Man on a mission

22 Jun 2016
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3 min read
From Russia with Love aboard the Orient-Express to the next James Bond installment in Austria’s Tyrol, 007 gets to experience his fair share of glamorous locations as he dances with danger. FOUR explores the world of Bond in FOUR Gentlemen’s edition…
SPECTRE (2015)

2015 luxury travel doesn’t get more gourmet-glam than Das Central in Austria. While the location has been a world-class ski destination for some time, it was the 2013 arrival of Das Central that really put the resort of Sölden on the map. Further still, this year sees the release of the latest James Bond film, SPECTRE, which is shot in this stunning snow-capped resort.

Released in November 2015, SPECTRE takes in the 3,000m-altitude scenery, while using Das Central and its impressive IceQ restaurant as the centre stage.Built on Gaislachkogl Peak, IceQ offers visitors gourmet Alpine cuisine in abreathtaking setting.With a striking glass façade, cleverly reflecting the Ötztal mountains, the view looking both to and out of the restaurant is incredible and now ranks among Tirol’s top architectural gems.

central-soelden.at

From Russia With Love (1963)

From Russia with Lovesees a thrilling cat and mouse chase between Bond and his SPECTRE nemesis aboard the Orient Express.

The iconic journey, which is still offered today byVince Simplon Orient-Express,takes passengers from Istanbul, Turkey, to Bucharest, Romania; Budapest, Hungary, ending in Venice, Italy. Alternatively, guests can start their journey in Paris, France, and continue onto Budapest, Bucharest and Istanbul, where ancient bazaars and stylish bars await.

This XX-mile journey is extra special in that only a privileged few have the opportunity to experience the classic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train journey just once a year. And the plush carriages are every bit as iconic as a Golden Age James Bond film.

Revisiting a vintage age of travel, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train ensures each cabin is provided with a dedicated steward. Each carriage typifies the finest in Art Deco design and offers one of the greatest romantic journeys of all time. Crisscrossing the continent is made all the more pleasurable thanks to the constant stream of gourmet dining experiences; such as breakfast in one’s own cabin while travelling through the Hungarian countryside or sipping on an aperitif before dinner as the train enters Romania.

The next available departure is 2 September 2016 with prices from £5780 per person.

belmond.com

GoldenEye (1995)

Golden Eye set the scene for one of Bond’s most glamorous locations: Casino Monte Carlo in Monaco. Having visited the casino before in Never Say Never Again, the site provides a grand meeting place for 007–played by Pierce Brosnan–to show off his gambling prowess in Golden Eye. Meeting one of the film’s stunning villains, Xenia Onatop, Bond employs his finest Baccarat skills and beats her, followed by a tense drink at the opulent bar.

Sitting on the Place du Casino in Monte-Carlo, the grand Belle Epoque building is home to the casino as well as the Grand Théâtre de Monte Carlo and the office of Les Ballets de Monte Carlo. Built in 1863, the building is visited by some of the most affluent people in the world with its driveway always filled with Ferraris Bentleys and Rolls-Royces. With photography strictly forbidden, the James Bond films give a glimpse of the ornate interior décor: opulent ceilings, antique furniture, paintings and sculptures. Doors open at 2pm and welcome players of European and American games. Traditionally dressed and highly experienced staff–from waiters to craftsmen, managers to doormen–ensures the uppermost quality of hospitality in every one of the casino’s 21 gaming rooms.

casinomontecarlo.com

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

In true Bond fashion, 00—played by Roger Moore—uses the Hotel Cala Di Volpe’s piano room as his bedroom in The Spy Who Loved Me. With the beautiful Anya Amasove, played by Barbara Bach, James Bond checks in under the name Sterling and takes “suite A5, a sitting room with two bedrooms”.

Hotel Cala Di Volpe is located in a spectacular corner of Sardinia and stretches along the Mediterranean coastline. Turquoise seas, private beaches and a marina, the luxury resort welcomes the rich and famous, along side their yachts and guests. Resembling a charming fishing village, the resort has 100 sea-view rooms and 21 suites all of which pay homage to Sardinia’s nature while remaining minimal and chic. The villas include large rooms, private swimming pools and terraces, gardens and the finest amenities and views where you can enjoy a Martini, shaken, not stirred.

caladivolpe.com

Octopussy (1983)

A stolen Faberge egg, a British secret agent’s death and a planned nuclear attack created all of the ingredients for one of James Bond’s most legendary tales, Octopussy.

The star of this iconic eighties Bond franchise was arguably its location: Udaipur, India. Filming took place at the Taj Lake Palace and Jagmandir Island Palace hotels, which are stand-ins for 007’s arch-nemesis’s floating palatial refuge.

With a history spanning hundreds of years, this is a resort that embodies the real classic romanticism of a Bond film.Each room and suite in the palace is designed to capture a different mood and period of its past. Mosaics, artifacts and other luxurious embellishments adorn the richly decorated interior and ornately carved furniture.

An island unto itself, rose petal showers, a Royal Butler, rooftop lounging and intimate brunches ensue, as staff at the Taj Lake Palace ensure every whim is tended to.

tajhotels.com