Most of the time we cringe at the thought of movie sequels (Godfather 3… ’nuff said), but for some reason we never tire of the impossibly cool and put together James Bond. ‘Skyfall’, the 23rd installment in the Bond franchise hits U.S. theaters today with near unanimous rave reviews, thanks in part to a ridiculously great cast (Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, etc.) and an Oscar winning Director who seems to have done a great job at breathing new life into the series.
If I had to take a guess at what has made James Bond an enduring figure for over 50 years, I’d say that he’s remained relevant and iconic because he’s the projection of what most people want to be…super cool and always confident. He’s constantly dressed to impress, drives the coolest cars and for us tech geeks – seems to have the gadgets and gizmos that would make folks at Google and Apple sweat in their sleep.
With that said, the appeal of James Bond goes beyond the fact that he’s cooler than the Dos Equis guy; I think it’s also that the movies do a fantastic job of taking Bond (and the viewer) to exotic and beautiful countries – giving us a glimpse at other cultures and locales. The folks over at “Bond Lifestyle” do a great job of chronicling some of the most beautiful homes Bond has stayed at throughout his extensive travels. While Bond never technically lived in these homes, they’re certainly worthy of a “Bond slept here” sign out front. Here are a few of our favorites:
Ian Fleming wrote 14 of his 007 novels from this home in Jamaica. He loved the “blazing sunshine, natural beauty and the most healthy life.” The home itself is more like a spa; it features garden baths and showers, swimming pools, a sunken garden and panoramic views of crystal blue water.
- Where a lot of the 007 magic happened
The Grandhotel Pupp is an extremely large luxury hotel located in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. Its design is celebrated for it’s quintessential old European flare. The hotel doubles for “Hotel Splendide” in Montenegro in the 2006 hit, ‘Casino Royale’
From ‘Casino Royale’
Featured in the 1985 Bond movie, “A View to Kill”, Chateau de Chantilly is located just north of Paris and is known as the palatial estate of the evil Max Zorin (played by Christopher Walken). It’s located right near the “Living Museum of the Horse” and reportedly has one of the most beautiful stables in the world.
From ‘A View to Kill’
Villa del Balbianello, Lenno, Como, Italy
Located next to Lake Como, Italy, this Villa was featured in ‘Casino Royale’ as the hospital where James Bond took time to recover from his wounds and received some top secret codes. This historic estate was originally built for Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini at the end of the 18th century. If you’re into Star Wars, you might recognize this Italian haven from Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones.
From ‘Casino Royale’
If these photos have given you the travel bug, you can see some of the other truly luxurious James Bond destinations by visiting “Bond Lifestyle” here.
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