Travel Made Joyful

The Basics

Who & Why: I was invited on a work trip by the agency responsible for promoting Formentera Island, along with four other travel advisors.

What: three days exploring the beautiful island of Formentera to help understand and promote it to my clients

When:  July 1-3

Where:  Formentera is the small island just south of Ibiza, Spain. It is one of the four Balearic Islands, and is only reachable by ferry from Ibiza (30 minutes on a fast ferry).

Learnings

What I’d Do Again

I love to find places that are just off the radar of most other travelers. Formentera is just that – it’s easily reachable from Ibiza, but feels a million miles away. It’s quiet, yet has enough nightlife and infrastructure to easily spend 3-7 days and have an amazing time.

• The Stays: we were incredibly fortunate to stay at the brand new Dunas de Formentera! We also visited Gecko Beach Hotel, Five Flowers, and Teranka, with a bonus visit at the end to Casa Formentera. Each place had their own special benefits:
  • I loved integration with the landscape and the eco-luxe feel of Dunas, as well as the huge outdoor spaces that each room offered
  • I loved the location and activities at Gecko Beach Club, especially the boardwalk along the beach – ideal for a family stay
  • I loved the entire aesthetic at Teranka, as well as the variety of on-site experiences offered (yoga, pottery, fitness classes, and more)
  • If you’re looking for a city stay, then the location of Five Flowers can’t be beat (and they have a great rooftop pool and restaurants with killer views)
  • The restaurant and location of Casa Formentera is ideal for anyone who wants to be beachfront
• The Activities: we were able to participate in morning yoga classes, a pottery class, and went horseback riding with Rutas et Boixets at sunset! They do small group rides and private rides, including sunrise rides along the beach. I would love to come back and do that with my family. Most of the properties also have water sport equipment like paddleboards and kayaks as well.
• The Food: some of you know that I love a hotel breakfast buffet – it’s my favorite meal of the day. Combine an amazing breakfast buffet with the general cuisine of Spain, and I am a happy camper. Not only were there many great options for fresh seafood, but the restaurants and hotels did a great job accommodating dietary needs and preferences, too. As someone who identifies as a foodie and oenophile, I think anyone who loves great food and drink would be extremely happy here, too.

What I’d Change

I mean, if I could change anything, it would be to stay longer! This was just a short work trip – only two nights and three days – but I would love to go back. I think the ideal time to go to Formentera would be June or September, but you could even go in May or October and have an awesome time (and take advantage of shoulder season rates).

I would have also loved to spend a bit more time exploring the two charming towns of Es Pujols and Sant Francesc – they had a lot of pedestrian-only streets filled with small shops, cafes, and restaurants. I would have also loved to do more of the hiking along the coast and trails along the eastern side of the island.

Tips for Travelers

Are you eager to visit this wild and wonderful place yet? If so, here are a few of my top tips:

• Transportation: I would highly recommend getting the VIP transfer service ahead of time. We worked with FlyeVai and it was incredibly easy. They picked us up at the Ibiza airport, took us right to the ferry port drop-off with our ferry tickets already in hand. The ferries depart every 15 minutes, so within 1.5 hours, we were poolside in Formentera!
• Rental Car: the island is best discovered with a rental car, so I’d recommend having one. The crazy thing is that you don’t really need to book them ahead of time, you can do it upon arrival, and some places will even bring your car directly out to you! They also rent scooters and bikes as well, so that would be another option.
• Length of Stay: some people could combine a stay in Formentera with island hopping to some of the other islands. With airports on Ibiza, Mallorca, and Menorca, you could definitely visit other islands and then visit Formentera at the end for a few days before heading home. In general, I’d recommend at least three nights here so you have a chance to really experience the “unwinding” that this island offers.
• Type of accommodation: While we didn’t have a chance to visit any villas, there are plenty of beautiful rental villas on the island for those who might be staying somewhere as a large family and be on a tighter budget (or just want more privacy). If this is what you’re looking for, I can connect you with my colleague, Laura, who was our host on the island, as she has visited or stayed at many of them!

Final Words

Formentera is a tranquil and beautiful place with an air of natural spirituality. Many of the hotels offered complimentary yoga classes each day, and it was such a treat to start the day with this practice. Pictured below is “The Nest,” the beautiful outdoor yoga studio at Teranka, and it felt like stepping into a completely different world when we entered.

I would 100% recommend Formentera to couples, groups of friends, families, or solo travelers, as I feel it has something for everyone. That said, I think being an island that can suit anyone, it also would require some specialization for each group. I found that I’d recommend different places depending on who was going (and not due to budget).

Until we meet again, magical Formentera!