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Goldeneye is a small and very stylish villa resort hidden away in leisurely, lawned and forested grounds in Oracabessa to east of Ocho Rios on the north coast of Jamaica. The centrepiece is Ian Fleming’s old house, which has three bedrooms and a living room, a games/screening room, a small private beach and a private pool. Built in the Fifties it has been modernised with an Oriental touch, including bamboo furniture and mats and carvings (though you can still see the desk at which Fleming wrote many of the James Bond novels). Besides Ian Fleming’s villa there are three villas with a varied number of bedrooms, built in earthy tropical style. There is also a cliffside dining room and bar with access to the sea and Low Cay beach next door. As an Island Outpost, Goldeneye is stylish and hip, and has a delightful, tranquil air. It sees many stars - musicians, models and film moguls – witnessed by the trees they have planted in the gardens.
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KEY FEATURES
| Extremely secluded, 15 acre, all-inclusive Jamaica vacation villa resort. Ian Fleming's villa has a private pool, small private beach and media room; all villas have kitchens/ettes, cable TV, DVD player and DVDs, CD player and CDs, and selection of books. WiFi and small business centre. Small waterfront restaurant and bar, or in-villa dining. Access to Low Cay Beach and James Bond Beach, kayaks, windsurfers, snorkelling equipment, jet skis (extra charge). Floodlit tennis court. Massage services (extra). Art and craft classes available (extra). |
STYLE
| Famous fifties villa now modernised, and other more recent villas in traditional Caribbean style, with shingle roofs, wooden verandas and louvres (stylishly rustic, with earthy colours). Tropical features from around the world including touches of the Orient in the bamboo furniture. Also excellent bamboo-walled, outdoor bathrooms. An extremely private hideaway, intimate and fashionable |
CLIENT PROFILE
| Couples, some singles, looking for a true hideaway, but (wealthy) groups can take the whole place. Sees plenty of stars - fashionable among a hip musical, catwalk and acting set (through Chris Blackwell and Island Records) |
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Goldeneye is hidden away on the north coast of Jamaican just to the east of the town of Oracabessa. It sits in a garden of lawns and mature trees that gives onto a limestone clifftop. Hidden among the trees and mangroves you will find several houses, the centrepiece of which is the original Goldeneye, the house built by Ian Fleming. A Fifties bungalow, it looks through the trees to the sea, in timeless tranquillity. Now it has been adapted and brought to modern levels of style and comfort. It goes by the name Fleming House.
As you arrive, at the rear, you come into a U-shaped courtyard around stands a lily and fishpond with a small water spout. Down the right hand side are the doors to the bedrooms and on the left are the kitchen and service areas. Through the main doors at the head of the courtyard you walk into the main sitting room. And immediately you are presented with the enormous (glassless) window in the leading wall of the house. Set at waist height, it has a superb view out into the garden, revealing a lawn, trees, the cliff-edge and then the sea beyond. Two sets of full size louvered doors also open the room out, one leading out to this area at the front and the second to the huge pool to the left. The pool is spectacular and is a key place for guests to gather during the day.
The decoration inside the villa is partly Caribbean, but it also has touches of other tropical styles too, oriental and African, with bamboo furniture, sculptures and carved wood. There is a vast bamboo sofa with two bamboo armchairs in the sitting room. Behind the sofa stands a ten foot upright carving of a man intertwined with a crocodile and plants in oversize urns. Behind here is the dining room, where tall backed chairs are set around the dining table. (It is also possible for Fleming House guests to dine in a special arbour on the cliff at the front of the resort.)
From the dining room a covered walkway leads across to the media room, where there is another simply vast sofa. It is 25ft by 6ft and scattered with colourful cushions, large enough for the whole family (and all the other guests in the resort for that matter) to sit for a screening at the large screen. The floor is made of rush matting and the huge louvered shutters open out, held up on angled pegs. There are board games, books and a card table aswell.
The bedrooms run down the other side of the main house. There are three of them, 007, 008 and 009, after James Bond of course. Ian Fleming’s own room, 007, is at the front and has a second large window giving onto the garden. In the corner is his distinctive desk (actually one of two original desks), in the shape of a quarter circle. Photographs of Fleming and some early press about the James Bond books stand on the desk. The bed is surrounded by a vast bamboo frame, from which hang muslin drapes that close around the bed like curtains.
The bathroom, or more appropriately the ‘bathgarden’, is spectacular. Like all the bathrooms at Goldeneye, it is set outside, in an incredibly profuse jungle, so you bathe and do your teeth surrounded by frangipani, bamboo and banana plants (and a wall in case you are concerned about modesty). The other two bedrooms look out onto their own garden bathrooms and are also extremely comfortable. There are several small bays cut into the low cliffs along the front of Goldeneye. The beach for Fleming House is directly ahead of the villa, at the foot of some steps.
