Bond Holidays

thesecretagent · February 2011

My wife's just brought my 40th (ouch!

) present for my birthday in may - a week in a luxury villa in Sardinia - somewhere neither of us have been before... We both have businesses, so a week away is a big deal and I can't wait to get in the sun and forget work for a bit. The Spy Who Loved Me had quite a few scenes in Sardinia, and it's my favourite of Moore's films, so I can't wait to do some research and pass by some of the locations. Now, if I can just find a rental company with a Lotus...

)

Anyway, just got to thinking - anyone else got any Bond locations planned this year? Or have they been to places where the films have been set or shot?

I've been to Corfu (FYEO), Paris (AVTAK), New York (LALD), Miami & Miami Beach (GF/CR), Bilbao (TWINE), Bangkok (TMWTGG), Afghanistan (TLD), Vienna (TLD), Florida Keys (LTK), St. Petersberg (GE), Scotland (TSWLM/TWINE), London (Most!) - in all honesty, I wasn't really a committed Bond fan when I went to most of these places, but it is nice to watch and think you've been there. What about anyone else?

ke02eww · March 2011

You'll have a blast and you must take one of the guides eg Martijn mulder's book

http://www.amazon.com/tracks-007-Martijn-Mulder/dp/9081329413/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1298965100&sr=1-1

Oh and this isn't a bad guide

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_James_Bond_film_locations

I've done a number or tours and used this book as the tour guide.

Safe travels

Higgins · March 2011

I have also been to some of the locations.

The ones, which impressed me most where

Piz Gloria in Switzerland and
the Phan Nga bay in Thailand (TMWTGG) even though James Bond Island is totally crowded (exception Scaramanga beach

)

If I had a week of James Bond holidays, I'd go to Murren

ke02eww · March 2011

Agree with BT...

Btw the book is for sale here

http://www.ajb007.co.uk/post/482895/#p482895

thesecretagent · March 2011

Thanks guys, will check the book out right now!

Rainier Wolfcastle · March 2011

thesecretagent wrote:

Now, if I can just find a rental company with a Lotus... )

Well, it's not an Esprit but Hertz has Elise and Exige available in Italy. You can rent them in Rome, Milan and ... Olbia (Sardinia). :007)

The press release is in German but basically it says €263,-/day or €213,- pre-paid.
http://www.hertz-presse.de/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilung.php?ID=75

thesecretagent · March 2011

Sounds great, but unless it's an Evora I'll have to strap my two kids on the roof! Does sound tempting for an afternoon by myself though...

Higgins · March 2011

... why don't you rent the Lotus for yourself and let the wife follow you with the kids in a Mondeo ?
I thought, that you where talking about enjoyable holidays.. :v

Napoleon Plural · March 2011

... and pick up a bird on the way. Sure your wife will love that.

Yeah Piz Gloria is great, though esp in summer when you an walk from the summit down to Murren.

Paris is great anyway but day trips to Vaux Le Vicompte and Chantilly are the icing on the cake, obviously the Eiffel Tower from AVTAK. Like the revolving restaurant from OHMSS, the Eiffel Tower was built especially for the film, only locals liked it so much they decided it should stay on. However, a minority of hardcore Bond fans hate the movie and petition to this day to have it torn down and sold for scrap.

thesecretagent · March 2011

Yep, Bondtoys has a good idea - NP's is a step too far though...

)

Lexi · March 2011

well not knowing all the locations in the Bond movies.... I will have a stab at it...

Cairo, Giza and Luxor (TSWLM) - Bahamas (CR) - Miami & Baltimore (GF & CR) - Las Vegas and Los Angeles (DAF) - Venice (MR) - Berlin (O) - San Fran (AVTAK) - Key West, and Bimini Islands (LTK) - Prague (CR) - London obviously...and if they choose Vancouver or Whistler for Bond 23 - well I've lived there too

)

Gotta love Wiki for helping me out here -{

)

ke02eww · March 2011

Wow lexi you've lived all of those places?....impressed.

On topic thesecretagent have you considered hiring a classic in Italy?

I hear good things about this site, though all the cars seems to be Italian (alfas ferarris etc) but just a Tgt....

http://www.classiccarhireworld.com/contentok.php?id=791

I took my old car to Karlovy Vary where CR was being shot, then drove her across the furka pass (where the db5 scenes in goldfinger were shot) and onto piz Gloria. We finished up on lake Garda but sadly always a day behind shooting and were unaware they used Villa del Balbianello which we must have been very close to several times!

Recognise the locations?

Higgins · March 2011

ke02eww wrote:

I took my old car to Karlovy Vary where CR was being shot

that's so highly understated!

That's how my old car looks like:

KEwee, any chance of pics of your Vant at the furka pass and in Lauterbrunnen (preferrably only the car - not with you

)

thesecretagent · March 2011

ke02eww - If that Vanquish is yours, I'm well impressed!

