24/07/2026
Hi friends: I have asked AI to compare the vibes of the exclusive membership hipes around the world. Here is the result which I can confirm by recent experiences:
Everyone's raving about Soho Farmhouse or Equinox right now — the padel courts, the ice baths, the £450-a-night "rustic" cabins. And yeah, Sohohouse and Equinox are gorgeous. The Cotswolds countryside is stunning, the food is incredible, and there's something weirdly satisfying about cycling around on those little green bikes pretending you're in a countryside movie.
But here's the thing...
Last month I spent two weeks on Koh Mak, and I'm genuinely struggling to understand why anyone would drop £3,000 on a long weekend in Oxfordshire when you could have this instead.
At Soho Farmhouse, you kayak on a lake. Nice. On Koh Mak? You kayak around an actual island in water so clear you can see the fish from above.
At Soho Farmhouse, you do a spin class in a fancy gym. Cool. On Koh Mak? You snorkel with sea turtles, then cycle through coconut groves to a beach where you're literally the only person there. No booking required. No membership. No "sorry, the spa is fully booked."
At Soho Farmhouse, you pay £18 for a cocktail. On Koh Mak? You pay £2 for a fresh coconut, sit in a hammock, and watch the sun melt into the Gulf of Thailand while a local dog becomes your best friend.
Don't get me wrong — I love a bit of luxury. But there's something about Koh Mak that just hits different . The island is tiny, barely developed, part of a marine national park. No jet skis ruining the peace, no full moon parties, no chaos. Just empty beaches, jungle trails, Muay Thai sessions at sunrise, beach volleyball with whoever's around, and the kind of slow, easy living that actually resets your brain.
Soho Farmhouse is a beautiful bubble. Koh Mak is the real thing.
So yeah, if you want curated countryside with a side of "did you see my Instagram story?", Oxfordshire has you covered.
But if you want to feel alive again? Come to Koh Mak.
Your future self — the one with the snorkel tan and the £1,500 still in their bank account — will thank you.
