The perfect counterpoint to our week in bustling Bangkok was a languorous spell by the beach. Forty-five minutes away by air, Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand makes a wonderfully sybaritic finish to a Southeast Asia itinerary. Plus, I was curious to find out what things were like these days on the small island, now that it’s become well known as the filming location for the third season of “The White Lotus,” the popular HBO series that follows the flawed but fabulous as they try to unwind, hide out or seek revenge in paradise.

Koh Samui has no shortage of luxury hotels scattered around its coast. Guests often let Thailand come to them at their resorts — relaxation is the order of the day, after all. Those who wish to venture out can visit temples and street markets or cruise to Ang Thong National Marine Park for hiking and snorkeling.

I wanted to know if the island’s poshest properties measured up to their depictions onscreen, and I started with the most famous.