The World is Not Enough: How to Travel Like James Bond
Photo by Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images. Design by Erik Mace for Yahoo Travel.
We all know about James Bond’s license to kill, but what’s really impressive is his frequent-flyer account. Over five decades and 24 films (the latest of which, “Spectre,” opens in the U.S. on November 6), James Bond has become perhaps the most well-traveled movie character ever. He’s enjoyed his bespoke tuxedos, fast cars, dangerous stunts, and shaken martinis in some of the most glamorous destinations in the world. “Spectre” is no exception; Bond’s current adventure takes him to such far-flung locations as Mexico City, Rome and Austria.
Want to travel like Bond — minus, hopefully, the wanton property destruction and violence? In honor of 007’s new film, we’re looking at exotic destinations (seven, of course) Bond has visited, sometimes more than once, over the years. Perhaps it can inspire your next secret mission, or well-earned vacation.
Venice, Italy
Roger Moore riding around Venice in 1979′s Moonraker. (Photo: United Artists/The Everett Collection)
Venice is one of Bond’s favorite go-to destinations. Dating back to 007’s second film adventure,1963’s “From Russia with Love,” and as recently as 2006’s “Casino Royale,” Bond has explored the cobbled streets and winding lagoons of the “City of Water.”
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Even when Bond’s adventures here veer toward the silly — as they did in 1979’s “Moonraker” when he outran assassins on an amphibious gondola — the beauty of a city that has drawn travelers for centuries remains front and center whenever Bond drops by.
Costa Smeralda, Sardinia
Enjoy amazing views of the Sardinian coast and Bond-approved accommodations at the luxe Hotel Cala di Volpe. (Photo: Hotel Cala di Volpe)
Costa Smeralda on the northern coast of Sardinia is rising back into prominence as a Mediterranean destination known for turquoise sea and white sands. But it’s also the place where 007 foiled evil plans in 1977’s “The Spy Who Loved Me."
Now, travelers can enjoy a view of the bay and a glass of champagne in the Hotel Cala Di Volpe, where Bond stayed in the film. Even if your rental car doesn’t shoot missiles or turn into a submarine, you can drive the same roads where Bond and his trusty Lotus Esprit S1 escaped the bad guys during that film’s classic car chase.
Paris
Roger Moore as Bond in the epic chase through the Eiffel Tower. (Photo: Nancy Moran/Sygma/Corbis)
Bond’s travels in Paris during 1985’s "A View to Kill” end relatively quickly after an assassination at the Eiffel Tower (and an aborted car chase in half a Renault). And yet, it’s hard to resist the draw of the French capital and all of the glamour it has retained through the centuries. It’s still possible to enjoy dinner with a view of the City of Lights at 58 Tour Eiffel — though unless you have MI6 clearance and a perfect suit, you’ll probably need a reservation.
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Hit the casinos or just enjoy the views at this iconic Mediterranean destination. (Photo: iStock)
James Bond doesn’t spend long in Monte Carlo while learning of yet another criminal plot in 1995’s “GoldenEye.” But from the expansive first views of the city we get during yet another Bond car chase, to the classy casino floors where 007 meets the venomous (and suggestively named) lady villain Xenia Onatopp, it’s hard to resist the siren call of this small Mediterranean nation.
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Macau, China
Don your finest tux, sip martinis, and utilize your best poker face in Macau. (Photo: iStock)
Most Bond fans will recognize Macau from the luminous scene in 2012’s “Skyfall” where a tuxedo-clad 007 arrives at the casino aboard a boat with floating lanterns. But that wasn’t Bond’s first visit to the Las Vegas of Asia. In 1974’s “The Man with the Golden Gun,” Bond foregoes collecting chips in favor of golden bullets, and sells this city of casinos as yet another destination where superspy wannabes can experience the luxurious travel life of 007.
Las Vegas
Sean Connery as Bond hits the craps table in Vegas in Diamonds are Forever. (Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc./The Everett Collection)
Considering Bond’s legendary vices — gambling, alcohol, womanizing, etc. — you’d think he’d love a place nicknamed “Sin City.” But he’s only visited Las Vegas once: in 1971’s “Diamonds Are Forever.” On the trail of diamond smugglers, Bond works his way through the extravagant casino floors to the desolate beauty of the Las Vegas Valley. Of course, he also manages to subject the Las Vegas strip to another of his patented car chases.
Related: The Secret Vegas Hotel Rooms You Didn’t Know Existed
Tangier, Morocco
Beautiful Tangier has been rising in popularity and we’re sure it will be even more so after a visit from Bond. (Photo: Neil Farrin/JAI/Corbis)
Tangier is a rising destination for those looking for a slightly unconventional spot. After confronting Soviet villains here in 1987’s “The Living Daylights,” Bond appears to be making a return visit. Film crews for the upcoming “Spectre” were spotted filming in Tangier. Knowing the luxurious way Bond travels even in the most dangerous situations, Tangier’s appearance in “Spectre” may entice vacation-minded Bond fans to add it to their next itinerary.
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