How Does HBO's White Lotus Translate For Health + Wellness Travelers?
Is Going Off-Grid Really Necessary For The Greater Good?
If you’re like me, you definitely watched last night’s Season 3 debut of HBO’s “White Lotus” because you knew there would be thousands of essays (like this one!) that would probably going to give away too much information. But, I promise you, I won’t give any spoilers
If did indulge in the show, you obviously noticed right away there were new characters introduced, the majority of the newly check-in guests are part of the Ratliff family. Right away, when the staff members of White Lotus informed the group that the resort is “mostly” off-grid, you heard complaints from son Saxon, played by Patrick Schwarzenegger (yep that’s Arnold & Maria Shriver’s son) and followed swiftly by Timothy, his father, played by Jason Isaacs. The attendant assigned to the family was shooed away when the family was asked for their phones and told wi-fi was only available in common areas.
Having traveled to the location of the show, which is Koh Samui, Thailand, I would bet their tourism is up after the show starts to air…and rightly so. This gorgeous island is Thailand’s second largest, after Phuket, and is probably one of your laptops built-in screensavers. It lies in the Gulf of Thailand and is one of the prettiest places I’ve probably ever seen. While White Lotus was shot mostly at the Four Seasons, I stayed the Outrigger Koh Samui prior to their renovation in 2022. When I stayed at the Outrigger, it was an adults-only resort and I was lucky to have a private villa with a private pool. It seems now the hotel is more family-friendly with rooms and suites, having done away with the individual villas that appealed to couples and friend’s getaways. While in Koh Samui, I took Muay Thai classes, cooking classes, it was so much that kept me off-grid and not looking at my phone, that I absolutely loved the experience.
In locations like Koh Samui, the point of health and wellness retreats like the fictitious “White Lotus”, is to take away the ties that bind and I actually have been in a similar situation. On Turtle Island, located in Fiji, there is only room for 28 guests in 14 bures (villas…but with a grass roof). Immediately upon arrival, I had to find the common area to post on IG that I’d arrived with my new husband and that we were in newly wedded bliss. And looking back…why did I feel the need to do that? Why do so many of us feel like when we’re isolated that we must be connected to feel valued? The way I learned quickly to disconnect was an associate responded to my honeymoon pics on Facebook by stating that in so many words, “Please be mindful of how you post because there are people suffering right now due to an earthquake in Chile…I’m not sure if you’re aware. But, enjoy your honeymoon.” That statement woke me RIGHT UP, but not for the reason you may think! Here I am thinking I’m sharing this beautiful moment in a gorgeous location with the love of my life with people who obviously wish us well, right? But, instead, I was feeding people who wanted to rain doubt and unhealthy thoughts on my moment. That’s a good reason to detach when you’re at a wellness retreat. Everyone doesn’t want to see you happy and everyone isn’t happy for you.
When we travel, it’s our responsibility to protect our mental health at all costs. Of course, there are unavoidable headaches that go along with travel. It can start at the airport with mishandling of your luggage, it can follow you to the front desk at the resort, hotel, or wherever you stay with issues with accommodations. But, you have to control what you can control and if you are not at work, I truly believe in not working to fuel other people’s madness and injecting it into your veins. Post here and there , if you must. But, I’d advise to post your pics after your vacation for not only mental health, but also safety.
Be Blessed & Blossom,
Shea