Is This The Most Luxurious Family-Friendly Hotel In The Balearics?

There are few hotels that tick the majority, if not all, boxes required of a travelling family yet somehow Dunas de Formentara has achieved it with serious sustainability points to boot.

C&TH Guide To Responsible Tourism

Hotel Review: Dunas de Formentara

Junior Suite

STAY

Opening its doors at the start summer, Dunas de Formentara is the latest opening in Pablo Carrington’s Marugal portfolio of luxury hotels across Europe. Sitting just a stone’s throw away from the sandy Migiorn beach (perfect for weary parents lugging buckets and spades back to the room), it has just 45 rooms scattered across the rocky landscape and within the hotel’s main buildings.

In keeping with Marugal’s desire to create hotels that are sympathetic to their surroundings, Dunas de Formentara fits discreetly into the rocky landscape, with sandy tracks adjoining the buildings and white cube abodes scattered between native plants. The rooms have been planned with families in mind, featuring sizeable terraces, kitchenettes and private boundaries, and are large enough to fit additional beds if needed. Inside, the rooms take their cue from the island’s traditional white colour scheme with a minimal yet warm aesthetic. Add to this stunning sea views (even whilst in the shower) and you’ve got the perfect beachside base. With an earthy palette throughout, natural materials creep into the décor with dark wood coffee tables, stone lamps and linen cushions scattered atop a fixed sofa.

Although Dunas is the first regenerative eco-luxury resort in Formentera, you would never know it as, apart from the quirky egg timer in the shower to encourage shorter bathing time, you won’t find heavy handed clues. Behind-the-scenes, however, the hotel is powered with renewable energy, water is recycles and single-use materials have been eliminated. Last but not least, all of Dunas’ cleaning products are biodegradable and the pool is treated with salt electrolysis.

EAT

The food at Dunas de Formentara was a true highlight of our stay. Using only local produce, the menu at the Caliu restaurant offers an elevated selection of tapas including ham croquettes, garlic prawns and grilled octopus alongside creamy burrata and seabass ceviche with coconut milk and kimchi. The restaurant is open all day for tapas, making it perfect for serial snackers, while specials such as fresh whole fish and filet steak is added to the evening menu starting from 7pm.

Nestled underneath the trees with sand between your toes overlooking the infinity pool to the sea beyond, the restaurant is in such a great location that venturing further afield was an excursion we never quite got to. If we had an extended stay, however, we would have tried the nearby La Fragata or KM11 restaurant, which both came very highly recommended by fellow guests.

DO

With powder white sand and crystal clear water just a stone’s throw from our room, the beach featured heavily in our daily itinerary with a toddler. Privatisation of beaches isn’t allowed in Formentara so, although you’re mixing with the masses, there’s a charming authenticity to mingling with the locals. Just be prepared for said locals to be sans swimwear as sunbathing naked is a regular sighting! Reserving sun loungers and an umbrella is costly but Dunas offers modest rattan floor chairs and an umbrella that they will deliver and pick-up from your chosen beach location.

If you fancy a change of scenery, the hotel’s sister property Gecko beach club is a mere 10 minutes drive from the hotel (they’re happy to offer transfers) and definitely worth a visit. Surrounded by cascading flowers, lush green lawns and boardwalks throughout, it possesses more of a romantic charm in contrast to Dunas’ modernity. Although the menu is vast, a shared paella is not to be missed for a hearty dose of Spanish tradition before taking a dip in one of the club’s large swimming pools.

THE FINAL WORD

I find myself slightly pained to share my experience of Dunas de Formentara as though it’s a secret gem I want to keep all my own. The location may be spot on, the interiors Pinterest-worthy and the food exceptional, but it’s the team at Dunas Formentara that made us feel genuinely sad to leave. Kind, helpful and caring to a fault, they are, put simply, good people that comes from character not training. A home away from home, it’s a place we can’t wait to get back to.

BOOK IT

Dunas de Formentara can be accessed via a ferry from Ibiza port and rooms start at £470 per night for a double room on a B&B basis. dunasdeformentera.com

Jessica was travelling with her family in Ibiza and Formentera when this review was conducted.