach tour or hiking, depending on which of those small islands you prefer," says Hetrakul. "[Ang Thong National Park is also] great for snorkelling, diving, kayaking, canoeing or camping." For wildlife lovers, if you're lucky enough, you may even come across cadres of cute-looking spectacled leaf monkeys.
Address: Koh Samui District, Surat Thani, Thailand
5. Best for eco-tourism: Baan Tha Chatchai, Phuket
Connected to the mainland via the 600m-long Sarasin Bridge, Phuket is Thailand's largest island. It's also home to various locations featured in The White Lotus season three, from the opulent Michelin Guide-recommended Ta Khai restaurant, where characters are seen dining (and whining), to the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket resort, whose lavish spa serves as a backdrop for the interactions between Hetrakul's Pornchai and Rothwell's Belinda.
"Phuket's [highlights] are the nightlife and the beach – Patong beach, the bars and clubs," Hetrakul says. However, those who venture beyond will be rewarded with splendid natural views and zealously protected greenery.
"About an hour's drive from Old Phuket Town, in the north of the island, there is a well-preserved mangrove forest called Baan Tha Chatchai," the actor says. Here, community-based ecotourism is king; away from crowds, visitors can engage in activities such as kayaking and canoeing along shallow and still waterways. "Deep in the jungle it's very calm, so you don't have to worry too much. [For example,] in the western part of Thailand, the waves are stronger, [but this is] a different current."
Local dishes such as mee hokkien (chewy egg noodles) or Phuket lobster top off an excursion to the area. "They have a lot of restaurants around, some deep in the forest. It's very very traditional – truly local – food," Hetrakul emphasises. "They have seafood, fresh vegetables and fruit. But to be warned, the food is mostly spicy."
Address: Within Phuket Marine National Park Operation Centre 2, 92/7 Moo 5 Mai Khao, Thalang, Phuket 83110
6. Best sports experience: Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium, Bangkok
Thailand's cultural appeal doesn't stop at its beloved spicy food and notoriously wild festivals. For decades, sports, especially Muay Thai, have driven the country's soft power strategy; in early February, the Thai government launched a year-long campaign titled Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025, aimed at leveraging the sports calendar to boost tourism. The national passion for Muay Thai is reflected in The White Lotus season three, as various characters chat about the fights and take in a match at Phuket's Bangla Boxing Stadium Paton.
As a sports enthusiast – he practices Muay Thai – Hetrakul encourages visitors to soak up Thailand's sports tradition and learn about its origins. "We do lots of [sports but] Muay Thai, previously called Thai boxing, has become mainstream," he says. "If you're a fan of UFC (mixed martial arts) fights, most elite athletes are here for training. If they're talking about the striking, Muay Thai [has] one of the best striking techniques."
While you can witness Thailand's most famous combat sport or book a class nearly anywhere in Thailand – "there are a lot of Muay Thai camps around [the country]," Hetrakul says – the actor recommends stopping by the Rajadamnern Stadium in his hometown of Bangkok. Located just a few blocks from the Wat Benchamabophit temple, Rajadamnern was Thailand's first venue uniquely dedicated to Muay Thai and was responsible for introducing the sports' official ranking system and rule book. The stadium is also recognised for its architecture and circular ring – the only one of its kind in the world.
The venue hosts combat every night, but Hetrakul advises visitors to get tickets for Friday and Saturday when the most anticipated clashes are generally scheduled.
Website: https://rajadamnern.com/Address: 8 Ratchadamnoen Nok Rd, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100Instagram: @rajadamnern_stadium
7. Best cultural experience: Nuad Thai at Wat Pho, Bangkok
Prominently featured in season three's storyline, Thai wellness and healing practices need no introduction. Nuad Thai, or Thai massage, for example, was inscribed in 2019 on Unesco's List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This manual therapy, aimed at realigning a person's body and energy, is one of Thailand's most popular and widespread cultural attractions; Hetrakul's Pornchai even performs Nuad Thai on Rothwell's Belinda when showing her his "signature treatment."
