HBO’s The White Lotus has gripped the world by storm as viewers try to decipher the mystery lives of the guests and employees of the White Lotus resort chain. The series was supposed to be a six-part limited show, but it’s grown so popular that HBO greenlit a third season in November 2022.
The second season is expected to dominate the awards season, emulating the first season, which won ten awards at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards.
Given the series’ popularity, we wouldn’t dare give any spoilers about the happenings of season 2. However, we can show you how to feel part of the White Lotus community.
The White Lotus is not a real hotel, but the show is filmed at real Four Seasons hotels
The White Lotus resort chain in the show is entirely fictional. However, the showrunners film the series at Four Season hotels that you can visit.
They filmed season 1 at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea during the pandemic-enforced hotel closures. After closing for seven months, the resort’s owners reportedly accepted HBO’s proposal to film at the hotel without reading the script.
The showrunners faced unique challenges filming during the pandemic. Nevertheless, they created an outstanding show. The real-life resort’s general manager told Town and Country that calls to the hotel had multiplied exponentially due to the series:
“Nonstop, nonstop, nonstop. It’s taken on a life of its own. You could imagine the amount of calls we’ve gotten like, ‘Is that really—’ It’s like, No, far from it.”
Season 2 was filmed in Sicily’s San Domenico Palace, another Four Seasons Hotel. Filming at the Sicily resort was more straightforward than at the Maui hotel, thanks to the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions.
San Domenico Palace is a refurbished 14th-century convent on Sicily’s eastern coast. It has 111 rooms, three restaurants, and an infinity pool – it’s the ideal location for filming the fictional White Lotus resort.