A Landing Ovation: New Wings Are Touching Down in Jamaica’s “Set-Jetting” Hub

Film buffs, bookworms, and binge watchers alike continue to board flights to the iconic locations behind their favorite shows, books, and movies as the popular set-jetting trend continues to soar – high above the clouds.

The phenomenon remains at the forefront of traveler’s radars, as more vacationers choose to book Emmy and Oscar worthy destinations. The White Lotus continues to send travelers to Taormina, Emily in Paris calls travelers to, well, Paris, and for forty years, the Bond Cinematic Universe (among other films) has been bringing travelers to Sandals Resort's backyard – Ocho Rios, Jamaica – where vacationers and relaxation-insiders can join a long list of Hollywood A-listers and celebrities for whom Ocho Rios is a top destination. And now they can get there faster than ever.

A New Reason to Set Jet

On February 24th, a silver screen-etched flight route, aptly named AA4007, took to the sky and let love fly. Passengers of this new flight route found themselves aboard an intimate, 76-passenger jet; a private jet-like flight experience, mirroring the journeys of the movie stars and fictional secret agents who came before.

“Where planes land, opportunities take off,” says Sandals Resorts Executive Chairman Adam Stewart, in celebration of the new Caribbean milestone and historic moment marked when passengers aboard American Airlines Flight 4007 descended upon Ocho Rios’ Ian Fleming International Airport as the first ever US commercial flight to land in the destination. “When you think of an exotic location like Ocho Rios, Jamaica, there are few places in the world where pristine rivers run from mountains to white sandy beaches, and into crystal clear oceans like this.”

With AA4-007 in the sky, the sets worthy of jets have never been more accessible. And with Sandals’ spectacular collection of resorts in close proximity to Ocho Rios’ most natural wonders, the adventure has never been more memorable.

A Movie Moment in Ocho Rios

For years, Sandals Resorts has been welcoming guests - with unmistakable Caribbean charm - to Ocho Rios, greeting them in the lobbies of Sandals Ochi, Beaches Ocho Rios, Sandals Royal Plantation, and most recently, Sandals Dunn’s River. Ocho Rios stands as the living, breathing movie set of many James Bond films and the homebase of famed Bond novelist Ian Fleming.

Jamaica is home to a series of silver-screen fit locations: Dr. No, the first ever James Bond story to be committed to screen, was filmed in 1962 in Jamaica, followed by Live and Let Die and No Time to Die. Across these three films, Ocho Rios is put on stunning display, with action taking place in such storied locations as Laughing Waters Beach and Dunn’s River Falls. Outside of Bond lore, Ocho Rios has served as a backdrop to movies such as Tom Cruise’s romantic drama Cocktail (1988), Taye Diggs and Angela Bassett’s How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), and Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek’s crime comedy After the Sunset (2004). It’s no wonder why Ocho Rios has attracted movie crews and international travelers alike, lauded for its lush landscapes, depth of culture, and expansive stretches of beach.

In homage to the new flight and keeping travel dreams in minds, Sandals Resorts is a launching pad into these movie set-worthy wonders. Think the nearby Dunn’s River Falls, with its clear waters, cascading over terraced limestone steps and rushing into pools across the rocky terrain. Dunn’s River Falls are not the only falls, of course. Blue Hole, also known as “Secret Falls,” offers equally breathtaking views of clear waters rushing over rock formations, surrounded by flowering jungle. The Laughing Waters Beach, just one of Ocho Rios’ many white sand beaches, promises stunning turquoise water and endless horizon, no matter the season. The entire island of Jamaica is a haven for vacationers, thrill seekers, and international super-spies alike.

As long as its sandy beaches and blue waters have been committed to the screen, the Caribbean has been in the sights of jet-setters, and these destinations are now closer than ever–a short flight away.

Live and Let Fly: A Vacation Worthy of the Stars

From our stretch of Jamaica’s north coast, guests have easy access to all of the major sets and sites the island has to offer, from the rushing jungle falls to the Green Grotto caves of Saint Ann; and now, inspired by the newfound ease of arrival into Ocho Rios, Sandals and Beaches Resorts have launched a new travel package, dubbed the “Love and Let Fly” package.

Curated exclusively for passengers arriving aboard AA4007 and available to book through May 16, 2024 for travel through May 24, 2025, the new package offers guests of Beaches Ocho Rios and participating Sandals Resorts in Ocho Rios a complimentary Island Routes Adventure through the unknown hidden gems and famous island locales along the scenic North Coast, including the crystal blue waters of the Laughing Waters beach and the winding Dunn’s River Falls. In further celebration of AA4007, Sandals Dunn’s River will serve a special limited-time drink, the Jamaican Rum Old Fashioned, which elevates the guest-favorite with a revered rum spirit, Blackwell 007 – shaken or stirred.

A stay at the new Sandals Dunn’s River takes the “set-jetting” concept and levels up, treating guests with the comforts and luxuries worthy of a movie star; from private swims in the Tufa Terrace SkyPool Butler Suites – the first suites in Jamaica to feature glass panel edge infinity pools – to stargazing experiences in the Coyaba Sky Swim-Up Rondoval Suites, which feature private plunge pools and open-air rooftops. The essence of Ocho Rios greets guests of Sandals Dunn’s River from the moment they arrive, with fresh water from the natural reserves of the Dunn's River Falls flowing through lobby waterfalls and into the pools of the Red Lane Spa.

As the new airlift service and our “Love and Let Fly’ offer begin to share the Ocho Rios sky, travelers to Jamaica are encouraged to seize the opportunity to bond. With less time in transit and more happening on-resort each day, there has never been a better time to book a trip to Jamaica – so, go forth, and let love fly.

Visit https://www.sandals.com/jamaica/ocho-rios/flights to learn more about the “Love and Let Fly” offer for Sandals Resorts, and https://www.beaches.com/jamaica/ocho-rios/flights/ for Beaches Resorts.