The Buddhist temple Wat Pho, credited as the birthplace of Nuad Thai, is Hetrakul's recommendation to experience and learn about Thai massage. The complex, which houses Bangkok's largest reclining Buddha, was the city's first public education centre. Inside, the walls document centuries of knowledge on Thai healing techniques with a series of engraved marble slabs dated to the 19th Century.
As home to the Watpho Thai Traditional Medicine School, today the temple lures visitors interested in undergoing massage therapy. "It's a place [to receive] traditional Thai massage," says Hetrakul. "[But] they can [also] certify you with the approval of the Ministry of Health. You just need time to apply if you're interested in traditional Thai massage."
Website: https://www.watpomassage.com/EN/aboutAddress: 392 / 33-34 Soi Pen Phat 1, Grand Palace, Maharat Road Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok 10200
BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers.
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One commentator even described her breasts as the 'double-D harbingers of the death of woke'. Sydney's response? A tongue-in-cheek sweatshirt that read: 'Sorry For Having Great Tits And Correct Opinions'. Then in June, she partnered with Dr Squatch to launch $8 soap bars infused with her actual bathwater – a move some interpreted as a bold, satirical poke at the objectification she often faces. Steering her ship through the sea of entertainment with self-awareness and humour is a savvy move, says Nick Ede, one of the UK's leading brand and culture experts and founder of Joyfulness Studios. 'What's great about Sydney is she embodies her generation and doesn't try to alienate herself from it,' says Nick. 'She wants to be relatable and lean into the stereotypes that she portrays, or is seen to portray. She isn't scared to be honest about who she is and has a unique way of being self-aware. She can laugh at herself, too. This allows her to manage her narrative, especially on social media. Her bathwater soap shows she's in on the journey as much as her fans or her critics.' Sydney is a rare Hollywood breed who manages her own social media content and, according to Stefanie Davis Kempton – an assistant professor of communication at Florida Gulf Coast University specialising in women's representation in the media – retaining control is vital for stars like her. 'Young women, especially, can be easy targets to become puppets and lose control of their own personal brand for the sake of corporate greed,' says Stefanie. What's great about Sydney is she embodies her generation and doesn't try to alienate herself from it Nick Ede, brand and culture expert 'It happens all the time, as women's voices have been historically marginalised. In today's age of social media, your identity is your brand and that brand can be worth a lot of money, but it can also be sabotaged if left in the wrong hands. Having control of your own voice, body, image and likeness is so critically important.' Launching her own production company, Fifty-Fifty Films, in 2020, was Sydney's creative solution to that problem, taking her from actor for hire to industry powerhouse. Dedicated to adapting stories by first-time female authors and up-and-coming screenwriters, she told Teen Vogue: 'I'm a big advocate for making sure everybody's voice is heard.' But carving out creative space hasn't been easy. In an interview with The Times earlier this year, Sydney admitted she's not always taken seriously as a producer, especially, she noted, by 'women who give me the hardest time.' Speaking on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast in March 2024, Sydney confessed that 'the roles that are challenging or creatively fulfilling are usually the ones that you have to fight for.' She went on to explain in The Times that casting directors often dismiss her due to her performance as Cassie, her overtly sexualised character in Euphoria, a role she reprised earlier this year for the long-awaited third season, due for release in 2026. 'I feel like I'm constantly having to be like: 'No, no – I'm an actor,'' she said. 'I'm supposed to play different characters.' That philosophy also extends to red-carpet appearances and talk-show interviews, spaces where Sydney says she feels most uncomfortable. To manage her nerves, she inhabits personas in the way she would on set, a place she describes as her 'playground' and where she feels 'at home'. Indeed, Sydney was just 10 when she discovered her love of performance at the family home in Spokane, Washington, on the Idaho border. There, she would build imaginary worlds and put on performances for her parents – her mum Lisa, a former criminal defence lawyer, and dad Steven, a pharmaceutical rep. 