| | Luxury, 'White Lotus' style | | by Brian Kelly | |  | This year has been a whirlwind from the start, with so many major life milestones overlapping. First, I welcomed my second son, Cooper, over the holidays, and then my first book was published in January, followed by a cross-country book tour and landing on The New York Times bestseller list — it’s been an absolute dream.
I decided to kick off spring with a monthlong vacation to reset, relax and spend more time with my two boys exploring a few places on my bucket list.
I might have had a little inspiration from Season Three of "The White Lotus." If you’re like me and want to experience amazing luxury resorts in exotic destinations, then steal my itinerary. It was truly magical, and there were specific things I enjoyed about each property that I’ll share below.
Abu Dhabi
I spent three days at Qasr Al Sarab by Anantara, and it was pure magic — I can't recommend it enough. A 2 1/2-hour drive south of Abu Dhabi is this castle-like resort, originally built by the royal family, rising out of the red-sand desert. The resort offers camel rides, falcon shows and a list of activities like dune bashing and desert safaris — or you can simply relax by the pool or with a treatment at the amazing spa.
Dubai
I spent a few amazing nights in Dubai before continuing on to Thailand. There are a handful of great points hotels in Dubai, but I chose to leverage my American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits.
The first two nights were at The Lana, a Dorchester Collection hotel with an amazing pool and incredible rooftop cocktail bar complete with stunning views of the Burj Khalifa.
Then, it was four nights at One&Only Zaabeel, which is another great escape in the heart of the city and home to the world’s first Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie.
Both hotels participate in the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program, so if you have an eligible card, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express, and book a two-night minimum stay through Amex Travel, you can use your up to $200 annual hotel statement credit and you'll get perks such as a $100 credit toward eligible charges, noon check-in (when available), a room upgrade at check-in (when available) and guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout.
Thailand
Phuket has a long list of amazing luxury resorts to choose from, and I was lucky enough to experience two, followed by a stay in Bangkok. While I didn’t stay at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui as TPG’s Nicky Kelvin did recently, I was fully able to experience "White Lotus" vibes at these resorts:
Andara Resort & Villas in Phuket is my favorite of the ones I visited — it’s in a great area next to the Hyatt Regency and definitely gives "White Lotus" vibes, but not at Four Seasons prices.
Trisara, a Mr & Mrs Smith property in Phuket, is kind of remote (although closer to the airport). The resort is pristine, and the villas are amazing, albeit more expensive than at Andara.
Bangkok has no shortage of luxury properties such as the Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, putting Capella Bangkok in good company. Capella Bangkok has a riverfront location that makes you feel like you're in the heart of Bangkok, plus a restaurant from one of the world's best chefs, Mauro Colagreco.
Seoul, South Korea
South Korea made our list of where to go in 2024, and it is an easy destination to travel to using points and miles. There are so many unique experiences you can have while in Seoul, and along with Japan and Washington, D.C., it’s a great place to see cherry blossoms as well.
This was my third trip to Seoul, and some of the highlights include seeing Coldplay live in concert — a religious experience that I highly recommend — and taking time to enjoy Korean skincare.
I had a microneedling skincare treatment at Individuel Geneve, which I highly recommend — a week out, I'm really loving the results.
I hope that my travels have inspired you to steal my itinerary and book an amazing getaway to some of these fabulous places to relax and rejuvenate.
Safe travels,
BK
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