Boutique Hotels Formentera

These days it seems that staying in a high quality hotel in a great location is not enough; increasing numbers of travelers are looking for the boutique experience. But what does this mean, and is there such a thing as boutique hotels Formentera?

The term boutique hotel basically means a hotel that is particularly luxurious, quirky, or intimate, but it need not be all three. This means that within the category there are many different types of hotel and varying standards of service. One common thread that they all have is a high standard of personalized service. The trend to boutique hotels started in the UK and the US, and has now extended as far as Formentera Island.

Hostal Residencia Illes Pitiuses might be called a hostal, but this family-owned place has twenty four bedrooms, is tucked two and a half kilometers away from the main beach of Es Pujols and has its own high quality restaurant. Really it meets all the requirements of a boutique hotel, with its bright colors, local charm, and attention to detail.

The larger Balearic island of Mallorca has a broader range of boutique hotels that you may want to consider staying at, and you won’t need quite as deep pockets as you would at the more expensive sister island of Formentera.

Esplendido is a very trendy hotel in Mallorca’s Puerto Soller. It is located in the northwest on the mountainous coast, and affords the visitor some with incredible views. Hanging out by the pools, restaurant and lounge bar you will meet some interesting characters. The hotel was actually built back in 1954, but has been completely refurbished to a very high standard. Because of its older age the looms are larger than a modern hotel and the retro décor is appreciated by hippies and modernists alike. It has eight rooms, but still manages to give that personalized service that you expect from a boutique.

Can Simoneta is another of Mallorca’s well known place to stay. It’s right next to a nature reserve, so you tend to get quite a few Bill Oddie characters staying here. It’s reminiscent of boutique hotels Formentera because it is a converted nineteenth century farmhouse. You look out onto the Bay of Canyamel from the infinity pool, and would never realized that you are only one hour away from Palma airport. What makes this place really exclusive is that it has just eighteen rooms and a private beach. The restaurant isn’t bad either. Thumbs up.

Formentera Rooms

When it comes to the summer season then Formentera rooms are few and far between. This is such a popular island, with a flood of young Italian and German tourists pouring in each year, that the real trick for a great vacation on Formentera Island is finding somewhere decent to stay. There is a range of options, from farmhouses to penthouses, and everything in between, but be prepared for disappointment because you may just have to take what you can get!

There are also many different parts of the island to choose from, each with its own characteristics. There is the party resort location of Es Pujols, the charm of an old fishing village at Es Calo, peace and desolation around El Pilar de la Mola, the unspoiled coastline of Platja de Mitjorn, and the natural cove of Cala Saona. Wherever you do decide to stay you won’t be very far away from anywhere else as the island is only thirty two square miles in area.

Accommodation is very expensive as dictated by the laws of supply and demand: this is a very small island with around 7,000 houses and everyone wants to visit at the same time: between May and September. You might think you are doing yourself a favor by visiting outside of those peak months, but it can be just as challenging to find somewhere as a lot of places just shut down outside of the peak months.

There are a few large hotels on the island, notably Hotel Rio and Es Arenals. And there are a few boutique places also such as Club Gecko. But by far the most common option for Formentera rooms is the hostels. These are not hostels in the British sense of the word, but instead are the equivalent of two and three star hotels. If you are looking for luxury then really Formentera is the wrong place for you anyway. It is all about the natural beauty of the island, the access to great hiking and cycling, and water sports.

If you do decide to visit Formentera then it is highly likely you will return. The island gets a lot of repeat visitors who are amazed at how different it is from the other Balearic Islands and the relaxed atmosphere, and unspoiled coastline. The ignominy of high rise hotels and fish and chips displacing tapas has altogether been avoided. It’s yours to enjoy.

Formentera Pujols

Formentera Pujols is where the action is at: Es Pujols is really the only resort on Formentera island, and it has everything from great shopping to beautiful beaches. To get there you head straight through the village of Sant Ferran (also known as San Fernando), and go north. After ten minutes on a bicycle, or five minutes in a car, you will reach the village of Es Pujols itself. The first thing you will see opposite Café Volta is the Tourist Information Office, which is a great place to stop in and find out what this part of the island has to offer.

Es Pujols Formentera is a young person’s part of town and this is where you want to come in the evenings to socialize. The Indiana Café is a popular choice, with its ambient beats, cocktails, and the ever popular DJ Dieter. It’s been going for fifteen years and it looks like another fifteen year could easily be on the agenda. Pachanka is another music club with a decent reputation, and as the closing time of 6am gets ever closer it seems like it should have an indecent reputation! Nobody comes to Es Pujols without hearing about Bar de Noche Piratabus, and most people pay it a vist.

Besides the clubbing and bars of young Italians and Germans, Es Pujols has two perfect crescents of white sand and turquoise waters. The water is extremely shallow and in the summer you feel like you are in the Caribbean. You can also take a stroll up the coastline to Platja de Ses, which is really made up of two beached that are worth exploring: Platja des Canyers and Platja de sa Roqueta.

If you decide that you want to get away from the beaches and resort atmosphere then there are plenty of choices nearby. You could retreat into the village of Sant Ferran de Ses Roques for a coffee or tapas; the ever famous Fonda Pepe is still there basking in the glory of days gone by when Bob Dylan is said to have paid it a visit. Another alternative, suggested in a guide to Formentera, would be to head up to Ses Salines and take a look at the famous salt flats which were the main industry on the island for many years.

Formentera Pujols is also just down the road from Punta Prima, which is hope to one of Formentera island’s defense towers. The island used to suffer constant attacks from the island to the point where it was no longer inhabitable. These days it just faces an invasion of tourists every summer.