'Nothing I could do to help' She recently told Glamour that acting became a 'full-on obsession' alongside childhood passions like river swimming and hiking. Electronic devices, meanwhile, were banned by her parents so, as a teen, Sydney secretly streamed episodes of The Secret Life Of The American Teenager. When a low-budget zombie film began shooting in her town, Sydney persuaded her parents to let her audition by pitching them a PowerPoint five-year acting plan. It worked two-fold. She auditioned, then landed a small part in 2010 film ZMD: Zombies Of Mass Destruction. From there she began auditioning whenever possible – first in Seattle and Portland, and eventually in Los Angeles, travelling the gruelling 2,400-mile round trip every time by car. 'I owe everything to them,' she said of her parents on Happy Sad Confused, crediting them as her earliest champions. I thought that if I made enough money, I'd be able to buy my parents' house back and put my family back together Sydney Sweeney When Sydney became a victim of bullying at her private school – an education funded by financial aid – her parents home-schooled her for a while, before selling the family home and moving to LA to further her acting dreams. 19 19 19 But the move, when Sydney was 13, came at a price. Living costs proved too high and the family, including her younger brother Trent, found themselves crammed into a single motel room. By 2016, her parents had filed for both bankruptcy and divorce. Sydney, working $100-a-day acting jobs, cleaning bathrooms and babysitting, continued to dream of a breakthrough that might solve all their problems. 'I thought that if I made enough money, I'd be able to buy my parents' house back and put my family back together,' she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2022. 'But when I turned 18, I only had $800 to my name. My parents weren't back together. And there was nothing I could do to help.' Her longed-for break finally came in 2018, with roles in Marti Noxon's Sharp Objects and Netflix's Everything Sucks!, followed by a standout appearance in The Handmaid's Tale, and then Euphoria. Now reportedly worth over £30million, Sydney has built a brand empire, thanks to endorsement deals from Miu Miu to Kérastase. And her financial clout is set to grow even more with the launch of her lingerie line, backed by a $1.5billion investment from her pal, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell. That Bezos connection, insiders say, is also making Sydney a frontrunner for the next Bond girl role, now the movie is under Amazon MGM's creative control. 'Sydney's DMs are packed with messages from famous men' As well as clearing her mum's mortgage, Sydney has built an impressive property portfolio with her fortune. She has two homes in LA, her primary residence is a £10million Florida beachfront mansion, plus she repurchased her great-grandmother's former house in 2023, years after the family was forced to sell it. Now, Sydney is dreaming of a different kind of legacy. 'I want to have a family. I've always wanted to be a young mom,' she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2022, while still in a seven-year relationship with her businessman fiancé, Jonathan Davino. When the pair called off their engagement earlier this year, speculation mounted of romance between Sydney and her Anyone But You co-star Glen Powell, which they later admitted they allowed to swirl to help promote the film. But despite sightings with Orlando Bloom and Tom Brady at Jeff Bezos' Venice wedding in June, insiders say Sydney's single by choice. 'I'm learning a lot about myself, spending more time with my friends. And I'm loving it,' she told The Times in May. That's not to say she isn't without plenty of admirers – The Sun revealed that Premier League players from Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal have all slid into her DMs to ask her out. But despite the offers, she has politely declined. An insider said: 'Her Instagram DMs are packed with messages from famous men trying to get in contact with her. 19 19 They offer her trips to Europe to see them and take her on a date, but she's not the kind of person who does that. 'Some of them are very insistent and have even tried to find her address to send her flowers, but she always refuses.' Behind the scenes, Sydney is an 'avid bookreader', trained MMA fighter and vintage car restorer – a hobby she calls her 'therapy' and documents for 1.9 million followers on her TikTok @Syds_garage. Whether she's creating or courting controversy, on-screen or off, Sydney Sweeney isn't just tagging along for the ride, she's firmly in the driver's seat of her extraordinary life. Sydney's sizzling style 19 19 19 19 19
