From the car chases and the villains to the Bond girls and the gadgets, James Bond is synonymous worldwide with great British cinema. However, at Winged Boots we also like to believe that Ian Fleming’s famous secret agent is also the original jetsetter. From Europe to South America, bustling cities to rainforests, 007’s passport has certainly been through years of abuse – we’re not even going to attempt to work out the airmiles he must have racked up! Fancy following in the footsteps of one of London’s greatest fictional gentlemen? (we apologise Sherlock fans). Here are some of the famous worldwide landmarks and hotels that Bond has visited from the franchise’s film catalogue and how you can visit on your next holiday. Just give our personal travel managers a call on 0203 816 0985 and let them devise your mission…
Phang Nga Bay, Thailand
Made famous in Man With The Golden Gun (1974) starring Roger Moore as 007, Phang Nga Bay is one of Phuket’s most popular day tours for visitors. In the film, James Bond is seen flying a seaplane to Scaramanga’s island hideaway – Phang Nga Bay – where he is forced into a tense duel with the villain who is aided by his diminutive assistant Nick Nack. Known locally as ‘James Bond Island’ the area consists of dramatic limestone cliffs that stand proud above sea level. One for the Instagram feed, the bay personifies a typical Thai landscape and is one of the most advertised excursions in Phuket. Multiple excursions are available including private tours by longtail boat with a local guide or group experiences that combine other nearby attractions including cave tours, visits to the floating fishing village and canoeing through the nearby mangrove forests.
WHERE TO STAY:
If you’d like to see this iconic piece of James Bond cinema in the flesh, we recommend you stay in one of Thailand’s most popular resorts, Phuket. Here you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to luxury hotels. From staying in a treehouse in the middle of the jungle at Keemala to residing on a private island at The Naka Island, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, variety is certainly on the cards here. Click here to view our extensive collection of Phuket hotels and click here to read our exclusive review of Kata Rocks.
Furka Pass, Switzerland
Do you remember the famous car chase in Goldfinger (1964) where Bond, in an Aston DB5, gets caught in a cat-and-mouse driving challenge with Tilly Masterson who’s driving a Ford Mustang? The Furka Pass in Switzerland has been immortalised through this scene and is now one of the most iconic driving routes in the Swiss Alps. As one of the highest mountain roads – boasting an elevation of 7,969ft – a drive along the Furka Pass offers unparalleled views of the valley below. Don’t fancy the steep drive? You can still enjoy this glorious road and its beautiful landscape by steam train, a travel experience in itself.
WHERE TO STAY:
Just half an hours’ drive from the Furka Pass is The Chedi Andermatt which offers a stunning valley setting, an impressive design and incredible facilities. Here you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation and gourmet options – there’s seven food and beverage establishments! Oh, and an ice rink, a serene spa, top-notch salon and a state-of-the-art health club. What more could you possibly need? Perhaps a nearby golf course? Well, you’re in luck as Andermatt Swiss Alps Golf Course is just a five-minute drive away. Click here to discover more on The Chedi Andermatt and our other Switzerland hotels.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Since its opening in 1912, the Sugarloaf Mountain cable car in Rio de Janeiro has received more than 37 million visitors… and we bet that post-1979, a large percentage of its riders were James Bond fans. Why? Because this is where the famous cable car scene in Moonraker (1979), between Bond (Roger Moore) and metal-mouthed villain Jaws, takes place. Connecting Praia Vermelha (Red Beach) with UNESCO World Heritage Site Sugarloaf Mountain, the cable car ride to the summit offers uninterrupted 360-degree views of the bay and famed city of Rio. It's one of Brazil's top tourist destinations, located at the mouth of Guanabara Bay and rises 396-metres above the harbour. The reason for the name? Blocks of sugar were shipped from here worldwide during the 16th-century and the name stuck. All-in-all it's a real sight for sore eyes, and is one that no 007-fan wants tp miss out on.
