By: Miriam Bribiesca
If you’re anything like the rest of us, watching The White Lotus made you dream about jetting off to luxury resorts in Hawaii, Italy, and Thailand—minus the murder, of course! Each season of the show transported us into an aesthetic dream of sandy shores, drama, and really good vacation outfits. But while the guests at the fictional White Lotus resorts were busy unraveling secrets and, uh, not making it past checkout, you are here for a good time, and we prefer that above everything else.
So how do you make these dream destinations a reality without a millionaire-sized budget? Welcome to your ultimate guide to doing The White Lotus right!
Hawaii
Season one of The White Lotus was filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, a place so fancy that you will start devising a plan to find a way to stay there forever the second you step inside. But let’s be real, a night at this five star paradise could cost more than your monthly rent. Yep!
So how do you experience it without dropping your tuition savings? Here are a couple of tips:
- Stay Smart: Swap the Four Seasons for equally gorgeous but more budget-friendly stays. Check out the Maui Coast Hotel or The Kulani Maui, which give you luxury vibes without bankruptcy.
- Beach Hop Like a Pro: Wailea Beach (where the White Lotus characters sipped cocktails and made bad decisions) is free and open to the public. So is Makena Beach, which is just as stunning and way less crowded.
- Dine With the Locals: Instead of splurging at resort restaurants, hit up Tin Roof Maui, a local favorite for mouthwatering poke bowls, or grab some garlic shrimp from the famous food trucks in Kihei. Who better to cook up real traditional meals than the locals? Exactly.
Do a Tanya Tour: Follow in the chaotic footsteps of Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya McQuoid by taking a catamaran tour. Companies like Trilogy Excursions offer affordable sunset sails where you can channel your inner rich persona.
Italy
Season two turned up the heat in Sicily, giving us jaw dropping coastal views, impeccable outfits, and a plot so twisty it had us side eyeing everyone and trusting no one. The show was filmed at San Domenico Palace, Taormina, a luxury hotel that looks like it belongs in an old Italian romance film. Naturally, it costs a small fortune to stay there, but don’t worry, we’ve got alternatives and of course great flight deals exclusively for students like you that will have you telling everyone from home, “arrivederci!”
Here’s how to live your sicilian fantasy for less and without having to befriend sketchy characters:
- Book a Dreamy Stay Without the Price Tag: Instead of San Domenico Palace, try Hotel Villa Belvedere or Airbnbs in Taormina—you’ll still get insane views but at a fraction of the price. Convince a few friends to tag along, and boom, your share of the cost just got a friend discount.
- Tour The Surrounding Areas: Stroll through the ancient Teatro Antico di Taormina (yes, the one in the show), and if you want to take it to the next level, take a day trip to Savoca, where they filmed The Godfather! Now THAT is the true way to channel your inner Italian socialite, and don’t forget a spritz in hand.
- Hit the Beaches (Duh!): The crystal clear waters are calling your name. Bring a picnic (aka save money while looking cute) and lounge on the pebbly shores like you own the place.
Eat Everything: Sicilian food is unreal, and you don’t need a Michelin star restaurant to enjoy it, seriously! Avoid the tourist traps with the menus that have photos and instead try a classic arancino (fried rice ball of dreams) or devour a cannoli at Pasticceria Minotauro. We hear they’re as authentic as it gets.
Thailand
Season three is taking us to Thailand, and while we don’t know what tragedy awaits the next batch of vacationers, we do know that filming took place in some of the most jaw dropping locations: Koh Samui, Phuket, and Bangkok. Thailand is already a budget friendly paradise, so this is the one White Lotus destination you can probably afford to do right.
Here’s how to travel like a season star but without the drama:
- Stay in Boutique Hotels: Thailand has stunning resorts that won’t destroy your budget. Try Silavadee Pool Spa Resort in Koh Samui or The Slate in Phuket for that high end experience without the five star bill.
- Explore Like a Local: Instead of resort hopping, take a traditional long tail boat to hidden beaches or go temple hopping in Bangkok. Honestly, the possibilities here are endless and you can’t really go wrong.
- Eat Street Food, Seriously: We have talked about this before, but Thai street food is legendary. Hit up Thipsamai in Bangkok for the best Pad Thai of your life or grab mango sticky rice at a night market. Yum!
- Adventure for Cheap: Snorkeling, island hopping, and jungle treks? All incredibly affordable in Thailand. Just don’t get scammed into an overpriced tour. Always book through legit operators, in fact we have partners you can go through to book your excursions right here. You’re welcome!
Clearly, the White Lotus has given us a serious case of wanderlust, but you don’t need an HBO paycheck to experience these incredible destinations. With a little travel savvy info, some budget friendly hacks, and zero murder-y vibes, you can live out your luxury vacation dreams without unaliving your credit card. Because remember, the best trips are the ones where you leave your vacation in one piece.
So pack your best vacation outfits and take advantage of our flight deals that will have you living your own White Lotus fantasy in no time.
