The insider's guide to doing Koh Samui like The White Lotus (minus the hefty price tag).

If you ignore the murder and the rampant classism, The White Lotus is the ultimate aspirational TV show.

How good would it be to be poolside at that iconic resort right now, cocktail in hand, a wide-brimmed hat on your head and a paperback beside you?

Each time a new season of the opulent HBO drama has hit our screens, the FOMO has been too much to handle. And with season three in full swing, travellers can't get the thought of a Thai island holiday out of their minds. 

Watch The White Lotus Season 3 trailer here. Post continues after video.

Specifically, a trip to the tropical island of Koh Samui, where the majority of The White Lotus' scenes were filmed. 

According to The Bangkok Post, there has been an 88 per cent increase in internet searches for Koh Samui and an over 40 per cent increase in accommodation bookings.

And though most of us don't quite have the same generous budget as the guests of the fictitious White Lotus, thankfully Thailand is a notoriously low-cost travel destination.

Here are some spots we've picked out in Koh Samui where you can live the champagne lifestyle on a house wine budget. And just for good measure, some of our favourite luxe resorts to add to our vision board for the future.

The White Lotus hotels in Thailand on a budget.

The great thing about Koh Samui — like the rest of Thailand — is that your money will go a long way. Even if you're travelling on a limited budget, you won't have to forgo beachfront accommodation or sunset cocktails with a view. 

LOVE Beach Club is an obvious first choice of accommodation for travellers who want to stay in the thick of things on the island. Located right in the busy tourist area of Chaweng, it's a beachfront hotel with a swimming pool, bright decor, and an on-site bar… and is just $100 a night.

LOVE Beach Club, Koh Samui. Image: Booking.com.

If you're happy with more bare-bones accommodation (let's face it, you'll barely be in the room anyway), a studio at Chaweng Residences will set you back $57 a night for two people. It's basic but it's clean, and just 350 metres from the beach.

Want to get away from the busy tourist areas? Lamai Beach is a perfect spot if you're after a laid-back holiday –– here you'll find beach resorts and chill nightlife options.

For accommodation, the Lamai Buri Resort has the most important part of any White Lotus-style holiday: a pool bar. Rooms start at $170 nightly. 

Mid-range luxury hotels on Koh Samui.

If you've saved up enough cash to live large on your holiday, but aren't quite at the stage of life where you can drop thousands a night on a hotel room, there are plenty of bougie-but-not-budget-busting options on Koh Samui.

Nothing screams luxury like a private pool with beach views, and that's exactly what you'll get at White Whale Villa for just $630 a night. There are only 10 rooms so you're guaranteed a quiet and peaceful stay –– hopefully there are no Jennifer Coolidge-esque guests like at the White Lotus!

White Whale Villa, Koh Samui. Image: Booking.com.

Meanwhile, the Marasca is a classic beachfront resort in the trendy area of Chaweng, perfect for travellers who love lazing by the pool but don't want to miss out on any of the action. Opt for a private villa with a plunge pool and order a floating breakfast to get the full five-star experience.

Heading inland, the Tropical Season Villa Resort is surrounded by lush gardens and swaying palm trees, though is close enough to the beach that you're still greeted with a refreshing sea breeze. Every villa has its own private pool, and is less than $400 a night, so you can really pretend you're on a million-dollar vacation without breaking the bank. 

The best luxury hotels on Koh Samui.

Ready to splash some serious cash? You can't beat the Six Senses resort on Koh Samui, located on the island's quiet northern coastline. The private clifftop villas offer breathtaking ocean views, where you can soak up the vibes from your private infinity pool while sipping on a cocktail brought to you by your private butler. Focused on sustainability and personalised service, a night at Six Senses starts at $800 and goes up to a few thousand for the largest villas. 

Cape Fahn is another luxury option for those seeking a true White Lotus experience. Set on its own private island just off the coast of Koh Samui, this resort is exactly how you'd picture your dream vacation: private pools, striped loungers, and views through swaying palm trees to the sparkling Andaman Sea. Of course, it's not cheap –– expect to drop over a thousand dollars a night. 

Six Senses Samui. Image: Six Senses.

Where was The White Lotus season 3 filmed?

The White Lotus may be a fictional hotel, but season three of the HBO series was filmed on location at the Four Seasons Koh Samui. The sprawling resort offers guests a choice of 60 standalone teak villas set into the tropical hillside, each with a private pool and breathtaking ocean views. 

The resort was built on an old coconut orchard, which explains why it looks like a true tropical paradise. All 856 of the original trees were kept intact and the hotel was built around them, retaining the natural beauty. 

If you've got a keen eye, you may notice that some scenes were filmed elsewhere, though. Anantara Mai Khao in Phuket was the backdrop for the White Lotus spa, while dinner scenes were filmed at Rosewood Phuket's Ta Khai.

The first two seasons of The White Lotus were both filmed at Four Seasons hotels as well, the first in Maui, Hawaii, and the second in Sicily. Following the show, both locations saw a huge boost in traveller numbers, with Expedia reporting that searches for Hawaii and Sicily each spiked 300 per cent.

Which hotel would you stay at? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature image: Instagram/@whitewhalebeachfrontpoolvilla @marasca.samui