WHERE TO STAY:
Rio is home to a variety of five-star hotels that offer excellent rooftop bars, inviting infinity pools, private beaches, stunning views, calming spas and other enticing facilities that’ll make you never want to leave. Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro is the A-list’s stay of choice, narrowly stealing the crown from Belmond Copacabana Palace – Rio’s most famed hotel which has been reigning supreme in Copacabana for almost a century. Rio de Janeiro has attracted a range of worldwide hotel brands including Hilton, Grand Hyatt, Sheraton, and of course Belmond as well as a plethora of individual and boutique hotels that are sure to rank highly in your holiday hall of fame. To discover more on our Rio de Janeiro accommodation options, call our expert team of personal travel managers on 0203 816 0985.
Jamaica
It’s no secret that Jamaica has a deep-rooted link to Bond through creator Ian Fleming’s love affair with the island. He even built a home and lived on the island, writing the majority of his 007 novels from his idyllic oasis, which has since been turned into a five-star hotel aptly named GoldenEye. Jamaica is also the main setting for three of the original novels, and earlier films, Dr No (1962), Live and Let Die (1973) and The Man With The Golden Gun (1974) Jamaica and Bond go hand in hand. The North Coast especially is peppered with landmarks from the 007 novels including possibly one of the most famed Bond scenes to date. Just 20-minutes boat ride from Goldeneye you’ll find Laughing Waters beach which was where Ursula Andress (Honey Ryder), the original Bond girl, emerged from the waters in the very first Bond movie, Dr No (1962). Not far from here is Dunn’s River Falls, the spot where Connery and Andress enjoyed a waterfall swim in the same film – something that hundreds of tourists have enjoyed every day since.
WHERE TO STAY:
Fleming’s tie with Jamaica has been immortalised with his home GoldenEye being converted into a five-star hotel. Comprising one, two and three-bedroom villas, cottages and beach huts the private accommodation options offer unparalleled views of the Caribbean Sea and stunning Jamaican landscape while providing a secluded oasis for guests to kick-back and relax in utter privacy. To discover more about GoldenEye, click here.
Scotland
One of the more recent 007 cinema blockbusters, Skyfall (2012) sees Bond return to his family estate in Glencoe, a village in the Scottish Highlands. It is rumoured that Fleming gave Bond a Scottish heritage after he was apparently so impressed with Sean Connery’s portrayal of 007 in Dr No. Since, James Bond’s link to Scotland has been cemented with multiple scenes set in the picturesque country. Plus, Bond is also said to have gone to his father’s school Fettes College in Edinburgh after a brief spell at Eton College. Another strong link between Bond and Scotland is in The World Is Not Enough (1999) where the 13th-century Eilean Donan Castle was used as the MI6 headquarters. It was here that Q famously presented an array of gadgets to Bond including bagpipes that doubled as a machine gun.
WHERE TO STAY:
For an authentic Scottish hotel, look no further than Gleneagles. Boasting three championship golf courses, an award-winning spa, and the only restaurant in Scotland to have two Michelin stars under its belt, you’re in for a deluxe stay here. Family friendly and in the heart of the Scottish countryside, whether you choose a cosy winter escape or a bright and cheerful summer break, Gleneagles is sure to deliver. However, with so many ties to Scotland’s Highlands, the best way to see all of the areas featured in James Bond’s cinema catalogue is to give one of our personal travel managers a call today to organise a bespoke road trip. To submit an enquiry, please click here.
Himeji Castle, Japan
UNESCO World Heritage site Himeji Castle is a popular tourist destination for both international and domestic visitors, however a great proportion of these guests will fondly know the landmark as Tiger Tanaka’s ninja training school in You Only Live Twice (1967). Played by Connery, Bond flies to the ‘White Heron Castle’ by helicopter to see Tanaka, where he trains to become a ninja in order to infiltrate SPECTRE’s island.
WHERE TO STAY:
Similar to Scotland, Japan has other links to Bond including the filming location of Kyushu’s island lair in Skyfall (2012) which is just off the coast of Nagasaki. Or head to Tokyo where you can also visit the National Sumo Stadium Ryogoku Kokugikan and the fictional Osato Chemicals and Engineering headquarters which is in fact the New Otaki Hotel, both of which also featured in You Only Live Twice. Therefore, it is advised that when visiting Japan, you make the most of your trip and travel around the country. To organise your Japanese getaway, call one of our expert travel managers on 0203 8160985 or click here to view some of our recommended hotels.
