I went to the tropical paradise from The White Lotus and it was unforgettable

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

When I travelled to Thailand 15 years ago with a friend it was a holiday we both still look back on fondly. Cycling round rice paddies outside Bangkok, cookery lessons, night markets, temples, golden buddhas, spectacular sunsets, and snorkelling in the crystal clear waters round Koh Phangan were fabulous experiences.

And not forgetting the food! Could a return to the Land of Smiles - via the recently reintroduced British Airways direct route from Gatwick to Bangkok - live up to the memories?

My first destination for this return was Koh Samui, Koh Phangan's bigger sister. It's a popular destination for travellers and with season three of The White Lotus partly set on the island at the Four Seasons Hotel, its popularity is only likely to increase.

It's not hard to see why, with densely forested slopes leading down to white sandy beaches and azure seas with hotels nestling around private bays.