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  • A room with doors open to the sea at GoldenEye in Oracabessa
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Picolo recommends · Hotel in Oracabessa, Jamaica

GoldenEye

  • Ian Fleming
  • James Bond
  • Lagoon
  • Villas
  • Few rooms

The estate where Ian Fleming wrote James Bond, now cottages and villas around a lagoon, with a small beach and gardens running to the water.

GoldenEye lies in Oracabessa, a small town on the north coast east of Ocho Rios. This is where Ian Fleming had his winter home and wrote the Bond novels, and you can still book his house.

Around it, cottages and villas sit among tropical gardens by a lagoon and a little beach. The atmosphere is loose and stylish rather than formal, and with so few rooms it never feels crowded.

A room with doors open to the sea at GoldenEye in Oracabessa

Picolo’s verdict

Why we chose GoldenEye

We chose GoldenEye because it mixes history, style and calm in a way few hotels in the Caribbean can. It suits travellers who want character and privacy, and who enjoy a good story with their sundowner.

It is quiet by design, with little nightlife and few big-resort extras, so anyone wanting entertainment or a long sandy beach should look elsewhere. Rooms are limited, so book well ahead.

What you get

  • Kayaks on the lagoon
  • Tropical gardens
  • Small beach
  • Cottages and villas, including Fleming's house
  • Bar and restaurant by the water

A day at GoldenEye

Morning
A paddle across the lagoon in a kayak.
Midday
A swim from the small beach.
Afternoon
A long lunch in the shade of the garden.
Evening
Sundowners at the waterside bar as night falls.

Location

Oracabessa, Jamaica

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Questions about GoldenEye

Did Ian Fleming live at GoldenEye?

Yes. GoldenEye was Fleming's Jamaican home, and he wrote the James Bond books here. His house can be rented by guests.

Where is GoldenEye in Jamaica?

It is in Oracabessa, on the north coast east of Ocho Rios, by a lagoon and a small beach.

Is GoldenEye a busy resort?

No. It has few rooms and a relaxed, quiet atmosphere, so it rarely feels crowded.

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Picolo Editorial
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