BAHAMAS
Fictional James Bond clearly likes the Caribbean with the Bahamas estimated to be his second favourite travel destination, with Jamaica nipping the top spot. The fourth Bond film Thunderball was shot in the Bahamas in 1965 as well as its unofficial remake Never Say Never Again in 1983. However, its one of the later films, Casino Royale (2006) that has the island back on fan’s radar.
WHERE TO STAY:
Providing the setting for at least 50% of Casino Royale, The Ocean Club in Bahamas, Caribbean is where Bond (played by Daniel Craig) stays while trying to beat Le Chiffre at a high-stakes poker game. Located on Paradise Island, the resort is situated directly on the beach with stunning views across the Atlantic Ocean. With three restaurants alongside a Martini Bar and Lounge, no stay is complete without a nightcap… shaken, not stirred, of course. Discover more on our Bahamas hotels by clicking here.
SWEDEN
Potentially one of the most exciting car chases in Pierce Brosnan’s seven-year stint as Bond, the ice driving scene across a frozen lake in Die Another Day (2002) which put Jaguar against Aston Martin had us on the edge of our seat. And now, you can be on the edge of your seat again, but this time behind the wheel of a supercar. Located in Swedish Lapland, you can experience ice driving on replica Formula 1 tracks, created annually on the frozen Lake Uddjaur.
Click here to read our exclusive interview with Lapland Ice Driving founder Eric Gallardo
WHERE TO STAY
While in Sweden, we also recommend Bond fans stay at the Icehotel. Not the same as the Ice Palace in the film – that was apparently made from polystyrene – the hotel is completely constructed from ice harvested from the Torne River on which the structure stands. What’s more, the hotel melts back into the river every year, before being reconstructed for the following winter season, meaning no two stays will ever be the same. View our Sweden hotels here.
VENICE, ITALY
Back to Daniel Craig in Casino Royale (2006) and the heart-breaking moment when Vesper gives up her life to save our favourite double-O. Located in one of Venice’s scenic canals, not far from Piazza San Marco, you too can discover the Italian city’s famed waterways.
WHERE TO STAY
Our top hotel pick is Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel, Venice, where Bond famously moored his yacht with the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant and famous terrace also getting acting credits. The movie’s stars and crew stayed in the resort during filming, with Daniel Craig and co-star Eva Green sharing drinks in the bar when the cameras stopped rolling where Craig, according to the head barman, was rumoured to swap his character’s signature vodka martini for a bellini.
Other popular parts of the world which feature heavily in the James Bond filmography franchise include Istanbul, Lake Como and - of course - London. If you want to travel the world like the fictional British Secret Service agent, Winged Boots has the tools to ensure your mission goes without a hitch. To discover more on our worldwide hotels, call our expert team of personal travel managers today on 0203 816 0985 or click here to submit an online enquiry.
Piz Gloria Revolving Restaurant, Switzerland
Now operating as a restaurant it’s ideal for those after unparalleled views across Switzerland, and of course for fans of the Bond franchise. What’s more the dining destination completes a 360° rotation every 55-minutes and is also home to a museum of all things 007 named ‘Bond World’. Couple this with the dramatic snow-capped views and the family-friendly menu and we can’t think of any reason why you wouldn’t want to visit this fine piece of Bond history. To organise your trip to Switzerland, call our team of expert personal travel managers on 0203 8160895 or click here to view our Swiss hotels.
Now operating as a restaurant it’s ideal for those after unparalleled views across Switzerland, and of course for fans of the Bond franchise. What’s more the dining destination completes a 360° rotation every 55-minutes and is also home to a museum of all things 007 named ‘Bond World’. Couple this with the dramatic snow-capped views and the family-friendly menu and we can’t think of any reason why you wouldn’t want to visit this fine piece of Bond history. To organise your trip to Switzerland, call our team of expert personal travel managers on 0203 8160895 or click here to view our Swiss hotels.
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