Experience these stays fit for a secret agent on Booking.com
The world’s most famous secret agent is back. Celebrating its 25th edition, and after being postponed for over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the highly anticipated movie of 2021 will not only include some edge-of-your-seat action, but will feature some of the world’s most spectacular and remarkable destinations. From the quaint English countryside to the vibrant streets of Istanbul, previous movies in this franchise have careered through iconic locations all over the globe, making this agent one of the most frequent travelers in the secret agent industry. According to Booking.com research, almost a third (27%)* of US travelers want to travel to a destination because of what they saw in a movie or TV show. With a mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, Booking.com has delved into it’s more than 28 million listings across over 152,000 destinations to inspire fans of the movie to experience a slice of the secret agent life themselves with a stay in one of these infamous filming locations for whenever it’s safe and responsible to do so again.
Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel - London, United Kingdom
In 2012, the secret agent famously took a swim in the rooftop pool of the Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel. With views over the River Thames and London city, the Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel boasts elegant rooms that will make any agency feel like home during their time in the city. The hotel is a short walk from the Tube station and Canary Wharf Pier, which offers links to the Thames Clipper Boat, giving access to London’s most popular attractions. For the biggest fans of the film franchise, London even offers secret agent guided tours that will introduce fans to many of the other filming locations in the city.
Fontainebleau Miami Beach - Miami, USA
The inner spy in all of us comes to life in Miami as the city was the backdrop for multiple movies in this famous film franchise. For travelers who not only want to experience movie magic for themselves, but also want to soak up the sun, a stay at Fontainebleau Miami Beach is a must. Parts of the third edition from the secret agent series were filmed in this enormous beachfront resort, and it’s not hard to understand why - the spectacular resort features scenic ocean views and six outdoor swimming pools. The resort is an ideal stay for travelers who like to relax but at the same time love entertainment, as the resort has its own nightclub, nine restaurants, and a spa. Guests can enjoy their Martini, shaken not stirred, in one of the resort’s lounge bars, while enjoying the stunning Miami beach views.
Grandhotel Pupp - Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
In 2006, the secret agent played Russian Roulette at an impressive casino which in real life is Grandhotel Pupp. Located in the historical center of Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic, just a two hour drive from Prague, this hotel has a tradition dating back to 1701. The hotel offers spacious rooms and suites, a restaurant and exclusive spa where guests can enjoy multiple wellness options. Karlovy Vary is not only famous for its scene in a spy movie, the Czech city is also famous for its amazing thermal springs, which were discovered in the 14th century. A must-go destination for travelers who enjoy relaxation and wellness during their travels to return back home completely zen.
Gran Hotel Ciudad de México - Mexico City, Mexico
The opening scene of the twenty-fourth edition of the popular secret agent movie started with the Day of the Dead parade in the streets of Mexico city where the unrecognizable agent casually strolls through the street in a skull mask. It was Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico where the secret agent walked, changing into a suit and kicking off the action. The hotel features historic architecture and is a great place to stay for those who enjoy exploring the city and local culture during their trip as it’s located within walking distance to main attractions such as the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Presidential Palace, which can also be explored by joining a Full-Day Tour of the City.
Taj Lake Palace - Udaipur, India
A stay at the Taj Lake Palace, also known as the floating palace, is a one in a lifetime travel experience for guests. Situated in the middle of Lake Pichola, this luxury hotel was one of the filming locations for the secret agent movie in the eighties. The property is built with marble and features majestic architecture. Guests can only reach the hotel by boat, which makes the property even more unique. But no worries, the city center is still within walking distance, so guests can easily make a day trip to Udaipur, also known as the ‘Venice of the East’ as the city is surrounded by the serene waters of Lake Pichola. After a short boat ride, travelers can explore more of all the beautiful architecture, temples and delicious Indian cuisine the city has to offer.
GoldenEye - Oracabessa, Jamaica
Right under the Jamaican sun is where this now famous spy franchise all started. The original writer of the secret agent novel series wrote all 14 novels about the world famous secret agent at the tropical property GoldenEye. This property features private beaches, hidden coves and a saltwater lagoon, a perfect retreat for travelers (or spies in training) who prefer privacy while enjoying a relaxing beach vacation. And for fans of the blockbuster movies, it’s a must visit destination since multiple movies from the franchise were also filmed in Jamaica.
Booking.com is sharing Getaway Deals for travelers to use when booking their next getaway, as it becomes safe to do so. Discounts start at 15 percent and are valid for stays until January 4 2022. In addition, Booking.com is bringing the great value of its Genius program to even more customers by giving all account holders access to the program’s Level 1 benefits, with no minimum number of previous bookings to qualify, including access to exclusive 10% discounts at hundreds of thousands of participating properties around the world. All travelers have to do is download the Booking.com app, log in and look for the Genius logo to identify associated benefits, discounts and perks.
*Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of 47,728 respondents across 28 markets (1,997 from USA, 1,987 from Canada, 1,999 from Mexico, 2,003 from Colombia, 1,996 from Brazil, 2,002 from Argentina, 1,994 from Australia, 985 from New Zealand, 1,993 from Spain, 1,993 from Italy, 1,993 from France, 1,984 from UK, 1,989 from Germany, 1,977 from Netherlands, 983 from Denmark, 986 from Sweden, 998 from Croatia, 1,997 from Russia, 999 from Israel, 1,997 from India, 1,992 from China, 991 from Hong Kong, 1,991 from Thailand, 1,977 from Singapore, 998 from Taiwan, 953 from Vietnam, 1,990 from South Korea, 1,987 from Japan). In order to participate in this survey, respondents had to be 18 years of age or older, had to have traveled at least once in the past 12 months and be either the primary decision maker or involved in the decision making of their travel. The survey was taken online and took place in November 2020.