Hiding in James Bond's hideout

BarcelonaIf I were rich, maybe I'd do that stupid thing. I'll tell myself that it's stupid, no need to tell me that. Anyway, I'll never be rich. The idea would be to spend a few nights in the house where James Bond was born. If you have money to spare, that doesn't seem like a bad idea. Ian Lancaster Fleming, the creator of James Bond, had money to spare. He came from a good family that owned properties all over the United Kingdom, he had studied at Eton, and he had served as an intelligence officer during World War II. At the time, the British trained their elites so well that they could be good spies: they spoke different languages, were extremely knowledgeable, and had surrounded everyone.

After the war, Fleming devoted himself to writing and in the 1950s created the character of James Bond. By then, he was spending half a year in London and half a year in the house he had bought on the north coast of Jamaica, near Ocho Rios. It was here that he created the character of Bond, inspired by the spy stories he had firsthand. One of the books he had in his Jamaican library was the widely considered best guide to Caribbean birds, written by American ornithologist James Bond. This inspired the spy's name. The ornithologist, who died in 1989, found his life changed, as everyone would joke about him after the success of the spy films.

The house where Fleming lived is now available for rent. It's been dubbed "The Fleming Villa" or "Golden Eye Villa," and it's beautiful. Renting this mansion with a private beach typically costs between €8,000 and €12,000. Fleming hosted the film crew of the first Bond film here: Agent 007 vs. Dr. No, by Terence Young, starring Sean Connery. That first film was shot in Jamaica, where part of the action takes place. At the beginning, for example, there's a chase through downtown Kingston, and an elegant British club that still exists in the capital, the Liguanea Club, appears.

Most of the film was shot on the north coast of Jamaica, between Ocho Rios and Saint Ann's Bay. The film crew slept at the Grand Lido Sans Souci Hotel in Ocho Rios, where bungalow scenes were filmed. It's an expensive place, because it's a luxurious place. But it's cheaper than Fleming's house. Luckily, you can find affordable places to sleep on Laughing Waters Beach, where the famous bikini scene with Ursula Andress was filmed, a scene that defined a generation. Right next door, a five-minute walk away, are Dunn's River Falls, which also appear in the film. It's a beautiful coastline where Britons still spend their holidays in luxury villas and fine hotels, as if Jamaica were still part of their empire. As if Agent 007 were still on the job.

Recommendation for traveling to Jamaica

Film: Agent 007 vs. Dr. No

Director: Terence Young

Year: 1962