Of course Goldeneye centres on Ian Fleming’s original house, but this is not a ‘central’ facility of the small resort. It is actually a private villa just like the others on the property and it may not be possible to have a look around it if it is occupied while you are there. The Fleming House also works more like a conventional villa than the others. There is a butler and the staff will shop for you and work with you on menus.
The four other villas (currently two of which are available) are to the left as you look at the sea. Villas 1, 2 and 3 stand in their own wonderfully overgrown gardens along the low clifftop and their bedrooms are also named after characters in the James Bond books and films – Honeychile, Domino and Vesper for example. They vary in size between one and three bedrooms and are built in a completely different style to the Fleming House, drawing on traditional West Indian architecture, with natural wood and exposed beams in the ceiling, louvered windows and shingle roofs. They are decorated with earthy colours inside and out and their bathrooms have a similar garden style to those at the Fleming House, with a shower under the tangled branches of a banyan tree in one case. The final villa, the Royal Palm (three bedrooms), is actually set down on the waterfront further along, beyond the bar and restaurant. It currently has a long term occupant.
Privacy is one of the hallmarks of Goldeneye and the villas are quite self-contained (as well as being hidden away in profuse greenery). They are equipped with kitchenettes and come with staff who will look after you extremely well. They have televisions and iPods.
The Gazebo (as the bar and restaurant is called) sits just above the water on the calm lagoon. It is small, but done in classic West Indian style, a wooden clapboard house with an open-sided deck looking through greenery to the water and sea beyond. Other central parts of Goldeneye include the reception, which is set in a house in the gardens. Next to the reception you will find a small shop which has beachwear, some clothes and other essentials as well as some branded clothing. There is a small business centre. Close to the entrance of the small resort is a tennis court which can be lit at night.
The gardens themselves are large. Interestingly they are a former donkey race track, but they are now planted with trees, which include cannonball trees, banyans, African tulip trees and mangos among many others. In fact there is a tradition of planting trees here. It was started as early as 1956, by the former British Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden and his wife (he was here to recuperate after the Suez crisis). They planted a santa maria tree. Since then Grace Jones and Kate Moss have planted star apples, Johnny Depp a guava and Willie Nelson a cinnamon tree. Oh, and of course, as the original home of James Bond, it is fitting that Bond actors should plant one too. In 1998 Pierce Brosnan planted a julie mango.
It is also fun to muse on the name Goldeneye. The name of the town next door, Oracabessa, translates as Golden Head, but Goldeneye – later the name for a Bond film, though not actually of any of Fleming’s Bond books – was also the name of an operation in the Second World War which was developed by Fleming. The small villa resort is one of the Island Outposts and it is owned by the man behind the company, Chris Blackwell, who also created Island Records. His family knew Ian Fleming and so he used to visit as a young man. One of his early jobs was to work as a location scout for the James Bond films that came to the island. He was responsible for the beach (just west of Ocho Rios), where Ursula Andress emerged from the waves at the start of Dr No, the first James Bond film.
Goldeneye is a small and extremely original hotel. It has the distinctive Island Outpost feel, the best of traditional Jamaican style given an offbeat twist through the funky colour scheme and the advantage of an interesting location, Ian Fleming’s House. It sees many people from the media and music business, so there is often an interesting crowd. Goldeneye is extremely low key, but also extremely fashionable.
Goldeneye Development
There is a programme of villa development at Goldeneye. Around 80 villas are expected to be built eventually in the area of the resort. For more information, a link and video can be found through their website, which you can link to at the top of this page. |
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Beach & Swimming
There are a couple of small beaches cut into the cliffs just beneath the villas at Goldeneye. Platforms have also been built out on the rockface, where you will find loungers and some thatched gazebos for shade. The water is usually calm (the coast is protected by an offshore reef) and so the swimming is good.
There is a larger beach not far off, across the lagoon just offshore to the west of Goldeneye, for whose guests it is kept exclusively. The delightfully named Low Cay Beach (pronounced low key, which is what it is of course), also has some thatched parasols. You can get the staff to run you across the channel from the Gazebo. Five minutes walk away you come to James Bond Beach, a public beach with a beach bar and some watersports.
If you are staying at the Fleming House at Goldeneye there is a superb pool for your use. It is large and it starts in extremely shallow water before descending to a normal depth. It looks great at night, when its blue colour shines and it is surrounded by candles and lanterns.
The other villas do not have their own swimming pools, but of course they are right above the waterfront and each have their own platform above the water. If the Fleming House is not occupied then guests in the villas are permitted to use the main pool. |
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Sports & Recreation
Several activities are available at Goldeneye, many of them centred on the gardens. Ramsay, a long-time hand at Goldeneye, will take you around to explain the plants and the birdlife. It is also possible to take art classes which include crafts as well such silk painting, mosaics and drum making. There is a tennis court, which can be lit at night. A tennis pro can be brought in.
