St. Regis Hotel

CmdrAtticus

I know the novels are escapist and Fleming embellished a lot on certain subjects, but I always wondered about Bond's reception and choice of his hotel in the novel LALD.

No matter how one reads it (and Fleming clearly states it), Bond is given a "red carpet" reception by the FBI and the police when he arrives in New York. They give him a pass through customs and put him up in the St. Regis Hotel - one of the top quality hotels in Manhatten. He is placed not just in one of their standard rooms (though even their standard rooms are like suites compared to lesser hotels) but in one of their deluxe suites complete with a foyer and sitting room.

Now I'm certain Fleming probably got similar treatment when he went to New York and Washington during the war on official business and was meeting with people like Sir William Stephenson and "Wild Bill" Donovan. These people had serious money and connections and lived appropriately, so when Fleming visited I'm sure his experiences was like Bond's in the novel.

Why make Bond's cover as a Boston trust company executive based in London on holiday? I looked up an average salary of such trust execs and they are round $200, 000 a year - up to a million with benefits/bonuses. Why couldn't he have been just some middle management exec who could only afford a three star hotel (which would have save the FBI some money)? The motel Bond ended up in Florida was certainly a far cry from the St. Regis - and he certainly stayed in less luxurious places in his other adventures.

The Domino Effect

Fleming enjoyed sharing the 'good life' with his readers, hence the exotic destinations, first class travel, luxury hotels, gourmet meals, fine clothes and accessories and ravishing women. Part of the reason for Bond's popularity in the UK was that it was escapism for people who'd barely emerged from WW2 rationing in a country whose cities and ports were still bearing the massive scars of wars and whose economy was still struggling. Although the stories wouldn't always allow Fleming to put Bond in places like the St Regis, I think he wanted to share them with his readers whenever the opportunity could be even vaguely justified.

AlphaOmegaSin

I've always liked the Las Vegas Hotel in DAF that Bond stays in -{

Thunderpussy

I've always fancied a trip to Royale-les-Eaux. )