By Francesca Peacock
The third series of Mike White’s tense whodunnit drama The White Lotus might be set in a fictional resort but it was filmed at the Four Seasons Koh Samui, a five-star hotel on Thailand’s second-largest island. On screen, Koh Samui is the backdrop to simmering family tension and looming disaster. The actual island couldn’t be more different in atmosphere: paradisiacal sandy beaches and laid-back relaxation, away from the party towns of the mainland.
Beyond the holiday scene, property in Thailand has seen an uptick in foreign interest in recent years. Towards the end of last year, Christie’s International Real Estate resumed operations there focusing on the “ultra-luxury and luxury” sectors, says Chinnatatt Sirichanachai, head of the company’s office in the country.
The market has its difficulties — freehold ownership is restricted to Thai nationals, or foreigners buying via Thai majority-owned companies — but has seen expansion beyond the capital of Bangkok and into the surrounding countryside and islands.
Koh Samui is one such area, with some seeking a lifestyle of sun, sea and sand while others invest in the rental market. One property on the market is this eight-bedroom villa overlooking Chaweng Bay. With a main house, a pool villa and a collection of outbuildings the property has the feel of its own self-contained luxury hotel. There’s a gym, a pétanque “piste” and a golf course, plus sea views across the 11,200 sq metre plot. On the market for 290mn Thai baht ($8.35mn), it is a sign of the country’s growing luxury lifestyle market.
Also on Koh Samui is a property that nods to The White Lotus’s emphasis on spirituality. This six-bedroom retreat (pictured above and main picture, top) — designed to be sympathetic to the surrounding landscape — is dotted with Buddha statues and a koi carp pond. The infinity pool looks out on to lush countryside and the horizon beyond. On sale for Bt281.718mn.
On Phuket — the country’s largest island — there’s a five-bedroom villa selling at Bt339.2mn designed by architects Philippe Starck and Jean-Michel Gathy. It sits on the private Cape Yamu peninsula nicknamed “Little Italy” for its quiet, luxury feel. The villa has a large pool, a spa, a sauna and views of the surrounding limestone islands — plus access to the marinas, beaches and coves.
Other hotspots for real estate are in the heart of Bangkok’s urban centre: from apartments designed by Porsche to luxury serviced flats with access to gardens, pools and even à la carte dining from Michelin-starred chefs.
Sirichanachai says potential investors in the country should be careful — opportunities can be delayed by smaller developers who lack capital. It’s a market that rewards those who do their due diligence.
Photography: Christie’s International Real Estate
