The Province

Lights, camera, Jamaica

THE ISLAND IS A LUSH BACKDROP FOR FILMS — AND VACATIONS

- Jane Stevenson

There’s jet-setting, then there’s set-jetting — and the Caribbean’s thirdlarge­st island has plenty of both to offer.

Jamaica has attracted celebritie­s since the 1940s, when Errol Flynn first brought the beautiful island to the attention of such Hollywood starlets as Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe.

Other early famous Jamaica converts included James Bond author Ian Fleming, who lived and wrote at his island house, Goldeneye (now a villa resort), and friend and fellow Brit Noel Coward.

The playwright-actor is buried on the grounds of his home, Firefly, which sits high on a hill with sweeping scenic views, and which is now a public museum. In addition, the first Bond movie — 1962’s Dr. No — was shot on the island.

Here are some highlights from a recent Hollywood-themed trip to Jamaica:

BELLY UP TO BOND

Upon arrival at Kingston Airport our group visits the bar at the nearby Grand Port Royal Hotel Marina & Spa, which was featured in Dr. No.

We’ll later watch the movie in the private screening room at the chic and low-key Trident Hotel in Port Antonio and notice the location looks significan­tly different in the film. But who cares? We’re watching Bond in Bond Central!

For more informatio­n, check out grandportr­oyalhotel.com.

LONG ROAD TO LUXURY

The long and winding road to Port Antonio is an acquired taste — three hours along rough, narrow cliffs atop steep jungle ravines.

Thankfully, the modern oceanfront luxury of the 13-villa boutique Trident Hotel awaits us.

Its manicured green grounds are punctuated by the occasional statue of grazing white sheep, an infinity pool, private beach — where, accompanie­d by the lifeguard, I snorkel each morning before breakfast — and Mike’s Supper Club, where we dine on Japanese-Jamaican cuisine and enjoy the jazz pianist.

Opened in Flynn’s time, the Trident is now part of the Geejam Collection, which is co-owned by music exec Jon Baker. It was renovated in 2013 and blends ’50s jet set glamour with such modern touches as private pools in every villa and outdoor tubs. So chill you never want to leave.

See tridentpor­tantonio.com.

REACH FOR THE FALLS

About a half-hour away from the Trident is the glorious Reach Falls, featured in Hollywood films including Tom Cruise’s Cocktail and the remake of Lord of the Flies.

We walk down the huge set of wooden stairs that hugs vegetation-covered stone walls until we reach the bottom pool, where you can either wade, swim, head for the falls or watch cliff-jumpers. It’s a soothing and cool place.

See visitjamai­ca.com/reach-falls.

BEST BAR EVER?

The aptly named Cliff Hanger restaurant and bar is as good as it sounds. About a half-hour from Reach Falls, the Cliff Hanger literally hangs off a cliff facing the Caribbean. Patrons can enjoy warm gentle breezes as they chow down on jerk chicken or grilled conch, and suck back a Red Stripe beer or a ChiChi (like a vodka piña colada) in the casual bamboo restaurant. Again, why would you ever leave?

BLUE LAGOON

Probably one of Jamaica’s most renowned film locations, this spot was made famous by the 1980 movie The Blue Lagoon starring Brooke Shields and was also featured in Cocktail. Geejam Collection is renovating the legendary Blue Lagoon Restaurant, which is set to open in the spring of 2016.

But be warned: you have to tramp through the jungle and take many steps down — and back up again — to reach the secluded cove just past the funky tree house resort Kanopi House. (There are also many boat tours that bring people to the lagoon.) See kanopihous­e.com.

WHITE CASTLE

The white oceanside Trident Castle just down the road from the Trident Hotel kind of overplays its hand. But its formal interiors — including a 30-seat dining table — and impressive grounds make it ideal for those planning a lavish wedding. Trident Castle was featured in the 1989 film The Mighty Quinn, starring Denzel Washington. Montreal band Arcade Fire recorded their 2013 album Reflektor there, and Snoop Lion — a.k.a. Snoop Dogg — filmed his video Here Comes the King inside. Not my style, but I’m sure it works for brides with a flair for the dramatic. See castleport­antonio.com.

JOLLY AND JAMMIN’

The intimate inland Geejam Hotel and accompanyi­ng recording studio — which has hosted the likes of Amy Winehouse, No Doubt, Drake and Katy Perry — is also part of the Geejam Collection. Whether you stay there or not, have dinner at Bush-bar and check out the Mento (pre-reggae) house band the Jolly Boys.

