Just how many James Bond movies were made in The Bahamas? Four! And it’s no wonder! Glamor, beauty, adventure…Nassau Paradise Island has it all. To celebrate Global James Bond Day on October 4, we’re looking at the ways that Nassau Paradise Island starred in your Bond films, and ways that 007 can inspire your next Bahamas vacation.
The Spy Who Loved Nassau
Plenty of movies have been filmed in Nassau Paradise Island, but the movie character that has visited us the most is definitely, “Bond. James Bond.” In 1965, Thunderball was filmed in parts of central Nassau, and more famously, in our surrounding waters. In fact, the shipwreck made famous by Thunderball’s incredible underwater fight scene is one of many fascinating shipwrecks in The Bahamas that you can still explore today!
In 1977, Agent 007 was back in Paradise, thwarting evil mastermind Karl Stromberg in The Spy Who Loved Me. Bond was up to more underwater antics in Nassau’s own Coral Harbour. 1983’s Never Say Never Again was the final film for one of the franchise’s most beloved Bonds: Sean Connery. Underwater adventure, romance, and even an assassination attempt were all part of his adventure in Nassau. Rumor has it that Sean Connery fell in love with Nassau so much that he bought a house here!
One of the recent and most iconic Bahamian Bond films is Casino Royale, which featured the beautiful beachfront hotel, the The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas. The franchise’s latest Bond, played by Daniel Craig, stayed at one of the luxury resort’s beautiful beachside villas.
Island, Paradise Island
Do the glamor and excitement of Bond’s adventures in Paradise have you feeling inspired to head off on your own tropical getaway? Here are some ways you can enjoy Nassau Paradise Island just like Agent 007 would! After all, if it’s good enough for James Bond, it’s got to be better than all the rest!
First things first: stay in style. Bond settles for nothing but the best—and neither should you! Good thing our accommodations are top notch. Whether you choose The Ocean Club where Bond himself stayed, or opt for another of our beachfront resorts, in Nassau Paradise Island you’ll definitely be treated like a member of Her Majesty’s service.
If Casino Royale taught us anything, it’s that 007 knows his way around a card table. Luckily Nassau Paradise Island has not one, but two world-class casinos for you to try your hand at a game of cards or two! The casino at Atlantis has floor-to-ceiling windows, stunning Chihuly glass sculptures, and 85 table games. The newly opened Baha Mar casino is the largest in the Caribbean, with 100,000 square feet of beautifully adorned space.
With all of his luxury travels and global adventures, it’s no wonder that James Bond likes the finer things in life! Add some elegance to your evening by dining out at one of our fine dining restaurants. You can even walk into a space exactly like the one Bond walked into: Café Martinique. Renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten modeled the interior of this Atlantis restaurant after the restaurant of the same name in Thunderball.
Of course, you can’t forget a cocktail to top it all off! We all know how James Bond likes his martini, but why not shake things up by trying a classic Bahamian cocktail? Whether you take a tour of an authentic Bahamian rum distillery, or order up something from one of these restaurants with a beautiful view, you’re sure to be sipping like a spy.
The one thing your vacation will have that James Bond’s travels never do is time to relax. Book a treatment at one of our spas, lounge by the pool, or spend the day at the beach. There’s nothing better than a tropical retreat to the shores of Paradise—just ask Bond himself!