If it's not, well I'm still impressed anyway.

)

Higgins · March 2011

It's his Vanquish - in 1:12...
And he manages well to let it look like it's 1:1 on his pics

thesecretagent · March 2011

funny.

)

Lexi · March 2011

ke02eww wrote:

Wow lexi you've lived all of those places?....impressed.

Nope, sorry, not lived in all of them..... although being an army brat, I have lived in a few

However, I did emigrate to Canada when I was 18 - however, even after 10 years, I didn't quite feel at home.... so I came back for a 6 month visit to the UK, and that was 11 years ago

)

My parents are still there - so, if Bond 23 is filming in Vancouver/Whistler - it's a quick dash to see them

)

By the way, very cool pic.

Higgins · March 2011

so, Lexi, if I calculate correctly, your age must be something like

86?

)

Lexi · March 2011

Bondtoys wrote:

so, Lexi, if I calculate correctly, your age must be something like

86?

)

crickey - hey I lived in Germany too - thank goodness I wasn't there long enough for their state education.....

)

Cheeky

But, yes, my birthday (next week

) is a big one

ke02eww · March 2011

Lexi wrote:

ke02eww wrote:

Wow lexi you've lived all of those places?....impressed.

Nope, sorry, not lived in all of them..... although being an army brat, I have lived in a few

However, I did emigrate to Canada when I was 18 - however, even after 10 years, I didn't quite feel at home.... so I came back for a 6 month visit to the UK, and that was 11 years ago )

My parents are still there - so, if Bond 23 is filming in Vancouver/Whistler - it's a quick dash to see them )

By the way, very cool pic.

Hey lexi

Sry but your reply sounded like you'd lived in all of them - however sounds like you've had quite a journey - I guessed services

No need to further 2-tonics mental gymnastics - I get the point...

Yes 21 (and a half....) is needed a big one...
Many happy returns for next week...

ke02eww · March 2011

Bondtoys wrote:

ke02eww wrote:

I took my old car to Karlovy Vary where CR was being shot

that's so highly understated!

That's how my old car looks like:

KEwee, any chance of pics of your Vant at the furka pass and in Lauterbrunnen (preferrably only the car - not with you )

Sorry BT, how about a pic of my in a burka making a pass at DC dressed in Lederhosen?

Higgins · March 2011

why not?
Sounds like that I am not the only one here, who makes a total fool out of himself by posting pics

I will be in Hongkong in April, will you be there, too? I could bring you a pair of real Lederhosen then

ke02eww · March 2011

Bondtoys wrote:

why not?
Sounds like that I am not the only one here, who makes a total fool out of himself by posting pics

I will be in Hongkong in April, will you be there, too? I could bring you a pair of real Lederhosen then

Harsh my friend.....

You don't need to post pics to qualify as a fool....

Actually I was in hong kong 2 weeks ago and wont be going back until September....

In Zurich rIght now....any good?

Be great to catch up....

Higgins · March 2011

Sorry, my friend. I did hide all my money last year, so no need to be back to Zurich for this time

I am traveling via Amsterdam for this time with the Mrs and it'll be great to meet for a coffee or 2 there.-{

ke02eww · March 2011

Shame seems we're headed in opposite directions (as usual)

Next time i'm in europe

Regards to mrs BT

HalfMonk HalfHitman · May 2012

Had to visit this spot while in Lake Como:

don p · May 2012

Hi all,

well ive been through the tunnel and along the road that was used in the chase at the beggining is QoS. its lake garda rigt at the top of italy..

also venice, ..and i work in Afghanistan, so no need for me to holiday here lol..

theres a bar in a town called riva (top of lake garda). on the wall is an aston door, and a wheel, taken from a car that went over the side into the lake, local divers went down over night before the car was fished out the day after,,

thesecretagent · May 2012

HalfHitman HalfMonk wrote:

Had to visit this spot while in Lake Como:

That's beautiful. What is it exactly (apart from it's Casino Royale useage) is it a public building or private residence?

HalfMonk HalfHitman · May 2012

thesecretagent wrote:

That's beautiful. What is it exactly (apart from it's Casino Royale useage) is it a public building or private residence?

It was a private residence that is now owned by the government and is now a sort of landmark/public garden:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_del_Balbianello

SpectreBlofeld · May 2012

HalfHitman HalfMonk wrote:

thesecretagent wrote:

That's beautiful. What is it exactly (apart from it's Casino Royale useage) is it a public building or private residence?

It was a private residence that is now owned by the government and is now a sort of landmark/public garden:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_del_Balbianello

I'm planning a European vacation later this year. I intend to start in Lyon or Grenoble, France, and explore the alps, seeing parts of Switzerland and northern Italy. This site won't be far out of my way. Thanks for the info!

Bond Holidays

Comments