GoldenEye Villas
Oracabessa, Jamaica
GoldenEye's villas are scattered through tropical gardens beside the beaches and lagoon of Oracabessa on Jamaica's north coast. The property is closely associated with Ian Fleming, whose former home remains part of the estate, but its present-day appeal is also architectural: individual houses make the landscape feel residential, with water and greenery close to the door. Designed by Jamaican architect Ann Hodges, the beach and lagoon villas combine hardwood floors, high ceilings and substantial furniture with verandas and outdoor dining areas. Full kitchens make it easy to spend an unhurried morning at home, while garden showers introduce an outdoor element to the bathrooms. The collection includes different bedroom arrangements, allowing couples, families and small groups to choose a scale that suits them. The beach and lagoon create contrasting settings for swimming and relaxing, and the wider property includes restaurants, bars and a spa. A villa stay can therefore move between the independence of a private house and the sociability of a resort. The distinctive quality is the combination of Jamaican design, a lived-in cultural history and accommodation that encourages guests to spend as much time outside as within.