Unpopular opinion: The White Lotus is overrated and I'll tell you why after visiting Thailand

I just got back from a two week trip to Koh Samui last month, and I finally watched The White Lotus on the plane. Everyone raves about it, but the show makes luxury resorts look way more dramatic than they really are. The staff at my hotel were professional and friendly, not scheming behind everyone's back. Has anyone else visited a place like that and found the show's take totally off?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor66821d ago

Wait, you watched The White Lotus on the plane? That's like the worst place to judge a show about luxury resorts! I mean, you're crammed in seat 34B with your knees hitting the tray table, and they're sipping cocktails on a beach in Maui. I went to the Four Seasons in Chiang Mai last year, and the vibe was exactly what you'd expect. Sure, the staff were super polite and professional, but there was definitely some behind-the-scenes drama. I overheard a concierge nearly crying because a guest yelled at her over a missing towel. The show's definitely exaggerated, but it's not totally off base.

sammoore13d ago

That's a really good point and I totally feel for that concierge. People forget that service workers are human beings with real emotions, not robots designed to absorb abuse over a towel. You're right that the show plays up the drama for TV, but the core idea that there's a weird tension between guests and staff is pretty true to life. I've seen that kind of thing happen in smaller hotels, not just fancy resorts. It's like the nicer the place, the more entitled some guests act, and the staff just have to take it with a smile. Thanks for sharing that story, it makes me see the show in a different light now.

iris_davis9021d ago

Watch it on mute and you'll notice the power dynamics are way more obvious than the dialogue.