The series is famous for many reasons, Bond's exotic locations being one of the big ones Source: The Courier-Mail
STILL going strong after fifty years, James Bond represents a glamourous, idealised alpha male character which appeals to people of all ages.
Perhaps it’s the fabulous cars, maybe it’s the gorgeous women or the adrenaline fuelled adventure, but while we can’t all be James Bond and obtain 00 agent status -- and upon reflection we can happily do without being shot at, tortured and poisoned -- one thing we can all agree on is the perks of his job. James Bond enjoys visiting some of the most beautiful and exotic destinations around the world.
Here is a small selection of locales we can all visit, to experience a flavour of the Bond lifestyle.
Bond Activities: Driving a speedboat down the Thames. Flying a helicopter across the city; helping the Queen parachute into the Olympic stadium.
What Bond list would be complete without including the home of MI6? While Bond may have to spend much of his time abroad, at one stage or another he has to return back to base. And there is plenty to keep him -- or us -- entertained while he recuperates from his latest mission. High-end tailors to craft the perfectly-fitted suit, myriad top end bars and restaurants where he can entertain the glamourous women he meets, and plenty of theaters and concert halls should the urge for some culture strike. Sometimes there really is no place like home.
Tower of London by drone: beautiful birds-eye view of UK capital. Image: Team BlackSheep Source: Supplied
No.9 Istanbul
Bond Activities: Partaking in a motorbike chase; visiting the Caragan Palace; wandering the spice markets and Hagia Sophia.
Another city which featured prominently in our top 29 list, Istanbul is a fusion of cultures, straddling the continents of Europe and Asia. As one of the most vibrant cities in the world, and originally settled as far back as 653 B.C., it is filled with history. The majestic Hagia Sophia is worth a visit all by itself, while Istanbul abounds with great food and other amazing sights. As a couple of added bonuses, Turkey remains relatively affordable, even when Her Majesty’s Secret Service aren’t picking up the tab, and it remains reasonably quiet of tourists through most of the year.
No.8 Prague
Bond Activities: Visit the library of Strahov monastery; listen to the Prague philharmonic playing music from the Bond films; visit the numerous museums and art galleries.
While this city may lack some of the gaudy glitz and glamour of some of the other destinations on this list, Prague offers a far more refined, understated elegance. With hundreds of years of history, beautiful architecture and historic sights are everywhere. It also plays host to music and film festivals, a famous Christmas market, and it is clear that Prague has plenty to offer secret agents and civilians alike. It’s also pretty significant for being the city in which Bond reached 007 status -- although we don’t recommend that you try doing that.
No.7 Lake Como
Bond Activities: Drive the mountain roads; take a boat out onto the lake; recuperate from being tortured.
It’s understandable why James Bond was sent to Lake Como to recover from his abuse in Casino Royale. The tranquil scenery was exactly the change of pace Bond would have needed after such an ordeal. While we hope that you wouldn’t be visiting under the same circumstances, a visit to Lake Como, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy, will undoubtedly have the same therapeutic effect. Beloved by stars ranging from Ronaldinho to Richard Branson, Madonna to Sly Stallone, Lake Como is a beautiful place to forget about the rest of the world, and just relax.
No.6 Macau
Bond Activities: Sky Jump; Sky Walk; visit the many casinos.
Macau is unlike the rest of China for several reasons. As a Portuguese colony for many years, it has a strong European influence. It is also the only part of China where casinos are legal, giving it a Vegas style quality which contrasts sharply with the colonial streets and buildings. This fusion of cultures gives Macau a strong sense of its own identity, and one which is unlikely to be found anywhere else. While Bond may spend more time in other parts of the world, he will have been as happy to discover Macau as anyone else who visits.
No.5 Glencoe
Bond Activities: Mountain climbing; mountain biking; drinking Scotch by a log fire; visiting his ancestral home.
While Glencoe may have been the home of Bond’s father, there are plenty of other reasons to visit this spectacular part of Scotland. Not least are the climbing challenges -- including rock climbing or ice climbing. Mountain biking, a wide selection of water-sports, or perhaps even a spot of fishing, followed up by sitting in a cozy shack somewhere and warming yourself by a fire, sipping one of a myriad of fine whiskies, and enjoying locally sourced delicacies like grouse, venison and salmon, offer even more reasons to see why Bond’s family decided to settle in this beautiful spot.
No.4 The Bahamas
Bond Activities: Swimming in the ocean; playing cards at the One and Only Ocean Club casino; scuba diving.
The Bahamas are another of Bond’s favoured places, partly because they seem to appeal to numerous super-villains who moor their multi-million dollar megayachts among the islands. But even more so because of the incredible weather, the unspoiiled beaches, the warm seas, and the inevitable assortment of beautiful women. The high quality hotels, some complete with their own casinos, offer yet another reason -- as if you needed any others -- to visit this little piece of paradise. So even if you're not up for chasing bad guys, there are still plenty of reasons for a trip here.
At half the cost of the ritzy resorts, family run hotel Shannas Cove Resort in Cat Island, the Bahamas beats them all hands down on service and quality as voted by travellers on Trip Advisor. Picture: Bahamas.net Source: No Source
No.3 Montenegro
Bond Activities: Play high stakes poker; skiing or snowboarding; tracking wolves or bears.
While Montenegro is still a young country, it has already established itself as a key part of the Bond mythology, playing a central role as the home of the Casino Royale. And it's not hard to see why a group of multimillionaires might fancy spending time there. With stunning mountains, an Adriatic coastline, 240 days of sunshine and its fair share of old castles, Montenegro is a country well worth checking out. Developing into a destination of choice among the rich and the famous, it might be worth visiting before it becomes too much of a tourist hotspot.
No.2 Venice
Bond Activities: Visit the Palazzo Pisani; take a gondola down the canals; don a mask and disappear in the Carnevale; enjoy an aperitivo in a bar with a view.
Bond clearly enjoys Venice, reacquainting himself with its famous canals on numerous occasions over the years. Beautiful, romantic and utterly unique, it is a city with much to see and do. If taking a gondola tour doesn’t do it for you, then a trip to the world famous St. Mark’s Square will give you plenty of opportunity to people watch. Along with the art galleries and the classical music concerts, there are also plenty of great places to eat and drink. If you go at the right time of year, there is the opportunity to immerse yourself fully in the carnival.
The ship allows guests to sail into Venice, Italy Picture: Brad Crouch Source: National Features
No.1 Shanghai
Bond Activities: Driving his Aston on the Grand Prix circuit; drinking at one of the many cocktail bars in Lujiazui; BASE jumping from the Jing Mao building.
Bond obviously read the Top 29 cities to visit in 2012 list, compiled earlier in the year by AskMen. Shanghai is an ideal city for a secret agent to visit. Bustling, glamorous, exotic and filled with excitement, the neon-lit skyscrapers provide the perfect backdrop to sip a Vesper martini. The Formula 1 racetrack would offer the ideal location to see what his latest Aston Martin is capable of, while the rest of us might just want to drive a road car down the Yan’an highway with its electric blue lights. All while carefully observing road traffic regulations, of course.
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