“AHH, Ms Cox. We’ve been expecting you,” said the hotel receptionist when I checked into my Jamaican hotel.
Actually, he didn’t, much to my disappointment.
The Jamaicans wear their connection to the James Bond films lightly, despite the fact author Ian Fleming wrote all 13 novels here, and many scenes in the famous spy films were filmed on the Caribbean island.
And rightly so — Jamaica is famous for many other things including being the birthplace of reggae star Bob Marley and sprinter Usain Bolt, as well as rum, jerk chicken and stunning beaches and jungles.
But if you are a Bond fan looking to nerd out, this is the place to come.
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When Bond boss Barbara Broccoli teamed up with Prime Video to make the new global gameshow Road To A Million, which sees contestants travel the world to carry out challenges inspired by 007 in a bid to win a million pounds, she knew Jamaica had to feature.
“The ambition for this show was to make a spectacle on par with the legacy of the Bond franchise,” she says.
“We’ve meticulously chosen iconic Bond locations for filming and integrated elements from some of the franchise’s most memorable scenes.”
And it doesn’t get much more iconic than Jamaica.
The first Road To A Million contestants to land in Jamaica, South London brothers Joey and James Bone, get to relax at Goldeneye, Fleming’s home, before beginning their first challenge.
Fleming’s writing desk is even seen in the background of one scene — but not referred to — as a special easter egg for fans.
And, as a cheeky nod to Daniel Craig’s famous scene from Casino Royale (2006) filmed in nearby Bahamas, Joey is also shown emerging from the ocean — though in slightly more modest swimwear than Craig’s barely-there trunks.
In another scene, nurses Beth and Jen hitch a ride on a boat in Morgan’s Harbour just as Sean Connery’s spy does in Dr No (1962) before taking part in a scuba-diving challenge.
Other locations that turn up in the show, which sees Succession star Brian Cox playing a Bond-style villain setting the questions, include the Good Ova Evil Bar and the marina in Port Antonio from No Time To Die (2021).
And the Bone brothers — the aforementioned Joey and his brother James — have to answer a question about Blackwell rum, a liquor that features in No Time To Die.
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Blackwell is owned by Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records, who is now the owner of Goldeneye.
While visiting Jamaica with the producers of the show, I was handed a shot of the stuff and even as an absolute rum fool (I’m more of a wine girl), I could tell this was very much the good stuff.
But although there are multiple ways to get your Bond fix in Jamaica, there’s plenty more to experience here.
I flew into Kingston, and headed straight to the north of the island which is undoubtedly the most chi-chi, especially if you’re looking for nightlife worthy of a tuxedo or ballgown.
Here you’ll find hotspots such as Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, where the uber-glam casino scene from Road To A Million — no spoilers, in case you haven’t caught up yet — was filmed.
If you fancy staying or dining out in this area, there are abundant choices.
I spent a decadent day sipping cocktails at Sandals’ Royal Plantation, a stunning hotel tucked away with two private beaches with waiter services as well as Jamaica’s only champagne and caviar bar.
Tiny baked bean can
But you can also enjoy a more budget-friendly stay at hotels like the Samsara Cliff Resort in Negril or the Riu in Ocho Rios with a week’s B&B starting from around £1,100 per person or all-inclusive from £1,400.
Jealous of all the adventures the Road To A Million contestants were enjoying, and with no hope of going out on a speedboat or scuba-diving for buried treasure myself, I decided to visit Mystic Mountain.
The second-best Jamaican film after the Bonds is, of course, Cool Runnings — the 1993 movie starring John Candy about the country’s first-ever bobsled team entering the 1988 Olympics.
And at Mystic Mountain, you get the chance to have a go on a bobsled yourself. You will be left shaken, not stirred after ploughing down the mountain in what feels akin to a tiny baked bean can (sorry, it had to be done).
The family-friendly resort also features ziplines and chairlifts through the jungle where you’ll see plenty of wildlife and epic views.
Another must for adventure fans is the Dunn’s River Falls, where you traverse from the beach up through waterfalls and rock pools over an exhilarating 90- minute trek.
I didn’t bother hiring a guide, as recom-mended by the organisers — readers, there is a reason they recommend a guide.
If you are fit and ballsy, go ahead, but most people who have even a moderate appreciation of health and safety will probably find it safer to get a local to show you the way.
But, hey, I survived!
And I definitely earned my Bond stripes doing it solo.
If you fancy a similar rush to the head, nobody said it better: You only live twice.
So take inspiration from Road To A Million and get yourself off to Jamaica to find your inner 007.