The band, which got its name from Flynn, still has some of its original members, and covers such modern classics as The Stranglers’ Golden Brown. See geejamhote­l.com, geejamstud­io.com.

LOBSTER ON THE BEACH

Just down the road from the Trident Hotel, Frenchman’s Cove Resort has a beautiful small beach in a cove setting with non-fussy villas. It’s where Cruise returned with Cameron Diaz for the tropical island scene in 2010’s Knight And Day. See frenchmans­cove.com.

ALIGHT AT FIREFLY

Coward entertaine­d everyone from British royalty to Hollywood royalty at Firefly, his unassuming, out-of-the way home up a winding road. Guests included Queen Elizabeth II, Laurence Olivier, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, Alec Guinness, Peter O’Toole and Richard Burton. Now a museum, visitors can take in the panoramic view, visit Coward’s grave and bronze statue, and tour the historic house. See fireflyjam­aica.com.

THE BUTLERS DID IT

After a quick stop at a roadside coconut stand for fresh water and jelly we head to Ocho Rios and the couples-only Sandals Royal Plantation, where a fleet of butlers carrying champagne flutes on silver trays greet us before we have afternoon tea.

Seems we’re all assigned two butlers during our stay — for morning and evening duties. I get one of mine to set me up at a beach palapa so I can immediatel­y enjoy the water, but it all seems a bit silly. On the plus side, there are tennis courts and a spa.

Originally opened in the ’50s as Plantation Inn, the resort has welcomed Coward, Winston Churchill, Monroe, and Elizabeth Taylor with (then) husband Eddie Fisher. Later, Dustin Hoffman and Ben Stiller were guests. And Robin Williams and Mandy Moore stayed there during filming of License to Wed, which was shot at the resort. See sandals.com.

ALL DUNN IN

Dunn’s River Falls, which was used as a location shoot for Cocktail and Dr. No, is a very busy tourist attraction where visitors hold hands and climb up the slippery rocks on the falls. See dunnsriver­fallsja.com.

ORIGINAL BAT CAVES

Why anyone would want to spend too much time in the dark and stinky Green Grotto Caves — featured as the undergroun­d lair of the villainous Doctor Kananga (played by Yaphet Kotto) in 1973’s Live and Let Die — is beyond me. But bat lovers and Bond lovers will get a kick out of it and members of my group loved it. See greengrott­ocavesja.com.

 ?? PHOTOS: JANE STEVENSON/TORONTO SUN ?? One of Jamaica’s best views: the long bar overlookin­g the Caribbean at the Cliff Hanger restaurant in Port Antonio. Why would anyone ever leave?
PHOTOS: JANE STEVENSON/TORONTO SUN One of Jamaica’s best views: the long bar overlookin­g the Caribbean at the Cliff Hanger restaurant in Port Antonio. Why would anyone ever leave?
 ??  ?? People hold hands as they begin the climb up Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
People hold hands as they begin the climb up Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
 ?? — JANE STEVENSON/TORONTO SUN ?? The beautiful and secluded Fisherman’s Cove in Port Antonio, Jamaica.
— JANE STEVENSON/TORONTO SUN The beautiful and secluded Fisherman’s Cove in Port Antonio, Jamaica.
 ??  ?? The view from Firefly, Noel Coward’s hilltop home in Jamaica. The celebrated actor-playwright welcomed everyone from British royalty to Hollywood royalty to his modest house, now a museum.
The view from Firefly, Noel Coward’s hilltop home in Jamaica. The celebrated actor-playwright welcomed everyone from British royalty to Hollywood royalty to his modest house, now a museum.
 ??  ?? The Trident Hotel in Port Antonio is just down the road from Trident Castle, which was featured in the 1989 film The Mighty Quinn, starring Denzel Washington.
The Trident Hotel in Port Antonio is just down the road from Trident Castle, which was featured in the 1989 film The Mighty Quinn, starring Denzel Washington.
 ??  ?? A bronze statue of Noel Coward looks out over the grounds of his Jamaica home, Firefly.
A bronze statue of Noel Coward looks out over the grounds of his Jamaica home, Firefly.
 ??  ?? On a hot day, the pool below Jamaica’s Reach Falls is a great place for a refreshing swim.
On a hot day, the pool below Jamaica’s Reach Falls is a great place for a refreshing swim.
 ?? PHOTOS: JANE STEVENSON/TORONTO SUN ?? Writer Jane Stevenson wasn’t quite used to being waited on by not one but two butlers at Sandals Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios.
PHOTOS: JANE STEVENSON/TORONTO SUN Writer Jane Stevenson wasn’t quite used to being waited on by not one but two butlers at Sandals Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios.

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