Monday, December 8, 2025
We boarded Scoot Airlines for the short flight to Koh Samui, Thailand — the setting for the most recent season of The White Lotus. Thailand has become an almost annual trip for us. Sophon visits family, and we usually tack on a destination or two to explore along the way.
The first surprise of the morning probably shouldn’t have been a surprise at all. We had booked what looked like a Singapore Airlines flight, but it turned out to be operated by Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines. While Singapore Airlines is part of Star Alliance, Scoot is not.
That meant the usual perks — frequent flyer miles, lounge access, and priority boarding — didn’t exist. The flight was less than two hours, so it wasn’t a big deal, but I had assumed I was buying a flight that was part of Star Alliance only to discover it was operated by an airline that isn’t part of the alliance. Situations like this always leave me feeling just a little misled.
When we landed in Koh Samui, the hotel had a car waiting for us. A short drive later, we arrived at the Sheraton Samui Resort. At check-in, the staff mentioned that my room had been upgraded. These days, I’m never quite sure what that actually means. The room looked exactly like what I had booked. That said, it was spacious, comfortable, and had everything we needed, so I wasn’t complaining.
The hotel itself sits on a steep hillside overlooking the ocean. When we first walked down to the pool and restaurant, I immediately wondered how quickly the daily climb back up the hill would get old. What if you made it all the way to the beach and realized you forgot something in the room?
Fortunately, the staff regularly shuttles guests back and forth between the rooms, pool, and beach. That small detail made the layout feel far less intimidating.
We had lunch at the restaurant overlooking the water and then spent some time wandering the property and getting our bearings. The pace of the trip was about to shift dramatically. Singapore had been all about sightseeing, crowds, and constant motion. Koh Samui was going to be something entirely different — slow mornings by the pool, walks along the beach, and hopefully a few hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
Recent Comments