Dunas de Formentera, a Small Luxury Hotel of the World

Our visit was end July and the resort was only opened for a month so not sure if some of this will be corrected as the season goes on. Pros Location Great cocktails and food - breakfast and lunch was delicious Cons Rooms are not as advertised and it was met with denial when first raised. The floor plans online did NOT represent what we got (I see now the website has removed the floor plans). A challenging way to start a vacation at a resort of this calibre when you feel ripped off. We booked a junior suite, it had no double sink, large robe or outdoor day bed on a spacious terrace as advertised and paid for. We finally got half a nights discount after much discussion with management (and this ended up being Euro 150 less than promised - in writing! - unfortunately not surprising as we had already had multiple disagreements around what was said and offered as compensation initially with Duty Manager). We learnt is that there is a huge variance in rooms in each type - with some of the Junior Suites being 30% smaller than others - this is listed on the site. I have attached photos from website when we booked and visited and what we got. Rubbish - cigarettes butts and plastic around pool and main walkway to beach from restaurant. Disappointing for a resort that promotes itself as eco and sustainable, particularly as more than saw at any beaches we visited on the island. Restaurant staff using headsets - with only three tables to serve… it completely kills the vibe when someone is opening your wine and loudly and abruptly instructing into the headset to clean the next table. Embarrassing for this size of restaurant to even need this, as was the dynamic between staff heirachy. Based on the room issues I would not return to this hotel, I know this region is expensive and you pay premium for location and the beautiful environment, but the false advertising and attitude we got when challenged it is not acceptable. For average Euro 1500 + per night during Summer season it is not worth it.

We had the Junior Suite Sea View room and paid €1550 per night. It was a small room with hardly any sea view as in picture below, it was very overpriced. The room smelt of damp when you entered. The breakfast was so slow and so badly timed. Overcooked eggs and then half an hour later a small piece of toasted bread on a plate. Noone even thought of having a bread basket. Overall, do not go this hotel and do not be fooled by the images on the website, the hotel is badly managed. Also, it is nice that it’s natural but all the sand comes into the rooms and not easy to go from reception to the rooms with the sand unless the room is close.

First off, worst value for money. The quality of rooms, facilities and service for the price is disproportionately poor. Website doesn’t reflect the reality at all. Service at restaurant is at the mercy of one or two hosts. They may or may not take your order depending on their mood for the day. Some rooms don’t have safes installed, some rooms only run boiling hot water in shower, some rooms lack curtains in bathrooms exposing you to passers by, etc. Overall, it’s a terrible rebranding exercise. Buy an existing hotel with a good location, do a few touch ups, hire PR, get a few reviews and charge way too much…. I doubt will have any repeat clients.

This place is nowhere close to a 5 star hotel or worth the more than 930 euros we paid for one night at the cheapest room category. Our room was tiny and the way to it was not even built. We had to always go through a very dusty way which was also the road for anyones car going to the beach. The hotel has no room service available yet, no gym, no spa and no facilities whatsoever, just one small restaurant with very average food and a very small swimming pool. The place was not at is full capacity since it just opened and I wonder how guests are going to lie at the pool loungers when is even half full. It was a robbery. We will never go back.