There is no dedicated spa building at Goldeneye, but massage is available at your villa and in several locations around the garden. Styles of massage include Swedish, shiatsu, aromatherapy and reflexology. Bodywraps, manicures and pedicures are also available.
Snorkelling is available right offshore (equipment is available free of charge). Other watersports equipment includes kayaks and jet skis (priced extra, they offer a trip to Port Maria for a cook-up). Ramsay is also happy to take you on waterborne expeditions – snorkelling or on a trip around the area in his fishing boat. Lessons can be provided for windsurfing and sailing. Deep sea fishing and scuba diving trips can also be arranged.
It is also possible to take trips further afield, perhaps across to the Blue Mountains, where you could include a stop at the sister Island Outpost Strawberry Hill. |
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Staff
Each of the villas at Goldeneye has its own staff who will clean for you. They are on property during office hours - though they tend to be very discreet and like to come to clean when you are out – up to a downturn service in the evenings. it is It is quite possible to have meals brought from the Gazebo if you wish, but villas do have full kitchens. A cook can be brought in if you wish.
There is a fuller service at the main Fleming House, led by a butler, and they are on call until later in the evening (11pm). Meals are usually cooked in the Gazebo but again chef can be found if you wish. |
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Accommodation
Goldeneye consists of five villas in all, with twelve bedrooms between them. The centrepiece is Ian Fleming’s old home, now called Fleming House, which has three bedrooms (007, 008 and 009). On the waterfront nearby, Villa 1 has one bedroom called Honeychile, Villa 2 has two bedrooms (Tiffany Case and Domino) and Villa 3 has three bedrooms (Romanov, Solitaire and Vesper). Beyond the Gazebo is the Royal Palm, which also has three bedrooms. These are without individual names but they are each in their own separate cottage set above or to the side of the main cottage. The Royal Palm is currently not available as it has a long term tenant.
The rooms and villas are extremely comfortable. They can be air-conditioned but usually they are opened up to get the best of the natural air for ventilation. And they all have some outside space, both at the level of the villa and on the waterfront. Inside they have their own kitchens, cable TVs, DVDs (there is s DVD library) and an internet connection. There is wireless internet connection in the main areas of the resort. |
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Dining
There is an open-air dining room at the Gazebo, which sits on the waterfront on the lagoon. It is a pretty Caribbean building with a good view over the water and sea. The cuisine is Jamaican, presented at a very high standard of course, and so you can expect very palatable versions of jerk, curry goat and fish roasted in foil (all Jamaican classics). Unlike many Caribbean islands, Jamaica has a depth of excellent ingredients, including fresh fish and seafood, and particularly a range of fruits, vegetables and spices.
As all of the villas have kitchens or kitchenettes, it is quite possible to have service to your villa, which many guests do. |
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Weddings
The gardens at Goldeneye, or the villa itself, make a delightful setting for a wedding. There are several locations where the marriage ceremony and then the reception can take place. The staff at the resort will liaise with you to help you create the wedding that you want. Goldeneye can also arrange for weddings and receptions to take place at Firefly, Noel Coward’s house, which is a few miles away on a hilltop. The house and garden have probably the finest view in the whole of the Caribbean. |
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Children
Children are welcome at Goldeneye. The resort can provide baby equipment, high chairs and cots and a nanny service during the day and evenings, but it also has plenty of activities for children led by qualified child-minders. There are nature walks, night-time star-gazing and art classes. Ramsay also offers a number of adventures by sea including a glass bottom boat trip. |
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Practical Facts
Annual Closure Dates: Closed from June/July 2008 until late 2009 whilst major development work takes place
Dress Code: Casual
Facilities: Waterfront Gazebo dining area and bar. Glass bottom boat. Private beach access/use for Low Cay Beach. Floodlit tennis court. WiFi in main areas. Gift shop. Fleming House has a private pool, small private beach and media room
Complimentary: Snorkelling gear
Other Services: The office can arrange tours and activities. In-villa dining available on request. Access to James Bond beach for watersports, with kayaks, windsurfers and jet skis available for rent. WiFi access in main areas. In-villa massage and beauty treatments available. Art and craft classes available. Tennis pro available
Children: Welcome
Weddings: All weddings are customised
Accommodation: 6 rooms in 3 villas (2 additional villas with 3 rooms each are currently not available)
Villas: Each is individually furnished, has air-conditioned bedrooms, kitchenettes, cable TV, DVD player and DVDs, CD player and CDs, selection of books, direct dial telephone and WiFi access. Villa 1 – Honeychile is a one bedroom cottage with living room and small kitchen, patio with picnic table, a bedroom with queen-size bed and a bath tub behind, and an outdoor bathroom with bath tub and a rain shower head fixed into a huge banyan tree. Villa 2 – is a two bedroom, two-storey cottage with a living area opening to a dining patio and sundeck, a kitchen, a hammock pavilion in the front garden and the bedroom, Domino, has a queen-size bed with outdoor bathroom with shower and a private garden veranda. The other bedroom, Tiffany Case is located upstairs and has folding doors along its sea facing wall, a king-size bed and an elevated bathroom area with bath tub. Fleming House has its own garden with freshwater freeform swimming pool, private access to its own cove and beach below, spacious open-plan living/dining room, master bedroom with king-size bamboo four-poster bed, and two other bedrooms one with queen-size bed and one with two twins, each with outdoor en suite bathrooms with garden bath tub and shower. A separate media room has a theatre screen, satellite and cable TV services, surround sound, a cushioned lounging area and library of DVDs including a James Bond selection. The house comes with a butler. Note: Two additional three bedroom villas (Villa 3 with bedrooms Romanov, Solitaire & Vesper and Royal Palm) are currently not available for rental.
Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover |
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Rates
| | 19 Apr-18 Dec 2007 | 19 Dec-18 Apr 2007-08 | 19 Apr-18 Dec 2008 | | Villa One Sleeps 2 | 660 | 840 | 660 | | Villa Two Sleeps 4 | 860 | 1,040 | 860 | | Ian Fleming House Sleeps 6 | 2,500 | 3,400 | 2,500 | | Extra person | 135 | 135 | 135 | | Child 2-12 yrs | 105 | 105 | 105 | Rates are in US$ per night, single/double occupancy and include breakfast, lunch, dinner, fruit juices, house wines and spirits by the glass, and exclude 13.5% Government Tax and Service Charge. All rates are subject to change without notice. Minimum stay 3 nights. A 3 night deposit is required to confirm all reservations. Cancellation Policy : 45 days prior to arrival a full refund on the 3 night deposit. Cancellation inside 45 days will incur loss of 3 night deposit. Cancellation within 30 of arrival or no-shows will incur loss of deposit and will be charged the remaining balance of the stay – incurring full cost of booking. |
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How to book
If you wish to make further enquiries or a reservation, please use the WEB LINK or DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page to make contact with Island Outpost for Goldeneye, or if you wish to telephone them, please click on TELEPHONE CONTACT to reveal the number. |
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UK Tour Operators
If you wish to book through a tour operator or travel organiser, please follow the TOUR OPERATOR link below.
See List of UK Tour Operators
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Locality
Goldeneye is located on the north coast of Jamaica just out of the town of Oracabessa, a fairly simple Jamaican town to east of Ocho Rios. Inland in the hills is Firefly, Noel Coward’s house, which has a simply magnificent view along the northern coastline. Heading east you come to Port Maria, another simple Jamaican town.
Ocho Rios is very busy – actually one of Jamaica’s main tourist centres. It is about 25 minutes away and there are quite a lot of ‘sites’ in the area. As you approach the town you will pass Prospect, a working plantation and Harmony Hall, an art gallery set in a pretty Creole house. In the town itself there are several parades of shops and craft markets, but the best fun is Island Village (connected to Island Outposts, the owners of Goldeneye hotel) which sits next to the cruise ship pier. Here you will find Reggae Xplosion (a reggae museum) as well as cafes and bars. Other sites nearby include gardens at Shaw Park and Coyaba, a forest canopy tour and some other natural features. Then there are Dunns River Falls, an exceptionally beautiful natural phenomenon, with a series of pools in a 600ft cascade. They are famous and very popular and so they see thousands of guests on day trips. You might want to go at the beginning or the end of the day when the crowds are thinner.
There is just a handful of restaurants in Ocho Rios. Try Evita’s above the town and Toscanini’s at Harmony Hall closer to hand. You will also find a delightful art gallery there. |
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Meet & Greet
Goldeneye is about equidistant (in terms of time) from both of Jamaica’s international airports in Montego Bay and Kingston. It takes about 2 ½ hours to reach the hotel. Goldeneye is happy to send a taxi driver to the airport to pick you up and the ride costs around US$150 for up to four people from Montego Bay and US$180 from Kingston.
There is an airstrip at Boscobel, which is about ten minutes away. It can be reached by small charter flight and by internal flights. It is also possible to take a helicopter transfer if you wish. |
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Getting Around
Hiring a car to explore the island or to visit other beaches for the day is a great option in Jamaica. You should book via your tour operator or Goldeneye itself. Unlike most islands in the Caribbean, there is no need to purchase a local licence in Jamaica. Your licence from home is valid for three months. It is quite possible to rent a car with a driver and this is a good option.
Vehicles can be returned at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time (probabaly at extra charge). Be aware that in the winter season there can sometimes be a shortage of cars, so you are advised to book in advance. Also book early if you want one for a week or more because the pre-booked rates can be better.
Taxis are readily available through reception. |
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